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Important This Week
- Sign up for 'Part-Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy'
- Register for the last PSEC Diversity Training workshop for this year
- Consider donating space in your church to house CWS clean-up buckets
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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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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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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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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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PS
EC summer reading list:
"Growing Through Disaster"
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PSEC Disaster Ministries team member, the Rev. Jenny Smith, recommends the new book,
Growing Through Disaster: Tools for Financial and Trauma Recovery in Your Faith Community
by Clayton L. Smith and Matt Schoenfeld. Smith and Schoenfeld suggest ways for congregations to assist in recovery from disasters and the associated aftermath: business closings, loss of local industry, recession, high unemployment, etc. Church leaders, community members, and volunteers can gather people in their community to participate in the recovery process Smith and Schoenfeld provide. They developed this process through their significant experience in assisting communities recover from disaster and trauma. The process leads to spiritually-rooted recovery for the people and their community. The authors offer five tasks of healing and recovery for those who have experienced trauma:
- Begin by taking a few simple steps to immediately cope with your situation.
- Accept the reality of your loss and pain.
- Find a safe place to express and experience your feelings and lament.
- Recognize your need for faith in God’s peace and purpose.
- Help yourself by helping others.
Rev. Jenny Smith
Have a book to recommend for other clergy and lay leaders? Email
brea@psec.org
a 100-200 word description of the book and why you're recommending it and we'll add it to the summer reading list and share your recommendation in eNews. Check out all of the books that have been recommended at
psec.org/booklist
.
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What you can do to help with hurricane recovery right now
No doubt you have seen Hurricane Dorian's devastating impacts in the Bahamas. Dorian’s destruction is still not yet fully quantified but I wanted to share what the UCC has been doing and planning as well as some suggestions for how to help.
- The UCC Disaster Ministries team continues to monitor the situation through multiple channels at the state, national and international levels.
- Because there are no UCC Churches in the Bahamas we are exploring potential partnerships with other organizations that have a more direct connection and will be determining our response as emergency needs are met, damage assessments occur and recovery begins.
- Financial donations are most effective, efficient and beneficial to survivors.
As you receive inquiries from individuals wanting to ‘do something’ or support UCC Disaster Ministries, here are some ideas.
- Pray for all who have been impacted and those that remain in harms way.
- Donate to support disaster recovery, families and communities impacted by disaster. Donations for the Bahamas should be given to the Emergency USA Fund. ucc.org/donate_to_disaster_relief
- Volunteer to help families and communities recover. ucc.org/disaster_disaster-volunteers
- Build relief kits using the UCC Disaster Ministries Matching grant. ucc.org/disaster_2018_matching_grants_for_cws_kits_home_page
- Prepare your family and church so you are able to respond if a disaster impacts your community. Resources: ucc.org/disaster_resources
"Holy God, you are an ever present help in times of trouble. We put our hope in you on behalf of those whose lives have been affected by tragedy in the Bahamas. We pray their peace and comfort, asking for help for those who have suffered loss. We pray calm for those who now wait anxiously. Grant your peace O God. Amen"
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Operations
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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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2020 PSEC Compensation Guidelines available now
The Conference Consistory has approved a 3% salary increase for Conference Compensation Guidelines. To view the 2020 guidelines,
click here
.
The 2020 Pension Board Medical and Dental Benefits rates for 2020 are not available yet. That will be shared as soon as it's available.
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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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Neighbors in Need offering materials available online now
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Most UCC churches receive the Neighbors in Need offering on Oct. 6 as part of World Communion Sunday. NIN is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants.
- To download posters, a leader guide, bulletin inserts, and envelopes, click here.
- To make NIN contributions online, click here.
- Applications for NIN grants will be accepted through Sept. 30. Apply here.
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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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Fundraisers scheduled for Phoebe Ministries in Allentown
The following fundraisers will be held to benefit Phoebe Ministries at Phoebe Allentown, 1925 Turner Street, Allentown. Please click the event name for a flyer to share.
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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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Church Events
Submit Church Events
here
View a complete list of Church Events
here
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Classified Ads
Submit Classified Ads
here
View a complete list of Classified Ads
here
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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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