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Important This Week
- Register for: virtual hospitality workshops; training on cybersecurity or ministerial profiles; Mid-Atlantic Assoc. of United Church Educators event; boundary trainings on family/ church boundaries, challenging parishioners, or on-demand virtual
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From the Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development:
Time is filled with swift transition. Naught on earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
I am a huge fan of modern worship music. When done thoughtfully, young worship leaders today are developing great music full of theologically astute lyrics. There are some songs, however, that come from the history of our church, that have a timeless appeal. Songs that will live forever because of the universality of their message. The lyrics above have that effect on me. We are currently living in a season of swift transitions. Transitions, even the ones we like, can be unsettling. With new administrations, new Covid rules, new worship protocols, a new vaccine; things seem to be changing daily. Here is what I have discovered; in a rapidly evolving world, its good to have a firm foundation I can stand on. The bible says that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Presidents change. Pastors change. Churches change. Rules Change. God, however, is the unchanging hand that we can always reach for when everything else is uncertain.
Rev. Cean R. James
Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development
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Sign up for new Cybersecurity Training Opportunity
PSEC has an opportunity to purchase a block of cybersecurity training videos. This is a 3 year, once per year, training commitment that will take place from the comfort of your own computer at your own convenience. The training will take less than an hour of your time each year for 3 years. In this time, cybersecurity is incredibly important as those who would cause harm to our computers, our private information, our friends who may not have the savvy to understand the difference between a safe email and a phishing email, are getting more sophisticated in their tactics when trying to infiltrate our computers and when spoofing our own email addresses. If you don't know what a phishing email is, what spoofing means, what ransomware and malware are, what a trojan horse is or a worm is, what spear phishing is or what clickjacking is, you might want to consider signing up for this training. Again, it is a 3 year, one hour per year training on the internet. If you are interested, let your intent known to Tammie Wisniewski at tammie@psec.org. The cost is $66 per person for all 3 years and must be paid upfront when we would purchase the course. More information will follow on that piece. Please email your interest asap to Tammie so we can discern if there is a need for this cybersecurity support in the Conference.
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Register now: Penn Central Ministerial Excellence Forum
You are invited to register for a monthly "Ministerial Excellence Forum" hosted by the Penn Central Conference on the third Thursday at one of two time slots: 10:00a-12:00 and 6:00p-8:00p.
Feb. 16: Pastoring Challenging Parishioners: A Mental and Relational Health Perspective
Pastors know the dear ones in our congregations who are beloved yet bristly; loveable and frustrating at the same; and sometimes just a perennial thorn in our sides. We may struggle how to be in relationship with these dear ones, while not allowing their bristle to push us or others away. This two-hour workshop will present a compassionate framing for how to understand these folks and relate most effectively with them in effective pastoral ways. (Qualifies for Boundary Training.)
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Sign the PSEC
Anti-Racism Statement
The Zachariah Walker Racial Justice task force of the PSEC of the United Church of Christ is inviting individuals and entire congregations to join our anti-racism initiatives and sign this anti-racism statement. Please click here to sign: ipetitions.com/petition/psecucc-antiracism-statement.
It is our hope that as we circulate this statement during Advent and Christmas-tide it promotes both reflection and discussion. Together, with courage in our hearts, we pray that Christ gives us the ability to understand this as a white problem that mars the soul of Christianity and our nation.
"We will stand in support of all who face oppressive situations, working together to dismantle the structures of this sin."
Click here to read the entire statement and add your signature. Click here to share the statement to your Facebook page (or a page you manage).
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New congregational security self-assessment tool released
In their effort to provide resources that are focused on safety, security, and preparedness, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released the CISA Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment Tool, providing churches with an easy to use assessment that produces a formatted report with resources which can be used to identify and address a church’s security concerns. This tool along with other resources is located on the Faith Based Organization-Houses of Worship resource page. This continually updated page includes assessments, trainings, planning, exercises, and other materials focused on the mitigation of a wide range of manmade threats (e.g., bombing, active shooter, vehicle ramming) that could be used against churches.
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Pennsylvania virtual photo COVID-19 exhibit announced
First Lady Frances Wolf announced One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views, a statewide virtual photo exhibit celebrating PA’s resilience throughout the pandemic. The exhibit will celebrate Pennsylvanians' work and commitment in the fight against COVID-19. You are invited to share photos of your experiences during COVID-19. The exhibit covers 3 themes:
- Our Heroes, paying homage to the pandemic heroes who cannot stay home;
- Our Lives, looking at how we spend our time when no one is watching; and
- Our Communities, showcasing Pennsylvanians uniting in the face of a global health crisis.
The photo submission period will be Feb. 8 until March 8. The full exhibit will be released on March 19. Read more.
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From the PSEC Addiction
and Recovery Task Force:
Why should congregations be involved in Addiction and Recovery?
The United Church of Christ as the gathered people of God pledges that all God’s people are welcome “wherever they are on life’s journey.” Every congregation has been touched by the opioid epidemic: members, families and/or friends have been affected. Sometimes we are not aware of the struggle because of the stigma attached to addiction. Yet congregations have an opportunity to provide resources, love and support for those affected.
The Addiction and Recovery Task Force of PSEC is providing resources for your congregation on the PSEC webpage. We will continue to add information and opportunities to the page. If you would like to speak to someone about how to involve your congregation there is a contact list available on the webpage.
We will be spotlighting some of the issues and resources relating to addiction and recovery in this newsletter over the next few weeks. Please feel free to contact us at kjones8022@aol.com.
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Struggling with your Church's Annual Meeting via Zoom?
Are you anxious about your church’s upcoming annual meeting being held via zoom? Do you know how to handle the voting process? Do you know how to handle attendance and manage Zoom bombers? If you are uncertain and have questions, reach out to PSEC staff member Sue Creswell at susan@psec.org.
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PNEC offering on-demand virtual Boundary Training
Penn Northeast Conference is offering virtual Ministerial Boundary Training for $75. Once registered, participants can work at their own pace to complete the five modules and required written reflections. Click here for details and registration. Registration is open until Feb. 11 and a check must be received before that point.
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Mid-Atlantic Association of United Church Educators event |
This has been a truly strange year and continues to be so. We were forced to cancel our gathering in 2020, and missed the valued time of being together and sharing successes and challenges. Providing Christian Education has never been more mystifying whether you are a pastor, youth minister, children's program coordinator, or lay leader. We need each other and the sooner the better. So our 2021 retreat is going virtual – like everything else. We've changed the dates from a mid-week event to a Friday-Saturday event hoping to make it accessible for more of our churches' part-time leaders. Workshops will include an opening presentation, small group reaction/ sharing, and large group report outs. All of our conversations will include ideas for virtual, in-person, and hybrid situations.
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Churches commit to change;
PSEC 50-50-50 Challenge
The PSEC Climate Justice Working Group has started the 50-50-50 Green Church Initiative, challenging 50 PSEC churches to make a commitment to do something to mitigate climate change in the coming months. Churches can hold a special service, share educational materials, take on a project of recycling or composting, or many other things. One is example is here:
Friedens UCC, Oley: Our Mission Team wanted to do something more “green” to help the environment. We instituted a recycling program at our church a few years ago, but in light of the “50-50-50 Challenge,” we decided to explore the idea of planting trees. We really did not have a good spot to plant another tree on our property, so the next best thing was to donate funds for trees to be planted in National Parks around our country. A donation of $100 was made on our church’s behalf to the Arbor Day Foundation. This donation will allow for 100 trees to be planted, thus aiding efforts to reach the goal of planting 50,000 trees set by the United Church of Christ. We hope this mission project for the environment will become a yearly event.
For a list of all churches that have made a commitment, more suggestions for actions your congregation can take, and a form you can use for your church to accept the challenge, visit psec.org/green.
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Resources from Spirituality of Generosity training available
Last week the Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Northeast, and Penn Central conferences co-hosted a seminar on the Spirituality of Generosity. The follow resources were shared and referenced during that webinar:
Resources
Congregational Economic Evaluation Survey (CEE Survey) -- The Wisconsin Conference, Pension Boards, and the Center for Analytics, Research and Development and Data (CARDD) developed a Congregational Economic Evaluation Tool to help leaders understand their congregations better. Use the results to spark reflection among your leadership team - surveymonkey.com/r/HFCLWM3
Generous Preaching Sermon Starters
General
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Updates on the Associate Conference Minister search
Conference Consistory has begun in earnest the search process for our settled Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call. Mr. Tim Kissling, Covenant Association Consistory representative, worked diligently to bring together members of the ACM/SC Profile Team. In addition to himself, they are: Rev. Karl Jones (Schuylkill Association), Rev. Mark Johnson (Covenant Association), Rev. Denise Statham (Philadelphia Association), Rev. Anne Cormier (Ursinus Association), Rev. Tony Villareal (PSEC Moderator). The first meeting of the Team will take place this Thursday, Jan. 21 with a hoped-for profile completion date of April 15, 2021. Conference Consistory is also working to appoint an ACM/SC Search Committee that will follow the same model for a Conference Minister search and be comprised of members of the Conference Personnel Committee augmented by one representative from each of our five Associations. We hope to identify a final candidate by the fall of 2021 for presentation and vote by the Conference body. Regular updates on process will come in the next issues of eNews. We beg your prayers for this search and the exciting possibilities that lay ahead for our Conference and the newly called Associate Conference Minister to whom the Holy Spirit will guide us.
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2021 UCC yearbook church reporting open now
This week, emails were sent to church offices and pastors with information on year-end reporting. If you should have received that information and didn’t, please contact the Conference Registrar, Brea Rarick, at brea@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 311. Visit psec.org/reporting for more information on this year’s reporting.
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Family/Church Boundaries training event next month
An Advanced Boundary Training on Family/ Church Boundaries will be held March 11 from 9:00a-12:00p. Sometimes pastors and their families feel like they live in a glass house. Sometimes a spouse and/or children feel imposed upon. Sometimes the lines of being part of the same community as the church make it challenging for the pastor’s family. During this training we will consider ways to be mindful of maintaining boundaries as a clergy family. We will look at a couple of cases and then use the collective wisdom of the group to consider healthy ways to navigate those situations with faithfulness and good boundaries. Click here to register. The fee is $20.
Additional advanced boundary trainings will be offered later in the year.
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Virtual Hospitality events scheduled for February
Did you know that most church remembers report that they are more comfortable inviting a friend or family member to online worship than in-person worship? Virtual church provides a wonderful opportunity to invite new people to experience your church from the comfort of their homes. It is also important to make sure you recognize and welcome people when they join your online community for the first time. This workshop will explore ways we can all be both invitational and welcoming in this “new normal” of congregational life.
Virtual Hospitality – Developing a Welcoming Atmosphere For Online Church, facilitated by Rev. Cean James, will be offered twice:
This seminar is paid for by your OCWM contributions!
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February Computer-side Chat (MIDs, clergy only) on profiles |
The February Computer Side Chat is for ONLY CLERGY and Members in Discernment! On Feb. 9, join me for a conversation about Ministerial Profiles. Even if you are not ready to search for a call…it is good to use Ministerial Profiles as a spiritual practice for your own discernment.
After reading profiles for almost a year now, I have some thoughts about what you might want to highlight and even some thoughts about what you might want to reconsider when preparing how you tell your story to search committees.
So join me 7:00p for a conversation. If you have any questions contact me at minasian@psec.org. To sign up, so that you will receive the Zoom link, email brea@psec.org.
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COVID-19 Considerations for Church Employers
On Jan. 29 at 2:00p, the Insurance Board will host "COVID-19 Considerations for Church Employers". This webcast will address issues churches face as employers during COVID-19 and provide best practice policies and procedures for managing employees and volunteers. Click here to register.
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UPDATED: Info for churches on recent COVID-19 legislation
The Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law on Dec. 27. The CAA is an enormous bill. For info on the sections that may be of interest to churches -- related to extensions of the Paycheck Protection Program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the CARES Act, and Families First Coronavirus Response Act -- click here for a summary from the UCC legal counsel. An additional summary that about churches and copyright is available here.
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Zoom UCC History and Polity course starting in February
Lancaster Theological Seminary will partner with Rev. Dr. Carrie Call (and Penn Central Conference staff) to offer UCC History and Polity via synchronous Zoom sessions. This course satisfies the History and Polity requirement for authorization by association Committees on Ministry. Join us live on Zoom each Friday from 2:00p-5:00p Feb. 12-March 26. Cost of the course is $100 and you can register now. The course is fun and informative and will change the way you think about the UCC.
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Monday Meetings with the Conference Minister continue
Each Monday at 11:00a, authorized ministers and church leaders are invited to check in with Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley on a Zoom call, share experiences in this season of COVID, ask for advice, and be in community. We encourage you to join this opportunity for theological and practical reflection and discussion. Click here to join the call on Monday.
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Updated list available:
PSEC churches online
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)
- Bern Reformed UCC, Leesport (three-quarter time settled)
- Calvary UCC, Barto, and Pennsburg UCC (full-time designated-term)
- St. James UCC, Limerick (3/4-time, interim)
- St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
- St. John's UCC, Schuylkill Haven
- Salem Hetzel's UCC (shared ministry; full-time interim)
- Wyomissing UCC (part-time settled)
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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Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads here
View a complete list of Classified Ads here
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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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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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