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Important This Week
- Conference Minister reflection on General Synod resolution
- Register for the PSEC Fall Meeting
- Flooding preparedness webinar being offered next week
- Sign up for the Men's Clergy Retreat
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From the Conference Minister: "Jesus said 'Follow Me'"
The gospel lectionary texts this month are filled with questions asked by, and of, Jesus — “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Lord, do you not care…?” “Is there anyone among you…who would give a snake instead of a fish?” “And the things you have acquired, whose will they be?” All of them seem to be related to one question — what does it mean to be a child of God and a disciple of Christ?
This question was the focus of a General Synod Resolution JESUS SAID, “FOLLOW ME” A Resolution of Witness submitted by the Northern California Nevada Conference. Among other things, it
“calls upon congregations to engage in reflection and conversation on what it means to follow Jesus in the diversity of our practices, with the intent of learning from one another and encouraging one another in faithful witness and extravagant welcome.
It also,
“calls upon congregations to have these conversations within, between, and among Local Churches, focusing on the significance of Jesus’ call, “Follow me” in this era, and the ways in which each congregation responds to that call.”
On the one hand, the simplicity of this call is so apparent for a group calling itself “Christian” that it might be over looked for its obviousness. On the other hand, the church is always in a state of needing to be called back to the source of itself and the deepest values that spring from that source
—
especially when so many voices from every corner of the earth seek followership.
I encourage you check out
that resolution here
.
You can see all the resolutions that came to the floor of Synod
here
,
in their final form, with the action of Synod recorded. In consultation with our Conference Synod delegates and Conference Consistory members, I will be commenting in the next several eblasts on those resolutions that they, and I, have discerned are particularly important ‘for such a time as this.’ I can’t imagine a better place to start than with a call to follow Jesus.
Your brother in Christ,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
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Spots filling up for Oct. 8-10 Men's Clergy Retreat
"God, Guts and Guys: from Vulnerability to Vitality" will be the theme of the 2019 Men's Clergy Retreat being held at Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, PA. The event, taking place Oct 8-10 (Tues-Thurs), will be a mixture of worship, small group discussions and relaxation! The facilitator of the group will be Rev. Felix Villanueva, Conference Minister of Southern California-Nevada. For more info and to register,
click here
. Spots are limited; register now!
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Flooding preparedness webinar offered next week
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Localized flooding has in the last year been a real danger to communities across Eastern Pennsylvania. A webinar on July 31 from 9:30a–11a, presented by Julia Menzo, Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator and Karl Jones, UCC Disaster Coordinator, will give info for congregations to help strengthen their communities:
- Learn Steps for a congregation to be better prepared for emergency weather and natural disasters
- Resources to share with community residents and members when property damage occurs
- How to make your community stronger: early response and long term recovery
- How Lutheran Disaster Response and UCC Disaster Ministries help communities when natural disasters like flooding happen
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Support DMin student in PSEC by taking online short survey
My name is Rev. Kimberly Stryjak and I was ordained in the PSEC and work as a hospice chaplain in Delaware and Chester counties. I am a Doctorate of Ministry student at Lancaster Theological Seminary and am in the process of writing my Major Project and wanted to seek out the help of you, our faith leaders, through a survey.
This project seeks to engage how the church can help break the silence around death and dying in our society today. It sheds light on how intentional conversations in our United Church of Christ faith communities can help to normalize death within our society. Through this project I will look at how faith leaders can help initiate conversations around mortality in our faith communities and seek to answer the question: how can the church have a meaningful presence in helping individuals and their families prepare for the end of life?
So if you would please take about 15 minutes to fill out this survey, I would greatly appreciate it!
This link
will take you to the survey in google forms. Thank you for your time and assistance in my research project.
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Registration is open for PSEC 2019 Fall Meeting at Ursinus
- How do your OCWM contributions benefit your Pastor, your members and your youth?
- What were the Resolutions at General Synod all about and how do the effect your church?
These are just a few of the questions that we will answer at the Fall Meeting. Join us and learn what is happening in PSEC and how your church benefits! The meeting will be held Sunday, Nov. 17 from 3:00-5:30 at Ursinus College. Registration starts 2:30. For a flyer,
click here
. For more info and to register,
click here
.
Childcare is available from 3:00p to meeting end. (Please register the child and bring the completed Child Care Medical Release form with you to the meeting.
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Drop off donations for unaccompanied youth at PSEC
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Helping Hands is a humanitarian program that reunites unaccompanied youth from Central America with family that already resides in the USA. Bethany Children's Home provides them with a safe place to live and grow until they are reunited with their families.
Click here
for a list of the items they are currently in need of, as many of the youth, aged 5-14 years
, arrive with just the clothes on their backs.
If your church is collecting items for Helping Hands and is unable to get them to Bethany Children's Home, you can drop items off at the Conference Office, 1441 Laura Lane, Pottstown, during regular office hours (Monday-Thursday from 9:00a-3:00p and Friday from 8:00a-12:00p).
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Intentional Interim clergy training offered in Malvern
The Interim Ministry Network will offer a three-day, self-contained "Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Leader" course, introducing foundational theories to interim ministry. The time is devoted to experiential learning through the use of case studies and sacred story. The work of the interim leader is presented and discussed along with tools and resources that facilitate the work of the transitional leader. The workshop will be in Malvern August 27-29 for $740 plus room/meals.
Click here
for more information and to register.
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Register now for 2019 Ventures Retreat at Mariawald
Ventures, in its 44th year, is a retreat for all ages. It is a time of faith, Bible study, worship, fellowship and fun! Come to Mariawald Retreat Center, Sept. 24-26 and experience a beautifully relaxed and peaceful setting. This year’s theme is "Hear Me - Is God Listening". For a flyer,
click here
. To register,
click here
.
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Church social media workshop scheduled in three locations
Many churches hesitate to be active on social because they are afraid of the unknown and feel unequipped. Every congregation, with very little money and some serious elbow grease can -- and should -- have an active presence on social media. During this 3 hour workshop, you will learn how. There are 3 opportunities to participate. Each session will offer the same info. It is best for churches to attend in groups and each group should have a laptop. Wifi will be provided. If you don't have a laptop, a smartphone will do. Click the date to register.
- Sept. 7 at Zion Blue Mountain, Bernville
- Sept. 28 at Good Shepherd, Boyertown
- Oct. 5 at Grace Trinity UCC, Philadelphia
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Chestnut Hill United Church team to witness at the border
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Thirteen folks from Chestnut Hill United Church traveled to the US/Mexico border July 20-27 to pray with their feet, stand in solidarity with migrants, witness to the impact of our country’s policies on the vulnerable, and leave water in the desert with Tucson Samaritans and No More Deaths. They ask for your prayers for the team as well as for all those fleeing violence and climate change in their homelands. You can follow daily updates on the
church’s Facebook page
.
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Have a book to recommend for other clergy and lay leaders? Send an email to
brea@psec.org
with a 100-200 word description of the book and why you're recommending it and we'll add it to the PSEC summer reading list and share your recommendation in eNews.
Check out all of the books that have been recommended in recent weeks at
psec.org/booklist
.
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