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Important This Week
- Register your youth for the Eastern Regional Youth Event!
- The conference merger team is hosting three Zoom conversations.
- Read the Conference Minister's reflection on last weekend's Annual Spring Meeting.
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After Annual Meeting: Reconciliation in a declining church
Dear Friends,
The 2018 PSEC Annual Spring Meeting, held last weekend around the theme of “Reconciliation,” inspired many and challenged us all. Our UCC General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, closed the first day by preaching at our opening worship service. John spoke passionately and faithfully to the narrative of church decline from Ezekiel 37 “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life” and dared us to defy the work God can do to restore, renew and revive faith communities.
Our Saturday evening keynote speaker, Jeff Chu, the author of
Does Jesus Really Love Me?
moved listeners to deep thoughts, laughter and tears with amazing stories of Christian witness and reconciliation from his personal and professional life. At our Saturday morning conferring session, we gave more shape to the vision and dream for a consolidated conference in eastern PA and pledged our support to the UCC Pension Board Ministerial Assistance Capital Campaign. We closed Sunday morning with a final word of grace and inspiration from Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister of the Penn Northeast Conference.
Our meeting began Friday morning with an overview of our Conference’s “situation-in-life” using statistics provided from our churches annual reporting data. The decline in our system has a direct effect on our clergy, congregations and Conference staff’s ability to effectively carry out their mission. It also presents us with exciting opportunities to define our core values, confront non-working realities, try new things and live in new ways that begin with the question “What if…?" At the request of those who were part of that conversation (and for those of you who missed it), you can find the PowerPoint presentation
here
.
There is much more work to do but at this meeting it became clear to many that the culture of the Conference is changing toward deeper connection, community and creativity. Yes, we live amid a narrative of decline. BUT that does not have to be our future. God is doing something in our midst and we get to be part of that. In the words of Fr. Richard Rohr “Those who agree to carry and love what God loves, both the good and the bad of history, and to pay the price for its reconciliation within themselves — these are the followers of Jesus (Philippians 3:10-12). They are the leaven, the salt, the remnant, the mustard seed that God can use to transform the world.”
May it be so,
Bill
Rev. William P. Worley
Conference Minister
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Volunteers needed for disaster recovery camp in Reading
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Camp Noah provides a safe, caring and fun environment where children whose communities have been impacted by disasters can help to process their disaster or trauma. Using proven curriculum designed to Build Resiliency, Restore Hope and Change Lives.
A Camp Noah will take place August 13-17 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Reading for children who have been impacted by the 2017 hurricanes in Puerto Rico. This is an opportunity for your church to participate in a mission trip in your own backyard! Gifts of time, prayers, talent, money & food will create a successful Camp Noah!
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The conference merger team wants to hear from you!
Please join our Joint Conference Vision and Development Team for three ZOOM conversations over the summer. Each meeting will be meet from 7:00-7:30 PM.
- June 18: What do you need, want or expect from a new conference?
- July 17: What would it mean to be a fully inclusive new conference?
- August 22: How will we include and value the racial and ethnic diversity in a new conference?
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Register for the Eastern Regional Youth Event
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Youth, don't forget to register for Eastern Regional Youth Event, July 19-22 at California University of Pennsylvania. The event website and registration can be found by
clicking here
.
Good news! PSEC is providing a free bus for up to 54 youth and chaperones who are members of PSEC churches. To register for the bus (after you register for the event)
click here
!
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2018-19 PNEC Vitality Days with Michael Piazza
What:
4 one-day training sessions with Michael Piazza of Agile Church (
Monthly gatherings for church leaders with trained coaches to
assist them in maintaining positive momentum.
)
When:
Each Session will run from 9AM - 4:30PM
Session 1 - Transformational Worship - September 22,2018
Session 2 - Structure and Stewardship - November 10, 2018
Session 3 - Craft Church Evangelism - March 23, 2019
Session 4 - Vintage Church Renewal - May 18, 2019
Locations to be determined based on applications.
Cost:
$1,000 - all four days of training for church teams (up to 10 people from each congregation) and the monthly coaching session.
$15 per person for lunch on training days
Process for participation:
3. Once the application is accepted, process your payment
4. Identify the members of your team and get ready to begin
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PAM Offering Consistory/ Council 101 Educational Series
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PA Academy of Ministry will be conducting a 3-part educational series called
Consistory/ Council 101
on Sept. 15, Oct. 6 and Oct. 27 from 10a to 12 noon. The 3 sessions are titled: (Sept. 15)-
Making Our Church Meetings Effective
, (Oct. 6)-
Pastor and People Working Together
and (Oct. 27)-
Connecting Beyond Ourselves
.
Consistory/Council Presidents should place this on their upcoming agenda for consideration. This course will be presented via LIVE STREAM to locations in EACH of the Penn Northeast, Penn Central and Pennsylvania Southeast Conferences where groups of laity can join together in viewing the presentations and participate in discussion questions.
Click here
for a registration form so your group can receive the link to the event. An email will be sent to registrants with locations where groups can be found in your area.
In a climate where churches are struggling to remain open or remain financially secure, we know that a well-educated leadership is crucial to that goal. We hope that you will consider this course for your Consistory or Council so to encourage vitality and strengthen an already vibrant leadership in our local churches.
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Educational Opportunities
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Upcoming Church Events
Submit your 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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