|
|
Important This Week
- Sign the PSEC Anti-Racism Statement today.
- Register for MA-AUCE 2021 event.
- Check out the PSEC Facebook Advent devotions.
- Installation Sunday in Sellersville.
|
|
From the Associate Conference Minister: Call for outreach
If you have been paying attention to the news lately, or just listening to what is going on in your community, then you know that many people currently find themselves in a place of great need. There were stories all over the country this past week of families by the thousands standing in line, some for 5 – 6 hours, to get food for the holidays. Many food pantries are recording critically low inventories. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to financial hardships, and these hardships are felt most directly by those who were already living at the margins.
This is all happening at the same time when churches are not meeting for large worship gatherings and many are pondering how to engage a community of faith in this season. We are living in a Kairos moment to seriously consider the missional call of the church. If you are wondering how to engage your congregation right now, this is a perfect time to call the church to outreach, acts of mercy, and charity. With Christmas fast approaching, there will be families in our communities who are trying to figure out how to make it through the holidays. While we may not be able to invite them to an in-person Christmas Eve service, it might be more meaningful to ask how you as a church can help them feel the love of Christ as we celebrate His birth!
Rev. Cean R. James
Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development
|
|
Give to the UCC for Giving Tuesday to support refugees
The United Church of Christ will be demonstrating our love of neighbor through our commitment to refugee resettlement. Your donation to our #GivingTuesday campaign will be used to address the plight of refugees and asylum seekers here in the U.S. and globally.
Did you know?
- The global refugee population has increased by 50 percent over the past five years.
- There are 26 million refugees globally.
- In 2020, the U.S. limited the number of refugees to our country to 18,000, down from 30,000 in 2019. This is the lowest number since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980.
Through your #GivingTuesday donation, you welcome resettled refugees and asylum seekers to our cities, neighborhoods, and churches. Working with our partners:
- You furnish homes with blankets and cookware
- You accompany families to doctor’s appointments and school enrollment – sometimes for the first time
- You share the joy that comes from landing employment or welcoming a baby in a new country.
In turn, resettled refugees enrich our communities with their talents, ideas and unlimited contributions. This Giving Tuesday, our goal is $75,000. (A $10,000 matching gift has already been pledged.) Text UCCGT to 41444 or donate here.
|
PSEC furniture available as office space is downsized
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 work to shrink our space by half, there are many furniture items that 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 Thursday, Dec. 10. To view the available items, click here.
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
Rev. Trudy Irving installation Sunday; watch online
Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.
|
Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Seminary
Nondegree classes are ideal for:
- Lay Ministers already pastoring churches
- Pastoral Leaders in part-time or bi-vocational ministries
- Individuals in discernment
- Laity serving Christian denominations and independent churches
Theology: “Leadership and Community,” Jan. 9-Feb. 18. Rev. Holly MillerShank offers a six-week online class through the PA Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary. The class provides an introduction to Christian theology, focusing on the human condition, Christian hope, the church, ministry, and mission. This 2.5 CEU class starts Saturday, Jan. 9, followed by five weeks of asynchronous online instruction. Cost $325. Registration deadline is Dec. 21. Apply online.
|
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:
Immanuel UCC, Shillington: We have committed to several environmental initiatives at our church including more energy-efficient lighting, using more recycled materials, and planting native and pollinator species on our grounds. However, we believe one of the most important commitments we have is educating our congregation and the community at large. To that end environmental-related messages have come from our pulpit through our pastor and surrogates. Also, we sponsored a Lenten Series entitled Environmental Justice, Science and Faith where we delved into topics such as environmental justice, food and the environment, recycling, and others. Although this was cut short by the pandemic we hope to continue the program at a future date.
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.
|
|
Next Computer-Side Chat on Shared Ministry models |
The December Computer Side Chat will be a conversation about Shared Ministries. We have several congregations in our Conference and throughout the denomination that have made a shift from a full-time pastor to a part time pastor. Sometimes those congregations partner with another congregation who made the same shift. The pastor is then full-time serving two congregations.
For a variety of reasons congregations that reach a certain number of members are hesitant to consider merging with another congregation. One of the solutions I have seen is that of SHARING ministry with another congregation. Sometimes it is only sharing one pastor who serves two congregations and sometimes it is an actual sharing of not only a pastor but a sharing of ministry while maintaining two locations.
If you are interested and your congregation is considering this possibility or if you are just curious in the conversation, please join me on Dec. 8 at 7:00p for an hour of conversation about Shared Ministries. The link to join that call is here. If you need info to phone in, email brea@psec.org.
|
Share survey with people experiencing food insecurity
Anti-hunger partners across PA want to hear from people in our communities who are struggling to afford the basics, including having enough food for their families. We want to learn more about:
- What those individuals have to say
- Whether they know about the nutrition programs that can help
- If they are aware of these programs but are having a tough time accessing them, what are the barriers?
To gather this information, we have developed this survey. Please share the survey widely and encourage people to fill it out! We can more effectively help if we have their input. Many thanks!
|
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.
|
|
Advocate for your neighbors facing homelessness
PA state lawmakers are negotiating on the second half of a stop-gap budget for fiscal year 2020-21. An estimated $1.3 billion in federal CARES Act funding meant to address needs created by COVID-19 remain unspent in PA. That funding should be targeted at helping those who are struggling to meet life's basic necessities. In addition, the federal eviction moratorium expires on Dec. 31. Your voice is needed now to speak up for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians –particularly the thousands facing homelessness this winter. Here is a sample message you can use to guide your advocacy.
Although PA has an opportunity to act now in the short term, the problem of a potential evictions crisis is a national one that requires Congress to act. Today, we are called to prevent a needless disaster within the disaster of COVID. Homelessness exposes adults and children to greater risk of disease, hunger, and violence, including sexual assault and trafficking. Thank you for your advocacy!
|
Webinar on digital strategies for reaching new communities
On Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 4:00p, the UCC and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving will host a webinar on Digital Strategies for Reaching New Communities. To register and for more information, click here.
|
Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy from Zachariah Walker team
On behalf of the Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Initiative Team, we’d like to thank Rev. Rebecca Hoover for creating this wonderful Advent Candle lighting liturgy for congregations this Advent season. To download or view the liturgy, check out the "Liturgical Offerings" section of the Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Initiative webpage: psec.org/zachariah-walker.
|
Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors
|
Updated list available: PSEC churches online this fall
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.
|
|
Seeking signatures on Anti-Racism Statement
The PSEC Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Initiative (Zachariah Walker RJI) task force, named for the man who was brutally lynched on August 13, 1911 in Coatesville, Pa., is committed to expanding our consciousness and conversations around racial justice issues with the hope of nurturing anti-racism efforts in our congregations and communities. The task force invites congregations and individuals to a deeper awakening of the impact systemic racism and white supremacy have on white American Christian faith and culture. To that end, we issue the following statement on anti-racism.
Zachariah Walker Racial Justice PSEC Anti-Racism Statement
The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ commits itself to the proclamation of the Gospel and the furthering of the mission of Jesus Christ. As disciples of Jesus, we are all called to follow the mandate to love one another completely, regardless of race, creed, gender, culture or difference. This is our mission: to speak the truth with love to powers and principalities, confronting bigotry and bias wherever we go.
We acknowledge the role that white Christians have played in both denying and, at the same time supporting, racist structures and attitudes, and we humbly beg forgiveness for our conforming to the evil of racism. We understand that bias can be an unconscious and unintentional failure, as well as a chosen worldview. We are reminded by the Scriptures that diversity and inclusion are necessary components of a mature, radically welcoming faith. We accept that each one of us has our own story to tell, our own history to own, and our own confession around racism for which we must atone.
Over the centuries, we have seen the pain and suffering brought about by systemic racism, and we commit ourselves to being proactively anti-racist in our work, our worship, and our communities. While we mourn the tragic losses created by a system rooted in white supremacy and nurtured by a system of white privilege, we commit ourselves to doing the work of Jesus to overcome hatred and oppression in our faith communities. We commit ourselves to opposing racism wherever it appears, whether it be institutional, economic, faith-based, or social.
Finally, we promise to be allies to all who are oppressed by these systems, committing ourselves to listen to the words of those who have been harmed by racism. We will stand in support of all who face oppressive situations, working together to dismantle the structures of this sin. We do this as servants of the risen Christ, who was Himself a poor person of color, oppressed by an invading nationalistic power, who was murdered for standing with others just like Him.
Add your name to 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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads here
View a complete list of Classified Ads here
|
Educational Opportunities
|
|
Church Events
Submit Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
|
|
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! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
