|
|
Important This Week
- Conference staff are working from home today due to icy conditions.
- Registration is now open for the PA Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Seminary.
- Read a Valentine's reflection from the Conference Minister.
|
|
From the Conference Minister: A Valentine's reflection
Valentine’s Day is this week; a source of deep joy for some and anguish for others.
I was blessed last Sunday to preach at Tabernacle United Church in Philadelphia—another amazing PSEC congregation. A worshipper stood during joys and concerns and shared with courageous honesty their struggle with love in general and Valentine’s Day specifically. It is not a holy day despite its name’s sake and the disingenuousness our culture has built around the day is a reminder to this person of the ways love has been used to manipulate and control rather than set free. This person’s shared pain brought to mind a reflection on 1 Corinthians 13 from one of my favorite authors Robert Fulghum:
“
Paul says many great things in the passage from Corinthians. Love is patient and kind, not envious, boastful or rude. But here is what Paul doesn’t say. There is a lot of pain in true love. Love causes pain. Love cures pain. Love can be a pain. Where love is, pain is never far away. Love will fill your heart, break your heart, and heal your heart when it’s broken.
”
He goes on to say that there are no easy rules to love (well, yeah), but there are some guiding principles that might keep our hearts open to the possibility of love. They are a bit trite but also true:
“
The opposite of love is not hate it is indifference--just not caring about each other.
The game of love should never be called on account of rain--never give up no matter how bad the weather is, the sun is always shining behind the clouds.
Most of us need love when we are the most unlovable.
If you concentrate on getting love, your task will seem large and the results small. If you concentrate on giving love, your task will seem small but the results large.
Holding hands is the most basic human connection. Do it. Often.
Some say God is love; some say love is God. I say love is holy and worth celebration.
”
No matter where you find yourself this Valentine’s Day, alone or connected, grieving or celebrating, I pray the Spirit of Divine love reaches your heart with the grace that both keeps and transforms this world.
With Love,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
Source Cited:
True Love
, Robert Fulghum, 1997 Harper Collins
|
|
Bi-vocational pastors: Register for Boundary Training now
Committees on Ministries and Conference staff have heard many complaints from bi-vocational pastors that it is hard to fulfill the Boundary Training requirements while holding a secular job. Therefore, a Boundary Training workshop has been scheduled for Saturday, March 2 in Lansdale. Registration has been very low considering how many people who have requested this training.
If there aren't enough registrations by Feb. 22, we might have to cancel the event.
Please register for upcoming BAT opportunities:
- Basic Boundary Training, Saturday, March 2 in Lansdale
- Basic Boundary Training, Tuesday, March 26 in Quakertown
- Advanced Boundary Training on Over-Functioning and Addiction, Tuesday, April 2 in Reading
- Basic Boundary Training, Wednesday, May 15 in Kutztown
- Basic Boundary Training, Thursday, Oct. 3 in Schuylkill Haven
- Advanced Boundary Training on Pastoral Transitions, Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Norrsitown
|
UCC Racial Justice Ministry starting first Book Discussion
|
The United Church of Christ Racial Justice Ministry will host its first Book Discussion featuring, “
Preaching as Resistance: Voices of Hope, Justice & Solidarity”
edited by Phil Snider Thursday, March 7, 12 noon – 1 pm via live webinar discussion. You must
register
and proceed to the Racial Justice webpage to join the discussion. Registration includes a free book for the first 10 registrants.
Book discussions are meant to stimulate new ideas for equipping yourself and others to act justly and dismantle systems of injustice. Book discussions are also intended to:
- Gather people for a lively and necessary conversation about issues impacting the Church and society
- Listen, learn, and develop new ideas and relationships
- Engage your congregation, community, and organizations toward racial equity and justice
- Learn more about Sacred Conversations to End Racism, a UCC restorative justice journey curriculum
- Meet some of the authors and ask relevant questions that will move your work and journey forward
- Recommend the books and invite others to join
Remember, the first 10 registrants will receive a free book. For more information contact Alegra Martin
martina@ucc.org
(216) 736-3712
|
|
Register for PA Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Seminary
Registration is now open for the Ministerial Institute of Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary. This is a three-year nondegree program for lay ministers pastoring churches, pastoral leaders in part-time or bi-vocational ministries, individuals in discernment, and laity serving churches. The program will begin in July and registration is open now.
Click here
for more information.
|
Don't forget to complete your church's year-end reporting
Thank you to the churches that have already completed the year-end church reporting! To start this week, some associations have more than a quarter of churches reporting! For more information on your church's reporting, visit
psec.org/reporting
or contact Brea Rarick at
brea@psec.org
.
|
Consistory Presidents gathering scheduled for March
To All Consistory Presidents in PSE/PNE Conferences:
A Gathering Community for Consistory Presidents is forming now.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good
– 1 Corinthians 12:7
Many of our Pastors meet regularly in clergy groups to support one another, share ideas, and pray for each other. A gathering community for Consistory Presidents will offer similar opportunity for these critical lay leaders.
As Presidents of Consistory (or other governing body of your church), we have opportunity and roadblocks facing us at all times. Our goal is to brainstorm, support, pray, laugh, and learn together in a confidential environment, so that we are strengthened to build healthy, vibrant, and faithful churches.
There is no fee to attend.
Brenda Semach, Consistory President of Falkner Swamp Reformed UCC, invites you to a gathering on
Saturday, March 16
, from 9 – 11AM, held at Falkner Swamp, 2077 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville, PA (Covenant Association). Please RSVP to her directly:
kbsemach@aol.com
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
– 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
|
Disaster Ministries names specialist for eastern region
UCC Disaster Minister Executive is pleased to announce Ken Skalitzky has begun serving as the Disaster Recovery Specialist in the eastern region. Ken is employed through the Southern Conference and will work with UCC Disaster Ministries staff as he helps develop and carry out our collective (national, conference and local congregational) recovery work in response to Hurricanes Florence and Michael as well as subsequent events in the future.
Here is the link
to the official announcement.
|
|
Register: Youth Empowerment Saturday in Philadelphia
Feb. 16 from 12:00-6:00p at The Episcopal Mission Center, 5421 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, will be the "Y.E.S. -- Youth Empowerment Saturday", including:
- Teen-led worship
- Music from F.U.E.L.
- Food
- Conversations on the topics of Racism, Sexuality, Bullying, and Gun Violence
- Interactive Art Activity
- Time to make new friendships and connections
|
Still fleeing Maria's aftermath: Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania
The UCC released a story about PSEC's and PNEC's work with Puerto Ricans who fled Hurricane Maria and are living in PA. Take a moment to read that story here.
UCC Disaster Ministries has granted $10,000 to the UCC's Pennsylvania Southeast and Penn Northeast Conferences for continuation of a pioneering program of outreach to Puerto Ricans who have fled, and who continue to flee, Hurricane Maria's destruction and ongoing disruption of life on their U.S. island territory.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans have sought shelter in Pennsylvania since the hurricane. The state has the fourth largest population of Puerto Ricans living in the continental United States.
Read more...
|
Free UCC webinar: Climate change and forced migration
An upcoming UCC webinar will address one of the most important issues of our time: climate change and forced migration. War, agricultural hardship, severe weather—all of these can connect to climate change and the factors behind migration for millions of people. For example, one of the factors behind the much discussed caravan of migrants from Central America was climate change. How can people of faith respond to increasing climate migration? This webinar will feature four panelists who will address this. It will be on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Sign-up now to join
! Register even if you can’t make it, and a recording will be sent to you.
|
|
Joint PSEC/PNEC Disaster Ministry Team to meet in March
For some time both PA Southeast and Penn Northeast conferences have been active in disaster ministries in eastern PA and throughout the UCC. We can celebrate the ministry that we have had, but now it is time to take a fresh look at what God is calling us to do and be. Over the past few years our Conferences have affirmed that we share a ministry relationship, even though we are not moving forward with the unified conference council at this time. Therefore, we are seeking to consult with people who have a passion for Disaster Ministries as we seek to discover if and how we can work together. Therefore, you are invited to the initial meeting of the joint PNEC/PSEC Disaster Ministry Team on March 11 at 6:30p at the Penn Northeast Conference Office (a Zoom option will be available). We will explore some
"What if..."
questions, seeking ways to grow and enhance our Disaster Ministries Initiatives:
- What if … our Conferences would be engaged in a collaborative disaster ministry program, sharing leadership and resources? Is this the right time?
- What if … we could get others involved? Who should that be?
- What if … we had some common goals and objectives? What protocols should guide our collaborative ministry?
- What if … we would start working together? What are the first steps we would take?
We ask that you pray about your response to this opportunity. If you will participate, respond to
kjones275@comcast.net
, so we can prepare for your attendance.
Karl
|
Penn Central Conference hosting ONA Winter Gathering
The Penn Central Conference Open and Affirming Ministry Team will hold its Winter Gathering on the topic of "Does 'All Are Welcome' Really Mean ALL?" on Feb. 23 from 9:30a-2:00p at St. Paul's UCC in Mechanicsburg. The event will cover the following topics:
- Why don't LGBTQ? people attend welcoming and inclusive churches?
- Are there actions, signs, symbols that distract from OUR Welcome?
- Graceful Engagement/ONA 101
- Healing Religious Trauma
- Faith Formation for people damaged and hurt by "church"
Register by emailing Shirley Keith Knox at
skeithknox@comcast.net
. There is no cost to attend, but a goodwill offering will be used to cover food costs.
|
|
|
|
Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
|
Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
|
|
Educational Opportunities
|
|
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
