Important This Week
  • The annual PSEC Fall Meeting is this weekend. Register now!
  • A message from the Conference Minister on the lectionary text.
  • Rev. Traci Blackmon scheduled to speak in Philadelphia.
From the Conference Minister: Annual Fall Meeting

5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” 7… they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. Luke 21:5-19

I am always looking for connections between Sunday’s lectionary texts and life’s daily goings on. Sometimes the connections seem a bit arbitrary. Other times it seems the Lord of All Life is trying to communicate directly with me. I am not sure which is which with regard to our Fall Conference Meeting this Sunday, 3pm at Ursinus College.

In response to the disciple’s observations about the grandeur of the temple buildings Jesus says, “the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” Our Fall Meeting agenda includes conversation about moving to a building-free, mobile Conference Office platform.

In Jesus description of the disciple’s future he says, “you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify.” Our Fall Meeting includes consideration of ‘what matters most’ in our public witness to the gospel – starting with the Opioid Crisis and Climate Change. What matters most to the most of us (and to Jesus!) and how do we testify before kings (and presidents who want to be king) and governors?

Maybe this Sunday’s lectionary text is speaking directly to our meeting. Maybe not. Regardless, I know Jesus will be there. And I pray you will be too.

See you soon.
Pastor Bill

Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
PSEC 2019 Fall Meeting this weekend in Collegeville

The Meeting
This Sunday, Nov. 17, the PSEC 2019 Fall Meeting will be held at Ursinus College in Bomberger Hall at 3:00p. The meeting will address:
  • How do your OCWM contributions benefit your Pastor, your members, and your youth?
  • Conversation around the social justice issues of:
  • the opioid crisis
  • climate change
  • Discussion concerning a possible PSEC mobile office

Register now!
Registration for this weekend's meeting is available online here until noon on Thursday . Registration is $15. You can also register for free childcare (Please register your child and bring the completed Child Care Medical Release form with you to the meeting.)

Advance materials
Visit psec.org/fall-meeting-2019 for documents to read before the meeting. Of particular interest might be:
  • a proposal for conversation on the Opioid Epidemic and Climate Change
  • a PSEC Mobile Office Exploration background and information
  • the proposed 2020 Spending Plan for the Conference
  • the 2019 Endowment Report
Maidencreek Church makes hygiene kits, clean-up buckets
Recently Maidencreek Church, Blandon, was able to complete 26 buckets CWS Clean-up buckets and at least 30 Hygiene Kits. On a Sunday morning they busily filled the buckets and put the kits together. They received financial help to do this from UCC Disaster Ministries and the Thrivent Financial Action Team, as well as from the faith community at Maidencreek Church.

Pictured are the buckets in their temporary home at Trinity UCC in Mount Penn.

We congratulate Maidencreek Church on this achievement. (If you have a story to tell about what your church is doing in disaster response, send pictures and the story to Karl Jones: kjones275@comcast.net .
Save the Date: Rev. Traci Blackmon in Philadelphia

On Friday, Feb. 7, Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries Rev. Traci Blackmon will be the guest lecturer for the 38th Mitchell Lectureship through Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Save the date and click the flyer below to download a flyer to share.
Free UCC webinar: Worker justice is climate justice

As the climate movement pushes our society toward becoming fossil free, how can we ensure that the transition happens in a way that is just and fair for workers? This question will be at the heart of the UCC’s next Creation Justice Webinar . The featured guests will be Michael Leon Guerrero from the Labor Network for Sustainability and Michael Williams from the BlueGreen Alliance. In a world that often falsely pits the well-being of workers against protection of the environment, they will help us see how matters of justice are interconnected rather than oppositional. The webinar will be on Nov. 14, but register even if you can’t make it. Sign-up now!
Old First, Philadelphia's breakfast ministry needs help
Old First UCC, Philadelphia, has a clothing closet and breakfast that serve 80 people on Saturdays. Volunteer groups to provide and serve breakfast are needed. Read more about the ministry and how your church can help: PSEC.org news story .
Educational Opportunities
Nov. 19: Soul Cafe: Designer Religion in Wyomissing

View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Classified Ads

Submit Classified Ads here
View a complete list of Classified Ads here
Transitions
Week of Nov. 17
Rev. Linda Kozlowski's first day at Good Shepherd UCC (Tuckerton), Reading

Week of Nov. 24
Rev. Jason Stump's last Sunday at St. Peter's UCC, Pine Grove
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:
  • St. Mark's UCC, Reading (10 hrs/ week)
  • St. John's UCC, Orwigsburg (interim)
  • St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
  • St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown (part-time settled)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Sharon Morris: morris@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
Staff Preaching
Rev. William Worley
Nov. 17: St. James UCC, Havertown

Rev. Sharon S. Morris
Nov. 17: Calvary UCC, Barto
Church Events
Nov. 16: Holly Days Bazaar in Reading

Nov. 16: Holiday Bazaar in Barto

Submit Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
PSEC Events
Nov. 17: PSEC Fall Meeting in Collegeville

Jan. 24: Cultivating Generous Congregations in Boyertown

View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
PSEC is the link that connects our church’s various and diverse ministries both locally and globally. Together, we provide our local churches, pastors and congregations with the training and inspiration they need to carry out our church’s wider mission. We are stronger together; therefore, we embrace diversity, and above all, we spread God’s love!