|
|
Important This Week
- Registration is open for Annual Meeting!
- Register now for this weekend's Discipleship Workshop by Rev. Cean James in Havertown.
- Wednesday is the deadline for early registration for the Clergy Convocation.
|
|
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Annual Meeting
June 1-3, West Chester University
Join us as we work to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ and each other and to strengthen our gifts to ministry in service to God’s people. Friday, Conference Minister, Bill Worley, hosts a conversation, “Reconciling Past and Future”, for laity and clergy to both experience and engage the possibilities beyond attempting to “fix” the church to an orientation of God unfolding new possibilities before us.
Rev. John Dorhauer, General Minister & President, will preach during Opening Worship on Friday evening. The business of the Conference will be handled Saturday morning followed by an afternoon of workshops, including one with Jeff Chu who will also be the speaker for the Saturday evening program. Celebration Worship will take place Sunday morning with guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, followed by lunch and fellowship to end the meeting. During the weekend there will be time for fellowship, perusing exhibit tables and recreation (Student Recreation Center).
For more information on the Annual Meeting, including an agenda and workshop descriptions,
psec.org/annualmtg18.
To register now and get the early registration rates,
click here.
|
|
PSEC Bus for ACT Now! Unite to End Racism in Washington
On April 4, the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., faith leaders from around the country will join for a ACT Now! - Unite to End Racism rally in Washington DC. The PSEC Justice & Witness Team is organizing a bus for conference laity and clergy who want to participate in this faith-based demonstration against racism. For more on the rally,
click here
. For more on the PSEC bus on April 4 and to register,
click here
. Transportation will cost $40.50 per person and is available on a first-come first-serve basis.
|
More on Lawsuit on Housing Allowance Tax Exemptions
Several weeks ago, we shared information on a lawsuit out of Wisconsin about the constitutionality of clergy housing allowances being tax exempt. This lawsuit is
still in appeals
and should
not
effect clergy's current practices. There have been some technical developments in the case that you can
read about here
.
|
|
PA Academy of Ministry: Church History class
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry will offer Church History on Saturday, April 7 from 9am to 4pm at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven but you can also attend via live broadcast. This class will focus on the history of the church beginning with the first century through the Crusades, Reformation, and today. The course will be taught by Dr. Randall Zachman, Professor Emeritus of Reformation Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and Adjunct Professor of Church History at Lancaster Theological Seminary. This is a basic class for our Licensing Prep curriculum and a refresher for clergy and laity of our roots in the Church.
Click here
for a registration form with the reading assignment for the class or you can register and pay online on the
PA Academy of Ministry website
.
|
PA VOAD looking for help housing refugees
Since Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean in late September, hundreds of people have self-evacuated to PA. Many of these families are in need of short-term housing as they look for permanent and sustainable futures for their families. FEMA Temporary Housing Assistance program is set to end on March 20 and the Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PA VOAD) is working to help. For more information, including how to help,
click here
.
|
Save the Date: Eastern Regional Youth Event
Save the date and share widely among the youth in your church: The Eastern Regional Youth Event will be July 19-22 at California University of Pennsylvania.
Click here
to download a flyer to share at your church. For more information, visit
eryeucc.org
.
|
|
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
.
|
PA Academy of Ministry: Church Leadership class
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry will hold Church Leadership (
formerly Church Administration
) March 10 from 9-4 at First UCC, Schuylkill Haven. While this class is an Advanced Level class for those seeking Licensed Ministry preparation, it is also a refresher for clergy or lay leadership who are looking for new ways to beef up their administrative and leadership skills.
Click here
for the registration form or go to the
PAM website
to register and pay online.
|
Interfaith Gatherings that Work event slated for Philadelphia
The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia will hold an event to explore: “Interfaith Gatherings that Work: Together in Times of Crisis and Celebration” on Thursday, March 8 from 9:00-12:00p with an optional networking lunch to follow (suggested $15 donation). Registration is required.
Click here for more information.
|
Webinar: A Mother and Son Take on Climate Change
21 youth are suing the government over climate change, including 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. A brief legal update on the case will be provided. The webinar will take place on Feb. 28.
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, a campaign spearheaded by UCC Council for Climate Justice and has 21 sponsoring organizations from different faiths.
|
|
Upcoming Boundary Awareness Training events
Here are opportunities for clergy to complete their required Boundary Training. If you aren't sure about the requirement or if you are due to take a course, contact your association Committee on Ministry.
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
|
Discipleship Workshops coming to three location
|
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
.
|
|
PSEC Events
June 1-3: PSEC Annual Spring Meeting in West Chester.
|
|
Upcoming Church Events
Submit your Local Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
|
Classified Ads
Submit your Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
|
Educational Opportunities
|
|
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
