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Important This Week
- Start the Lenten devotional from the Joint Conference Vision and Development team.
- Find out what PSEC is doing to help Puerto Rican evacuees after Hurricane Maria.
- PSEC pastor heading to Micronesia as Global Ministry volunteer.
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What to give up for Lent, this Valentines Day
Seventy-three years have passed since the last time Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day kept company with each other. We won’t have to wait that long for the next occurrence — 2024. And then again in 2029. On the one hand, it would seem that these festive days are at cross purposes. Ash Wednesday calls for fasting and Valentine's Day usually involves candlelight dinners or candy.
On the other hand, “[i]t seems a happy accident that Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day are on the same day this year, love and mortality meeting,” That’s Rick Hamilin, Executive Director of Guidepost Magazine, writing in today’s New York Times. (You can read the full text of the article “
What Will You Give Up For Lent?
” here.)
For Christians and non-Christians alike, Mr. Hamilin does well at making accessible the essence of Ash Wednesday and Lent. He draws readers into a contemplative moment about what matters in this life and the path to clarity which includes emptiness, meditation, prayer. I found myself repeatedly saying, “well yeah, duh, church folks have known this for centuries.” Admittedly our knowledge of
it
has not always translated into the most meaningful or helpful practices. As a result, the church is once again in the process of finding new ways to speak ancient truths.
It is easy for me to fall into a pit of despair about that. “Why can’t people just get it? Why do we have to do faith and church differently?” But then a day of love and mortality comes along to remind me that my days on this earth are numbered. What a waste it would be to not fill them with love and acceptance of myself and the people around me.
So, I know what I am giving up for Lent. Cynicism. It’s a mustard seed sized thing, but I trust that a God whose name is love and who is Lord of the living and the dead will do great things with that. I can’t wait for Easter.
May hearts and ashes bless your day,
Bill
Rev. William P. Worley, Conference Minister
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Upcoming Boundary Awareness Training events
Here are some opportunities for Authorized Ministers to complete their required Boundary Awareness Training. If you have questions about your association's requirements or if you are due to take a course, contact your association Committee on Ministry chair.
Sponsored by PSEC
Click here for a flyer or click the event name to register
Sponsored by Northeastern PA Synod, ELCA
$25 per person, includes lunch. Each workshop is 9:00a-4:00p
Tuesday, May 22 at Bern Lutheran Church, Leesport
Wednesday, May 23 at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Whitehall
Tuesday, Oct. 23 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Dallas
Wednesday, Oct. 24 at Christ Hamilton United, Stroudsburg
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Webinar: A Mother and Son Take on Climate Change
21 youth are suing the government over climate change, and one is the son of a UCC pastor. Hear a personal perspective on the case in a webinar featuring Kiran Oommen and his mother Rev. Melanie Oommen, First Congregational UCC in Eugene, Oregon. A brief legal update on the case will be provided by Coreal Riday-White of Our Children's Trust. The webinar will take place on Feb. 28. Shantha Ready Alonso of Creation Justice Ministries will cohost the event with the Rev. Brooks Berndt of the UCC Environmental Justice Program.
Register now
to join. This is part of the
Justice for #EachGeneration
campaign to have a thousand sermons preached in support of the 21 youth. This campaign was spearheaded by the UCC Council for Climate Justice and has 21 sponsoring organizations from different faiths.
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Where the Heck is Micronesia and Why Should We Care?
Since 1852 missionaries from the Congregational side of our United Church devoted their lives to sharing the Gospel and sharing themselves with people of tiny islands in the North Pacific. Nineteenth century Evangelists to indigenous peoples in third world countries made their share of grave mistakes. (Remember John Michener’s epic novel
Hawaii
.) Be that the case, MuuMuus and all, the good news was shared, the love was real, and those baptized have continued to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and laborers in Christ’s Church with a passion that can put most main line Americans to shame.
During the 1960’s the UCC stopped sending missionaries to Micronesia as philosophies about global mission work changed. The islanders, however, continued to proudly refer to us as the “Mother Church” and call themselves the UCC. Lay volunteers, Paul and Minnie Diefenderfer from Reading, Pa. used their own money to fund a large portion of the budget in the historic mission school, called Ohwa on the Island of Pohnpei, and to befriend the leaders in Christian solidarity. After the Diefenderfer’s aged out, Rev. Dr. Paul and Barbara Hetrich (also of Reading) continued the ministry. They traveled to Micronesia every year for over twenty years at their own expense to help support the school and strengthen the theological education for the ordained. A trust fund, under the guardianship of Immanuel UCC Shillington, continues to send vital funding. It is now my honor to travel in the Hetrich’s place. This will be my third trip. I will teach, help to give advice to the school, and meet pastors to talk theologically.
Fortunately, by the grace of God our UCC/Disciples Global Ministry executive for the Pacific, Derek Duncan, has endorsed this partnership and is now sending me as an official Global Ministry volunteer. I rejoice and give thanks that I can have a part in helping to sustain the work of the church in a place long forgotten by many, threatened by global warming, deep in poverty, but rich in faith.
When I return from Pohnpei this spring I will be willing to speak in your congregations, share the story, and ask you to help give to this mission and to the work of our Global Ministries.
Deborah Rahn Clemens
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Lenten Devotional
Lent is here and the Joint Conference Vision and Development Team invite you to use this Lenten Devotional on “What is Covenant?” written by Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, PNE Conference Minister. The devotional is available here:
Lenten Devotional
. For more information on what the JCVDT is up to, visit
psec.org/conference-merger
.
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Register for Clergy Covocation
Join the Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast conferences for a time of collegiality, spiritual renewal and education for authorized ministries and members in discernment. Rev. Wanda D. Craner will be the Guest Speaker. This year’s presentation is “The Spiritual Health of Clergy in Times of Dis-Ease”.
Early registration rates end on Wednesday, February 28. For more information and to register,
click here
.
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Helping Puerto Ricans and evacuees after Hurricane Maria
If you want to help in Puerto Rico:
There is a Lutheran camp in PR that is accepting volunteers. However, it is in need of repair and it does not have electricity at this time. There have been volunteers staying there, but they took with them snacks and water filtration systems. If you want more info, email Rev. David Guadalupe at
dguadalupe@elcalcs.org. Recovery in Puerto Rico will continue for a long time. If better housing conditions are needed it would be best to wait a while before traveling to PR.
The UCC, in cooperation with the Disciples of Christ and Church of the Brethren, will be setting up rebuild sites in PR and in US Virgin Islands. We have teams in USVI and they will be accepting volunteers soon. Keep checking
www.ucc.org/disaster.
How we're helping in Pennsylvania:
Update from our Disaster Coordinator:
From Karl Jones, PSEC Disaster Coordinator on the Puerto Rico Refugees:
I am currently in the traveling road show in Philadelphia where many agencies are trying to resolve the many issues facing the evacuees from PR. Since the United Church of Christ is taking the lead for PA VOAD on housing the data regarding the evacuees who have FEMA benefits, I received this morning the list of 13 families in Philadelphia and eastern PA who will be losing their housing today. Let me first say that the PSEC and the UCC are on top of this – although it is a frustrating situation. Housing is the biggest need of course. Here is a summary of the current urgent need and what we have done today.
There are 8 families in Philadelphia. One of them has been taken care of by churches of POWER Metro, coordinated by Rev. Dwayne Mosier. I have extended the hotel stay of another family for 2 more nights to give them time to find more long-term options. I have referred them to Catholic Charities for longer case management. I am currently trying to come up with options for another one of these families. I have also reached out to Old First Church about an apartment that might be available. Housing is still needed for the other families. I (along with other SEAP VOAD leaders) are reaching out to these other families.
There are 2 families in Reading. My Lutheran colleague is reaching out to her churches in the Reading area for resources. There are two families in Allentown, one in Hazleton, and one in Lancaster.
I am open to suggestions. Funding is always necessary – available housing is wonderful – host families to help guide families through the transition is also good (I will be providing a form for churches to use to recruit these families), translators are also needed. Please spread the word that the UCC is actively involved in helping these evacuees.
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Interfaith Gatherings that Work event slated for Philadelphia
The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia will be holding a gathering to explore: “Interfaith Gatherings that Work: Together in Times of Crisis and Celebration.” The event will be Thursday, March 8 from 9:00-12:00p with an optional networking lunch to follow (with suggested $15 donation). Registration is required.
Click here for more information and to register.
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PA Academy of Ministry: Church Leadership class
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry is proud to announce its’ Church Leadership class (
formerly Church Administration
), to be offered March 10 from 9-4 at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven. While this class is an Advanced Level class for those seeking Licensed Ministry preparation, it is also a wonderful refresher for seasoned Clergy or laity leadership who are looking for new ways to beef up their administrative and leadership skills.
Click here
for the registration form or you can go to the
PA Academy of Ministry website
to register and pay online.
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UCF celebrates anniversary of Beyond Fossil Fuels
The United Church Funds (UCF) Beyond Fossil Fuel Funds (BFF) – the Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund and Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Fund – celebrated its third anniversary in November. Since its introduction, the Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund outperformed its respective benchmark for one and three years, as of December 31.
While one out of five U.S. dollars under professional management is currently managed in a sustainable or responsible manner, there is a lingering perception that responsible investing involves giving up investment returns in exchange for doing good in the world. “This perception is simply not true, and the BFF Funds are a good example that you do not have to sacrifice good returns to support environmental and social responsibility." ...
To see the performance results and the full press release,
click here
.
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Discipleship Workshops coming to three location
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Much emphasis is given today to churches reaching new people, and rightfully so. The real area of untapped potential in any congregation and community are not the people outside the church, but the people sitting in your pews every Sunday (or every other Sunday). The worship is designed to equip pastors and lay leaders with modern tools for doing an ancient work: making disciples out of those who are in our care.
Facilitated by Rev. Cean James, Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development, there are three opportunities to attend this workshop, each from 10:00a-12:00p. The workshops are free, but registration is required. Click the links below to register and for more information.
Event flyer
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PSEC Events
June 1-3: PSEC Annual Spring Meeting in West Chester.
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Educational Opportunities
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Upcoming Church Events
Submit your Local Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Classified Ads
Submit your Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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