|
|
Important This Week
- Monday Meetings with the Conference Minister continue
- Register now for 'Annual Campaigns 101' stewardship workshop
- Webinar planned on science behind singing during the pandemic
|
|
From the Conference Minister:
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.”
Matthew 14:13-21
“Now when he heard this…” What he heard was that John was dead. Murdered. Jesus does what many of us do when the news is so bad. He retreats. He takes time alone to process and pray; to remember and to grieve.
But the crowds follow him. Perhaps they are unaware of what happened. Maybe they don’t care or maybe they couldn’t see past their own pain. That possibility resonates with me because when I’m in pain it’s hard for me to see the pain of another. All I can do is feel the hurt that’s inside of me. It’s a dangerous place to be. Hurting people hurt people.
Jesus could have kept withdrawing and tried harder to hide. We do that in all sorts of ways (think screen time, shopping time, over-eating time). He could have shouted and yelled and spread his pain around to others (via Facebook, Twitter and email). Or he could have tried to get from others the sympathy they didn’t have to offer.
He does none of these. The crowds moved Jesus to compassion. He was able to look beyond his own pain to see theirs. And so, he healed them. And when he was done healing them, he fed them. Mourning and grieving, and yet offering healing and life at the same time. This is what it looks like when humanity and divinity live together in the same place and/or in the same person.
It’s easy to believe, consuming the news media rather than the Good News, that places like that don’t exist anymore. They do. Like manna from heaven Jesus comes when hunger and hurts drive you to places outside your small world to encounter the Kingdom of God that lives with in you.
May it be so,
Pastor Bill
R
ev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
|
|
Monday Meetings with the Conference Minister continue
Each Monday at 11:00a, authorized ministers and church leaders are invited to check in with the Conference Minister, Rev. Bill Worley, on a Zoom call. Share your experiences with ministry in this season of COVID with other clergy, ask for advice, and be in community together.
Click here
to join the call on Monday. (Use this link every Monday through Oct. 6.)
|
Stewardship events set with Generosity Outreach Officer
Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Central, and Penn Northeast conferences are working with the UCC's Generosity Outreach Officer to create three workshops for our churches and leaders.
Registration
is now open for "Annual Campaigns 101" on Aug. 22. Upcoming events also include "Planned Giving to Support Mission and Ministry" on Oct. 17 and "Spirituality of Generosity" on Jan. 20. More information is available on
this flyer
for you to share.
|
|
Webinar on science behind safe singing during COVID
On Aug. 3 at 3:00p, the UCC Science and Technology Network's "Science for the Road Ahead" webinar will be on the topic "Singing and Choral Reading." A vocologist and voice teacher with a PhD in Vocal Pedagogy and Voice Science will help answer questions about making scientifically-grounded decisions about singing and choral reading during the pandemic. To register,
click here
.
|
Virtual gathering on 'Spiritual Renewal for Troubling Times'
Kirkridge Retreat & Study Center is holding a virtual gathering tomorrow, Wednesday, July 29 from 5:30-7:00 on "Spiritual Renewal for Troubling Times." Rev. Robby Carroll, Director of the Shallowford Family Counseling Center, and Kay Stewart, Director of Mindfulness Education, will lead meaningful conversations that illuminate what matters most as we seek to live life fully and well. For more information and to register,
click here
.
|
|
Is your church helping people with housing, homelessness?
In light of the looming housing crisis because of the impact of COVID-19, we would like to know which PSEC churches are assisting street homeless, tenants, landlords, and mortgage payees. If your congregation is currently providing housing services and assistance, please email the following information to our Disaster Coordinator, Karl Jones, at
kjones275@comcast.net
. Thank you!
- Name of congregation or organization providing the service,
- Name of the program,
- Primary contact person, if available (phone number, email address),
- Website link to the Program
|
Computer-side Zoom Chat Take 2: Virtual Search & Call
|
Virtual Call!!! Is this even possible??? Our next chat, on Aug. 4 at 7:00p, will be about what it is like to search for a call when the process goes virtual. My guest for this Computer Side Zoom Chat is Jayme Babczak. Jayme has been a Member In Discernment in Pennsylvania Southeast Conference and recently completed her first Search & Call process. We will share how Jayme engaged in this discernment of call virtually. Yes, it can be done.
If you are an authorized minister who is curious about this process or if you are currently on a search committee and want to hear from someone who has just completed this wonderful journey, please join us. It will be an hour you won’t want to miss. There will be time for your questions. So, hope to see you! To get the Zoom link/number, email
brea@psec.org
.
If you have requests for other topics we can cover in our monthly Computer Side Zoom Chats, please email me (Susan Minasian) at
minasian@psec.org
.
|
2021 PSEC Compensation Guidelines available now
The Conference Consistory has approved a 3% salary increase for Conference Compensation Guidelines. To view the 2021 guidelines,
click here
.
The 2021 Pension Board Medical and Dental Benefits rate for 2021 are not available yet. That will be shared as soon as it's available.
|
Register for UCC webinar: Green New Deal & Reparations
When it comes to justice-oriented policy proposals that seek to fundamentally transform our society, the Green New Deal and reparations currently rise to the top. Yet, often they are discussed separately, despite clear and compelling connections. To explore such connections and how faith communities can work to advance just policies, this webinar on Aug. 5 at 1:00p features three panelists: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, 350.org’s North America Director Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, and the UCC’s Economic Justice Minister Sekinah Hamlin.
Register now!
|
|
Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors
|
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.
|
Registration open for PA Academy of Ministry courses
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM) is offering online classes.
Register for
Theology I: Faith Seeking Understanding
(Aug. 22-Oct.1) taught by Rev. Holly MillerShank), a 6-week class for 2.5 CEUs.
The class provides an introduction to Christian theology, focusing on God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in relation to congregational leadership. Just $325.
For details or to register,
click here
.
Registration is also open for
Theology II: Leadership and Community
(Oct. 3-Nov. 12) taught by Rev. Holly MillerShank), a 6-week class for 2.5 CEUs. The class provides an intro to Christian theology, Christian hope, the church, ministry, and mission.
Students may take this class without having taken Theology I.
Just $325. For details or to register,
click here
.
|
Phoebe Ministries offering hybrid CPE opportunity
Phoebe Ministries is offering a unique hybrid Clinical Pastoral Education class October through April that will meet partially by Zoom and partially in person for classes Tuesday evenings. The clinical work can be done on any of the Phoebe campuses. CPE is for seminarians, lay folks who want to be better Christian caregivers and for clergy who may want to sharpen their pastoral skills or transition to chaplaincy. We are very fortunate now to have a significant CPE endowment which also enables us to give scholarships to anyone in need.
Click here
for more information on applying to the program.
|
PSEC climate team challenges churches to commit to change
Climate change is one of the most complex issues facing us today. It involves many dimensions and is a global problem. However, it is felt on a local level and there are solutions that any one of us and our churches can do. The PSEC Climate Justice Working Group invites churches to commit to doing something "green".
The Working Group challenges 50 PSEC churches to make a commitment to do something to mitigate climate change
in the coming months. Churches can take on garden-planting, recycling, composting, tree planting, and/or preaching about caring for the earth. It only takes a couple of people to listen to climate webinars at
ucc.org
or read one of many books. 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
.
|
|
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. 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.
|
|
PSEC Events
Nov. 15: PSEC Fall Meeting at New Goshenhoppen UCC, East Greenville
|
|
Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
|
Classified Ads
RISOGRAPH Machine Available in Reading
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
|
Educational Opportunities
|
|
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
