Important This Week
  • Learn how to take action in response to family separation at the border and read statements on the topic.
  • Today is World Refugee Day -- we've shared some resources.
  • Extreme heat can be dangerous, find out how your church can help.
Conference Minister: Take actions to stop family separation

Dear PSEC Friends,
The drama unfolding on the US/Mexican border is a travesty against humanity, a corruption of the deepest values to which the American people aspire and an affront to the One who said, “Let the little children come unto me and do not hinder them for to such as these belong the Kingdom of God.”

There are many things you can do about this: protest (in all forms) and pray (in all forms). You can write to your elected representatives and here’s how:


AND you can participate in the United Church of Christ’s ministry and witness in this moment by reading and participating…

Good Morning

As human beings and people of faith, we join others who are deeply troubled by the separation and caging of children from their parents at our borders. In moments like these we are called to both pray and act. And the United Church of Christ is joining our efforts with others on the frontlines of this protest as we have on immigration concerns for decades. 

This Thursday, 6/21, at 4pm EST /3pm CST/1pm PST, Justice & Local Church Ministries (JLCM) will host a webinar to outline our current actions, alliances, and opportunities for public dissent of our nation’s current policies concerning children at the border. This time will also offer an opportunity to share local efforts of which we may not yet be aware. 
 
All are welcome and can register here:
 
Please share this information broadly with your constituencies as we continue to pray and work together toward a just world for all. 

Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Executive Minister 
Justice & Local Church Ministries
United Church of Christ


Rev. William P. Worley
Conference Minister
Today is World Refugee Day and UCC has lots of resources

Today is World Refugee Day, a day when we give thanks for the blessings refugees bring to our communities and lift up their stories in our midst. United Church of Christ Refugee Ministries has also re-launched our materials for Refugee Justice Sunday! Will you join us and hold a Refugee Justice Sunday this year? New materials can be found here ucc.org/refugee_justice_Sunday including:
  • 2018 Bulletin Insert - Litany
  • Bulletin Insert, Children’s Sermons, Bible Studies, Personal Stories
  • Refugee Welcome Toolkit
  • Letter to Members of Congress
  • 5 Things You and Your Church Can Do to Welcome Refugees
  • Refugee Welcome Toolkit
  • Scripture on welcoming the stranger
Statements on the separation of families at the US border

The separation of children and their parents at the US-Mexico border has resulted in many actions. The National Officers of the United Church of Christ and the Council of Conference Ministers of the United Church of Christ released this statement . The Pennsylvania Council of Churches released " A Statement on the Separation of Family at the Border ."
Webinar scheduled on successful climate action

For this month’s Creation Justice Webinar , the UCC has teamed up with 350.org and the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth. At 4:00p on June 27, Masada Disenhouse from 350.org will share about how faith communities can make a difference on climate through local campaigns. She will talk about inspiring past successes as well as current efforts to transition our society away from fossil fuels. Sign-up today for this webinar!  
Resource: How churches can help in extreme heat situations

Summer is here! It is time to remember the dangers of extreme heat. Heat can be deadly and  community action really can save lives.  Extreme heat kills more people every year than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods combined. For actions you and your church can take to help, check out this resource from the PSEC Disaster Coordinator.
Happy 50th Birthday to our Conference Minister!

Today Bill Worley turned 50! Celebrations have been enjoyed at Annual Meeting, the conference office staff meeting, and at a Church and Ministry Council meeting. Happy birthday!
Federal court rules on church records during pastor audit

The IRS can seek church records in its investigation of a church’s pastors: While auditing a married couple for failing to file individual tax returns, the IRS issued a summons to three banks, requesting financial records of a church that employed the couple as pastors. The church strongly opposed the summons, claiming that the IRS failed to comply with the restrictions applicable to church audits, such as getting approval from a high-level IRS official before beginning a tax inquiry. Those heightened procedures don’t apply here, federal district court says, because the purpose of the audit was to determine the couple’s tax liability and not to conduct an examination or other inquiry into the church. (Rowe, D.C., La.).
- Tammie Wisniewski,
PSEC Financial Operations Manager
Phoebe Richland accepting applications for chaplain

Phoebe Richland is seeking a per diem Chaplain to work about 16 hours a week to support the spiritual needs of residents, family members and staff at the Richlandtown campus. For more info, including how to apply, click here .
The conference merger team wants to hear from you!

Please join our Joint Conference Vision and Development Team for three ZOOM conversations over the summer. Each meeting will be meet from 7:00-7:30 PM. June 18 was "What do you need, want or expect from a new conference?" The remaining meetings are:
  • July 17: What would it mean to be a fully inclusive new conference?
  • August 22: How will we include and value the racial and ethnic diversity in a new conference?
To register, download a registration form and email it to pattyr@pnec.org .
Register for the Eastern Regional Youth Event
Youth, don't forget to register for Eastern Regional Youth Event, July 19-22 at California University of Pennsylvania. The event website and registration can be found by clicking here .

Good news! PSEC is providing a free bus for up to 54 youth and chaperones who are members of PSEC churches. To register for the bus (after you register for the event) click here !
Church Events



June 24: Rainbow Sunday & Picnic in Royersford

June 24: Music on the Hill in Molltown

Submit your Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
Classified Ads


Submit your Classified Ads here
View a complete list of Classified Ads here
PSEC Events
July 19: Regional Youth Event in California, Pennsylvania

July 24: Secretary Training - Social Media in Reading

September 25: Ventures Retreat at Mariawald

October 4: Boundary Training for Retirees (and soon to be retirees) at Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown

View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. In addition to those, these churches are looking for leaders:

Trinity, Rehrersburg : part-time beginning August

Zion’s, Womelsdorf : part-time beginning August

Linfield UCC, Linfield : part-time beginning July

St. Paul’s, Pottstown : part-time beginning ASAP

St. Peter, Knauertown : part-time beginning ASAP

Wyomissing, Gouglersville : part-time beginning ASAP

St. Peter’s, Tremont : very part-time beginning ASAP

If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev. Sharon Morris: morris@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
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