Important This Week

• New ministry opportunities posted.
• Registration open for Addiction and Recovery event
• Lay leadership meeting Saturday
• Fruchtl installation this Sunday

From the Conference Minister:

I am a week back from Sabbatical and feeling deeply grateful for my time away. When I explained to non-church friends the intent of a three month break from work the response was always the same — “I want a sabbatical!”

I traveled some. Read much. Reflected often. And tried to relax — something I discovered I am not very good at. Perhaps the most profound lesson was that living with myself is far more exhausting than ministry and that no matter my chosen vocation getting out of my brain (thinking) and into my body (feeling) is a struggle. So, while driving a bulldozer or dump truck might be perceived as an escape from the insurmountable challenges of church, I can confirm the age-old adage at that, ‘no matter where you go, there you are.’ I learned during sabbatical that I am blessed to be where I am.

Among many other insights, I learned that I am not a monastic- nor will I ever be. I do, however, need to be more intentional about scheduling ongoing silent retreat time. I learned again that it's easy to lose sight of God when you're doing God's work. The business of building up the kingdom of God is not the same as sitting in the presence of God. Sabbatical time was time to sit in the presence of God. And finally, God shows up powerfully in the most remarkable ways at unremarkable moments when my heart was open and tuned to that possibility. That happened often during my sabbatical — in the Hudson River, during communion, in small groups of men, in the Pennsylvania Northwoods. No matter what, keep your heart open.

Let me express deep gratitude to you and the Conference for the experience. It was insightful and restorative. To my relief (but not surprise) everyone honored the boundary of my time away. I had no doubt the Conference staff would not miss a beat in my absence, and they didn’t. I owe Rev. Kevin McLemore a debt of gratitude for stepping faithfully and effectively into the role of Acting Conference Minister and to Sue Creswell who is the best administrator and gatekeeper any Conference Minister could have. I have submitted a sabbatical report to Conference Consistory which I will share with anyone who requests a copy once they have reviewed it. 

With the best of God’s blessings and in the peace of Christ,

Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

POSTPONED: Mark Johnson Installation at St. John (Hain's)

Due to illness, the installation service for Rev. Mark Johnson at St. John's (Hain's) UCC in Wernersville -- previously scheduled for this Sunday -- has been postponed. A new date has not yet been selected; watch future eNews for updates.

Rev. Kevin Fruchtl Installation

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Lay Leadership Support -

Share with Church Leaders

A Lay Leadership Education Team, has been formed. Their hope is to be a support team for Consistory Presidents and/or representatives. Wouldn’t it be helpful if Lay Leaders had a place to ask questions, find support, and to learn from each other?

Pre-COVID several Consistory Presidents and/or representatives started gathering once a month. It was a great place to gain support, knowledge and form friendships. We are revising this gathering. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 17

Time: 10:00a to 12 noon

Place: St John’s UCC, 500 Main St., Lansdale (Entrance by rear of church)

This is a free event; click here to register. 

UCC event: Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice

Join us at 7:00p on Sept. 15 as we kick off the historic Join the Movement Capital Campaign with co-chairs Otis Moss III, Naomi Washington-Leapheart, and Starsky Wilson sharing their visions of a church and a world moving toward fuller embodiments of racial justice. On the 59th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama that galvanized movements to end segregation and establish civil rights, we come together to remember and discover how our sharing of resources can fuel and grow our racial justice work today and for generations to come. Register here.

2022 Stewardship materials

“From Bread and Cup to Faith and Giving” makes the connection between our experience of God and our generosity as disciples. It includes practical tools such as logos, commitment cards, bulletin inserts, and letters. The materials also provide resources for preaching and teaching about stewardship throughout the year, as well as campaign guidance and calendars to help leaders make the best use of these robust materials for their specific context. Available as downloads or print materials in a variety of quantities. See item listing on uccresources.com for specific details.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce:

Why should we support harm reduction measures?

There are two major reasons that harm reduction is supported. One is to prevent deaths from drug use. The second is to give people with substance abuse the chance to have access to treatment, health care and the services they need to put their lives back together.

Harm reduction strategies “meet people where they are” and gives them options to help stay healthy and have the opportunity to move toward wholeness.

To learn more about harm reduction, the Addiction and Recovery Task Force is offering a workshop on Harm Reduction: a Compassionate Approach to Ministry with Erica Poellot, national UCC Minister for Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Ministries. The workshop will be held at  St. Paul’s UCC, Fort Washington on Thursday Nov. 10 from 3:30 to 6:30. The workshop will be both in-person and by Zoom. For more information and to register, click here.

Insurance Board webcast on active intruder preparedness

The Insurance Board is thrilled to again work with the Department of Homeland Security’s current Supervisory Protective Security Advisor for the central Ohio district; Patrick Shaw, who will facilitate an active intruder preparedness webcast on Sept. 15 from 1:00 to 2:30. Click here for more information.

'Birth of the Environmental Justice Movement' webinar

One of the most significant events in the history of the UCC was a six week nonviolent action campaign that gave birth to the environmental justice movement with its pioneering focus on environmental racism. This webinar will feature three leaders from the protest against the dumping of toxic waste in Warren County, North Carolina: Dollie Burwell, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr., and Rev. William Kearney. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 1:00p, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

Justice updates from the United Church of Christ

Did you know the UCC has a Washington DC office in addition to the Cleveland offices? The dedicated staff of the Washington office work to promote public policy for both international and domestic issues. Conferences are regularly updated on their work and we will periodically share those in eNews. The Justice Update for this week is available here.

Soul Cafe to meet next week

Soul Café will meet Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 10:00a at the Wyomissing Restaurant, 1245 Penn Ave., Wyomissing. Bruce Posten will facilitate a discussion on “Words We Live By.

Words shape lives and manifest in actions. This will be a sharing and discussion that may lead us on a journey to understand different points of view in an effort to embrace enlightenment and better understand the human condition. 

Bruce Posten is a retired reporter for the Reading Eagle. For more information, contact Dr. Harry L. Serio at hlserio@aol.com.

Advanced Boundary and Diversity Training Events

Below are numerous opportunities to bring your standing current. Two of these opportunities – one for advanced boundary and one for diversity – allow you, if the scheduled time does not work for you, to view the video after the event and submit a paper to receive credit.

Advanced Boundary Training:

• Wednesday, Sept. 14, 9:00a: Advanced Boundary Training "Keeping Time for Rest & Renewal" on Zoom. Facilitated by PSEC staff. (allows for self viewing)
• Wednesday, Oct. 19, 9:00a: Advanced Boundary Training "Power and the Office of the Pastor" on Zoom. Facilitated by Rev. Nora Faust.
• Wednesday, Nov. 2, 9:00a: Advanced Boundary Training "Pastoral Self Care" at Church of the Good Shepherd in Boyertown. Facilitated by Rev. Wanda Craner.

Diversity Training:

• Tuesday, Oct. 4 - Thursday, Oct. 6: Men's Clergy Retreat "Racism in Church and Society: Past and Present". Led by Rev. Bill Worley, Rev. Kevin McLemore, and Rev. Dr. Stephen Ohnsman.
• Thursday, Oct. 13, 9:00a: Diversity Training. Facilitated by PSEC staff. (allows for self-viewing)
• Fall 2022: Recovering Racists Book Study. Facilitated by PSEC Racial Justice Initiative. Two sessions: Tuesday afternoon option and Tuesday evening option. Registration coming soon.

Tutorial Offered

on Curriculum Recommendation

A one hour curriculum tutorial training on "Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints", with Lucinda Megill Legendre, is offered on behalf of the Racial Justice Initiative of the PSEC on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

This 12-lesson digital companion curriculum are designed for middle-grade children with activity options for younger and older participants. The lessons are designed to introduce children to the concepts of holy troublemaking as modeled by the people profiled in the book, Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints, from diverse faiths, who worked for love, compassion, and justice, even when that rocked the religious boat. These lessons ask questions such as: What is holy and good trouble? What is not? What lessons can we learn from those who have gone before on this path? How do we keep our joy and inner peace while working for a world where all can flourish? What might my contribution be?  For more information and a link to register, click here.

Christianity in America:

Sacred or Supremacist?

The PA Council of Churches is beginning a dialogue on Christian Nationalism, a topic of rising interest in a critical election year where individual candidates describe themselves as part of this movement. The Council of Churches will present a forum titled “Christianity in America: Sacred or Supremacist?” on Oct. 6 at Colonial Park UCC, 5000 Devonshire Road, Harrisburg.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Robert P. Jones, the President and founder of Public Religion Research Institute and the author of White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity and The End of White Christian America.

Dr. Jones’ presentation will be followed by a panel discussion which, in addition to him, includes: Marilyn Mayo, Senior Research Fellow, Center on Extremism, Anti-Defamation League, addressing anti-Semitism in the movement; Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, Founder and Senior Pastor, Resurrected Life Community Church UCC, Allentown, addressing racism and white supremacy; and Rev. Jennifer Butler, Founder in Residence, Faith in Public Life, addressing a scriptural response to the movement. Dr. Greg Carey of Lancaster Theological Seminary will moderate.

We also plan to livestream the program via YouTube Live inclusive of remote sites for groups to participate throughout the state.

Click here for more information and to register.

SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership Program

Beginning in the fall, the Southern New England Conference UCC will be coordinating a Community of Practice in Pennsylvania Southeast Conference for youth ministry leaders and clergy through their Faith Formation Leadership program. There are already three PSEC clergy and faith formation/Christian education leaders committed to joining the group, but there are still a few open spots. The cost is $250/year. For more information or to sign up, contact Debbie Gline Allen, the SNEUCC Minister of Faith Formation, at glineallend@sneucc.org.

UCC Summit: The Church in a Post-Pandemic World

How has COVID affected churches? What did you learn when your church had to pivot quickly to be present? Join us online for the UCC Summit, The Space Between: The Evolving Church in a Post-Pandemic World” on Sept. 19-21. A virtual event, engaging presentations and an invitation to bring your best thinking for what we’ll need to reimagine vibrant church of today and tomorrow. Register here.

Registration open for Drew Hart event at Ascension UCC

Join Ascension UCC and Dr. Drew G. I. Hart, professor, author, community leader, organizer, activist and man of faith for an engaging discussion on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 2:00-5:. Discussion will be based on Dr. Drew’s book “Trouble I’ve Seen."

This FREE hybrid event is being held in conjunction with One Book One Norristown. Reception following event.

All are welcome! We hope you can join us!

To register, click here.

New CWS kits: Welcome Backpacks and Period Packs

Church World Service has two new Kits: Welcome Backpacks and Period (Menstrual Hygiene) Packs. UCC churches assembling any CWS Kits are $250 Match Grants eligible. The grant is to help them stretch their own contributions of these essential supplies. Learn more.

From Knowing to Transforming Your Community

First UCC in Quakertown is offering Free Training for Faith Leaders on Thursday, Sept. 22. This training has been approved by the PSEC Church & Ministry Council for 7.5 hours of Continuing Education. For more information click here. For a flyer click here, and click here to register.