Important This Week

• Rev. Dr. Kimberly Stryjak installation Sunday at St. Peter's/Wilshire UCC
• Update from most recent Keystone Working Group meeting
• Registration open for the Women's Clergy Retreat, online Trauma Training, and Clergy Convocation

From the Conference Minister:

Mark’s good news story doesn’t start with grand narratives or elaborate genealogies. Instead, he plunges you straight into untamed wilderness with an untamed prophet.

Neither place nor person offers convenience or comfort but an honest and holy space to face the stark reality of your existence. His baptism is an offer to transform that existence — a call to turn away from what’s not working and embrace the new; to prepare the inner landscape for the arrival of a new Gardner.

John’s ancient offer of transformation makes its way into every contemporary Christmas movie with at least one character who has gotten very, very lost. When they discover that there is so much more to life, we get to join in the excitement of their discovering it, their transformation, and living to a happy ending (Dickin’s Scrooge may be the most obvious example but there are countless others).

Honestly, I would rather root for change in someone else — even a movie character — than be the character who turns around, does something different, and lives better. It is so satisfying and so safe to be the righteous one, the good one and to tell those who fall short of the mark to repent; to celebrate the promise of another’s transformation than to lean into that myself.

And here John is to remind me, as though I needed a reminder, that what draws me to Christmas is not the superficial beauty of the season, but the deeper dis-ease in my soul. Not what’s happening in declining churches, or crazed communities or a violent, war-torn world, but how open my heart is to the presence of the Holy in the people around me. That any change I can possibly hope to bring has to happen first thought Christ who strengthens me for all things. 

As you navigate the rugged landscapes of your life, may you and I both heed the call to prepare the way, embrace this transformative season with openness and humility. In the simplicity of the wilderness, may we both discover the profound in the midst of the profane and the path to renewal and redemption of which angels sing.

With Advent Blessings,

Pastor Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

Keystone Study Group -- Summary of 10/13 and 11/17 meetings

We invite you to share this summary widely in ministry settings.

Over the last two months, members of the Keystone Working Group* met to further develop recommendations for the proposed merger of the four area conferences into one Keystone Conference. Meeting October 13 by Zoom, we discussed Associations: how to support and strengthen relationships between congregations, as well as clergy support and authorization. Task Groups continue to study issues related to:

• Finance
• Governance
• Legal Issues
• Approval Process
• Staffing Needs

During the Fall, each conference held meetings and conversations for people to ask questions, share insights and express hopes for a transformational kind of ministry. Conference leaders attended many large and small group gatherings to share the Keystone proposal. Great conversations have been had around the relationship and support we want to maintain and build together. “Together We Are Stronger” has become more than a statement of intention. It describes the real and vibrant faith we embody.

On November 17, the Keystone Working Group celebrated the completion of one year together in study, affirmation, prayer, and discernment. Relying on God’s grace, we heard reports, questions and shared hopes from our gatherings that will inform our future discussions. YOU are making the difference by your participation in this process of reflection and sharing together.

We continued to define our theology for creating a new conference. While we recognize the strength of our theological traditions, we also respect our diversity, being a “big tent” region with “deep roots.” We invite your prayers for guidance and hope. And we ask that you share information about our proposed merger with your congregations. Relying on the grace of God, we trust God to lead us, believing Together We Are Stronger, The Keystone Conference.

We welcome your observations and questions as you visit the Keystone Conference Project website hosted by the PSEC. Your questions and comments help us more fully understand how we can help each other work together. You are invited to connect with us by email, at Keystone.Conference.Project@gmail.com. You may also use the postal service and direct mail to the Keystone Working Group through your own area Conference Office.

Remember to Save the Date for the updated joint meeting of all 4 conference areas, June 7-9, 2024 at State College.

We looked at a possible logo to further unite our proposed merger and the commitment to build relationships which help us make our entire area stronger. Looking at the progression of our journey, we have chosen to focus on people — figures uniting. These figures of subtle hearts, joining hands in a circle of collaboration and connection, signify the unity this new Keystone Conference embodies. The addition of the cross on the keystone is a nuanced yet powerful touch, symbolizing our interconnected paths and the meeting point of ideas. The logo and the statement, “Together We Are Stronger” are not just a mark or slogan; they are symbols of our dedication to unity and the collective journey we embark on as the Keystone Conference.

Sharing our progress in grace and hope,

KWG Communications Team

Steve Davis, St. John’s UCC, Fullerton (PNEC)

Heather Kurtz, Zion UCC, Arendtsville (PCC)                      

Bob Fogal, Zwingli UCC (PSEC)

Deb Long, First Trinity UCC, Youngwood (PWC)

*A study, discernment and working group of the 4 PA area UCC Conferences – Penn West, Penn Central, Penn NE, and Pennsylvania SE

Rev. Dr. Kim Stryjak installation at St. Peter's Wilshire

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Registration open now for

2024 Clergy Convocation

Registration is now open for Clergy Convocation, May 7-9 in Lancaster. Open to UCC clergy in Pennsylvania, our time together will focus on rest, renewal, connection and healing. Healing in our ministries and our world often begins with healing within. We know how important it is for clergy to have time away from their ministry settings and to find support. There will be time dedicated for worship, reflection, gathering of affinity groups, and free time. Click here for more information, a tentative agenda, and registration.

December Theology with a Twist: A Kinder Church

The next Theology with a Twist will be held Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7:00p at the Kutztown Tavern. With our presenter, Rev. Dr. Steve Ohnsman, we'll look at how we are often our own worst enemy, and how we can change the way we are the church. Click here for more information.

PSEC 2023 Giving Cut-Off

Books of the PSEC will close Jan. 22. All OCWM contributions for 2023 must be in our office by that date or they will be counted towards 2024 contributions. Please mail your contributions as soon as possible due to possible mail delays.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Be the Light

For most of us the holiday season is one of joy and promise. But for some it is a painful reminder of what they have lost. Many families struggling with a loved one in addiction can recall happier times with that person but now face only struggle. Some have the great sadness of having lost the battle to save someone.

One way your congregation can honor these families is to bring the symbol of light physically into the worship space as a symbol of hope. You can invite those struggling with addiction and their families to come forward to light a candle for the loved one. This can be done anonymously by inviting every family to light a small votive or invite several representatives for the congregation to light candles. Prayers for recovery, healing and peace can be offered.

Community UCC, Reading is certified 'Accessible 2 All' by UCC

Community UCC, Reading has met the requirements to be certified as an Accessible 2 All church with the UCCDM (United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries)! This is an accomplishment we are proud of and wanted to share.

Members of the church became aware of this designation during our search for a settled pastor. The pastor who asked them about the designation noted that it would help the congregation not only understand the process of acceptance of others but would assist them in becoming an Open and Affirming Congregation. After further research the church agreed it would be worthwhile and decided to proceed.

The program not only identifies the physical limitations of a church but also identifies the attitudinal changes that must be changed through communication and training sessions. Before beginning the process it’s important that the leadership understand the program and why you should do it. In Community’s case we did it because it was the right thing to do, not because people would be flooding the doors to join the church. The truth is, if we didn’t know about this program, how does the general public know about it.

After reading through the checklist, most of the things could be checked off right away. There were only a couple of physical barriers that needed to be identified and corrected. The biggest thing was developing the training program for the leadership of the church. We identified the leadership of the church as being the current consistory members and the ushers who greet those on a Sunday morning each week. Once that was complete the goals were identified for both the short time (1-3 year) and long time (3-5 year) and the application was submitted.

A training program had to be developed for the in-house training of staff, leadership and the congregation. If you are interested, we would be willing to share this training with other churches in our Conference.

Jeff Kistler, Community UCC Office Manager 

Registration open for 2024 Women's Clergy Retreat

Join us Jan. 16-18 for the Women's Clergy Retreat! This retreat will be centered around the things we hold and who holds us. Massages will be available for an additional fee. The retreat will take place at Mariawald Retreat Center in Reading. Modest linens/towels and simple meals are provided – you are welcome to bring snacks and drinks to share! Rooms are double occupancy and cost $130 – space is limited! For more information and to register, click here.

Apply now: Ministers'

Financial Vitality Initiative

UCC authorized ministers interested in joining the Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative for the 2024 cohort, follow this link to apply. Spaces are limited and requests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. MFVI is a three-year Faith and Finance program of the Pension Boards to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, which seeks to empower UCC ministers with financial tools and strategies to better manage their personal finances so they can serve their ministries more effectively. To learn more, read our Frequently Asked Questions.

Online One-day Trauma Training Event

The Welcome Project PA, in partnership with Lakeside Global Institute and PSEC, is pleased to offer professional trauma training modules for ministry leaders and volunteers in their respective contexts, to prepare them to better assist their constituents who have suffered trauma. The purpose of this program is to assist professionals in their caring for people who have suffered various forms of trauma, to create an awareness of the causes and consequences of trauma, and how it affects our relationships and social interactions. Finally, this program strives to enable those who have suffered/continue to suffer from trauma, a path forward to progress and a way out of destructive cycles. The training will be Jan. 13 from 9:00a-3:30p online. For info and to register, click here.

Newsletter from DHS Center for Faith-Based Partnerships

This Department of Homeland Security's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships newsletter includes:

• Nonprofit Security Grant Program Winter Webinar Series
• Protecting Houses of Worship
• Steps to Applying for a Security Grant
• Steps to Enhance Security Against

This email is brought to you by your generous gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission)! Thank you!