|
|
Important This Week
- Lay Boundary Training will be this Saturday. It's not too late to sign up!
- Sunday is 'Health & Human Services Sunday'. Free resources available.
- Next week, Rev. Cean James will present in a lecture series.
|
|
From the Conference Minister: What is your 'why'?
Our Conference Consistory spent the bulk of their January meeting with the question, “why?” Why are we here (at this meeting)? Why do we “do” church? Why do we go to church? Why are we people of faith? Why are we people of the
Christian
faith?
What is the “why” of anything? Sometimes the “why” to what we are doing is so nebulous that we descend, almost without awareness, into answers about “what” or “how”. Simon Sinek has written about ‘getting to your why’ in several insightful articles and books and in
one of the most watched TED talks
online. If that does not speak to your soul,
watch comedian “Michael Jr.”
help an audience into powerful understanding of getting to your “why”. You will laugh, cry, think and pray all in the same moment witnessing this teaching.
Jesus is very clear about his “why”. All of the gospel stories this epiphany shed light on the “why” of Jesus and none more clearly so than the text this week from Luke:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
If you don’t know your why, you could do far worse than adopting this one —bring good news, proclaim release, free the oppressed for it is the year of the Lord’s favor.
The moment we get clear about our “why” we unlock the source of our passion and power that rises from our grounded being in God. That is what changes lives and transforms world. It’s the only thing that ever has. Thanks be to God, it still does.
God bless you on the road we travel together,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
|
|
UCC refreshes denomination's logo, expands color palette
|
For churches who may have updated their websites or materials to match the colors of the UCC's "A Just World for All" logo or the "3 Great Loves" logo, the denomination has now shared updated brand guidelines and a refreshed logo to fit the new color palette. More information on the logo and new colors, is
available here
. The updated UCC Brand guidelines are
online here
.
|
|
'Leadership in Unchartered Territory' workshop next month
|
Last month, Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley recommended the book "Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Unchartered Territory." The author, Tod Bolsinger, will be presenting a workshop Feb. 28 in Philadelphia.
Rather than seeing graphs of decline or propaganda of a hopeful church, the event will acknowledge the challenge of our time and hear stories of resurrection and hope from real leaders doing the work of Christian ministry in today's drastically changing world.
Click here
for more details and to register.
|
|
Cean James presenting for Compolo Lecture Series
The Compolo Center for Ministry at Eastern University has announced the Spring 2019 Compolo Fellows Lecture Series, including PSEC Associate Conference Minister Rev. Cean James. These lectures, sermons, and discussions are open to the public. For details,
click here
.
Cean will speak three times Jan. 30-Feb. 1 on “Christianity Unboxed”. Modern American Christianity is as tribal as ever. The two big boxes into which most Americans try to fit, and sometimes force, their faith are “conservative” and “progressive.” Like any labels, these are both defining and restrictive. What might be possible if the church returned to the big tent philosophy of both/and, determined to be a church of Spirit and Truth?
|
Free VA Community Clergy Training events scheduled
St. Andrew’s UCC in Perkasie, has partnered with the Philadelphia Department of Veterans Affairs to set up Community Clergy Training (CCT) events at sites throughout PSEC. CCT is a program of the Veterans Administration to resource clergy. The trainer will be Rev. Chris Antal, VA Chaplain and five-year partner with St. Andrew’s UCC in the growth of their veterans Ministry. The Community Clergy Trainings equip pastors in veteran care, helping to identify veteran needs, tend to difficulties of homecoming, and have the capability to make appropriate referrals. Members of the St. Andrew’s Veterans Ministry Team will accompany Chris for each of the presentations.
Training events will be held this winter/spring at PSEC churches in Wyomissing, Souderton, and Schuylkill Haven. Addition training will be held at Moravian Seminary and the Cranaleith Retreat Center in Philadelphia. For more information on these free VA Community Clergy Training events, including registration links, click here to download an event flyer:
VA Clergy Training Schedule Philadelphia Region Winter Spring 2019
.
|
Register: Boundary Awareness Training 2019 opportunities
|
Each Association of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference requires that authorized ministers regularly participate in Boundary Awareness Training. Registration is now open for several BAT opportunities.
- Basic Boundary Training, Saturday, March 2 in Lansdale
- Basic Boundary Training, Tuesday, March 26 in Quakertown
- Advanced Boundary Training on Over-Functioning and Addiction, Tuesday, April 2 in Reading
- Basic Boundary Training, Wednesday, May 15 in Kutztown
- Basic Boundary Training, Thursday, Oct. 3 in Schuylkill Haven
- Advanced Boundary Training on Pastoral Transitions, Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Norrsitown
|
|
Have you heard? Year-end church reporting is now open
Last week, emails were sent to churches and pastors with details on year-end reporting. If you should have gotten that information and didn’t, contact Brea Rarick, at
brea@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 311. Also, visit
psec.org/reporting
for more information on this year’s reporting.
|
MA-AUCE Christian educators conference announced
Mid-Atlantic Association of United Church Educators will hold "Cutting Edge Faith Formation 2019: Meeting the Needs of ALL God's People" April 1-3 in Mt. Bethel. Join your Faith Formation colleagues for this conference which will include highly engaging, practical workshops. You will leave with usable tools and ideas that you can implement in your ministry context. In addition, we will have time to share our successes and struggles, network, worship together, and relax and rejuvenate. Whether you work full-time, part-time, or very part-time, are paid or volunteer, are a pastor, Christian Ed professional, or lay leader, this conference is for you!
Click here
for more information and to register.
|
Lancaster Seminary to hold UCC History, Polity & Theology
UCC History and Polity will be taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Spring, beginning Friday, Feb. 22 and ending Friday, April 12. The class will be held on 7 Fridays from 2:00-5:00p. Assignments include reading and writing, resulting in a History and Polity paper that can be used as part of the ordination paper requirement for authorization. Successful completion of assignments in the class will result in a Certificate of Completion that may be shared with the individual's Committee on Ministry. This class is non-credit.
Registration is required
. The course fee is $ 300. Registration deadline is
Feb. 15
.
|
Worship resources for Health & Human Service Sunday
Sunday, Jan. 27 is recognized as Health and Human Service Sunday in the United Church of Christ. The UCC Council for Health & Human Service Ministries has shared a worship resource for use on that Sunday. Click here to download
liturgical elements and prayers
for use on Jan. 27.
|
Lay Boundary Training going on this weekend in Boyertown
Boundary Training is not just for Pastors... It also pertains to church members! Learn about the boundaries that should exist within the church, child clearances, mandatory reporting and more! The training will be Saturday, Jan. 26 from 9:00a-12:00p at Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown. Registration is $20.
Click here
to register now!
|
|
|
|
Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
|
Church Openings
Gulph UCC: part-time beginning ASAP
St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown: part-time beginning ASAP
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev. Sharon Morris:
morris@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
|
|
Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
|
Educational Opportunities
|
|
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
