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Important This Week
- Read a message following the shooting at a Pittsburgh Synagogue
- Check out an update on PSEC Disaster Ministries
- Shop Amazon now for even more benefits to PSEC
- The legal case regarding clergy housing allowances has progressed
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A letter to the UCC Family of Faith: We can't let evil prevail
Dear PSEC Friends,
Speaking to the violence of the last many weeks has been no easy thing. Countless words have been shared to both comfort and challenge. There are some writings that resonate more than others. I believe the reflection shared by my friend, colleague and neighbor Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister of the Penn Northeast Conference, hit the mark. So I share them here with her permission and prayers for the days and weeks to come.
Blessings,
Bill
October 29, 2018
My dear friends and colleagues,
The news over the past weeks has revealed an undercurrent of hate within our culture and our country. Between the assumption that immigrants walking nearly 2,000 miles seeking asylum being seen as a threat to our security, the pipe bombs mailed to those who oppose our current political administration, the massacre of 11 Jewish citizens during services at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and the shooting of an unarmed African American couple in a grocery store, it is hard to find cause for hope in our nation.
The rhetoric of hate and divisiveness calls for a response from the faith community. While we should not advocate for candidates or political parties, we must advocate for justice, humanitarian treatment of our neighbors, and for safety in our places of worship. We are a diverse nation and until recently that diversity has been seen as a strength. We, in the church, must stand as moral authorities proclaiming peace and hope, compassion and justice.
Wherever and whenever you have the opportunity to provide wisdom and comfort, inspiration and compassion, I urge you to do so. To be silent is to let evil prevail and we, as people of faith, cannot do that, any more than Jesus could do it in his time and culture. Find a way to bring peace and hope to your faith communities, your communities, our state and our nations.
Today I am asking that members of your congregation be invited to write prayer notes or notes of compassion to our brothers and sisters at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Mail them from your local church to them at 5898 Wilkins Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
Participate in a vigil or a peaceful worship process in any one of your communities and if there isn’t one, please plan one. Rabbi Seth Phillips, who participates in our Lehigh Conference of Churches, sent this message to us. “B'ezrat HaShem, with God's help, the Jewish community will gather at the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley at 702 N 22nd St, Allentown, PA 18104 on Wednesday night at 7pm. Please feel free to join us as our beloved brothers and sisters and to spread the word to your communities.” If you are able, this would be a wonderful way to demonstrate solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the Lehigh Valley and across the state and nation.
By all means pray but above all do not fail to speak out or to act. As Martin Niemöller (German Theologian and Lutheran Pastor) wrote:
“First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
We are called to be people of prayer, but we are also called to remember that “The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18).” May we each and all do our part to make our communities, state and nation places of hope and peace.
In Christ’s love,
Bonnie
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister, Penn Northeast Conference UCC
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An Update on PSEC Disaster Ministries
Disaster events keep coming. The PSEC Disaster Ministries has been busy responding to the needs of people affected by these disasters within our Conference, state, the United States and around the world.
Here are some suggestions for ways that you and your congregation can help:
DONATE:
One hundred percent of UCC disaster relief funds are used for direct service to individuals and communities, and rehabilitation programming.
- to the PSEC Disaster Fund.
- to the UCC Hurricane Relief and Recovery at: United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115; Memo: 2018 Hurricane Relief
VOLUNTEER:
- Volunteers and mission groups are needed throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania to help people recover from the floods of 2018. Contact PSEC Disaster Coordinator Karl Jones, kjones275@comcast.net, for details. Opportunities are open now and through 2019.
- There are still openings for the PSEC/PNEC mission trips to Puerto Rico in the spring of 2019. Contact Karl Jones for more information.
- Volunteers are needed now in Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Florida. Additional volunteers will be needed soon in the Carolinas and Florida. For more details go to UCC Disaster Ministries Volunteer page.
PRAY:
- Remember the survivors in your prayers and worship services.
- Go to the PSEC resources webpage for resources you can use in your worship services.
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Arguments heard in clergy housing allowance legal case
Oral arguments were held last week in the clergy housing allowance case that is on appeal in the Seventh Circuit. The report from the Courthouse News Service indicates that the panel of judges appeared to be sympathetic to clergy, which is positive. While we hoped to have a decision by the end of the year, CNS is reporting that early next year may be possible. Here is a
link to the article
.
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ReadyPA Monthly for Nov. shares disaster readiness info
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November marks the unofficial start of the holiday season. The November ReadyPA Monthly provides facts and tips to help you have a safe and happy holiday season.
Did you know that Nov. 12-16 is National Winter Weather Awareness Week? The State Meteorologist has provided info on winter weather terms, messaging, and snow squalls and the ReadyPA Action Sheet features a Winter Weather Checklist to prepare you and your home for winter conditions. Information about the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is also provided.
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Use AmazonSmile to financially benefit PSEC
This week (Oct. 29-Nov. 2), AmazonSmile will donate 10x more money from your purchases to PSEC! If you haven't attached your Amazon account to PSEC,
click here
.
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that gives customers the same selection of products and the same prices, but the foundation donates a percentage -- usually 0.5% -- of eligible purchases to the charitable organization selected by the customer. Through Friday, they'll donate 5%.
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'Understanding Disaster Spiritual Care' event being held
On Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 10:00-11:30a at Hirst Auditorium, First Floor, Dulles Building Connector Hallway, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, there will be a workshop on "Understanding Disaster Spiritual Care." The presenter is Catherine Jensen, PsyD, the American Red Cross Disaster Spiritual Care Mid-Atlantic Advisor and Staff Chaplain. For more information
download event flyer.
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United Church of Christ Annual Report for 2017 available
The Annual Report for the United Church of Christ for the year 2017 is now available online.
Click here
for updates on the UCC from the General Minister and President, Wider Church Ministries, Local Church Ministries, financial details on the denomination, and more.
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Register now for conference 2018 Fall Meeting on Nov. 10
We know our past, we are living our present and at the 2018 PSEC Fall meeting we will decide our future. Join fellow members to review the 2019 Budget, get an update on the Pension Board Campaign Proposal, learn about the new Manual on Ministry and most importantly decide the future of our conference. The final vote on the possible merger with the Penn Northeast Conference will take place at this meeting. The meeting will be Saturday, Nov. 10 from 10:00a-4:00p at Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown.
Click here
to register for Fall Meeting.
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One more Pre-Fall Meeting Conversations scheduled
Conference Minister, Rev. William Worley and t
he Joint Conference Vision and Development Team are offering the opportunity to discuss items on the Fall Meeting agenda, including: 2019 Budget, The Pension Board Campaign Proposal, the new Manual on Ministry, and the merger with Penn Northeast Conference.
Pre- Fall Meeting events are set for:
- Nov. 6: Zoom meeting (check next week's eNews for the link)
Registration for the pre-meeting is NOT necessary.
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Bookkeeper/Treasurer Training Set for November 3
PSEC Bookkeeper/Treasurer Training will be held Nov. 3 from 9:00a-12:00p at Calvary UCC, Barto. Topics to be covered include: general bookkeeping/accounting issues you should understand, accountable vs non-accountable reimbursement plans, budgeting, credit card policies, employee issues, Our Church’s Wider Mission (pledging), best practices, W2s or 1099s, gifting and in-kind contribution rules, housing allowance calculation, record retention, FICA/SECA tax, and any other questions you may have. Registration is $10.
Click here
to register.
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New Community of Practice group forming in Fleetwood
Clergy interested in joining a Communities of Practice group that will meet monthly in Fleetwood should contact Rev. Sharon Morris at
morris@psec.org
. Communities of Practice are groups of ministers who meet monthly to check in and learn together. For program details,
click here
.
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Free conference on making churches safer set in Philly
"Securing the Sacred: How to Make Religious Institutions Safer" will be a free conference on Nov. 13 from 8:30a-12:00p at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Topics will include Active Shooter Prevention and Response, Countering Radicalization, and White Supremacist Threats. Speakers from the Anti-Defamation League, FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, and US Attorney's Office will participate. This conference is for clergy and lay leaders in eastern Pennsylvania. To register,
click here
.
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Two full-time UCC Disaster Ministries positions available
There are two full-time positions -- one based in North Carolina, the other in Texas -- for Disaster Ministries employees. Click the job title below for more information.
Questions should be directed to: Zach Wolgemuth, Executive, UCC Disaster Ministries at 410-259-6194.
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Registration now open for PSEC, PNEC Puerto Rico trips
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PSEC and PNEC will sponsor two rebuild mission trips to Puerto Rico this spring! The first trip is April 28-May 4; the second May 12-18.The cost per person will not exceed $1,000, including all costs: transportation, food, lodging, supplies, etc.
Registration requires $50 and
this application sent to
Penn Northeast Conference.
The deadline to register is Nov. 15.
The next planning meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 6:30p at Greenawalds United Church, 2325 Albright Ave., Allentown. If you want to be on the list of potential participants and receive trip info directly, email Gilberto at
gilbertor@pnec.org
; and
CC Karl Jones:
kjones275@comcast.net
.
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Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Educational Opportunities
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Church Openings
Gulph UCC: part-time beginning ASAP
St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown: part-time beginning ASAP.
St. Peter's, Molltown: part-time beginning ASAP
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev. Sharon Morris:
morris@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
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Classified Ads
Submit 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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