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From the Conference Minister:
Last weekend’s 4 PA UCC Conference was amazing! Thank you to everyone who showed up, in person or online, at State College to experience the church at its very best! The positive spiritual energy was palpable. Thanks to our PSEC staff, volunteers, committee members, artisans, musicians, singers, worship leaders, tech folk, and especially to Sue Creswell, for all your hard work. The time together was a blessing that began with the always inspiring Rev. Cean James and ended with equally inspiring UCC General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.
There is much more news to share and more opportunities for conversation and discernment about the potential future of a Keystone Conference lay ahead. For now, I want to share this story from the weekend…
Days before the event, the Penn Stater Conference Coordinator emailed our Planning Team Representative (PTR) asking for information about the UCC. She wanted to prepare her Penn Stater staff with some knowledge about their guests.
On Saturday, the Conference Coordinator shared with our PTR that our UCC delegates were the most kind and caring group that The Penn Stater hosted during her long tenure -- a sentiment shared by the entire staff. The following day, she shared that when our UCC contract was given to her, she didn’t want it. Her faith experience growing up was not good and she felt like she was the least capable candidate for a church conference contract. She explained that her husband was raised in church and has been wanting to find a local faith community, but she has been very reluctant. She just could not bring herself to give church another try. Until now.
After meeting almost 500 UCC people, she said that she was overcome by how we not only talk about our faith but walk our faith. She wanted more information about local UCC churches from our PTR when standing next to her was Rev. Jes Kast, Pastor, Faith UCC in State College. Rev. Jes’s extravagant, hospitable, welcome in that moment was just what was needed to open the door of possibility and hope. It was a moment that had the Conference Coordinator telling this story of acceptance and connection in tears with those fortunate enough receive it.
I began the Conference meeting wondering with the representatives of each Conference board what miracle we were going to see during the weekend. This was just one.
Thanks be to God. Great and small, miracles happen. Everyday.
In the peace that only Christ gives,
Pastor Bill
Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
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