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Important This Week
- A New Year's message from the Conference Minister
- Last chance to sign up for a Community of Practice for 2021
- Yearend reporting coming soon
- Furniture available from PSEC office
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From the Conference Minister:
Tony Robinson reminded me several years ago that the name of the approaching month, "January," comes from the ancient Roman deity, Janus – a lesser god but one who has always made sense to seekers after the heart of the Divine. Janus was the god of gates and doorways. He had two faces, one looking forward, another looking backward. So there is only a little surprise and much gratitude that in Psalm 121 God keeps a particular vigilant watch at our times of "going out and coming in," our times of ending and beginning, and all that is between the two.
I cannot remember a time between the two, in this case Christmas and the New Year, when I have been more ready to abandon the year that was and embrace the hope of what will be. The possibilities that lay beyond COVID-19, the shenanigans of the outgoing presidential administration, and the year that was 2020 stir my imagination.
Still, transitions – whether of the calendar or in the seasons of our lives – are crazy-making times. They can be confusing and exhilarating; chaotic and creative. That certainly has been true for our conference staff that recently completed the task of reducing our Conference office space by half and who work remotely. That’s true of our congregational lives where COVID-19 has pushed many of us into “the church that will be” much sooner than anticipated. And it’s true of our personal lives where change, those we make happen and those that happen to us, is the only constant.
Change is difficult and even when our lives depend on it, we would rather not. Wearing masks and social distancing are this year’s most obvious examples. More famously, in study after study of post-surgery heart attack patients, less than 3% of post heart surgery patients make the lifestyle changes necessary to prevent a future heart attack. Ninety-seven percent of people who were told, ‘if you don’t repent, if you don’t change behaviors you will die,’ choose not to make those changes.
Alan Deutschman, author of the book, Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life, wrote about the 3% who did change. What he discovered was not revolutionary. In fact, the keys to change are in every sermon that the prophets and Jesus ever preached.
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Relate — form emotional relationships with people and a community that inspires the practices that lead to life.
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Repeat — no matter how awkward a new skill is, do it again and again while offering and receiving the encouragement of friends.
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Reframe — new relationships and abilities help you see the world differently and in ways that lead to life.
You are stronger with others. We are stronger together – in congregations, Communities of Practice and Conferences. Any person, President or Pastor who intends to make this New Year better than the last (God, please) would do well to spend some time with this simple formula — relate, repeat, reframe.
Whatever change may happen or needs to, God's abiding light and love remain constant. “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me…”
This I know to be true. And it is my prayer for you and all our brothers, sisters and siblings in Christ that we move confidently into this New Year holding fast to that which has been good and ready to receive what is going to be even better.
God bless your New Year with the Light of this Epiphany Season,
Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
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Last chance for furniture as PSEC office space downsizes
If you attended the Conference Fall Meeting last month, you learned that the Conference Office is decreasing its footprint in Pottstown. We're getting rid of five offices, increasing the conference room meeting space, and the staff will work remotely. As staff finish shrinking our space by half, there are some furniture items we no longer need. These items are available to you in exchange for a donation to the Conference. If you are interested in any objects, please email Sue Cresswell at susan@psec.org. The deadline to claim an object is Wednesday, Dec. 30. To view the available items, click here.
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2021 UCC yearbook church reporting coming soon
The annual UCC year-end reporting will open for churches next month. Details will be emailed to church offices and pastors the second week of January. Several times this year, I've been asked about how attendance figures will be calculated for online worship services. I now know that only those services that were entirely in-person should be figured into your attendance numbers for 2020. There will be a general question about online attendance included in the supplemental survey. More information on that will be included in the materials in mid-January.
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Did you miss the Community of Practice registration deadline?
Communities of Practice are forming for 2021, including groups for retirees, authorized ministers, chaplains, and a group for spirituality. If you are interested in being part of a Community of Practice and are looking for life-sustaining friendships, a new perspective, or a renewed calling, then sign up today. Click here to register before Wednesday, Dec. 30. We ask that the local place of ministry cover the $250 cost of their pastor attending this group; scholarships are also available. If you have any questions about Communities of Practice or joining a group, contact Brea Rarick at brea@psec.org.
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Join a Community of Practice on Christian spirituality
A new Community of Practice, focusing on Christian spirituality, will re-form to begin in January. Through conversation and experiential learning, the group will reclaim a tradition of spiritual practices and disciplines, ones maintained within some Christian faith traditions, yet less so among mainline Protestants. Group spiritual direction (formal or informal) will be an option.
Topics for previous gatherings included discernment; "Mary for Protestants"; Ignatian spirituality; anger; the Enneagram; lamenting in Lent; the dignity model; various prayer practices, and more.
This Community is facilitated by Janeen Adil, a Commissioned Minister of
Christian Spirituality, a trained spiritual director through Kairos: School of Spiritual Formation. She offers spiritual direction through her Hungry Soul Ministries and has led a variety of workshops and retreats
The group will meet on a Wednesday from 9:00-11:00, with a commitment to gather at least 10 times during 2021. For the foreseeable future, meetings will be via Zoom. When it's safe to gather again in person, the Community will meet at Janeen's home in Robeson Twp.
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Upcoming online Admissions events at Lancaster Seminary
Lancaster Theological Seminary launched a new series called Learn LTS! These online events aim to help individuals who are discerning their next steps in theological education and ministry whether that be pastoral leadership, chaplaincy, social justice organizer, non-profit leader, or in bi-vocational ministry. You are invited to attend one of the upcoming Learn LTS events on Jan. 7, Jan. 19, or Feb. 4. These events are curated to speak to the needs of individuals leaning into their call and vocational exploration. Each event will have a different programmatic focus with diverse presenters that can answer some of your questions. For more information and to register, click here.
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Planning webinar for churches during, after emergencies
Churches are invited to a webinar that will provide them with the knowledge and tools to develop a continuity plan and sustain continuity of operations before, during and after an incident or emergency. The webinar will discuss the essential elements and key planning considerations for a viable continuity capability.
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Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 11:00a-12:30p; English
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Thursday, Jan. 28 from 11:00a-12:30p; Spanish
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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:
Epler's Church UCC, Leesport: Since December of 2019, we have been the location of two used clothing and shoe collection bins. Since Dec. 2019, people in our community have made donations of 6,550 lbs. of clothing/shoes which has been kept out of the landfill and are able to be reused/repurposed
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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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.
The statement with signatures will be released to the media on Jan. 15, the start of the weekend of MLK Day.
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 are reminded by the Scriptures that diversity and inclusion are necessary components of a mature, radically welcoming faith."
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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Next Computer-side Chat on Local Church Profiles |
PROFILES!!!
Why do we have to do them?
How do we start?
How honest do we have to be?
Are they only good for the search process?
Many congregations don’t even think about a Congregational Profile until they have to do one. There are many pieces to consider and it can seem like an arduous task.
Join me at 7:00p Jan. 12 for a conversation that just might change your mind. We will also explore how useful that document can be for the life of your ministry beyond the search process. The link to join that Zoom meeting on Jan. 12 is here. If you need info to phone in, email brea@psec.org.
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Spirituality of Generosity webinar coming next month
On Jan. 20, Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Northeast, and Penn Central conferences will co-host a seminar on the Spirituality of Generosity. Jesus talked about money second only to the kingdom of God, yet many in the church today treat money as a non-spiritual topic. We can theologically engage questions of money, wealth, and giving. Teaching and preaching about generosity and the use of our financial resources can deepen the faith life of our congregations. For a flyer on this event, click here. To register, click 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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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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PSEC 2020 Giving Cut-Off
Books of the PSEC will close Jan. 18. All OCWM contributions for 2020 must be in our office by that date or they will be counted towards 2021 contributions.
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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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Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors
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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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Church Openings
- Allegheny UCC (Sunday supply)
- Bern Reformed UCC, Leesport (three-quarter time settled)
- Calvary UCC, Barto, and Pennsburg UCC (full-time designated-term)
- Christ Delong UCC, Bowers and St. Peter's UCC, Topton (3/4-time interim)
- 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)
- 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.
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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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