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Important This Week
- The next Puerto Rico rebuild trip meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
- A free workshop on flooding and recovery will be offered this weekend
- A Solidarity Service has been scheduled as flood recovery continues in Schuylkill.
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Updates on the PSEC/PNEC merger
I hope by now you have heard that Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast Conferences have been in conversation about joining together. I hope you have joined in that conversation at Annual Conference Meetings, in Zoom video calls or at Association or Ministerium meetings; or at least read the online documents that have begun to shape our potential future.
I realize this conversation may be far removed from the local ministry on which we’re primarily focused but the theological and ecclesial principles that form it are fundamental to our ministerial identity -- from the individual to the global level.
We are a people who are bound together by covenant. We are aware that among some of our congregations the level of unity in our “United Church” is at best loose. We have placed our value of autonomy above the ties that bind us in the Body of Christ. We are convinced that a reclamation of our commitment to covenantal connections and the embrace of new relationships is an act of faith that will increase our capacity to realize the dream “that they may all be one.”
(from the ‘
Case Statement for a New Conference
’)
Both the PSEC Consistory and the Penn Northeast Board recently approved a resolution to consolidate and become a new conference. (You can
read that here
.
) That resolution will come before both Conference bodies for consideration and vote -- at our Annual Fall Meeting Saturday, November 10, 2018. Registration for that event is now open. (
Click here
to register.)
The Joint Conference Vision Development Team posted to our conference web site several documents that will help you and our congregations discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in this process. (You can find those here:
psec.org/conference-merger/
) AND have scheduled times to meet face-to-face and digitally to share information, answer questions, hear concerns and dream dreams. Information about that is in this eblast. Keep reading. And keep praying.
Blessings,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
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Phoebe seeking volunteers for dementia program
The The Spirit Alive program at Phoebe Ministries is an innovative way of leading worship with residents who live in Phoebe’s memory support neighborhoods. The program involves sharing stories with residents that illustrate great spiritual truths, such as God’s love, care, and forgiveness. Multi-sensory stimulation is used to convey each story and ensure full engagement by members of the group. The Spirit Alive model is supported by research demonstrating its benefit for the mood and spiritual wellbeing of participants.
Phoebe is seeking volunteers who enjoy sharing stories and interacting with adults living with dementia, to lead small group sessions at care centers in Allentown, Wernersville, Richlandtown and Wyncote.
Training sessions to become Spirit Alive Facilitators are noon to 4:00p on Oct. 5 and 8:00a to 4:00p on Oct. 6 at the Phoebe Wyncote Campus. Attendance at both sessions is required. To register or for more information, contact Alisha Tatem, Spirit Alive Coordinator, at
atatem@phoebe.org
or 610-927-8554 by Oct. 1.
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New Community of Practice group forming in Fleetwood
Clergy who are interested in joining a new 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 authorized ministers (we also have a group for Members in Discernment) who meet monthly to check-in and learn together. For details on the program,
click here
.
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Solidarity Service planned following recent flooding
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A Solidarity Service, based on Colossians 3:12-15, in which we show that we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters whose lives have been changed by the recent floods has been set for Sunday, Oct. 14 at 7:00p at St. Peter's UCC, Tremont. The service will include hymns, Scripture, testimonies from the community, a celebration of the benefits that will come from the Association Disaster Fund, and words of hope by our Conference Minister, Rev. Bill Worley.
Click here
for a poster for the service and invite your congregation!
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Discover Days scheduled at Lancaster seminary
On Saturday, Oct. 27 and Wednesday, Oct. 31, Lancaster Theological Seminary will host Discover Day events. Discover Days are open to all, and offer the chance to experience the life of our community, sit in on a class, worship in chapel, and get to know some current students. The Oct. 27 event is ideal for those interested in the weekend format for our two master's degree programs: Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Ministry & Leadership. The Oct. 31 open house is the better option for those considering our weekday master's programs.
Get more information and register for a Discover Day here
.
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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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Three Pre-Fall Meeting Conversations scheduled
The Joint Conference Vision and Development Team and the Conference Minister, Rev. William Worley, want to offer you the opportunity to discuss items that will be appearing on the upcoming Fall Meeting agenda. Those items include: 2019 Budget, The Pension Board Campaign Proposal, the new Manual on Ministry, and the merger with the Penn Northeast Conference.
Pre- Fall Meeting events have been set at the following times and locations:
- Oct. 16: Zion Blue Mountain UCC, Bernville at 6:30
- Oct. 23: Reformed Church of the Ascension, Jeffersonville at 6:30
- Nov. 6: Zoom meeting (check future eNews issues for the link)
Registration for these pre-meetings is NOT necessary. Simply attend the meeting that fits your schedule and plan to be part of the discussion.
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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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Learn How to offer Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care
The Greater Philadelphia Long-Term Recovery Committee, Pennsylvania VOAD, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance are holding an event on "How to Offer Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care." The program will be Friday, Sept. 28 from 9:00-3:30 at the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities Services, 1101 Market Street, Philadelphia. Lunch will be provided. To register,
click here
.
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Clergy are invited to PNEC's Ministry Day
The Penn Northeast Conference has extended an invitation to PSEC authorized ministers to join in "Ministry Day 2018." From 9:00a-3:30p on Oct. 13 at Faith UCC, Center Valley, clergy will gather to address "Embracing Conflict in our Churches." Take the day to learn: how to allow for and even encourage conflict at times, exploring Biblical case studies of conflict, who are the types of people who generate dangerous conflict, and how do we explain and handle our differences in such a way that our members can work with them. For more info, including how to register,
click here
.
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PSEC Fall Youth Event registration open now!
Registration is now open for the Fall Youth Event! Youth in grades seven through twelve are invited to retreat at South Mtn. YMCA Camp Nov. 2-4. This year’s theme is “This is my story…” around the Psalm 46 “Be still and know that I am God.” Register by Oct. 17 by
clicking here
.
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Free Flooding and Recovery Workshop Scheduled
PNEC, PSEC, and our ecumenical partners active in disaster are sponsoring a workshop
this Saturday from 9:00a-3:00p
for anyone interested in flood relief and recovery for community response. Topics will include:
- the new Crisis Cleanup Tool being used in Pennsylvania that helps families self identify as having needs, and gives churches and community groups the ability to see where those needs are located.
- Safety tips for cleaning out basements
- Resource Information
- Spiritual and Emotional Care overview
- Best practices for long term rebuilding and recovery coordination in communities
- An overview of the whole relief and recovery process.
The training is free but prior registration is required. Please email Julia Menzo at
jmenzo@libertylutheran.org
if you are interested in attending.
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Plans forming for PSEC, PNEC Rebuild Trip to Puerto Rico
PSEC and PNEC will sponsor a rebuild mission trip to Puerto Rico April 28-May 4. The cost will not exceed $1,000 per person, including all costs: transportation, food, lodging, supplies, etc. Registration details will be released soon; the deadline for registration is Nov. 15. The next planning meeting will be Oct. 2, at 6:30p at Trinity UCC, 101 S Main St, Telford. If you cannot attend in person, join via ZOOM.
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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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Church Openings
Gulph UCC: part-time beginning ASAP
St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown: part-time beginning in Oct.
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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Educational Opportunities
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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