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Important This Week
- The deadline to register for Clergy Convocation is tomorrow, Friday, March 23.
- Registration is open for PSEC Secretary Training
- Use UCC materials for this weekend's March for Our Lives events.
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Registration now open for April Secretary Training event
Churches can treat their secretaries to a special lunch and training event on Administrative Professionals' Day, Wednesday April 25. Church admins are invited to this year's Secretary Training event, where we will fellowship over lunch, then spend the afternoon sharing ideas on setting boundaries, staying positive when others are negative, dealing with difficult/ demanding members, how to say "my plate is full" when others keep putting things on you, and sharing time-saving tips with one another. The training will be 11:30-3:30 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown. The cost is $15 and registration is now open;
click here to register
.
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Havertown church's Pet Therapy featured by UCC
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St. James UCC, Havertown, has a thriving pet therapy program for elementary schoolers learning to read and a visitation program for seniors with intellectual disabilities. The program was lifted up by United Church of Christ News last week as an example of a "3 Great Loves" ministry. Read "Pennsylvania congregation's Pet Therapy program is perfect 3 Great Loves ministry" on the
PSEC website
.
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Webinar: How free EPA program can benefit churches
Did you know that most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance? The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program can help congregations do this with their staff, free tools, trainings, and technical support. Learn more through a webinar in the afternoon on March 28. It will give an overview of how congregations can make optimal use of EPA tools such as Portfolio Manager, which can benchmark and track energy and water use as well as savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, there is the Action Workbook for Congregations, which offers all sorts of practical strategies and information. The presenter of this webinar will be Jerry Lawson, National Manager for ENERGY STAR Small Business & Congregations at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The webinar will be hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, who oversees the UCC's Creation Justice Churches program as the Minister for Environmental Justice.
Register here
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UCC opens new worksite in Texas for Harvey recovery
UCC KYP on Wednesday, March 13, had this article: Volunteers, hosts at
UCC's new Harvey recovery site share skills, hugs, prayers.
It tells the story of what the UCC is doing in Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey. Featured in the article are Bill and Ellen Matten, Conference Disaster Coordinators in Penn Central Conference.
If you and/or your church want to volunteer, go to these sites for information on places that are open and accepting volunteers and groups.
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PSEC helps in Hurricane Maria long-term recovery in Philly
On Saturday, March 17, the Conference Consistory approved the Conference’s membership in the Greater Philadelphia Long Term Recovery Committee. The purpose of the GPLTRC is to help residents of Puerto Rico who’ve relocated to the Philadelphia area (whether temporarily or permanently) as a result of Hurricane Maria devastating the island in September 2017.
Many of these families and individuals face significant challenges, including but not limited to:
- adequate and affordable housing
- employment opportunities
- language translation
- help navigating the FEMA assistance process
- replacement of lost items
- emotional and spiritual support
To read more about the work of GPLTRC and how you can help,
click here.
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March for Our Lives materials
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The students and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets all over the country this Saturday, March 24, to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today. Of the 838 registered marches and sister events worldwide, there are seven in our conference (
Doylestown, Media, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pottstown,
Reading, and West Chester). For more information on the events, visit the
March for Our Lives website
.
For more information on the UCC at March for Our Lives, including church resources for study, prayer and advocacy around gun violence,
click here.
The UCC has released a Faith Over Firearms graphic for the March for Our Lives events. Download the graphic free for shirts, online use, etc. by
clicking here.
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PA Academy of Ministry to hold Pastoral Care class in May
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Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry is offering its Pastoral Care class on Saturday, May 12 from 9:00-4:00pm at First UCC in Schuylkill Haven. Retired UCC Pastor Rev. Stephen Engelhardt, who has extensive CPE, institutional, and parish experience will be teaching the class. This session will consider both the theological underpinnings and the practical application of pastoral care, including hospital visitation, grief counseling, and crisis care. This class is a required “advanced” course for Licensed preparation and a vital continuing education class for all parish ministers.
Click here
for a registration form with pre-class reading and writing assignments or register on the PAM website:
paacademyofministry.org
. The pre-class assignments will be on the student page under Pastoral Care.
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Phoebe Messenger winter issue now online
The Phoebe Messenger winter issue is now online! Visit
Phoebe.org/Messenger
to learn more about the latest at Phoebe, including stories of our amazing residents. Keep your eyes open for The Mini Messenger, our biannual newsletter, coming soon to your church.
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Memo on clergy housing allowance update
The United Church of Christ's Office of General Counsel has released a memo on the Housing Allowance Ruling. The constitutionality of clergy housing allowances is being questioned, with possible long-term effects on clergy and churches. Please
read this memo
for information on what churches/clergy should do to prepare for possible outcomes.
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Bus to ACT Now! Unite to End Racism in Washington
Unfortunately, there were not enough people signed up to take a PSEC bus to the ACT Now - Unite to End Racism rally in Washington DC on April 4, the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. However, the event is still happening and you're encouraged to consider attending! For more information, check out:
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Penn Central hosting "Money and Ministry" workshop
Clergy and lay are invited to join Penn Center Conference and United Church Funds for
Money and Ministry: A Workshop ABout Generosity in the Church
on Saturday, April 28 from 10:00-2:30. The workshop will be at St. Thomas Episcopal Retreat Center in Lancaster. Workshop topics include: Trends in Giving: What Donors Want; Planned Giving: Utilizing an On-line Tool to Get Started; and Roundtable Discussion: Best Practice Sharing.
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Love in Action UCC to be featured in video program
Love in Action UCC (formerly United Church of Christ Warminster) and one of its members will soon be featured on a national video program that has been giving a voice to women who show courage in the face of discrimination. This story was featured by the UCC this week. Read "Trans woman and her PA church share story of love, acceptance with national audience" on the
PSEC website
.
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Register for Annual Meeting
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Join us for Annual Meeting June 1-3 at West Chester University 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 Friday evening. Conference business 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. There will be Celebration Worship Sunday morning with guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, followed by lunch and fellowship to end the meeting.
- Annual Meeting info, including an agenda and workshop descriptions are at psec.org/annualmtg18
- To register now and get early registration rates, click here.
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Register for PA Academy of Ministry church history course
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PAM will offer
Church History
on
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. 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
. The deadline to register is March 30.
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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
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here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
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Educational Opportunities
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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