Wondering how to handle your congregation's celebration of upcoming holidays this fall and winter? Do you long to brainstorm ideas with creative, invested experts - that is to say, other worship leaders from around the country?

Join this national webinar to share your ideas and plans and see what others are doing to connect their congregants to annual traditions in these challenging times. Break out rooms will be organized by size of congregation.

The event is free but registration is required to receive the connection info. Learn more.

This is a time of expansive change. Our faith communities are experimenting and collaborating as never before. How might we bring more intention to what congregations are already doing?

Meeting with other congregational leaders often generates a creative interchange of ideas. Join thought partners from other UU congregations in online cohorts in this year-long program facilitated by experienced lay leaders. Applications are due October 25, 2020. Learn more at the UUA website.

by Sana Saeed

On March 14th, 2013, I was sitting in my office at the Interfaith Alliance, a non-profit in Washington DC, while watching CNN’s live feed of the Vatican. I was watching the white smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel as I waited for the new pope to be introduced, and in that moment, I had decided to check my email and saw that I had a “Congratulations” message waiting from Harvard Divinity School (HDS) at Harvard University. My hand shook as I clicked the email open, and when I read the word “admitted” I cried. A lot. It was the one school and university in my mind that was unattainable. I don’t know if that was just because of my own insecurities or if that was what I was socialized to think.

The Office of Church Staff Finances reminds us this is a time when we have a lot of staff changes is our congregations. Please check out their LeaderLab page on Compensation Standards and Resources which includes their Benefits Workbook to help you make sure you don't miss any deadlines. You'll also want to check out their From Starting to Parting document that provides advice on welcoming new staff, providing ongoing support and ensuring healthy departures.

Virtual Guest in Your Pulpit! The UUMA has taken over maintaining the list of speakers started by Rev. Kimberley Debus. Check it out to see who is available! You can find it here. Also, don't forget to check out the CER Guest in Your Pulpit program, which includes both lay and professional worship leaders.

The UUA is hiring for several positions. Find job descriptions and application information at their Job Openings  webpage.

The following events are upcoming in the region. For full details and a complete list visit the CER Calendar Page. Also, please note, if you are mailing a check to the regional office to pay for your registration, you must write the name and date of the event in the memo line. Otherwise we may not get it properly credited.

Due to COVID-19 we are expecting all events in 2020-2021 to be virtual. We strongly encourage congregations to do your part to flatten the curve by supporting your congregants virtually through online conferencing, phone, email or letters and forgoing in-person meetings.

• CER Networking Calls - one per week, 1-2 each week. Choose what works best for you.
• First Wednesday of the month - Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2 at 5 pm with Rev. Sunshine Wolfe and Rev. Renee Ruchotzke.
• Second Tuesday of the Month - Oct 13, Nov 10, Dec 8 at 6:30 pm with Patricia Infante and Sana Saeed.
• Second Friday of the month - Oct 9, Nov 13, Dec 11 at 1 pm with Rev.  Evin Carvill-Ziemer and Rev. Renee Ruchotzke.
• Third Monday of the month - Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 21 at 4 pm with Rev. Megan Foley.
• Third Wednesday of the Month - Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16 at 6 pm with Patricia Infante, Sana Saeed, Rev. Evin Carvill-Ziemer, and Rev. Hope Johnson.
• Join by going to https://uua.zoom.us/j/98736004337, password is 202006.
• BIPOC Gatherings happen twice a month - October 12 and 26 at 6:30 pm. Contact Hope Johnson at hjohnson@uua.org or Sana Saeed at ssaeed@uua.org for connection information.
  
• Holiday Planning Brainstorming Conversation for Worship Leaders  ~ online webinar. 4-5:30 pm ET, Wed, October 7, 2020.
• Pittsburgh Cluster Annual Assembly ~ November 7, 2020
• On Our Way to Beloved Community, Delmarva Cluster Annual Gathering, Nov 21, 2020, 10 am to 3:30 pm ET. Registration is open.

If you missed the Online RE Safety Webinar in September, you can view the recording on the UUA website along with resources presented during that webinar.