Important This Week

• Rev. Darryl Cruz installation at Ridge Valley UCC this weekend
• PSEC Addiction & Recovery Taskforce holding Winter Clothing Drive
• Lay Leadership Support Group meeting this weekend

Letter to Congress on crisis in Israel/Palestine:

The United Church of Christ was among 27 Christian churches and agencies to address a letter to members of Congress on Thursday. The content of that letter was:

Dear Members of Congress,

We have watched in sadness the devastating loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories over the last several days. As Church-based denominations and organizations with deep ties to the Holy Land, we mourn with our Israeli and Palestinian siblings as they grieve the loss of loved ones and remain fearful of continued violence. Our commitment remains to a future in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, with security and human rights protected for all.

We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ attacks and violent treatment of civilians and call for the immediate release of all hostages in captivity. We also condemn the indiscriminate and violent Israeli response that has already claimed hundreds of civilian lives. The Israeli government’s decision to shut off power, water, and fuel will have a disastrous impact on millions of civilians in Gaza, including over a million children, especially those who need immediate medical attention.

At this critical time it is incumbent upon Congress to act in ways that will help de-escalate the violence and stop further loss of life. Specifically, we call on Congress to:

1. Publicly call for ceasefire, de-escalation and restraint by all sides
2. Call on all parties to abide by the laws of war, including the Geneva conventions and customary international law
3. Prioritize steps to secure immediate release of hostages and ensure international protection for civilians

During this time of heightened tension, we implore Congress to refrain from steps that only exacerbate the violence and increase the risk of expanding war into the broader region. Any Congressional effort that is one-sided, and rushes to send new weapons to Israel, will only intensify the conflict leading to further deaths and destruction. Congress must work to prevent the spread of more violence, including against Palestinian civilians in Israel and the West Bank.

Year after year, we have seen that increasing violence begets more violence. Our past responses have failed to end the bloodshed. As these horrific events unfold, we are reminded once again that only by addressing core systemic issues, including decades of institutionalized oppression and collective punishment of Palestinians through brutal military occupation and a 16-year Gaza blockade, will Israelis and Palestinians live in peace.

We are grateful for your service to this country. We pray for wisdom and discernment on your behalf in the days ahead.

For a list of who signed the letter, more information, and information on how you can help, click here.

Addiction & Recovery Taskforce holding Winter Clothing Drive

Note: more drop-off locations have been added since last week:

• Zwingli UCC, 350 Wile Ave., Souderton
• PSEC Fall Meeting, Nov. 12 in Amityville

Rev. Darryl Cruz installation at Ridge Valley UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Lay Leadership Support

Group via Zoom!

A Lay Leadership Support Group exists for church leaders. We gather once a month on Zoom -- so please join us at our next meeting Oct. 21 at 10:00a.

We have found it to be a great place to form new friendships, to gain support, and to be educated on a variety of topics concerning our churches. The discussions are centered around sharing valuable information about what our churches are doing or maybe could be doing. This meeting will be online to make ease of attendance for all! Click here to read about what we discussed over the summer.

All past attendees will receive an email with the Zoom link the Thursday prior to the meeting. If you are new to the group, reach out to Susan at the PSEC office at susan@psec.org to be added to the list.

Bethany Children's Home shares Christmas lists

Each year, Bethany youth and team members look forward to Hanging of the Greens service, cookie socials, ornament exchanges, fellowship opportunities, the Youth Christmas Dinner, Christmas Eve service, and of course, Christmas Day! Click here to visit the "Holidays at Bethany" webpage where you can learn how to donate, view the Wish Lists, and review the drop-off info.

Online Boundary Training for Retired Clergy

The UCC's Ministerial Excellence Support and Authorization (MESA) Team will host Boundary Training for Retired Clergy on Monday, Nov. 6 from 5:30-8:30p.

Join them for a focused conversation on boundary topics faced in retirement – identity, leaving well, Exempt Status, as well as a refresher on the Ministerial Code, power, and accountability. Click here to register.

PSEC church in UCC news: Church hosts school after flood

Trinity UCC in Mt. Penn, Reading has been hosting Antietam Middle School students following the July flooding in Berks County. Read more about that situation as featured in last week's UCC News Digest here.

Register to view Installation of the UCC's 10th President

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson will be installed on Friday, Oct. 20 at 5:00p in Lakewood, Ohio. The service will be livestreamed. More info and registration are available at ucc.org/gmp-installation.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Additional Support for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Some of our Pennsylvania counties have support groups for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Area Agencies on Aging may offer support and/or courses for grandparents to help them navigate the myriad issues they face. You can call your local office Area Agency on Aging for more information on support and include it in your Sunday bulletin/newsletter to let your congregation know for their own use and for their contacts in the community. You can also go to grandfamilies.org and click on Pennsylvania for a list of resources in our state.

Resource: Allied Against Hate: Toolkit for Faith Communities

Every day across our nation, countless faith leaders from diverse traditions are working together to counter hate and promote peace with justice. Religious leaders and faith communities are well-positioned to use their moral authority to de-escalate conflict, foster respect for the inherent dignity of every human being and point communities toward hope and healing. This toolkit describes practical steps faith communities can take to prevent acts of hate, discrimination, and bias, and to demonstrate solidarity with targeted communities if such acts tragically do occur.

You might also find these resources to be helpful:

• Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence fact sheet
• Protecting Houses of Worship: Perimeter Security Considerations infographic
• First Responders Toolbox: Tips to Engage Religious Communities to Protect Places of Worship

UCC webinar:

Holy Heat Pumps

How we cool and heat our buildings is a significant part of how we address the climate crisis. When it comes to Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, heat pumps are a crucially important technology in the transition away from fossil fuels. This webinar will explain how heat pumps work and how government funds can be accessed by congregations for their purchase. We will hear a success story from a local faith community that installed both air-source and ground-source heat pumps. Finally, we will address frequently asked questions, such as, “What do you do with a building that has had radiator heating?” Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on Oct. 25 at 1:00p, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Needed: Disaster Response Volunteers in Chicago

There is an urgent need for Disaster Response volunteers -- both individuals and groups -- in Chicago. Click here for more information.

Register now for PSEC 2023 Fall Meeting

The 2023 Fall Meeting will be held Nov. 12 as a hybrid meeting — join us online OR we would love to have you in person at St. Paul's UCC in Amityville. Come together with clergy and delegates for worship and to do the business of our conference. The agenda includes OCWM 2023 report and approval of the 2024 Spending Plan and a presentation from the Keystone Study Group. Click here to register.

Registration opens at 2:00p. Refreshments will be available as you visit tables manned by some of the PSEC Committees. The meeting will be from 3:00-5:00p.

Town Hall Discussions set on Keystone Project, Fall Meeting

Prior to Fall Meeting we are offering two opportunities to join Rev. Bill Worley and others in presentations about the work of the Keystone Study Group and the Fall meeting. There will be opportunities for questions. Town Halls will be Oct. 30 at 7:00p and Nov. 8 at 2:00p. (Click the date you would like to attend to register.)

Conversation planned: Are you being called to ministry?

Have you ever had the experience of leading worship and felt that you were called to do more of it? Has anyone ever said to you that you should think about being a pastor? Discussions around these questions and what it means to be “called” were part of a conversation that began this summer. That conversation continues. You need not have attended the first session to join this one. On Oct. 25 at 7:00p on Zoom, we will hear more brief stories of people who have answered the call to serve the church in this specific way and reflect on what we’ve discerned since the first session. For more information, click here.

PSEC All Saints Special Offering materials available

All Saints Sunday is the first Sunday in November. We celebrate long ago saints and those known to us as saints. Some of the PSEC pastors who retired years ago are in need of special assistance. Because their retirement income is low, the churches of the PSEC supplement the cost of their health benefits. We remember these saints as we receive the All Saints offering. 2023 resources for that are available here. 

Rev. Barbara Pence installation at St. Andrew's UCC, Perkasie

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Lecture: Missions Today: How did we get here from there?

On Saturday, Oct. 28 from 12:30-1:30p, the PSEC Lay Leadership Education Team will host a free lecture by Dr. Charles Maxfield. The lecture will explore how our understanding of mission has evolved through the years, and will raise questions about how we do mission today. For more information, click here.

Apply now: Ministers'

Financial Vitality Initiative

If you are an active UCC authorized minister interested in joining the Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative for the 2024 cohort, please follow this link to apply. The application deadline is Dec. 31. No extensions will be granted. Act promptly as spaces are limited and requests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis until all spaces are filled. 

MFVI is a three-year Faith and Finance program of the Pension Boards made possible by funds awarded to PBUCC by the Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, which seeks to empower UCC ministers with financial tools and strategies to better manage their personal finances so they can serve their ministries more effectively.

To learn more about the MFVI program, read our Frequently Asked Questions.

This email is brought to you by your generous gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission)! Thank you!