In response to the July 27 CDC Recommendation, and the current rate of COVID transmission in the PA southeast region, I recommend that all persons wear face masks at all times for all gatherings in our local church buildings. As we have for the last eighteen months, we ask our churches to carry on with an abundance of caution. All indoor Conference meetings will require attendees to mask unless we can verify a 100% vaccination rate for those in attendance. We recommend that Associations follow this same protocol. We will monitor the CDC communications closely to determine if this recommendation needs to be modified and will apprise you immediately.

Be safe, please.

With God’s Blessings,

Pastor Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

Click here for the latest from FEMA about staying safe.

The Conference Consistory has approved a 3% salary increase for Conference Compensation Guidelines. To view the 2022 guidelines, click here.

The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary is offering a six-session, online class THE JOB-HUNTING FIELD GUIDE: BIVOCATIONAL AND BEYOND with a nationally known career consultant for just $100! This will be a series of hands-on workshops to anyone - lay or clergy - who is looking for a job - secular or ministerial - or who wants to level-up their career Sept. 7-Oct. 12. To register or for more information, click here.

Boundary Training is not just for Pastors... it also pertains to members of churches! Your church should be safe for all congregants. On Sept. 29 at 6:30p, "Lay Boundary Training" will be held on Zoom. Discussion will include: healthy boundaries, varieties and levels of seriousness of boundary crossings and the psychological health we all need to establish boundaries. Click here for a flyer. This training is free thanks to your OCWM contributions. Click here to sign up.

"Releasing Your Inner Warrior" will be the theme of the 2021 Men's Clergy Retreat being held at Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, PA. The event, taking place Oct 5-7 (Tues-Thurs) will be a mixture of worship, small group discussions and relaxation! The facilitator of the group will be Rev. Dr. Tom Johnson, UCC Pastor and co-founder of The Neighborhood Academy. Full vaccination is required to attend. For event flyer, click here. To register, click here.

The UCC’s next Creation Justice Webinar will feature one of the leading voices in environmentalism over recent decades: James Gustave Speth. Among his many accomplishments, Speth served the Carter administration, founded the Natural Resources Defense Council, and spent ten years as Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. In August, he is releasing a new book entitled, They Knew — The US Federal Government's Fifty-Year Role in Causing the Climate Crisis. Naomi Klein has described it as "a damning record that will become a potent tool for justice.” Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00 on Sept. 8, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

You may have received an email this week from the United Church of Christ giving an update for where to mail contributions. This change of address at the national church should not effect how OCWM contributions are sent to PSEC. Please continue to send your contributions to the PSEC office as before. If you have questions, contact tammie@psec.org.

For help in understanding, starting the journey, or just someone to talk to, please see our website.

The UCC National Setting will host a "Training for UCC Churches: Serving Afghan Refugees" on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 5:00p. This hour and a half training builds on the new toolkit Welcoming and Advocating for Afghan SIVs and Other Afghan Refugees, tailored for UCC congregations that want to engage effectively in support for Afghan SIVs and other Afghan refugees being resettled to the United States. The training will include stories and insights from Afghan SIVs, churches who have built successful refugee ministries, and migration professionals concerning effective ways that churches can make an impact. Presenters will offer tailored resources for UCC congregations to take action and take questions from churches wanting to build responsive ministries. Participants will walk away with confidence for action in response to the call to help. Need more information? Contact Irene Hassan, UCC Minister for Refugee and Migration Services, at hassani@ucc.org.

This week, the UCC Officers released a statement: We must not turn our back on Afghanistan. If you haven't read that yet, take some time to read or share that.

Also, the UCC Minister for Refugee and Migration Ministries has shared this new resource: Welcoming and Advocating for Afghan SIVs and Refugees: A Toolkit.

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”.

Computer-side Chat: Bivocational Ministry!

Join us Tuesday Sept. 14, 7-8 pm. Email brea@psec.org to receive the Zoom link.

Rev. Dr. Susan Miniasian

Interim Associate Conference Minister

This course is designed for church leaders but is open to anyone who feels challenged to deepen their spiritual life. The course will be led by Dr. Charles Maxfield, an ordained UCC minister with experience in lay ministry training. He will be assisted by Constance Lezenby, a spiritual director recognized by her Friends’ Meeting as a traveling minister. Cost is $15 per person for the three sessions. Registration is on a first-come basis. For more information including how to register, click here.