Important This Week
  • Mark your calendars! PSEC dates for 2020 events are available.
  • Follow us on Facebook for a daily Advent reflection.
  • PSEC offices will close Wednesday at lunch and reopen Monday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving Message from the Conference Minister
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the people God has called you to love and serve.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It has none of the pressures of Christmas gift-giving and all of the pleasures of Christmas feasting. It is the most religious of all our non-religious holidays and unifies people around the simple themes of gathering and gratitude. I am weary of the Christmas consumerism that is absorbing the day in the name of economic necessity. We are a stronger people when we suspend a day’s activity for the simple but critical act of expressing thanks.
 
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

I pray the best of God’s blessing on you and the people you love,
Bill

Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
Save the date: Mark your calendar for these 2020 events

Did you know that Pennsylvania Southeast Conference has scheduled more than three dozen events so far for 2020? Read this news story for a complete list of events on our website. Below we've highlighted some that are coming up and where registration is open:
LGBTQIA+ workshop approved as Diversity Training

The Covenant, North Penn, Schuylkill, and Ursinus Associations have approved the Faith-based LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency Training that Boehm's UCC is hosting on Jan. 11 as meeting the requirement for Diversity Training (or continuing education hours). The Philadelphia Association Committee on Ministry plans to address this in December. The training will be from 9:00a-12:00p and costs $5. This is open to everyone. Registration is now open. Click here for a flyer to share.
PSEC Women's Clergy Retreat: 'Practice Makes Presence'

Join us Jan. 14-16 at Mariawald Retreat Center in Reading for the Women's Clergy Retreat, where we will spend time engaged in different spiritual practices. You’ll hear the stories of other clergywomen about what refuels them and fills their spirits outside of the church walls. Plus you’ll get a chance to try your hand at a few different spiritual practices. Enjoy this relaxed time of revival and renewal with the option for a free professional massage, too! Our time in-between will be filled with large and small group discussion and scripture that reflects our efforts to be present pastors by cultivating our own spiritual practices. Click here to register and for more information.
Christian Ed. workshops set for 2020, starting in January

The PSEC is sponsoring a series of workshops in 2020 for Christian Educators, Pastors, Teachers, Sunday School Superintendents, and anyone interested in Christian Faith Formation. Save the date for the first workshop on Sunday, Jan. 26 at Calvary UCC, Reading from 2:30-4:30p. More information will be available later.
Church admins/secretaries Community of Practice in Jan.

Join other "Assistants and Secretaries" of PSEC churches for our quarterly meeting. We will fellowship over lunch (you bring your own - host provides drinks and dessert) and then we will have time to check in, followed by training. For a flyer,  click here . To register (the event is free, but sign up so we know how many to plan for, for ride-sharing, and in case of inclement weather) click here .
Register: Clergy Convocation with Rev. Dr. Emily Heath

May 5-7, join PSEC and PNEC for a time of collegiality, spiritual renewal and education for authorized ministries and members in discernment... Clergy Convocation 2020! Rev. Emily Heath will join the group as the Presenter. For more information and to register, click here .
PSEC providing daily Advent reflections on Facebook
UCC extends care to children displaced by Hurricane Dorian

UCC Disaster Ministries has contributed $15,000 to support care for 25 orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned children evacuated from Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian destroyed the Children’s Home there. Read the whole story here .
Free UCC webinar scheduled on solar power for churches

Does your faith community have soul-ar power? For faith communities, solar power can mean putting panels on a roof, but the pursuit of solar power can also be a way to serve the community and advocate for a more just society. In this area, Solar United Neighbors has done ground-breaking work that has been replicated all over the country. Anya Schoolman, their founder and executive director, was honored by the White House in 2014 as a Champion of Change. In this webinar, she will cover three critical areas for faith communities interested in solar power: practical tips for going solar, solar co-ops as a way to lower costs for faith communities and neighborhood residents, and how faith communities can advocate for energy democracy and equity. The webinar will be on Dec. 5, but register even if you can’t make it in order to receive a link to the video later. Sign-up now!
Recommend something to the conference reading list
Have a book to recommend for other clergy and lay leaders? Send an email to brea@psec.org with a 100-200 word description of the book and why you're recommending it and we'll add your recommendation to the PSEC reading list and share it in eNews.  Check out all of the recommended books at psec.org/booklist .
Registration open for the 2020 Women's Clergy Retreat

Join us for the Women's Clergy Retreat on Jan. 14-16 where we will spend time engaged in different spiritual practices. You’ll hear the stories of other clergy women about what refuels them and fills their spirits outside of the church walls. Plus you’ll get a chance to try your hand at a few different spiritual practices. Enjoy this relaxed time of revival and renewal with the option for a free professional massage too! Our TBA retreat leader will guide our time in-between with discussion and scripture that reflects our efforts to be present pastors by cultivating our own spiritual practices. Click here for more information and to register.
Christmas Fund materials and podcast available online

Next month, many of our churches will take an offering for The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund. Materials to help churches prepare for that offering are available now. O n the Pension Board website, you will find :
  • Christmas Fund offering guide
  • weekly PowerPoint slides for the lighting of the Advent candles
  • weekly bulletin inserts for each Sunday in Advent
  • a litany in celebration of the Christmas Fund
  • poster
  • printable coloring book
Also check out the latest episode of the Pension Board's Podcast "Faith & Finance in Action" on The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross. This short episode includes information on the 117 year history of the fund, gives examples of how the money is used throughout the year, and provides some suggestions for promoting the offering.
Sign up: Workshop will help your church make money

On Jan. 24-25, church teams are invited to a seminar experience that could change the way you and your congregation approach giving and generosity. "Cultivating Generous Congregations" is a two-day interactive seminar, demonstrating how pastors and ministry leaders can unearth and energize congregational generosity by exploring the significant and necessary steps to create lasting cultural change within a congregation. The deadline to register your church is Dec. 5 . For more info and to register, click here .
Shop AmazonSmile to benefit the PSEC this holiday season
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that gives customers the same selection of products and the same prices, but the foundation donates a percentage -- usually 0.5% -- of eligible purchases to the charitable organization selected by the customer. If you haven't attached your Amazon account to PSEC, please consider doing so now! Support PSEC Here   
Save the date: Philly Faith & Spiritual Affairs conference

The Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disABILITY Services will hold its 14th Annual Faith and Spiritual Affairs Conference on April 17 from 8:00-3:00 at the PA Convention Center in Philadelphia. The theme will be "Community Response to Violence: Renewing Our Faith in Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection." For updates email Samantha.Grannum@phila.gov .
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PSEC Events

Jan. 14: 2020 Women's Clergy Retreat in Reading

Jan. 24: Cultivating Generous Congregations in Boyertown

May 5: Clergy Convocation in Lancaster

View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Church Events
Nov. 30: Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair in Tamaqua


Submit Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
Educational Opportunities

View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Transitions
Week of Nov. 24
Rev. Jason Stump's last Sunday at St. Peter's UCC, Pine Grove
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:

  • St. Mark's UCC, Reading (10 hrs/ week)
  • St. John's UCC, Orwigsburg (half-time designated)
  • 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.
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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!