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Important This Week
- Plan to attend a presentation by the UCC Disaster Recovery Specialist
- Read the Conference Minister's thoughts on this week's lectionary text
- Sign up for Diversity Awareness Training
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From the Conference Minister: Churches bringing change
“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
” Luke 16:10
Several years ago, Jim Wallis, the founding editor-in-chief Sojourners magazine, spoke at Duke University ... and in the course of his lecture he noted how inner-city gangs ruthlessly defend their “turf,” and how drug lords mark off a neighborhood to make it theirs.
“I want churches to learn from these guys, (from the managers of unrighteousness),” Wallis said, “I want some inner-city churches who will say, “This is our turf, and we control this neighborhood around our church, and we are going to do what’s necessary to make sure you don’t trample our turf.”
He told a story of one aging, inner-city church in Detroit that was determined to transform its neighborhood ... and through their aging yet cunning and crafty congregation, managed to accomplish significant transformation overnight. In a bold move, the church posted some of their elderly ladies in foldout lawn chairs on each corner of their property. They were given video cameras which they raised whenever any kind of suspicious activity was visible.
And through their simple, creative strategy, they changed an entire Detroit neighborhood. Wallis explains that the women on the corner had absolutely no idea how to work the cameras ... but the drug- dealers didn’t know that. Those elderly women were beating the world at its own game, and by doing so, fashioned a new future for themselves and for their neighborhood.
“And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes” (Luke 16: 8-9). I am sometimes bothered that Jesus would teach his disciples to ‘make friends by dishonest wealth.’ We could spend long hours parsing his meaning and in so doing miss the call to action. Be bold to bring light to this dark world.
I don’t know where those elderly women are today — on earth or in heaven. I would relish an opportunity to sit with them on any street corner. Until that happens, I offer them chairs in the corners of my head and heart to chase away the darkness by a courage and conviction that says, ‘Christ is in this place. Come you weary one and find rest.’
May it be so for you and the people you love.
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
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UCC Disaster Recovery Specialist presenting in PSEC
Ken Skalitsky, Disaster Recovery Specialist for the United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries, will present on Oct. 1 from 7:00-9:00p on volunteer response and recovery operations throughout PA and the USA. The presentation will be held at the Delaware County Emergency Services 911 Center in Media. For more info, to register, and a for flyer to share,
click here
.
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Few spots left for Oct. 8-10 Men's Clergy Retreat
"God, Guts and Guys: from Vulnerability to Vitality" will be the theme of the 2019 Men's Clergy Retreat at Kirkridge Retreat Center on Oct 8-10. The event will be a mixture of worship, small group discussions and relaxation! The facilitator will be Rev. Felix Villanueva,
Southern California-Nevada
Conference Minister. For more info and to register,
click here
. Spots are limited; register now!
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Disaster Ministries webinars set for this week and next
On Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 4:00-5:00p, a
Disaster Preparedness for Churches
webinar will be held. The webinar will address: What should you do when a disaster strikes your church community? The frequency and intensity of natural disasters is increasing, affecting nearly every church and community in our country. During this webinar, UCC Disaster Ministries will walk you through the recently released Disaster Preparedness Manual for Churches – and how to prepare your church as a building and as a community for a natural disaster. You will also learn preparedness measures that will position your church to be engaged in effective and helpful disaster response ministry when an event occurs in your community. Join the webinar at:
UCC.zoom.us/j/593456339.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 4:00-5:00p, a
Disaster Preparedness for Individuals and Families
webinar will be held. The webinar will address ways you and your family can be prepared. Join the webinar at
https://UCC.zoom.us/j/727717046.
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Sign up for workshop on how to thrive with part-time clergy
Switching from full-time to part-time clergy is an unfortunate step many of our churches are facing. But would switching to part-time lead to irreversible decline? This workshop says no, it doesn’t have to. In fact, the switch to part-time can lead to more vitality if it’s managed well to repurpose assets and embrace new opportunities. Journalist, author and part-time UCC minister G. Jeffrey MacDonald will share insights from his forthcoming book, Part-Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy. He'll guide attendees through exercises tailored to discern what's possible. Participants will leave with practical tips and a game plan for joining the ranks of thriving congregations with part-time pastors.
Click here
for more information and to register.
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Disaster Preparedness workshop for churches
A Disaster Preparedness Workshop for Churches and Their Leaders will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9:00a-4:00p at Jordan UCC, Allentown. Cost of the workshop is $15/person. For more info including how to register,
click here
.
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Church space needed for receiving CWS buckets, kits
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Does your church have space to store for a short time 20-30 of these buckets, as well as other kits?
CWS Kits are small packages of supplies assembled by volunteers and shipped to families and communities in need around the world – especially in the aftermath of disasters.
There is a great need around the world for these kits. Many of our churches are assembling them. What we need at this time is a church that will receive them and store them until we can deliver them to the CWS warehouse.
You will not have to store them for long. The intention is that these supplies will be rushed to people who need our help.
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CROP Hunger Walk resources from PA Council of Churches
The CROP Hunger Walk Program turns 50 this fall! Help us by sharing this story in your church and encourage people to join the walk! This year 800 communities, in almost every state, will gather to walk to raise awareness and funds to end the immorality of hunger in our world of plenty!
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Register for the last PSEC Diversity Training for 2019
In 2017, the PSEC Church and Ministry Council made Diversity Awareness Training mandatory for all authorized ministers. Clergy must take at least one three-hour training every three years by the end of 2020. If you are an authorized minister who did not complete the training yet, you should sign up for the training on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 10a-1p at Armenian Martyrs' Congregational Church, Havertown.
Click here
for more information and to register.
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Consistory Presidents gathering coming on Sept. 21
As Presidents of Consistory (or other governing body of your church), we have opportunity and roadblocks facing us at all times. Our goal is to brainstorm, support, pray, laugh, and learn together in a confidential environment, so that we are strengthened to build healthy, vibrant, and faithful churches. There is no fee to attend. The next meeting will be Sept. 21 from 9:00-11:00a. The location has changed to St John's Gernant's UCC, 12 Gernants Church Road, Leesport.
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RSVP for Clergy Blessing and Open House at Chestnut Ridge
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Clergy are invited to the Chestnut Ridge campus of Phoebe on Monday, Sept. 23 at 3:00p as they bless the new space and share their exciting vision. Enjoy refreshments, a presentation by Phoebe's President & CEO, and learn more about Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, Phoebe's newest independent living community sprouting in Emmaus!
Clergy Open House & Blessing
Chestnut Ridge Sales Center
1002 Pennsylvania Ave, Emmaus
3:00p- Light fare and refreshments
3:30p- Welcome and Blessing
4:00p- Walking Prayer (Optional)
4:30p- Tour of Chestnut Ridge Model Apartment
Click here
to RSVP by Sept. 18 or call Brandy Drago at 610-794-6586.
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Webinar: Faith Communities & the upcoming climate strike
The next
UCC Creation Justice Webinar
will focus on the upcoming global climate strike on Sept. 20. Already, the strike is shaping up to be one of the largest mobilizations in the history of the climate justice movement. The UCC Council for Climate Justice is a national co-sponsor of this strike which is taking place in over 265 locations across the United States. Learn more about the climate strike and how faith communities are getting involved from an interfaith panel of speakers. The webinar is on Sept. 10 at 1:00p. Sign-up even if you cannot make it, so that the video recording can be sent to you.
Register now!
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Meadowood Senior Living in Lansdale seeking chaplain
Meadowood Senior Living is looking for a Chaplain to create, implement, and manage the long-range vision for its Spiritual Wellness Program. For more information, visit
their website
. View the
job description
here.
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Church Events
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here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Classified Ads
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here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
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Educational Opportunities
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Church Openings
- St. Mark's UCC, Reading (10 hrs/ week)
- UCC Valley Forge (full-time interim)
- St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
- St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown (part-time settled)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Sharon Morris:
morris@psec.org
or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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