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Important This Week
  • Fire at former Mensch Mill Retreat Center this weekend
  • Rev. Jeff Johnson to be installed at St. John's, Orwigsburg this weekend
  • PSEC Addiction & Recovery Taskforce Discussion tomorrow
From the Conference Minister:

I am beyond grateful for all the work and effort put into creating our Fall Conference Meeting that took place via Zoom this past Sunday. Many thanks to the members of the Annual Meeting Planning Team, the Worship Planning Team and to Sue Creswell and Rev. John Folk who helped us into the meeting and, with Rev. Ken McDowell, helped us troubleshoot countless tech issues.

We were blessed by warm greetings from Rev. Dr. Hilary Barrett, Senior Pastor of our “host church” Pleasantville UCC. Attendees learned about the incredible ministry of Rev. Nishan and Maria Bakalian who are our UCC Global Mission partners in Beirut, Lebanon. You can learn more about them, and find ways to support them here. We heard reports from our three Conference Ministry Task Forces (Addiction, Environmental Justice, and Racial Justice) as well as a report from UCC Board of Directors member Beth Walker on changes happening at the National Church. We passed our 2022 Conference spending plan which you can see here. And we elected our new Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call, Rev. Kevin J. McLemore, who will begin his ministry with our Conference February 1, 2022!!

Our meeting ended with inspired music created by Rev’s. Zack and Nicole Jackson with singers from around the Conference. Give yourself a little inspiration and enjoy it once again — or for the first time (We Shall Overcome - Virtual Choir - YouTube).
Our hope and prayer is that this will be our last Conference ZOOM meeting and that we will be together for an in-person Spring Conference Meeting at West Chester University, June 2-4, 2022. By the grace of God, may it be so.

With deep prayers of Thanksgiving and Hope,
Bill

Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
Fire at former Mensch Mill Retreat Center this weekend

The attached article from Monday’s Reading Eagle shares the unfortunate news about a fire in what was the Kline Center of the former Mensch Mill Retreat Center. This was a place of deep connection and holy ground for many members of our Conference, and we thought you would want to know.
Clergy Q&A and discussion with Rev. John Dorhauer

On Nov. 22, our General Minister and President Rev. John Dorhauer will meet with clergy from Penn Central, Penn Northeast, and Pennsylvania Southeast conferences at Lancaster Seminary and includes a catered lunch by Pepper Theo.
 
John wishes to hear how clergy have been adapting to the past 18 months and what the issues/challenges/joys have been. There will be a panel of 3 clergy – one from each Conference – and John will facilitate a discussion. This will also allow for substantial Q&A with clergy who attend.

Our numbers will be limited, so register soon. The cost is $15 each. Registration is open here.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Computer-side Chat scheduled
Well, I thought we had our last Computer-Side Chat! However, some people would like to have just one more and this time have lay people share their experiences around Shared Minister/Ministry contexts.

So, if you are a lay person who is currently a member of a congregation that is sharing a minister with another congregation OR a congregation intentionally sharing ministry with another congregation… EMAIL ME at miniasian@psec.org.

So back by popular demand… the LAST LAST Computer Side Chat will be Tuesday Dec. 7, 7:00- 8:00p. You can get a link for that meeting by emailing Brea@psec.org.
Rev. Jeff Johnson installation in Orwigsburg this weekend
 
Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share. 
Trainings scheduled for the new ministerial profiles portal

The United Church of Christ is creating a new platform for the Ministerial Profile and Snapshot. These changes do not include any content revision to the Ministerial Profile, but there will be enhancements and the layout will be more user-friendly. The official cutover date for the new system is Dec. 6. All information in the old system will need to be saved by 4:00p on Dec. 3. The current system will experience an outage late Friday, Dec. 3 and continuing through Sunday, Dec. 5. All content will be migrated to the new system automatically, and current users will be invited to create a new account in the new system.
 
Training will be available for Ministers (this includes MIDs and others who may be creating a profile as part of their ecclesiastical process towards ordination), Conference Staff who work in Search and Call, and References in the first two weeks of December. It is only necessary to attend one training per role. Click the date/time below to register for the training.

Minister Training on new Profile System:
This training walks ministers and MIDs through the process of registration and use of the new UCC Ministerial Profiles Portal. Staff from Suran Systems (who built the site) and MESA will answer general questions about the completion and use of the Snapshot and the Profile and about the use of the system in the search and call process. The training is about 45 minutes and recurs twice with identical content. Additionally, this training will be recorded and will be on the UCC website.

Reference Training on new Profile System:
This training, for those who serve as references in the profile system, walks through the process of setting up a reference account, completing a reference for a minister, and submitting the reference. Staff from Suran Systems (who built the new portal) and MESA will be on hand to walk through the system. This training is approximately 30 minutes in length and recurs a week later with identical content. This training will be recorded and available on the UCC website.
Covenant Assoc. clergywoman honored on Veterans Day
Rev. Corrine Dautrich was presented with a Patriot Award at the Brandywine Heights Veterans Day program on Thursday. For more information, click here to read the Reading Eagle on the program.
Boundary Training for Clergy in Specialized Settings

On Monday, Nov. 15, from 7:30-10:30, MESA will host a Boundary Awareness Training for Ministers in Specialized Settings. This training, hosted by Revs. Tara Barber and Stephen Boyd, is geared towards clergy in the Western Region, it is open to ministers serving in specialized settings throughout the UCC. Touching on matters that relate specifically to issues that these ministers face in their vocation and in their life in a local congregation, this training will provide opportunities for clergy to reflect on best practices and growth in their practice of ministry. This training *may* count towards Conference boundary training requirements; ministers will need to check with their COM chair.
Council of Churches forum on 'The Nones' set for tomorrow
 
Dr. Ryan Burge will join the PA Council of Churches on Nov. 17 at 10:00a to lead a virtual forum on his recent book, “The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going.” The “Nones” are defined as Americans who say they have no religious affiliation.

Following a high point in reported religious affiliation in the 1950s, research has shown a growing number of Americans who claim no formal religious identity. The General Social Survey of 1972 indicated that only 5 percent of Americans claimed no religion, but by 2018, the number had grown to 23.7 percent — making them as numerous as both evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics. Research suggests the nones are on track to be the largest “religious group” over the next decade. 

Registration is open here for limited numbers to view on Zoom. Those wishing to indicate interest prior to the event may do so on the Facebook event page, and it may be viewed on Facebook Live. Download a flyer here.
PSEC Addiction & Recovery Taskforce Discussion
 
You are invited and encouraged to attend an online discussion with the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference Addiction and Recovery Task Force on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7:00p. There is no need to pre-register; Zoom info is provided below. This event is hosted by the St. Peter’s Tohickon UCC Adult Forum group. If you have any questions, please reach out to Caroline Dunleavy, Adult Forum Coordinator, at carolineayost@gmail.com. Join us to learn more about the work of this important ministry! Use this link to join the Zoom call or email Caroline for call-in instructions: 
From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: About Relapse

The following information was taken from the national Institute on Drug Abuse. It gives us some important information on relapse in recovery.

Like other chronic diseases such as heart disease or asthma, treatment for drug addiction usually isn't a cure. But addiction can be managed successfully. Treatment enables people to counteract addiction's disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control of their lives.

The chronic nature of addiction means that for some people relapse, or a return to drug use after an attempt to stop, can be part of the process, but newer treatments are designed to help with relapse prevention. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses.

Treatment of chronic diseases involves changing deeply rooted behaviors, and relapse doesn’t mean treatment has failed. When a person recovering from an addiction relapses, it indicates that the person needs to speak with their doctor to resume treatment, modify it, or try another treatment.52

While relapse is a normal part of recovery, for some drugs, it can be very dangerous—even deadly. If a person uses as much of the drug as they did before quitting, they can easily overdose because their bodies are no longer adapted to their previous level of drug exposure. An overdose happens when the person uses enough of a drug to produce uncomfortable feelings, life-threatening symptoms, or death.

Science has taught us that stress cues linked to the drug use (such as people, places, things, and moods), and contact with drugs are the most common triggers for relapse. Scientists have been developing therapies to interfere with these triggers to help patients stay in recovery.

NIDA. 2020, July 10. Treatment and Recovery. Retrieved from this website on 2021, November 9
Save the date: PSEC Clergy Women's retreat Jan. 18-20
Advent prayer gatherings set for Thursdays in December
 
Pastors are you weary? Is the yoke of pastoring in this extended season of COVID heavy? Share your burdens and joys as we pray together on Thursdays at noon during the season of Advent! A brief period of facilitated check-in will be followed by curated poems, prayers, and silence. Light a candle and feed your spirit this Advent by gathering in prayer with colleagues from Penn Central, Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast conferences and prepare for the inbreaking of Emmanuel once again!
 
Join us December 2, 9, 16 and 23 at noon https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88299554125?pwd=cU90LzZhS2lOU05qVFo5QWhjK2p3UT09. We will end promptly at 1pm each week.
Penn Central offering online UCC History & Polity course
All The Penn Central Conference will be offering an online UCC History and Polity course starting Feb. 11. Registration is open now and spaces are limited. The cost of the course is $150.
Racial Justice Team planning Advent book study
 
For those who would like to do a deep dive into Dr. Drew Hart’s powerful witness and call on the Christian church to a discipleship that embodies God’s love, justice and deliverance, the Racial Justice Initiative of the PSEC will be offering an Advent book study featuring “Who Will Be A Witness?” on Tuesdays at 3:00p and 7:00p from Nov. 30-Dec. 21. This training has been approved for Diversity Training. For information and to register, click here.
Racial justice banners and yard signs available
The Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Initiative team, in promoting racial justice, is offering banners and yard signs free to churches and individuals.

For those who are able, we are suggesting a love offering of $70 per banner (image of the 4’x10’ Vinyl Banner with grommets below) and $7 per yard sign (image of the 18’’x24’’ Yard sign above right). The love offerings will go to further our efforts in this sacred ministry of racial equity and justice. To order, please email Anne Cormier at annecormier@comcast.net. Include in the subject box “banner” or “yard sign”.
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Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:
  • Bern Reformed UCC, Leesport (three-quarter time settled)
  • Christ Delong, Bowers, and St. Peter's, Topton (3/4-time interim)
  • Christ Church UCC, Norristown (full-time designated)
  • Huff's Union Church, Alburtis (full-time settled)
  • New Goshenhoppen Reformed UCC, East Greenville (settled senior pastor)
  • St. John's (Hain's) UCC, Wernersville (full-time settled)
  • St. Peter's UCC of Wilshire (full-time interim)
  • UCC East Goshen (full-time interim)
  • UCC Valley Forge (full-time settled)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev. Dr. Susan Minasian: 484-949-8774 ext. 302 or minasian@psec.org .
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!