Important This Week

• Send your Christmas morning worship links to share with other churches
• Racial Justice Team movie discussion on TILL this week
• New ministry opportunities posted

From the Conference Minister:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.”                 Matthew 3:7-9 (NRSV)

Years ago, I mentioned in a sermon that John Baptist was the only Advent figure missing from my Christmas manger. And for good reason. There is nothing like a camel hair covered prophet spouting "You brood of vipers!” to mess up an otherwise tranquil holiday moment.

“Christianity has given little energy to prophecy, which Paul identifies as the second most important charism for building the church (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11).” So says Father Richard Rohr. Most people believe that prophets predict the future. In fact, prophets confront us with the hard and healthy choices we must make that will shape the future. They also confront us with the consequences of choosing poorly. There is no transformation without confrontation (Could it be that the transformation that most churches need and want doesn’t happen because they are confrontation avoidant?).

Father Rohr goes on to say that the prophets of old were where the suffering was, among the people who were excluded from the system. They saw through the idolatries at the center of the system because those who are excluded from the system always reveal the operating beliefs of that system. Speaking the truth for the sake of healing and wholeness is then prophetic because the “powers that be” that benefit from the system cannot tolerate certain revelations. They cannot tolerate the truths that the marginalized — the broken, the wounded, and the homeless — always reveal. (1)

Prophets are not self-made, and they don’t confront problems in other people’s houses when they can’t/won’t confront the problems in their own. For instance, we in the UCC pride ourselves for our prophetic voice but we have been notoriously unable/unwilling to confront the challenges in our own system. Prophets speak authentically from a pain most people are working very hard to avoid. They are no more welcome in our day than John was in his.

Mamie Till is a powerful example. Mamie became an educator and activist in the Civil Rights Movement after the death of her 14-year-old son, Emmett, who, in 1955, was beaten severely, shot dead then thrown with a 75lb cotton gin fan tied around his neck into Tallahatchie River. Because he whistled at a white woman. Mamie Till insisted that the casket containing her son's body be left open to show the world what was done to him.

I hear Mamie Till saying “You brood of vipers” to the people who killed her son, to those who covered it up, and the millions who looked the other way. There was then, as there is now, a choice to make that Mamie laid bear before an entire nation. What kind of people will we be and how will we teach that to our children? We are still trying to answer that question.

Our Conference Racial Justice Team will lead a Conference wide conversation exploring the truth-telling, justice-seeking spirit of Mamie Till featured in the new movie TILL (For free registration, click here) . How will people of faith respond to her prophetic voice calling for change to our century’s long oppression of, and violence against, Black people and communities? Will we hear the message or kill the prophet? Are we willing to risk and become prophets to ourselves in our own lives?

With prayers that we choose well,

Pastor Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

(1) Joan Chittister and Richard Rohr, Prophets Then, Prophets Now (Albuquerque, NM: Center for Action and Contemplation, 2006). Available as MP3 download.

Thank you from the Conference Minister Emeritus

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I pause in my Thanksgiving Day celebration with family to express my deep thanksgiving to the leaders and Consistory of Pennsylvania Southeast Conference for the honor you bestowed on me by naming me “Conference Minister Emeritus.” When Pastor Worley said to me that it would be important for Ruth and me to be at the Fall Meeting, I changed my registration from “online” to “present.” I knew that something was in the making, but, since I was “ordered” to be present by the “bishop,” I decided to get myself to Philadelphia on November 13!

The honor came at a juncture in my life when I had to find new ways of being faithful to my ordination call as a pastor and teacher. After my third term as Conference Minister expired at the end of 2010, Nancy Gottshall Hardy asked me to go to Parkside UCC in Phoenixville for three months to help them make decisions about their future. I stayed for eleven years and three months! Finally I was able to step down at the beginning of June, and a new pastoral relationship began with the Rev. Raymond Jachowski and St. John’s UCC.

Somehow by the grace of God and the action of the Holy Spirit, I finally have experienced a sense of closure on 57 years of ordained ministry.

The honor of being named “Conference Minister Emeritus” affirms to me my stated intention at my first interview which took place at Bethany Home that I view Conference Ministry as a called position in the United Church of Christ. I told the search committee that I had 27 years of experience as a local church pastor, and that, if the committee deemed that experience as transferrable to Conference Ministry, I would be honored to accept the call, but if they wanted a CEO, I would go back to Colorado and continue in the ministry of Word and Sacrament. So, to me, the honor of “Conference Minister Emeritus” is an affirmation that my eighteen years in Pennsylvania Southeast Conference was truly a call to ministry as pastor and teacher, and that together with the tens of thousands of faithful people in Conference congregations, we were able to work together in building up the body of Christ in this region.

I value the relationships with all those people, and I especially appreciate the ministry of my successor, the Rev. William Worley. I thank Bill for all the support and help he has given me, and I treasure the years ahead. May God continue to bless the ministry and mission of Pennsylvania Southeast Conference and its leadership in the years to come. I am deeply appreciative of the honorific title of “Conference Minister Emeritus,” and I hope to “wear” it with deep thanksgiving. 

In Christ,

F. Russell Mitman, Conference Minister Emeritus

Resources and webpage from the PSEC Stewardship team

The PSEC Stewardship/Development Mission Team now has a page on the PSEC website with resources for churches, including the OCWM video that was supposed to premier at the Fall Meeting, but technical difficulties prevented us from showing. The Stewardship/Development webpage can be found by visiting psec.org/stewardship-development-mission-team/ or by going to psec.org and clicking the first sliding "banner."

Share your virtual Christmas morning services with others

PSEC is offering assistance to churches for worship on Sunday, Dec. 25. Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley will record a Christmas sermon that can be shared. The transcript of that sermon will also be available for anyone who wants to read it in church. Additionally, we will provide a list of churches providing live-streamed or pre-recorded services for Christmas that you can share.

If you are willing to add your church's service to that list, please send an email to brea@psec.org no later than Dec. 5 and include:

• the name of the church, including location
• the name of the pastor
• the website where the online service will be available
• if the service is live-streamed, the time the service will begin
• if the service will be pre-recorded, when it will be posted

On Dec. 13 we will send you an email with the list of virtual services, the recording of Rev. Worley's sermon, and the transcript of the sermon.

Global H.O.P.E. email from UCC available for November

The November Global H.O.P.E. email (Humanitarian. Opportunities. Progress. Empowerment.) email from the UCC's Wider Church Ministries is now available. Read about the Ukraine response, the working group on Environmental and Technology Caused Disasters, the current landscape of refugee and migration ministries, mission sites that need volunteers (including in Philadelphia!), and more. You'll also find a registration link for the Blue Christmas Worship scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5 (and recorded and made available for later use) from the UCC. Our own Rev. Karl Jones will be participating in that service, providing the Pastoral Prayer. Read the Global H.O.P.E. email here and use the button in the upper left corner to subscribe to receive future emails

Stewardship event: Generosity and Vitality in the NOW Normal

On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Southeastern PA and Northeastern PA Synods of the ELCA will host "Generosity and Vitality in the NOW Normal - a Stewardship Extravaganza." This in-person event will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale. For more information, including workshop descriptions, registration link, and an event flyer, click here.

Racial Justice Team hosting discussion on film

Dec. 1, 7p.m. The Racial Justice Team will lead a conference-wide discussion of the movie TILL, exploring the powerful truth-telling, justice-seeking spirit of Mamie Till, and what we can do as people of faith to thwart, change and dismantle the culture of white domination (white supremacy) and its’ centuries long systemic oppression of, and violence against, Black people and Black communities. We encourage congregations to coordinate a “Movie Night” viewing of TILL at your local theater and then join us for a time of thoughtful, faithful discussion and introspection, and an opportunity to explore what social justice campaigns or truth-telling topics your faith community is willing to actively engage in. To register for the TILL discussion click here. Registration is free.

Insurance Board Webcast: Keeping Your Ministry Safe

The Insurance Board will host "Abuse Prevention Considerations: Keeping Your Ministry Safe." Failure to discover a sex offender can affect those in your care, your reputation, financial stability, and trust within the community. Join us at 2:00p Nov. 30 to learn about targeted solutions that will strengthen your ministry’s abuse prevention efforts. Click here to register.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Fentanyl strips

The Pen Recovery in the Holidays

For the person in recovery

For the Recovering Person:

Holidays can be both joyous and difficult and it is necessary to keep recovery first!

12-Step recovery meetings are available around-the-clock during holidays. Meetings are a safe space to share concerns, fears, anger, gratitude, and joy.

When attending a holiday event, bringing a recovering friend provides accountability and strength to stay clean and sober.

It is suggested that recovering persons discuss a plan with a sponsor, such as an early exit strategy. This is especially important if feeling overwhelmed or uncomfortable. If a person cannot legally drive, bringing another recovering person or even asking a family member to take them home is often the best solution.

Recovering persons should not feel obligated to attend holiday parties where there may be substance use.

Phoebe Richland accepting applications for chaplain

A full-time staff chaplain is being sought at Phoebe Richland to conduct a variety of religious activities and provide for the spiritual needs of residents and families and ministry with staff. Click here for more information and to apply. For questions or inquiries contact Marie Joseph at majoseph@phoebe.org or Scott Brooks-Cope at scope@phoebe.org.

"When Does Closure Become an Option Workshop"

Since 2014, one PSEC congregation has closed, on average, every six months. This isn’t often talked about — partly because that news is filled with feelings of profound loss and grief. It’s the source of uncomfortable shame — that somehow church members failed to do all they could to maintain their sacred space. It provokes questions about the power and/or presence of God. Taken together, these things make it difficult to say what sometimes needs to be said: “It’s time for our church to close.” 

A workshop will be held Feb. 4 in Limerick to create a safe space where difficult questions can be asked and information shared with congregations facing decline and potential closure. You will receive resources and hear about church closure experiences. Click here for more information and to register.

Addiction team hosting study on Richard Rohr book

Starting Jan. 10, the Addiction and Recovery Taskforce will host a book study on Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr. The book is written within the framework of the 12 steps for those experiencing addiction. The number of sessions will be determined by the group. If you're interested in learning more about spiritual healing, click here to register.

Theology with a Twist: Hidden History of Christmas Carols

The Dec. 6 Theology with a Twist at the Kutztown Tavern will be on the topic "The Hidden History of Christmas Carols." Rev. Kim Berenotto and Marji Hughes will lead this month's discussion and SING-A-LONG! Join us to explore the history and traditions behind your favorite holiday songs -- and whether those songs actually reflect the Christmas story we know from scripture. Click here for more information.

Attention Committee chairs: Send meeting info for calendar

For those wondering “what does the Conference do”, it was decided to offer to all PSEC committees/groups the opportunity to add your meeting dates and times to the PSEC website calendar.

Although this is not mandatory, we will be happy to post your meeting dates if you desire us to do so.

This does not mean, we will be posting Zoom information and suddenly everyone is now invited to your meetings, the intent is to show how busy you all are doing God’s work.

If you’d like your meetings placed on the PSEC calendar, please contact Susan Creswell at susan@psec.org.

Securing Sacred Spaces webinar set for Dec. 8

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, State Police, Emergency Management Agency, the three Fusion Centers across the Commonwealth, Faith-based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, and the Anti-Defamation League, invite you to attend the 4th quarterly event of our 2022 Faith-based Security & Resilience Learning Series Workshop. This learning series will provide valuable information to religious leaders, security personnel and members of the houses of worship to enhance security and resilience. Join us Dec. 8 from 1:00p to 4:00p. Click here for a flyer with additional details and click here to register.

UCC accepting applications for Generosity Officers

The United Church of Christ, National Setting has an opening for four Generosity Officers to be deployed throughout the U.S. by region. The Generosity Officers will assist the Director of Philanthropy, the Development Strategist, OPTIC team, and volunteers in carrying out the major gift program/planned giving program of the national setting of the UCC. Each will hold primary responsibility for the solicitation of individual gifts of $10k or more for the UCC. These positions will be charged to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward 75-100 prospects and donors, concentrating on one of the identified Regions of the UCC, partnering with other staff and conference offices and local churches as appropriate. This position will require both electronic and direct face-to-face solicitation and stewardship, with an expectation of travel. 

Generosity Officer: PNEC, PSEC, Penn Central, Penn West, Central Atlantic – Apply here

Apply now: Ministers' Financial Vitality Initiative

Since 2017, the Ministers' Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI) has worked to increase and improve financial wellness for more than 210 UCC authorized ministers who are overburdened with debt.

Each year, 60 authorized ministers commit to a three-year personal finance education that encourages participants to draw upon the expertise of an Ernst and Young financial planner to help meet their financial goals, as well as obtain free access to tools and educational resources.  

The program provides a yearly financial incentive of $3,000 for three years, which participants can use to alleviate their debt, or seed an Annuity Plan account to secure lifetime income. 

Active UCC authorized ministers interested in joining the MFVI program for the 2023 cohort can email MFVI@pbucc.org for instructions. Application deadline is Dec. 31. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Learn more by reading the Frequently Asked Questions.