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Important This Week
- Independence Day message from the Conference Minister
- Church World Service accepting kits again and there's a need in PSEC
- LGBTQI Clergy Support Group forming in PSEC
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From the Conference Minister: Are you free?
“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.”
Romans 7:15 & 18
“There are two ways of being a prophet. One is to tell the enslaved they can be free. It is the difficult path of Moses. The second is to tell those who think they are free that they are, in fact, enslaved. This is the even more difficult path of Jesus.”
Richard Rohr
I have for a long time thought I was free but the more I understand how people of color cannot share freedom as I know it, the more I understand how I have been enslaved to my own white privilege. I have for a long time thought I was free but the more I understand how people of other faiths cannot share freedom as I know it, the more I understand how I have been enslaved by Christian privilege. I have for a long time thought I was free but the more I understand how people of a different sexual orientation cannot share freedom as I know it, the more I understand how I have been enslaved by my hetero privilege.
The Apostle Paul and Father Richard Rohr both testify to the simple truth that our deepest freedom rests not in our freedom to do what we want to do but rather in our freedom to know and become the person who God wills us to be.
In the United States we celebrate, especially this coming Independence weekend, the rights and freedoms we have from all manner of restraint. But we pay little attention to the fact that these liberties can only offer us as much freedom as we ourselves have earned from the inside.
If we haven’t achieved the inner freedom to give love, to extend grace, to offer mercy, to do justice, we are totally dependent on the outer systems of family, culture and government which, ironically, can never fully guarantee or deliver the freedoms they promise. You cannot give what you do not have. An elected leader, for instance, who has neither the moral or ethical character upon which our form of government relies, will not be given it once elected and cannot enact or protect it (or the governed) once installed. This is true for lay leaders, pastors and parents.
I know that freedom is not a moment in time or place of being it is process of becoming. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was only a moment in the long journey toward exterior freedom. The journey continues. The death and resurrection of Jesus were moments in time in the long journey toward interior, spiritual freedom. That journey, thank God, continues. Perhaps one day when these two paths have crossed, we will know that “thy kingdom has come on earth as it is in heaven.” Only then could we claim to be ‘one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bill
Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
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Church World Service is accepting kits again
There is a particular need in PSEC for Church World Service kits because we just used 31 cleanup kits for flooding in Schuylkill Association. Here are links to the CWS Kits promotional video:
YouTube link
or a
Downloadable mp4
. Matching Grants of up to $250 for UCC churches assembling kits are available, although the caution remains to not gather to assemble kits until it is safe.
Click here for full info
.
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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center announces webinars
The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is holding "Leadership and Anxiety in the Church" on Aug. 19 via Zoom. The webinar is comprised of a series of presentations that look at the challenges posed by rising levels of anxiety in churches and in society. Works of art are integrated to help facilitate theological reflections on the themes being presented. The Center is also hosting:
- Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches (July 18): Sessions include "Finding Renewal in Conflict" and "How to be Effective when People are Angry."
- Healthy Congregations (July 21): Learn how to keep anxiety within your church from becoming infectious, put limits on invasive behavior, manage reactivity, focus on strengths, and more!
These workshops are particularly effective when members of the same church attend as a group. Members of groups can save $40-$50 per person. Multiple sessions of all three workshops are available.
Visit
lmpeacecenter.org/brochures/ f
or more dates, group discount coupons, and details.
. To register go to
brownpapertick ets.com/producer/720852
.
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LGBTQI Clergy Support Group forming in PSEC
The Conference staff has been asked to help form a support group for our LGBTQI clergy. We do not assume to know who all the clergy would be and so instead of making assumptions we value the right for individuals to self-identify. If you are an LGBTQI clergy person and you would like to gather with others on Tuesday July 14 at 1:00p, please email Sue Creswell at
Susan@psec.org
and a link for the Zoom gathering will be emailed to you. At this gathering the group will move from there in discerning how they would like to come together for future support.
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Updates to Prayer Pause, Conference Minister check-ins
Prayer Pause:
A Mid-Week Prayer Pause led by staff from PSEC, Penn Central and Penn Northeast conferences happens each Wednesday at noon. Take a break from your labors and restore your soul. You can Zoom into that gathering
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:
- Monday, June 1
- This call featured a presentation by Rev. Dr. Jeanita W. Richardson, a Professor and Director of Community Education, Research and Practice in the Department of Public Health Science (PHS) in the University of Virginia, School of Medicine. Her slides on "Shepherding Through a Pandemic" are available here.
- Monday, June 15
- Monday, June 29
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Second 'Waking Up White' book group forming now
The WAKING UP WHITE reading group is now closed for this first round of the process. If you were not able to join this time but would like an opportunity to join another group, email Susan at
minasian@psec.org
. The second round of gatherings will be held during a weekday via Zoom. The Church and Ministry Council has approved this group for Diversity Training credit for authorized ministers.
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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. 7 taught by Rev. Holly MillerShank), a 6-week class with 2.5 CEUs. Cost is $325. For details or to register,
click here
.
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New pandemic loan from the Cornerstone Fund
Leaders of the financial ministries of the United Church of Christ have created a loan vehicle shepherded by the Cornerstone Fund to make available low interest loans to UCC congregations. $50,000 has been made available to congregations in our Conference. You can apply for low interest (2.5%) short term loans (1 year). Details about this loan can be found at
cornerstonefund.org/psec/
Loan applications are due July 15, 2020.
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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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'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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Disaster Coordinator works to get PSEC churches sanitizer
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As churches of the PSEC began to plan to resume in-person services the Conference staff was receiving requests for leads on hand sanitizer. Conference Minister Bill Worley and Conference Disaster Coordinator Karl Jones consulted to determine if the Conference could assist with this request. Karl accepted the task.
Read more
.
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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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Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors
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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. Mark's UCC, Reading (10 hrs/ week)
- 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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