Important This Week

• Register for Annual Meeting
• Keystone Working Group summary of March meeting
• Register for Keystone town halls
• Reaffirmation of ordination vows this Thursday; sign up now
• Register for the annual admin lunch

From the Conference Minister:

As this Holy Week unfolds, we journey with Jesus through a landscape fraught with tension, sorrow, and hope. Against the backdrop of familiar stories and sacred rituals, the headlines from Gaza echo with the cries of suffering and the longing for peace. The complexity of the Holy Week that unfolded in Jerusalem intersects with the human suffering unfolding there today.

The parallels between the events of Jesus’ last days and the realities of life in Gaza are striking. Both narratives are marked by a struggle for truth, freedom, and justice. Both reveal the profound cost of human sin and the urgent need for reconciliation and healing. And both challenge us to confront the ways in which systems of power and privilege perpetuate enduring cycles of violence and suffering.

Yet, amidst the darkness, there are also glimpses of light. In the midst of despair, there are acts of courage, resilience, and solidarity that testify to the enduring power of hope. Whether it's individuals risking their lives to save others, communities coming together to provide aid and support, or efforts to promote dialogue to end death and destruction. These stories remind us that even in the darkest of times, there is the possibility of transformation and renewal.

I pray you find in this week the strength and inspiration in the enduring message of Easter – that even in the midst of the suffering that may be happening in your life and around the world, there is the promise of new life and the hope of redemption.

With Holy Week Prayers,

Bill

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

Keystone Working Group: Summary of March 15 meeting

Please share this summary in your various ministry settings with ALL!



The Keystone Working Group* (KWG) discussed how we can reaffirm WHY we welcome this move of the Holy Spirit to empower our conferences. We believe that because of our foundation in Jesus Christ, “Together We Are Stronger!”

Over the last two years, relationships have been meaningful and energizing, creative and inspiring. As new people and voices have come to be part of the group, we’ve grown to appreciate the collaboration. We pray you are inspired by this hopeful vision!

For the June 7-9 Gathering, a Delegate Booklet is being prepared containing all foundational documents, frequently asked questions and more. We worked on discussion plans for both individual conferences’ conversations and our combined plenary sessions, to engage with the Holy Spirit and each other in our discernment.

Conference Ministers and Task Groups shared updates on their conversations and draft documents:

·        Staffing – A Staff Retention Statement has been prepared. A possible model structure accommodating the many ministries, and number of congregations in those regions, has been developed in consultation with current staff of the 4 conferences.

·        Governance – In anticipation of an affirming vote on a merger resolution in November 2024, a Governance and Ministry Model is being developed for a proposed Conference Board with persons nominated from the various regions to create balance of skills and abilities and an equitable representation from the current conferences.

·        Finance – The team has reviewed all 2024 budgets and assets, including consolidated endowments. Collective funding for Our Church’s Wider Mission giving is trending a 4% decrease per year across all areas.

·        Approval Process – In consultation with UCC National, a draft MOTION is recommended rather than a resolution to Synod 2025. The Approval Process sub group is revising the draft presentation and will present again in April. For our collective conversation and discernment, the motion will be shared as part of the 4 conferences’ combined gathering in June.

·        Legal – This subcommittee has not yet met, pending Governance and Finance considerations.

The Keystone Working Group’s enthusiasm continues to build as we explore the strategic vision and scale of opportunity before us to live into the WHY and HOW of “Together We Are Stronger!” KWG meets next to focus on details of the upcoming June gathering, with additional focus on the hard questions of what we believe the 4 conferences merged can afford for staffing, program and offices. Leadership from UCC’s Join the Movement will help us intentionally prepare for a proposed new conference staff and leadership reflecting the diversity of our commonwealth, the equity we strive to show in ministry and the inclusion we want to present as followers of our all-inclusive Christ. We look forward to exploring God’s “new thing” among us.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION is now available through all 4 conference websites, with financial assistance available as needed.

The combined gathering of all 4 conference areas is June 7-9, 2024  at State College. The group plenary sessions starting at 9am Saturday morning will significantly guide our collective work and individual conference discussion.

Because of our shared foundation in Jesus Christ, the affirmation of Together We Are Stronger continues to drive our thinking and empower our spirit. Please visit the Keystone Conference Project website hosted by the PSEC at psec.org/keystone/.

Share questions and comments by email at Keystone.Conference.Project@gmail.com or direct mail through your own area Conference Office.

Sharing our progress relying on the grace of God!

KWG Communications Team

Steve Davis, St. John’s UCC, Fullerton (PNEC)

Heather Kurtz, Zion UCC, Arendtsville (PCC)

Deb Long, First Trinity UCC, Youngwood (PWC)

Melissa Burkhart, Zion’s Union Church Maxatawny, Kutztown (PSEC)

*A study, discernment and working group of the 4 area UCC Conferences – Penn West, Penn Central, Penn NE, and Pennsylvania SE

Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows set for Maundy Thurs.

On March 28 at 10:00a on Zoom, the Conference Ministers of the four PA UCC Conferences will host a Service of the Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows for ordained clergy. It’s a long-standing custom in liturgical traditions for clergy to gather on the same day Jesus offered “a new commandment” – to love and serve one another – for the reaffirmation of their ordination. We hope this will be an experience of spiritual encouragement and connection. To register, click here.

Clergy Forum: 'How America Got Mean' next week on Zoom

Penn Central Conference UCC is hosting a facilitated discussion of "How America got Mean," by David Brooks on Thursday, April 4 at 6:30p online. The article is a significant take on moral formation in today's society and what the role of the church is in that. Brooks' article is insightful and provocative and will provide material for an engaging conversation. Register here.

Town Hall Discussions scheduled on Keystone study

There are three upcoming opportunities to attend a Town Hall Discussion on the Keystone Study Group. 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. Each of the Town Halls will share the same information. Click the date below to register for the one you would like to join:

• April 11 at 7:00p - Facilitated by Associate Conference Minister Rev. Cean James
• April 16 at 2:00p - Facilitated by PSEC Vice-moderator and member of the Keystone Working Group Rev. Melissa Burkhart
• May 2 at 2:00p - Facilitated by Associate Conference Minister Rev. Kevin McLemore

Lay Leadership Convocation share information and register

The Lay Leadership Convocation will be held Saturday, April 6 from 8:30a-3:00p in Boyertown on the theme Sharing Leadership. Click here for agenda, registration, and workshop descriptions.

Workshops include:

• "Differ We Must": Steps to engage congregations in overcoming differences
• The Spiritual Life of the Church Choir
• Sharing Leadership
• The Keystone Conference: what is it and why does that matter to the people in the pews
• Why Telling Our Faith Story Matters
• Accompanying Our Aging Selves: Being Present with Older Adults
• Small Sunday School
• Engaging the Fringes of the Church
• How Does the UCC Work
• Stewardship & Generosity Impact
• Churches Sharing a Pastor: An Ancient Model of Ministry for a Contemporary Church

Conversation on change leadership for clergy and lay

Enjoy an afternoon with Rev. Dr. Sarah B. Drummond while she leads a workshop on her book Dynamic Discernment: Reason, Emotion & Power in Change Leadership. This workshop is designed for both clergy and lay leaders to be engaged in practice application for their own settings. The event will be held Sunday, April 7 from 2:00-4:00p. To register, click here.

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. 

Navigating Interfaith Relations in the Midst of Global Conflict

Global Ministries is hosting a webinar titled 'Navigating Interfaith Relations in the Midst of Global Conflict' on April 10 at 11:30. This workshop is in response to many conversations they’ve had with local church leaders about the challenges they’re facing in their communities in this regard, especially since the war on Gaza began. The panel will include local UCC church leaders. Click here to register. 

Sign up for the Phoebe Institute on Aging Conference

April 1 is the deadline to register for the 2024 Phoebe Institute on Aging Conference, "Compassion in Action," April 18 at DeSales University. The conference will examine how compassionate care can support goals like workforce well-being, resident and patient experience, safety, quality, and innovation, as well as content to support caregivers.

The keynote speaker is Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH, physician scientist, professor, clinical researcher, intensivist (specialist in intensive care medicine), and co-author of “Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference” (2019), and “Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself.”

In addition to Dr. Trzeciak, presenters include, Dr. Karen E. Joseph-Kent, PhD; Dr. Joseph E. Vincent, MD; Dr. Stephen E. Lammers, PhD; Melissa Wise; Rev. Dr. Steve Ohnsman, DMin, Pastor, Calvary Reformed UCC, Reading; Michelle Gaugler, NHA, PCHA, LSW; and Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, PNEC Conference Minister.

Click here for more info and to register.

Training program for churches with older buildings

Partners for Sacred Places is offering a New Dollars/New Partners training program to congregations with older buildings. This program, over the course of several months, builds the capacity of churches to maintain and raise capital funds for their buildings. The program will include two virtual training sessions and one full-day session in Philadelphia. Click here for a flyer. A free orientation will be online April 10 at 6:30p. The link for that session is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82651019951.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Why I Serve

Why am I on the Pennsylvania Southeast Addiction and Recovery Task Force? I have not had an addiction myself unless we are talking food or work. As a child I rarely saw anyone who was drunk. When I did witness that condition, “distasteful” was my reaction from afar, and “fearful” was my reaction from close-up. When this monster of addiction to alcohol came way too close in my life, I saw its power to change a person’s thinking and functioning. Addiction to anything harmful is a demon. How to free a person, how to prevent it from taking hold - that is why I am serving on the Addiction and Recovery Task Force.

Mary Etta

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.

Below is a letter from the four PA UCC Conference Ministers about the meeting:

The planning committee for the Keystone State UCC Conference Summer Meeting has been working diligently to prepare for our June 7-9 meeting. The Keystone Working Group in collaboration with the Conference Ministers have been seeking grants and additional funding to assist with the costs of the meeting.

We want you to know that YOUR attendance is vitally important to us. We need you to help us plan for the future of our conferences. Our General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson will be with us on Saturday and Sunday, and we hope you will be with us to meet her and worship with her on Sunday.

The costs for this meeting will be significantly higher than our usual conference meetings. For one thing, this is a 3-day meeting and incorporates the extensive use of technology and the Penn Stater multiple room assignments for our gathering. We do not want the cost of the event to prevent anyone from attending.

Therefore, we are increasing our scholarship funds to cover ½ the cost of the registration. The registration materials (which are available here) include some links for additional hotel locations, should you choose to utilize them.

Also, we want you to know that our meetings as a Keystone Conference will likely be shorter and less costly.

Please make plans to join us in State College in June and celebrate the work we are doing together, because we believe “Together We Are Stronger.”

Rev. Patrick Morris installation at Zion Blue Mountain UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

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.

PA Academy of Ministry Opportunities

The PA Academy of Ministry (PAM) is offering exciting classes this spring and summer! The leadership classes are augmented by a podcast series produced in collaboration with PAM. Leaders interviewed include Sarah Drummond and Karen Georgia Thompson. 

Preaching and Worship through the Year. April 9-May 14. Tuesdays, 7-8:30p via Zoom. Instructor Rev. Dr. Ronnette Comfort-Butler. To preach and preside effectively requires planning and preparation throughout the liturgical year. This class equips ministers with many skills, including use of the lectionary, planning sermon series, music and arts, and special services. 2.5 CEUs. $325.

Practices of Church Leadership. May 21-June 25. Tuesdays, 7-8:30p via Zoom. Instructor Rev. Sara Hertzog. This nuts-and-bolts class covers the basics of leadership and administration. Topics include: covenant and authority; conflict; family and congregational systems; vision and mission; handling administrative tasks; spiritual care and boundaries. Clergy, lay leaders, and MIDs are encouraged to register. 2.5 CEUs. $325.

Innovation and New Models of Leadership. July 9-Aug. 13. Tuesdays, 7-8:30p via Zoom. Instructor: Rev. Dale Davis. This class engages an array of leadership models and is supported by a podcast series produced especially for the PAM. 2.5 CEUs. $325.

Each class is six weeks online. Click here for information and registration.

April Theology with a Twist:

A Theology of Protest

The next Theology with a Twist will be held Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00p on the topic "Facing the Abusing God: A Theology of Protest." Join Rev. Kevin McLemore for a deep dive into the book, “Facing the Abusing God: A Theology of Protest” by Dr. David R. Blumenthal. We’ll learn more about Blumenthal’s post-Holocaust theology and his argument that God is certainly merciful and kind, loving and fair, but God is also capable of acts so unjust that they can be considered abusive. For more info, click here.

Chaplain in the Park: Locust Lake State Park

Do you love the outdoors? Do you enjoy worshipping surrounded by God’s creation? Consider becoming a summer campground minister at Locust Lake State Park! Every summer, chaplains lead Sunday worship in many State Parks through the Campground Ministry program of the PA Council of Churches. Chaplains can be, but need not be, ordained ministers.

The chaplain visits folks in the campground, welcomes them, answers questions about God or where to go for firewood or which trail is the hardest. The chaplain invites campers to worship and conducts a Sunday worship service each week from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends. Wonderful ministry happens every summer! If you are interested, you can learn more and apply here. You can also contact Rev. Maureen Duffy-Guy for more info: mduffyguy@hotmail.com or text at 717 619-8337.

VBS materials to share

Is your church storing supplies, decorations, or curriculum from a previous Bible school that's in good condition but likely won't be used again soon? If you have VBS materials available that you would be willing to loan or donate to other churches, email brea@psec.org. To see materials churches are willing to share, click here.

Registration open for the

2024 Retiree Event

Retirees and their significant other are invited to the PSEC 2024 Retiree Event scheduled for April 17 from 10:00a-3:00p at St. James UCC in Limerick. Join us for a time of fellowship, worship, lunch, and information geared toward retirees. To register, click here or contact Susan at 484-949-8774 option 1.

UCC Musicians Association biennial gathering

Conference 2024, the biennial gathering of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association (UCCMA), will take place July 10-13 in Greenwich, CT. Designed for church musicians, choral and handbell choir members and worship leaders, the three-day event includes workshops, plenary sessions, worship services, evening entertainment and networking opportunities. The conference’s theme, “A place at the table,” inspired the planning. Our goal is to send participants home reenergized with lots of new resources and ideas to use in their congregations. This conference is open to all. Scholarship help is available for first-time UCCMA conference attendees who wouldn’t be able to attend without financial assistance. Complete information is available here.

Boundary Training: When confidences can be broken

This advanced boundary training will explore the moments in pastor ministry when the confidential conversations between pastors and congregants must be broken for the safety of others. Through exploring the Mandatory Reporting laws in Pennsylvania, the UCC Ministerial Code of Ethics, participants will have a clearer sense of the times when the boundaries around received information need to broken, and when they should not. (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.

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!