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Important This Week
- Special guests on the Monday Conference Minister Zoom call
- All Saints Day message from the Conference Minister
- St. James UCC, Limerick is looking for a 3/4-time interim.
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From the Conference Minister: All Saints Day
11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11
The Church throughout history has recognized certain people for their closeness to God, their humbleness of heart and transformative, sacrificial living and dying. We remember them this Sunday on All Saints Day.
What made saints holy to begin with, well before the long process the Catholic Church now uses to bestow sainthood, was that they kept faith in God despite tests, trials and temptations. They kept faith in God even when they had no good reason for doing so.
The list of saints that built our local churches and guided the lives of their members through terrible times will never be sainted by Conference or the United Church of Christ. That is not our custom or tradition (though there are more than a few people around our Conference who deserve consideration). But they were people who helped their sons and daughters and neighbors keep faith in the good news when the news was, as it is in our day, so bad.
The Feast of All Saints asks us to look beyond the long list of canonized saints and to hunt for holiness among our own, “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue” (Rev 7:9).
And when we do find holiness close at hand, we recognize that the Church itself, for all its flaws and sins, is nonetheless a rich harvest of God to feed the souls of the people who meet there. That’s worth celebrating because a church without such saints, without a worthy harvest, would serve no purpose at all. And that purpose is served by the holiness that is in you.
“Here’s what it means to be a saint,” suggests Quinn Caldwell, “it means you have direct access to God. It means that you can see the Heart that breaks for all that is broken. Here’s who is a saint: every member of the church, and that means you.”
Right now, pick at least one saint who has gone home to God, and at least one that is still with you. Say their names out loud and offer them up to God. Remember at least one thing that each one taught you about God about servanthood and humility. Then go into your world and live it By the power and in the spirit of the One we call our Brother and Christ.
Pastor Bill
Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
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Special guests for Monday Mtg with the Conference Minister
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 to share experiences in this season of COVID, ask for advice, and be in community together. On Monday, Nov. 2, Rev. Dr. Deborah Clemens from PSEC and Dr. Lee Barrett, Professor of Systematic Theology at Lancaster Seminary will facilitate a conversation about the theology of virtual communion. Rev. Clemens wrote on the topic of virtual communion this article which we have shared in previous Conference communications and on the PSEC COVID-19 Resources webpage. Local churches around the Conference have engaged in communion differently during the pandemic. 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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Bethany Children's Home shares Christmas lists
Each year, Bethany youth and team members look forward to Hanging of the Greens service, cookie socials, ornament exchanges, fellowship opportunities, the Youth Christmas Dinner, Christmas Eve service, and of course, Christmas Day! We aren’t sure what Christmas is going to look like this year, but we still will make the holiday season amazing for our youth! Click here to visit the "Holidays at Bethany" webpage where you can learn how to donate, view the Christmas Wish List and Book Wish List, and review the updated drop-off information.
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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:
Peace in Zion UCC, Zieglerville: Peace in Zion UCC joined Christ Church UCC, Reformed Church of the Ascension UCC and Olivet Schwenkfelder UCC in a program called, "Trees, Rooted Together" inspired by the UCC goal to plant to trees to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. The Zoom program was a mixture of narrative, Scripture, songs, poems, meditation, prayer and personal reflections and led by pastors and lay people from each of the churches, under the direction of Melanie Eberhard, music director for Christ Church UCC. An invitation and link was shared to the UCC website inviting people to plant trees. The program uplifted through trees how we are connected and the faithfulness of God, especially during this time of the pandemic. The program aired on May 7, 2020 and was truly a sacred experience.
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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Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors
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Feeling stressed?
The UCC has a website to help
The pandemic is taking a toll on people's their emotional, mental and spiritual health. No one is immune, from congregants to pastors to conference and national staff. In response, a team drawn from across the UCC created and consolidate resources for "Recovering Hope" into a single, simple website. The site is designed to provide one-stop gathering of resources to mitigate stress caused by the pandemic and effects.
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Hand sanitizer still available
to PSEC congregations
Over the summer, Disaster Coordinator Rev. Karl Jones worked hard to get 260 gallons of hand sanitizer for PSEC churches. There are now just 8 gallons left for congregations to use. If you would like one for your church, contact Sue Creswell: susan@psec.org.
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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.
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Insurance Board has training on Reopening during COVID-19
The Insurance Board has created a video training on "Reopening During COVID-19: Considerations for Church Leadership and Clergy". You will need to register to view this video by following this link. This video is free to Insurance Board members and $5 for non-members. You will need your ID# during registration.
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New resource for churches to share worship components
Several churches asked for more worship resources: music for live-streaming, worship components, and services from the Conference staff. In response to that, PSEC created a Google Drive for churches and pastors to share worship components. If you or your congregation recorded a service, sermon, children's moment, musical selection, or order for communion you would allow others to use, upload that video to the Google Drive. Note: each church needs to take responsibility for its own copyright use. Visit the Google Drive (drive.google.com/drive/folders/18wnxvyEEbyEaVhx0Tonj0DU_j2TbZ_by?usp=sharing) and read "PLEASE READ: Requirements" for more information.
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UCC holding denomination-wide All Saints virtual service
You are invited to join the UCC in honoring those who have passed, especially to COVID-19, for a service of All Saints with music, prayer, and lifting of names. We will gather via Zoom on Nov. 1 at 6:00p. Click here to register for the Zoom worship. Additionally, if your congregation has done a communal memorial, you are welcome to send photos to UCCPhotos@ucc.org and have them included in the national service.
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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, Orwigsburg (full-time settled)
- St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
- 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
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View a complete list of Classified Ads here
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Educational Opportunities
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Church Events
Submit Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
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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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