The program has been very successful and each year we create more groups. This year, sign ups are available for traditional groups, as well as for clergy that fit into specific categories. For more information, click here. If you are interested in being part of a Community of Practice, then sign up today. The deadline to register is Dec. 14. If you have questions contact Rev. Dr. Susan Minasian at minasian@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.

We know many of our churches will be taking part in Wreaths Across America this weekend. Wreaths Across America's annual wreath laying ceremony began at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 and is now performed around the country, including at cemeteries affiliated with many PSEC churches. To find a service near you or to volunteer, click here. The event at Wentz’s UCC was featured in The Mercury this week, read that story here.

The Fall/Winter issue of The Steward, the Insurance Board's newsletter on insurance concerns that affect churches, is available now. Get a legal perspective on church reliance on volunteers, best practices for volunteers and copyright, volunteers and abuse prevention, and more. Click here to read.

Registration is open for spring semester courses from Crossroads, the Moravian Seminary Lay Leadership Program. Upcoming courses include Missional Leadership, Road Hazards: Congregational Ethics, Story of Christianity, and My Journey/Our Journey. For information or to register, visit the Crossroads website.

Introduction to Pastoral Care, Jan. 6-Feb. 10. This class provides an introduction to pastoral care with attention to trauma histories, healthy boundaries, self-care, and social justice. You will be introduced to pastoral care practices in a variety of settings, including organizing caring ministries within the congregation, and attend to particular circumstances of ministry, such as loss and grief, illness, marriage, and family.

Fundraising Fundamentals: Churches and Other Non-Profits, Feb. 22-March 29. This class provides essential fundraising tools for lay leaders, pastors, and other ministerial leaders. Whether working in a congregation or not-for-profit, all ministerial leaders need to be able to raise money.

Each six-week class is offered online. 2.5 CEUs. $325. Deadline to register for Pastoral Care is Dec. 21.

We can extend support and help to these grandparents. We can hold support groups in our churches or help them to find one in our communities. The office of Senior services and the Intermediate Unit in Schuylkill County formed The Schuylkill County Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group to help with support and practical issues such as establishing custody. Other counties also have such resources. 

Books of the PSEC will close Jan. 17. All OCWM contributions for 2021 must be in our office by that date or they will be counted towards 2022 contributions. Please mail your contributions as soon as possible due to possible mail delays.

The Incarnation Institute for Sex & Faith (IISF) announces that registrations are now open for religious professionals (with one year of seminary training) and sexual health professionals for Professional Leadership training who desire tools to help parishioners and clients heal from problematic religious teachings and the Purity Culture. This is an 8 week (virtual) training that is co-facilitated by a clergy and sex educator that starts in February. For more information and testimonies from previous attendees check out the IISF website. Partial scholarships are available.

Pastors are you weary? Is the yoke of pastoring in this extended season of COVID heavy? Share your burdens and joys as we pray together on Thursdays at noon during the season of Advent! A brief period of facilitated check-in will be followed by curated poems, prayers, and silence. Light a candle and feed your spirit this Advent by gathering in prayer with colleagues from Penn Central, Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast conferences and prepare for the inbreaking of Emmanuel once again! Join us Dec. 16 and 23 at noon https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88299554125?pwd=cU90LzZhS2lOU05qVFo5QWhjK2p3UT09. We will end promptly at 1pm.

Women's Clergy Retreat, "Un-program Yourself", will be held Jan. 18-20 at Mariawald Retreat Center in Reading. Join us for the Women's Clergy Retreat, a minimally scheduled and relaxing retreat for Clergy Women of the PSEC. Proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required as is a negative Covid test within 72 hours of the beginning of the event. For flyer, click here. To register, click here.

The Susquehanna Area Mission Council of the Penn Northeast Conference will be submitting a Disaster Relief challenge to all churches in the Pennsylvania Southeast and Penn Northeast Conferences during the season of Epiphany. This challenge will benefit both conferences and many who are in need. We hope you’ll join us and be on the look out for a HIGH FIVE this Epiphany! Click here for a bulletin insert with more information.

The New York Conference will be offering an online UCC History and Polity course in Jan./Feb. Click here for the Course Announcement. The course runs on four Saturdays from 9:30a-3:30p. Cost is $495.

The Penn Central Conference will be offering an online UCC History and Polity course starting Feb. 11. Registration is open now and spaces are limited. The cost of the course is $150.

The Southern New England Conference Disaster Response team compiled this resource on wintertime and snowstorm readiness. Winter can bring extended periods of extreme temperatures and snowfall. Even short periods of exposure to this extreme cold can cause serious health problems. Heavy snow can lead to roof collapse and dangerous driving conditions. While it is true that there is little you can do to avoid a winter snowstorm, there is plenty you can do to prepare, to mitigate the damage after a winter storm and to save lives! Take a few minutes to read this comprehensive resource and to share it with your church members.

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”.