“If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold."     Job 23:8-10

“Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”     Mark 10:27

Associate Conference Minister Rev. Cean James will help us explore some of those possibilities in workshop on Maintaining Fellowship During the Pandemic which will explore the various ways that churches are creating new connections, reconnecting with those who fell away, and maintaining connections with the faithful during this pandemic (register now for the in-person event in Schuylkill Haven on Oct. 30 or the Zoom event on Nov. 6). Revs. McLeod and DaSaint are making connections via a new online worshipping community with the help of a PSEC New Ministries grant (learn more about that podcast here). And I am headed off in a few moments to join clergy men from the Conference on a three-day retreat to re-engage in some much-needed fellowship.

On Saturday, September 18, Conference Consistory unanimously approved the Search Committee’s recommendation that Rev. Kevin J. McLemore will be presented to the Conference at our Fall Meeting, Sunday, November 14, for a formal vote and call. Click here to read more.

For a link to the Zoom call contact Michael Flanagan at Church@salemstrong.org, including your name, organization/ company affiliation if any, and email.

All Saints Sunday is the first Sunday in November. We celebrate long ago saints and those known to us as saints. Some of the PSEC pastors who retired years ago are in need of special assistance. Because their retirement income is low, the churches of the PSEC supplement the cost of their health benefits. We remember these saints as we receive the All Saints offering. 2021 resources for that are available here.

Recent legislation includes several provisions to help individuals and businesses who give to charity. The new law generally extends four temporary tax changes through the end of 2021. Click here for an overview of these changes.

Naomi Washington-Leapheart, MDiv 2016, was honored as one of "10 Under 40 to Watch" by the Philadelphia Tribune's "Most Influential African Americans 2021." She is Director for Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs in the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Pubic Engagement, and an adjunct professor at Villanova University, where she has earned accolades for her teaching. She also has been selected as a new contributor to the popular UCC Stillspeaking Daily Devotional that attracts thousands of readers every day. 

On Thursday, Oct. 14 McCormick Theological Seminary will virtually host the 2021 "McCormick Day." This year's theme is "Radical Imagination in Unprecedented Times." For more info, click here. This continuing education opportunity is free, but registration is required.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has published an article on their grants in response to the 2020 storms. Featured is information on their grant to the PA Southeast Conference to be used by the Eastwick Unmet Needs Roundtable. This grant supports the recovery work in this section of Philadelphia, which is being coordinated by Conference Disaster Coordinator Karl Jones, and two UCC Partners in Service, Judy Moore and Jaye Herrick. Learn more.

One of the best resources of the environmental justice movement today is its own history. Leading scholars in the field of environmental justice described the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit as one of the most significant events in the movement's history. It was an event hosted and organized by the UCC’s Commission for Racial Justice. In 1991, this summit literally re-defined the word “environment." No longer did the word refer to remote wilderness areas and pristine natural landscapes as was often the case for largely white environmental organizations. The environment became where one lived, worked, studied, played, and prayed. It became the water one drinks in one’s home. It became the air one breathes in one’s neighborhood. It became the safety of one’s workplace. The summit produced the landmark 17 Environmental Justice Principles that are still used as a source of moral guidance for environmental organizations to this day. The ripple effects of the summit continue to be felt today. In this webinar, we will learn from three key participants in the summit. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00p on Oct. 13, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

Do you know someone who struggles with addiction? You know they are loved by God and worthy of being treated like a human, to be held in a comforting embrace, to share in the blessings of life… but do they? To an active addict, there is no hope, no real joy, and no sense of purpose other than getting the next drug or drink. Life revolves around it. It’s all they think about. Often times, an addict functions at an animal level and feels worthless. Other times, they suffer in silence. What do they look like? Homeless, clothed in rags, selling themselves for a fix? Sometimes. And sometimes they look just like you and me. Neighbors, school teachers, doctors, elderly, retired, church folk, and yes, even Pastors. You see, addiction doesn’t care who you are, it just wants to destroy. There is HOPE – Life can be found again for everyone who suffers. Check out our page for more information – The time is now!

Registration is now open for "White Supremacy, Racism, & the Christian Church: The Call to a Discipleship of Liberation and Justice" to be held online Oct. 23 and 24. Clergy who attend may receive Diversity Training credit. For more information, click here.

Material goods are not being collected right now at the Philadelphia locations where people from Afghanistan are arriving. The best way to support individuals and families is through monetary donations to vetted groups who are providing immediate long-term relief. Philadelphia's Office of Immigrant Affairs is working with the Nationalities Services Center and HIAS Pennsylvania which have donation pages on their websites. If you wish to donate material goods, the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team has a list of materials that can be dropped off or mailed to Fort Dix, NJ. For more information on that, click here.

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”.