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Important This Week
- The Conference Minister weighs in on our responsibility to kids and the 'March for our Lives' movement.
- There are lots (12!) different registrations open for PSEC events. Check them out.
- Tonight is the deadline for churches to complete their yearend UCC reporting.
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From the Conference Minister: March for our Lives
One of the deepest blessings of my life is the relationships I have forged with my two sons. We learn from, play with, pray for, encourage and tell the truth to each other. One of the worst moments in my life was learning when I failed them. Usually, that failure was related to the miscarriage of parental justice or an act of blatant hypocrisy. Fortunately, they were not fatal failures and my sons have (mostly) forgiven me. But there was no escaping the shame that was rightly placed at my feet when I modeled something much less than the maturity that I was trying to instill and inspire in them.
All of adult America is in the midst of one of those moments. In deference to Brea Brown, this is a moment of national shame that is rightly and appropriately laid at the feet of local, regional and national political, religious and corporate leaders and parents who have failed
in the most basic responsibility of adulthood – to keep our children safe. We have not been able to balance the right and the responsibility of gun ownership and, because of that, our children are being killed. Needlessly. For this, we will be judged by future generations with the same eye that we now judge our ancestors of the Civil War, Slavery, and all other atrocities that make us marvel at our capacity for indifference, inhumanity and inaction.
So, our children March. “On March 24, the kids and families of ‘March For Our Lives’ will take to the streets to demand that their lives and safety become a priority, and that we end gun violence in our schools and communities.” They will march in 504 cities and towns of America and with brother and sister youth from nations around the world who join in the life-giving hope of their cause. Our youth will be able to join marches in the following towns in and near our Conference…
In Lancaster: 12 noon at Binn's Park, 100 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
In Philadelphia:
- 9 a.m. -- Audubon & Haddon Heights Area, Haddon Lake Park in Audubon to Dell in Haddon Heights Lake Drive Audubon, NJ 08106
- 10 a.m. -- Norristown Farm Park, Whitehall Road & Sterigere Street, Norristown, PA 19403
- 12 noon -- at West Chester, Historic Chester County Courthouse, 2 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380
I will be at one or several of the Marches in our Conference. I expect to see you there.
Blessings,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
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Upcoming PSEC Events
There are a lot of upcoming events that you can register for. Registrations are always available by clicking the listings on the PSEC
website calendar
or by visiting
psec.org/registrations
. Take a few moments to look at and register for these twelve events that are coming up.
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Diversity Training next week
The PSEC Church and Ministry Council presents a Diversity Awareness Training for pastors on Tuesday, March 13 from 9:00a-12:00p at Church of the Good Shepherd in Boyertown. This fulfills the Diversity Training requirement that many Associations are adopting. The presenter, Naomi Christine Leapheart, will address how diversity awareness impacts ministry and how ministers cultivate diversity awareness within their congregations. To register
click here.
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PSEC Book Club with F. Russell Mitman meeting next week
Join together with fellow members of the PSEC to share, discuss and interpret books authored by our colleagues. This month's book will be "Preaching Adverbially" by F. Russell Mitman. Book club will meet at Trinity UCC, Pottstown on Thursday, March 15. It will begin at 9:30 am.
Please register
so that we know how many people are attending.
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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.
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One more Discipleship Workshop coming to Reading
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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 is one more chance to attend this workshop: 10a-12p on April 14 at Trinity UCC, Mt. Penn (Reading).
The workshop is free, but registration is required.
Click the link
to register and for more information.
Event flyer
.
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Boundary Training and Social Media
On April 19 from 9:00-12:00, PSEC will be offering “Boundary Training and Social Media.” This training fulfills half of the three year requirement for Boundary Training in most associations, but is open to anyone. The training will be held at Church of the Good Shepherd in Boyertown for a cost of $20.
Register now
.
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PSEC church closure event scheduled for April
On Saturday, April 21 from 9:00a-12:00, there will be a workshop on the topic of
Necessary Endings: When Does Closure Become an Option
. On an average day in the United States, nine churches close their doors for good. Since 2014, one PSEC congregation has closed, on average, every six months. Join other church leaders who are considering the future of their church and pastors and lay leaders who have church closure experiences to talk about this difficult topic and to receive resources that could help you moving forward.
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PSEC Spring Youth Event
The PSEC 2018 Spring Youth Event will be held April 27-29 at South Mountain YMCA Camp in Wernersville for youth in grades 7 thru 12. Registration fee of $90 per person includes meals, lodging, events, and activities. More information and registration are available
here
.
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2018 Clergy Convocation
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". To register,
click here
.
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Progressive Christian Worship Music Workshop
UCC minister, singer/songwriter, author, and Convergence Music Project CEO Bryan Sirchio will lead a fun, heart-warming and mind-expanding day. Drawing from his critically acclaimed book,
The 6 Marks of Progressive Christian Worship Music
, on Saturday, May 5 at New Goshenhoppen Church. We’ll sing, talk, and reflect on why worship music is so important and why the language, theology, and message of the songs we sing in worship have unique power to form us spiritually and inspire us to work toward the realization of God’s Dream of justice and Shalom for the world. We’ll also learn about a new source of progressive worship music called The Convergence Music Project.
Register now
.
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Boundary Awareness Training
A traditional Boundary Awareness Training course will be offered on May 16 from 9:00a-3:00p at Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown. The cost is $40 which includes lunch. Registration is now open;
click here
.
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Registration is now open for Annual Meeting 2018
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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.
- For more info on Annual Meeting, including an agenda and workshop descriptions, psec.org/annualmtg18.
- To register now and get early registration rates, click here.
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Boundary Awareness Training for Retirees (and soon to be retirees)
On October 4 from 9:00-12:00, PSEC will be offering “Boundary Training for Retirees.” This training fulfills half of the three year requirement for Boundary Training in most associations, but is open to anyone. The training will be held at Calvary UCC in Barto for a cost of $20. A complimentary lunch is included.
Click here
to register.
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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
.
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Annual church reporting due by midnight tonight
Wednesday, March 7 at midnight is the deadline for churches to complete UCC Year-end Reporting. For instructions, resources, frequently asked questions, information on why reporting is important, and more, visit
psec.org/reporting
. If you have any questions or need help with the reporting, contact Brea at
brea@psec.org
.
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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
.
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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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Educational Opportunities
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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