Important This Week

• Register for Annual Meeting
• Full-time senior pastor position added to Church Openings
• Several installations coming soon including Rev. Patrick Morris at Zion Blue Mountain UCC this Sunday

From the Conference Minister:

Last week, Rev.’s Cean James, Kevin McLemore, and I joined Conference colleagues from our UCC’s Mid-Atlantic Region (New York Conference, Central Atlantic Conference, and the four PA Conferences). The purpose of this annual three-day retreat is to share insights and information about the inner workings of our Conferences particularly what is working (to build the body of Christ) and what is not. 

The challenges of living in any portion of Christ’s community (at your local church, in the Association, the Conference or National Setting) are not unique. The local churches of all six Conferences are living the leadership crisis of too few (capable) pastors. All Association Committees on Ministry need to create a stronger ministerial recruiting and preparation process. All Conferences have met with varied effectiveness around vitality efforts in congregations; none has found a way to make a systemic difference in the decline (though there are noteworthy exceptions among individual congregations). Soon, a final draft of the UCC Manual on Church will be released that may clarify or complicate (or both) UCC ministry.

Our Lutheran friends wrestle with these same issues (as do most or all historic denominations) and we studied their new model of serving multiple churches with shared lay/ordained staff. Kevin and other MARC Colleagues are already in conversation with them about that. Kevin’s observation that, “the future is shared” from last June’s Conference meeting sticks in my head. Silos, lone rangers, and isolation have been the custom in many portions of Christ’s community, and it is, in part, what is killing us.  

We read for our closing reflection words from Hebrews 12:3, “consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” I noticed during our contemplation that I have gotten hung up recently on the word “hostility.” There is so much of that in the world and my own life that I lose touch with, “Consider him who endured.” It is my goal this week to tip the scale of my attention is his direction.

That is the best gift of the MARC group (and Communities of Practice, Ministerium groups, Affinity groups and at one time Associations). We help each other reorient our attention. That has always been the work and the gift of the church. In the sacraments, the scriptures, the sermons (and all other church “s” words that aren’t coming to mind). We orient ourselves toward Christ. The challenges of living in any portion of Christ’s community are legion. They always have been. Life is hard. It always has been. We endure together by together considering him who endured. It sounds so simple.

Thanks be to God, it is.

With the peace of Christ.

Pastor Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

Rev. Patrick Morris installation at Zion Blue Mountain UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Rev. Joseph Motz installation at Bausman Memorial UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Rev. Dr. Jan Remer-Osborn installation at Zion's Red Church

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Drug Take Back Day

The 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27, 2024. There will be local sites available in your local area. You can find locations online or call your local police station or drug store. Keep unused prescription out of the hands of our youth and others. 

Spirit on Tap in Reading tonight with Dr. Greg Carey

Tonight Dr. Greg Carey will lead Spirit on Tap on the topic "The Immoral Bible: Reading the Bible with Ethics in Mind" at 7:00p at the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading. Christians have a long history of turning to the Bible for moral guidance. But it doesn't always turn out well. We've been wrong about slavery, wrong about women, wrong about LGBTQ+ people, and probably wrong about a lot of other things. Might the Bible be part of the program? And if it is, what does that mean for how we relate to the Bible? Click here for more information.

All are invited and there is no charge. For more information, contact Dr. Harry L. Serio at hlserio@aol.com.

Basic Boundary Training from the Lehigh Presbytery

Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training is tailored to focus on strategies to foster clergy emotional resiliency and well-being. While we still cover the "requirements," we believe the best prevention involves encouraging leaders to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation to violate boundaries arises.

This online boundaries training is 5 total hours split over 2 days (2.5 hours each day). Following the first session, participants will engage in a bit of reflection work in preparation for the second session. This training will be conducted May 7 and 8 from 1:00-4:00p and Oct. 15 and 16 from 10:00a-1:00p.

Limit is 40 people per class. Zoom link and workbook will be emailed to all participants 1 week prior to the scheduled training.

$50 for PCUSA/$65 for non-PCUSA participants. Click here to register.

UCC Earth Summit featuring Bill McKibben and Activists

The UCC's second annual Earth Summit will feature celebrated author and activist Bill McKibben delivering the keynote lecture with the title, "Energy from Heaven or Energy from Hell?" Additionally, a panel of award-winning activists will speak about the struggle against the pollution of one of the world's largest plastics producers. The 2.5-hour summit will also feature the announcement of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award winner, and a celebration of the UCC's newest Creation Justice Churches. Even if you cannot make the event on April 20 at 1:00p, register, and a recording will be sent to you.

Understanding the Hopes of Our Donors to Create Change

On April 24 at 7:30p, Rev. Andrew Warner, Generosity Outreach Officer for the UCC, will lead an online workshop on "A Good Pitch: Understanding the Hopes of Our Donors to Create Change".

Once a upon a time, donors gave out of a sense of obligation and loyalty. Today, most donors care about the impact they make in the world. How do we understand the motivations of our donors? What kind of change do they want to make in the world? Andrew Warner will talk about five basic ways donors look to create change. We will discuss ways to discuss your congregation's impact on your community. For more info and to register, click here.

Register now: Annual Meeting in State College

For the first time, all four UCC Pennsylvania conferences will gather for a shared Meeting, June 7-9, 2024, at The Penn Stater in State College, PA. We will examine the exciting possibilities of our four Conferences uniting as one. We will share worship, workshops, and meals. Each conference will also meet Saturday morning to conduct their own separate business meeting.

You must register for the event and for a hotel room, separately.

Registration for the meeting is available here. Conference Consistory has authorized Conference funds to defray the high cost of registration. To receive a 75% discount on your meeting registration, when the prompt to enter a Financial Assistance Code appears, enter PSECAnnual75. Once entered, hit the APPLY button to receive the discount. Make sure this is complete before entering your credit card information.

The deadline to register for the meeting is May 3.

To reserve a hotel room, click here or call the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center at 814-863-5000. Use group code PENN24B to get our rate of $139.99 per night. If you would like to reduce your hotel costs by sharing a room, indicate that you're looking for a roommate on the event registration.

The last date to get the discounted hotel rate is May 5. Rates jump significantly after this date!

Make sure to check out the PSEC Annual Meeting page: psec.org/annual-meeting-2024. There you'll find information on the shared mission project, an agenda, and more. Additional information, including reports, will be added as the meeting gets closer.

Boundary Training: When confidences can be broken

This advanced boundary training will explore the moments in ministry when the confidential conversations between pastors and congregants must be broken for the safety of others. The training will explore PA Mandatory Reporting laws and UCC Ministerial Code. (NOTE: this is NOT a replacement for state mandated requirements for Mandatory Reporting Training). This training will be offered on May 16 at 9:00a on Zoom or completed as a "view on your own". For more information, click here.

'Crisis in Gaza' resource available from the UCC

In this time of unprecedented crisis in Gaza and Palestine when we are inundated with so much information, many of us are seeking for trustable, faith-based and prophetic resources to help us navigate this moment. People are really hungry for ways to understand what faithful solidarity and witness might look like.

The UCC PIN (Palestine/Israel Network) has created a new resource called “Crisis in Gaza." UCC PIN was created as a result of a UCC General Synod resolution. This body speaks to, but not for the UCC.

“Crisis in Gaza” can be used in a variety of ways and settings. It has background, history, and is available by pdf, Powerpoint, Youtube, and as an MP4 video. Click here to download the resource.

Treat your church admins: Register for annual luncheon

Secretaries, assistants, and church administrators are invited to the annual PSEC Admin Luncheon on May 1. We will check in, fellowship over lunch, and enjoy a presentation by Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley on creating your own job description, self-evaluations, and more. Click here for information and to register. We hope churches will pay the $22 cost of the event. 

Town Hall Discussion on potential Conference merger

There is one more opportunity to attend a Town Hall Discussion on the proposed Conference merger. These will provide a chance to share questions and observations. Please make sure you have viewed the Keystone page on our PSEC website prior to joining the meeting. The discussion will be May 2 at 2:00p. Click here to register.

Join PNEC for Faith Formation Leadership Retreat in May

A Faith Formation Leadership Retreat will be held May 3-5 at Spruce Lake Retreat Center in Canadensis. Cost is $195 and includes all programming and three meals on Saturday and Sunday breakfast. Click here for an event flyer. To register, email pattyr@pnec.org or you can register here. Any questions, contact Rev. Janet Newett at pastorjanetn@gmail.com.

This email is brought to you by your generous gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission)! Thank you!