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Important This Week
- Merry Christmas from your PSEC staff. The Conference Office is closed from noon Dec. 21 until Jan. 2. Staff are available by email.
- Last chance to join a Community of Practice for clergy, for Christian Ed, or on Christian Spirituality/Direction
- Call to General Synod issued.
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Merry Christmas from your PSEC staff
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In this season of Advent, as we anticipate the return of the Christ light, our PSEC family wishes you and yours the most blessed of holy day celebrations and prayers that faith, hope, joy and love accompany you into the coming New Year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Bill Worley
Sharon Morris
Cean James
Susan Creswell
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Tammie Wisniewski
Brea Rarick
Donna Daloisio
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John Dorhauer issues Call to General Synod 32 in Milwaukee
I am officially calling all delegates, visitors, and friends of the United Church of Christ to join us in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the 32nd General Synod, June 21-25, 2019!
The 32nd General Synod promises to be an inspiring and engaging event in the life of the Church. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Matthew Desmond, professor of Sociology at Princeton University and Pulitzer Prize winner for the book, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.”
Read more.
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New Manual on Ministry available online, to purchase
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The 2018 edition of the Manual on Ministry (MOM) is available in PDF; and hard copies of the new edition can be purchased through UCC Resources. The role of the MOM in the United Church of Christ is to serve as a living guide, a grounding perspective, and a resource for shared expectations in the essential ministry of Committees on Ministry. For more information,
click here
.
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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.
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Last chance to join a 2019 Community of Practice
Communities of Practice are groups of clergy that come together monthly for support and learning. Sign up is open for one more day for 2019 groups. There is an annual $250 fee for participants to cover the cost of the facilitator and other program costs. We ask that congregations pay this fee. (Scholarships may be available for churches/pastors with financial difficulties.) Registration is
available here
. That link also has information on signing up for a new Community of Practice focusing on
Christian spirituality and direction
and a group on
Christian Faith Formation
for any Christian Educators, teachers, pastors, Sunday School Superintendents. (Note: The Christian Ed group has openings for 10 members instead of the usual 5-6 which allows that group to charge less for participation: $100/participant.) If you have any questions about Communities of Practice or joining a group, contact Brea at
brea@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 311.
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LTS staff member from the 1970s accused of sex abuse
Local news sources
reported this week that one of Lancaster Theological Seminary’s long ago staff members was among several Catholic priests named in a release of sex abusers. The Seminary has released a response to that article
attached here
. To report concerns of clergy abuse regarding Father Walsh, contact the
Maryland Province
. Any questions regarding the seminary's statement can be addressed to
development@lancasterseminary.edu
.
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UCC webinar features leading climate scientists, faith leaders
Recently, a couple of
major climate reports
have been released that highlight the impact of climate change on our world and the urgent need to act. As part of the UCC’s monthly
Creation Justice Webinar Series
, the insights and moral imperatives of the reports will be discussed by three leading climate voices. Katherine Hayhoe was a coauthor of the National Climate Assessment, and she has frequently focused on communicating about climate change to an evangelical audience. Naomi Oreskes is a professor at Harvard University and has long been engaged in high profile discussions and documentaries about the science of climate change. Jim Antal is a national leader in faith activism on climate change and is the recent author of "Climate Church, Climate World: How People of Faith Must Work for Change."
Sign-up now to join this webinar
. While the webinar is on Jan. 9, register even if you can’t make it, and a recording will be sent to you.
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PSEC 2018 financial giving
cut-off announced
The financial books of the PSEC will close for 2018 as of close of business on Jan. 15, 2019. All OCWM contributions and pass-throughs for 2018 must be received by our office by the close of business on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in order to be counted as a 2018 contribution.
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2019 Health Insurance rates from the Pension Boards UCC
The Conference Office has received several inquiries about the rate charts for 2019 health insurance. The rates will increase effective Jan. 1 as follows:
- Non-Medicare Health Plan: 2%
- Medicare Supplement Plan: 2%
- Dental Plan: 4%
- Vision Plan: no change
- Life Insurance & Disability Income Plan: no change
Rate charts are no longer made available from PBUCC, but there is a convenient online
Rate Locator
. Enter your church's zip code and the pastor's age range to see the quarterly rate chart for your church.
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Moravian Seminary offering UCC History, Polity & Theology
This comprehensive course will meet 6 – 9pm Mondays from Jan. 28 to April 29. You may attend at Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem or by video conference. The cost is $900. Academic Course Credit is available at regular tuition costs. For details contact instructor Rev. Dr. David DeRemer
deremerd@moravian.edu.
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Register for the PNEC, PSEC rebuild trips to Puerto Rico
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PSEC and PNEC will sponsor two rebuild mission trips to Puerto Rico this spring! The first trip will be April 28-May 4; the second from May 12-18. The cost will be about $800 per person, including all costs: transportation, food, lodging, supplies, etc. Now is the time to register for either one of these trips. The first trip is almost full and the second is filling up fast. Registration requires a $50 deposit. Make the check payable to Penn Northeast Conference and mail along with this
PR Mission Trip Application
.
To learn more about the rebuild site and the work go to
click here
.
The next planning meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 6:30p at Trinity UCC, 101 S Main St, Telford, PA 18969. Phone: (215) 723-3889. It is projected that you will have the option to join the meeting electronically if you cannot join in person.
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Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
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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.
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Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Educational Opportunities
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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