Important This Week

• Message from the Conference Minister on the Annual Spring Meeting and the passing of Rev. Wanda Craner
• Grant applications available through the UCC
• Lay Leadership Support Group meeting coming up

From the Conference Minister:

Our 2023 Annual Spring Conference Meeting at West Chester University closed Saturday afternoon after spirit filled and thought-provoking conversations about evolving forms of ministry. Thank you Mary Etta Mest, Ben Motz, Kevin Fruchtl, Cean James, Steve Ohnsman and Josh Blakesley for the insights and inspiration you shared! We met the Conference Ministers of our sibling PA Conferences Bonnie Bates (Penn Northeast), Carrie Call (Penn Central) and David Ackerman (Penn West) and joined in conversation about the possibility of a four Conference coming together and potential for a four PA Conference Meeting next summer. We celebrated the significant anniversaries of churches and pastor ordinations. And we recognized the generosity of our congregations who support the Mission of our Wider Church (OCWM) as well as those congregations who make contributions to all four UCC special offerings in addition to OCWM — Thank you for being “5 for 5”!

Our meeting could not have happened without the hard work of our Annual Meeting Planning Team, chaired by John Folk; the Worship Planning Team chaired by Steve Ohnsman; the members of our Tech Team, Zack Jackson and John Folk; and the Conference Staff — especially Susan Creswell. And I want to thank you, my friends, especially those of you who hung in for the duration of both days (both online and in person), and actively participated in conversations with friends old and new. We are stronger together!

Finally, we learned the very sad news that our sister and sibling in faith, Wanda Craner, joined the Saints last Thursday. Wanda served as the Minister of Spiritual Nurture with our Conference staff from 1997-2016. From September 2013 to August 2014, Wanda was our Acting Conference Minister and my immediate predecessor. She spent the last years of her ministry in the practice of Gestalt Pastoral Care (GPC). She was a spiritual director, prayer partner, healer, and teacher for multitudes and a friend and source of holy inspiration to all who knew her. Our prayers for her spirit and her family, husband Steve and daughters Tesia and Michaela continue to ascend. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Good Shepherd UCC, Boyertown on Saturday, July 8, 11:00am (you can find her obituary here.). In her departure from us, I am certain Wanda would ask us to remember the words of Jesus, “So you have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22).

God bless and keep you now and in the days to come,

Pastor Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

UCC grant application now available online or to print

The 2023 Justice & Local Church Ministry Common Application is NOW OPEN. Use this link to apply for Operational support, Neighbors in Need, CASA New and Renewing Church, and Pension Board New Church Start Benefit Support grants. This convenient link allows applicants to either print the application or start filling out the common application for any of our four grant offerings. Please note that all applications will require a reference from their respective Conference Minister.

Online event on keeping kids safe on church property

The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, PEMA, Pennsylvania State Police, the three Fusion Centers across the Commonwealth, Faith-based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, and the Anti-Defamation League, is offering a quarterly virtual learning series to faith-based organizations on Thursday, June 29 from 1:00-4:00p. This learning series will focus on keeping our kids safe at schools, camps, and day care centers that are affiliated with, or on the property of or adjacent to, religious institutions. Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

Volunteer builders needed in Eastwick this summer

Volunteer Builders are needed in the Eastwick section of Philadelphia. The Eastwick survivors are coming up on the 3rd anniversary of their disaster. The Eastwick Unmet Needs Roundtable is hoping to get them to full recovery soon. We are nearing the finish line! Therefore, volunteers are needed for flooring, drywall, and painting on these Saturdays this summer: July 8 and August 12. Registration is required. Contact pr-volunteers@epaumc.org. Learn more.

Association of United Church Educators email

The May/June edition of the "AUCE Friends" email (Association of United Church Educators) is available now. Click here to read about AUCE updates, recommended resources and events, job listings, and more.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Words to Ponder

“The greatest enemy of ordinary, daily goodness and joy is not imperfection, but the demand for some supposed perfection."

Richard Rohr, Eager to Love, p.73

UCC webinar: Strengthening EPA Protections

As UCC congregations across the country embark upon collecting thousands of signed postcards for the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Climate Hope Cards campaign, this webinar will cover how the coming months at the EPA present a significant opportunity to save thousands of lives, address societal inequalities, and put the US on a path to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on June 14 at 1:00p, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Disaster partner fundraiser coming up in Norristown

The PSEC Disaster Ministry team is working with the Disaster Case Management Program funded by FEMA and the state of PA. One of the organizations in Montgomery County with whom we are working is Montgomery County OIC. Here is a poster for an event that MC OIC is having to benefit survivors of Hurricane Ida. Please let people in our congregations know about this event.  

MESA offering Retired Ministers Boundary Training

Maintaining healthy boundaries is challenging at any stage in ministry and it is particularly tender and difficult attending to boundaries as we transition out of our last call, and while in retirement. "A Sure Foundation", "The Ministerial Code" and Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly's new book, "The Jubilee Years" along with case studies, will provide the content of this training. Rev.

Stephen Boyd and Rev. Tara Barber will offer this focused Boundary Awareness

Training for those entering and living in retirement. Click here to register for Retired Ministers Boundary Training on Wednesday, June 21 from 5:00-8:00p. Note - This training completes individual requirements for boundary training

ONLY WHEN authorized by a local Committee on Ministry. 

Who can you invite? 'Are You Being Called to Ministry' event

On June 21, Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley will host a one-hour gathering on Zoom to help curious individuals explore "Are you being called to ministry?", what it means to be called to ministry and answer questions. In addition, you’ll hear brief stories of others who have answered the call to serve the church in these roles. For more information, click here.

Lay Leadership Support

Group via Zoom!

A Lay Leadership Support Group exists for Consistory Presidents as well as those serving on Consistory. We gather once a month on Zoom -- so please join us at our next meeting June 17 at 10:00a.

We have found it to be a great place to form new friendships, to gain support, and to be educated on a variety of topics concerning our churches. The discussions are centered around sharing valuable information about what our churches are doing or maybe could be doing. This meeting will be online to make ease of attendance for all!

All past attendees will automatically receive an email with the Zoom link the Thursday prior to the meeting. If you are new to the group, please reach out to Susan at the PSEC office at susan@psec.org to be added to the list.