Important This Week

• 2024 OCWM mailings coming soon
• Register for the PSEC Fall Meeting
• Registration open for two Town Hall meetings to discuss Keystone Project and Fall Meeting

2024 OCWM: A Preview

Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) is the name we use to describe the work we do as the United Church of Christ beyond the local church, through our Conferences (including our own Pennsylvania Southeast Conference), national ministries and UCC-related institutions – and the offerings that support this work.

As 2023 is rapidly heading toward its close, most of us are beginning to plan for 2024, in our personal lives and the local church. PSEC is no exception. Just as our local congregations ask members and friends to offer their financial pledges prayerfully for the upcoming year, PSEC asks its local congregations to do the same.

How does this work? In early October, PSEC will mail a letter and 2024 OCWM pledge card (refer to the sample images accompanying this article) to all local congregations. Please be on the lookout for this important mailing! Following prayerful consideration and discussion among pastors and congregational lay leaders, please complete the OCWM pledge card, indicating the congregation’s total OCWM pledge for 2024 and whether funds will be sent to PSEC on a monthly or quarterly basis. Please return the card to PSEC as soon as possible, but no later than the Fall Meeting on Nov. 12. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Tammie Wisniewski, PSEC Financial Operations Manager, at tammie@psec.org or 484-949-8774, ext. 304.

As always, thank you for your generous support of Our Church’s Wider Mission and the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference!

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 (Douglassville). Come together with clergy and church 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 Conference Minister 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.)

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Treatment

Faith communities are encouraged to join in the national focus on addiction recovery in the month of September. One of the most important realities of this challenge of our time is that many, if not most, are unable to stop disordered substance use on their own. Different levels of support are available, many of them in the vicinity of local congregations in our Conference area. 

Clinical professionals assess the severity of a substance use disorder in each case based on eleven different criteria, and explore various modalities of support that may fit each person’s needs. These modalities include peer recovery groups – a first and most important level as evidence has recently shown – professional therapies including residential and non-residential treatment, and various options for medications. While primary care providers may offer a simple screening referred to by the acronym SBIRT, often the wisest choice for persons exploring help is to seek out a subject matter expert – either an addictions therapist, or the intake services of a local treatment provider. 

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services offers a list of resources on its website.

2024 Compensation Guidelines and Insurance rates

Last week, there was a message in eNews about the 2024 Compensation Guidelines. The guidelines, including a 3% increase and a new division of church membership numbers, are available now here on the PSEC website. The message that Rev. Bill Worley wrote explaining the changes is also on that website.

In pervious emails, we shared the Pension Boards' 2024 rates, those include:

• UCC Non-Medicare Plan: 3% increase
• UCC Pharmacy Plan: No change to copays
• UCC Medicare Advantage Plan: 1.5% increase
• UCC Dental Plan: 4% increase
• UCC Vision Plan: No change
• UCC Life and Disability Plan: No change

For rates, visit the 2024 Rate Locator.

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

Faith-based security and resilience workshop scheduled

The PA Office of Homeland Security, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, PA Emergency Management Agency, State Police, the three Fusion Centers across the Commonwealth, Faith-based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, and the Anti-Defamation League, is offering a virtual learning series to faith-based organizations on Oct. 11 from 1:00-3:30p. This learning series will focus on cybersecurity and developing your emergency action plan (1st of a 6-part learning series). For more information, click here for a flyer or click here to register.

Rev. Darryl Cruz installation at Ridge Valley UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

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's Annual Bookkeeper/ Treasurer FREE training

Saturday, Oct. 14, 9:00-11:00 on Zoom

Do you have questions about 1099 reporting? How about financial reporting to your Board or Consistory? Do you understand housing allowance? Cash basis vs accrual basis? Do you have Balance Sheet or Income Statement questions? Email tammie@psec.org your intention to attend and bring your questions! Click here for a flyer to share.

Lay Leadership courses scheduled for the fall

Growing Our Spiritual Lives

The first step in making our churches more vibrant, faithful and effective, is for each of us to cultivate our spiritual lives. Our congregations are like trees: in order to reach out with our branches and bear fruit, we must first deepen our roots in our faith. This course on Spiritual Life will meet for three sessions at Saint James United Church of Christ, 321 S Limerick Rd, Limerick, on Saturday mornings from 9:00-11:00 as follows:

• October 7: Spiritual growth through congregational worship
• October 28: Spiritual growth through personal disciplines
• November 4: Spiritual growth through small groups.

The course will be led by Laura Walters and Charlotte Fiedler. They have received training from Wanda Craner, and Charlotte received a certificate in Spiritual Life from Immaculata University. Click here for more information and to register.

Discerning Our Mission

How do we go about reaching out to the world in the name of Christ? This course on Mission will meet for three sessions at Saint James United Church of Christ, 321 S Limerick Rd, Limerick, on Saturday afternoons from 12:30-2:30 as follows:

• October 7 - What is mission?
• October 28 - Local mission
• November 4 - Global mission

This course will be led by Dr. Charles A. Maxfield, a minister of the United Church of Christ, with a Ph.D. in Church History with an emphasis on mission history. Click here for more information and to register.

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.

Hospice chaplain positions in Lehigh Valley/Schuylkill area

There are two open Hospice Chaplain positions with St. Luke’s Hospice. The service area covers the Lehigh Valley, the Poconos, Schuylkill, and upper Bucks county. More information is available here.

Video from Commemoration of anniversary of March on Wash.

On August 27, the PSEC Racial Justice Initiative hosted a Commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. Images from that event are available in the video below.

Neighbors in Need offering materials available

In 2023, the Neighbors in Need “BEHOLD!” theme continues. This year’s focus is on environmental justice. Plastics, electronics, and other non-compostable wastes are being shipped across, and even tossed into, our waterways, launched into space, and buried in landfills. As people of faith, we believe these egregious acts are sinful and unholy. We must be better stewards of our planet!

Please join us in promoting this year’s NIN campaign at your church! Many churches will collect the offering on Oct. 1, as part of World Communion Sunday. Free resources available to download or print assets at UCC Resources webpage.

Diversity training opportunities in Allentown, Reading

The Northeastern PA Synod ELCA is hosting Racial Justice, Diversity, and Cultural Competency Training for Church Leaders in October. On Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 9:00-3:00, the training will be offered at the Synod Office in Allentown. On Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9:00-3:00, the training will be offered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading. Registration is $25 and includes lunch. For more information and to register, click here.

Insurance Board benefit: Discounted water sensors

Insurance Board has partnered with HSB to provide a water sensor program to Insurance Board policyholders at a discounted price. Insureds can purchase water sensors directly from HSB through IB’s partnership with HSB to protect their ministry from unexpected water leaks and frozen pipes that cause disruption to your church. Click here to learn more about how real-time alerts can help you prevent costly damage and repairs.

Theology with a Twist on Theology of Personhood

Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:00p Theology with a Twist presents "Be You Be Barbie: Toward a Transformational Theology of Personhood." Join us as we discuss our identities, God, and Barbie with Rev. Rebecca Hoover. Visit the PSEC website for more information.

Theology with a Twist meets at Kutztown Tavern at 272 W Main St, Kutztown. We gather in the upper room of the tavern the first Tuesday of each month for a time of learning and discussion about a variety of spiritual, religious, and theological topics presented by local experts. The event is free but food and drink can be purchased in the restaurant downstairs and brought to our event space. Parking is available in the lot behind the tavern or on Main Street.

Continuing ed opportunity: Prayer webinar lecture set

The 2023 Sawitski Lecture "Imaging God, Imaging Ourselves: The Exercise of Prayer" on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10:00a to noon (Arizona time). The event will feature keynote by Rev. Rachel Hackenburg and the poet Tina Datsko de Sanchez. Desert Garden UCC invites you to this free webinar lecture. This is the 4th Sawitski Memorial Lecture, in recognition of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Sawitski, our former pastor, and his passion for teaching. Two hours of continuing education hours will be available for clergy. Click here to register.

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