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Important This Week
- Search and Call Zoom meeting tonight
- UCC Coalition's ONA Sunday Service recording online
- UCC launches emotional care resources
- Christmas Fund needs your help
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From the Conference Minister:
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.”
Matthew 13
The wheat and the weeds are so incredibly close together, that one cannot be uprooted, without uprooting the other.
I know this. Not because I am an experienced gardener; nor have I lots of evil neighbors. I know this because the goodness in me, and the evil in me, are so close together. The person who I judge to have evil ideas, also has good in them.
This parable is about how gray the world is; how what’s good, and what’s bad aren’t so easily separated.
I watch people spend tremendous energy battling the beliefs of others. Working so very hard at the separating and dividing. Trying to make the world right (or white) in their own image. Everyone is their own authority deciding who is right and wrong, who is evil and good. Republicans or Democrats? Liberals or conservatives? Police or Protesters? This, according to Jesus, is a complete waste of time.
Teresa of Ávila said that the sinner is actually one who does not love himself or herself enough. We do not see or admire the whole self; so we split and try to love the good self and reject the bad self. But Jesus told us to let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest, lest we destroy the wheat by trying to pull up the weeds.
We pull up our own values, morals, and intentions trying to eradicate differing viewpoints and the people who hold them. That is one warning of the parable. The destruction you intend for another will come back to bite you. What goes around will come around.
It is difficult enough to live up to my own expectations and even more difficult to get others to do the same. I suspect that is true for us all. Though our lives are intimately and globally intertwined, living our best is what is best for another and for the world. This, according to Jesus, should be the complete use of our time.
May it be so for you and for me,
Pastor Bill
Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
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Support Veterans of the Cross with a Christmas in July gift
For more than a century, the Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund has provided direct financial assistance to those who serve in the United Church of Christ, both authorized ministers and lay church workers.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, requests for emergency grants have been unprecedented, and special out-of-season appeals for Christmas Fund contributions have been needed to make sure we have the resources to help.
Each year, our Christmas in July appeal allows the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the charitable arm of the Pension Boards, to keep pace with the requests from those who serve. This year of pandemic, that need is acute and urgent.
Know that your gifts are efficiently and compassionately administered, with 95 cents of every dollar received going directly to those who need the help.
Whether you have been supporting the Christmas Fund for years, responded to one of those recent email appeals with a gift, or have never donated before, our siblings in faith need you now more than ever. Gifts of any size can make a huge difference in the life of a stressed colleague.
You can choose to
give online
, or make checks payable to “UCBMA,” earmarked for “The Christmas Fund,” then mail to the Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Christmas Fund, 75 Remittance Drive, Suite 1637, Chicago, IL 60675
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Search and Call: You are NOT alone!!! Zoom meeting tonight
Are you currently serving on a:
Consistory Transition Team? Profile Writing Team? Search Committee?
Maybe you are already in the process of Search & Call OR maybe it is something you are about to deal with and it all feels daunting. Join our Interim Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Susan A. Minasian for a computer side chat about what Search & Call IS and what it ISN’T…via
ZOOM 7:00p Tuesday, July 14.
Search & Call can be one of the most spiritually inspiring seasons in the life of a congregation. Join the zoom and find out how! Use
this link
to join the Zoom meeting this evening.
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Stewardship events set with Generosity Outreach Officer
Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Central, and Penn Northeast conferences are working with the UCC's Generosity Outreach Officer to create three workshops for our churches and leaders. Please save the dates for these events:
Aug. 22, 10:00a-12:00p:
Annual Campaigns 101
–
Designed for pastors and lay leaders planning an annual pledge campaign, we will explore ways to create an effective campaign. We will reflect on core purpose of a campaign, discuss practical steps leaders can take, and explore creative ideas to design a campaign uniquely suited to your congregation. Join this webinar to develop and strengthen plans for a successful fall campaign.
Oct. 17, 10:00a-12:00p:
Planned Giving to Support Mission and Ministry
–
While a significant wealth transfer occurs (and will occur) in our country as our eldest generation passes, many congregations and ministries remain unprepared to promote planned giving options among their members. Only 5% of people leave a charitable bequest even though nearly a third of people would if asked or invited to consider one. Through this webinar, you will learn key concepts and create an actionable plan for your congregation or ministry.
Jan. 20, 10:00a-12:00p:
Spirituality of Generosity
– Jesus talked about money second only to the kingdom of God, yet many in the church today treat money as a non-spiritual topic. We can theologically engage questions of money, wealth, and giving. Teaching and preaching about generosity and the use of our financial resources can deepen the faith life of our congregations. Gathering together with other pastors, this webinar will help you reclaim money-talk as a faith formation conversation with the members and friends of your congregation.
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Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors
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UCC launches emotional care resources for COVID-19
The pandemic is taking an enormous emotional toll on millions of people. In response, a multidisciplinary UCC team is launching “Recovering Hope,” which is rolling out resources for emotional and spiritual care to pastors, chaplains, other church leaders, congregants, vulnerable communities and beyond. “Recovering Hope” is offering resources, indexed at
ucc.org/recovering_hope
in a variety of formats, including virtual workshops, referrals to vetted providers, and other easily accessible resources.
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UCC Coalition's ONA Sunday Service recording now online
The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition's first-ever online celebration of National ONA Sunday is now available online. The Coalition announced "featuring inspiring music and hopeful preaching, feel free to use any part of this service as [you] prepare future online worship." The service is
available at
youtu.be/sOthn7LZIP8
.
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Conference Minister check-ins recordings available here
Check in with the Conference Minister
on Mondays at 11:00a online. Use the link that was emailed to you
to join the Zoom call and check in, share, and seek help from colleagues and conference staff. View previous calls:
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Webinar tomorrow on
'Rioting as Flourishing?'
The McCormick Theological Seminary Office of Community Engagement and Alumni Relations invite you to the Webinar: “Rioting as Flourishing? Reconsidering Virtue and Rage in Times of Civil Unrest.” Wed. July 15 at 2:00 (Central time).
Click here
to register. In the wake of the Ferguson protests in 2015, Sarah E. MacDonald (M.Div. '07) and Nicole Symmonds addressed the tension between acts of anger and the conditions that provoke it. Published in the
Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics
, their insights are just as relevant and valuable today.
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'Embracing Healing in These Day's' online course offered
Registration is open for a Gestalt Pastoral Care online course on "Embracing Healing in These Days," taught by Rev. Wanda Craner. The course will be held
from 1:00-2:30
on six Wednesdays beginning Aug. 5. Anyone interested in healing outreach -- faith community and church members, prayer group members, seminarians, and pastors -- should consider this course. The class is limited to 20 students. Cost is $120.
Click here
for more info. The PSEC Church and Ministry Council approved this for 9 contact hours of continuing ed. credit.
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PSEC climate team starts
50-50-50 green church initiative
The PSEC Climate Justice Workshop Group invites churches to commit to doing something "green". The 50-50-50 Challenge is that
50 PSEC churches
will commit to do something to mitigate climate change during the
50 days of Easter
for the
50th anniversary
of Earth Day. For a list of churches that have made a commitment, suggestions for actions your congregation can take, more information, and a form you can use for your church to accept the challenge, visit
psec.org/green
.
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New pandemic loan from the Cornerstone Fund
Leaders of the financial ministries of the UCC created a loan vehicle shepherded by the Cornerstone Fund to make available low interest loans to UCC congregations. $50,000 is available to churches in PSEC. Apply for low interest (2.5%) short term loans (1 year).
Applications are
due July 15
.
Details at
cornerstonefund.org/psec/.
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Registration deadline for PA Academy of Ministry course
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM) is offering online classes. Register for Theology I: Faith Seeking Understanding (starting Saturday, Aug. 22 taught by Rev. Holly MillerShank), a 6-week class for 2.5 CEUs. For details or to register,
click here
.
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Updated list available: PSEC churches online this summer
If your church isn't currently worshipping or you are not able or comfortable attending services, we have compiled a list of churches in PSEC that are holding digital/ virtual worship experiences. Share this with others that might not have another option for worship.
Click here
for an updated list.
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Church Openings
- Allegheny UCC (Sunday supply)
- St. James UCC, Havertown (full-time settled)
- St. John Hill UCC, Boyertown (full-time settled)
- St. John's UCC, Orwigsburg (full-time settled)
- St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
- St. Luke's UCC, Ottsville (part-time settled or designated)
- St. Paul's UCC, Kutztown (full-time settled)
- St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown (part-time settled)
- Salem Hetzel's UCC (shared ministry; full-time interim)
- Trinity UCC, Rehrersburg (part-time settled)
- Wyomissing UCC (part-time settled)
- Zwingli UCC (full-time associate)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Dr. Susan Minasian:
minasian@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
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PSEC Events
Nov. 15: PSEC Fall Meeting at New Goshenhoppen UCC, East Greenville
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Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
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Educational Opportunities
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Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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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!
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