Important This Week

• Just one week left to register for the Annual Spring Meeting
• PSEC hosting "Are you being called to ministry" event next month on Zoom
• Lay Leadership Support Group meeting this Saturday on Zoom

From the Conference Minister:

Upcoming Annual Spring Meeting

The Annual Spring Meeting will be June 2-3 at West Chester. The theme will be "May They All Be One: Unleashing the Spirit", focusing on ways to re-imagine what it means to be the Body of Christ. That includes building partnerships between local churches who share resources (including pastors), merging ministries, and connecting with community partners. Representatives from congregations share how this has been life giving for them and how they overcame longtime resistance to making it happen. Similarly, representatives of the Keystone Study Group will share their conversations about creating partnerships between and among our four PA Conference that may lead to a four Conference merger. Click here for more information and to register. Reports have been added to the webpage.

The deadline to register for this year's Annual Meeting is just one week away.

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

On June 21, PSEC Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley will host a one-hour gathering on Zoom to help curious individuals explore "Are you being called to ministry?" and what it means to be called to ministry and answer questions. For more information, click here. Please consider attending or inviting someone in your congregation who may need a nudge.

Register for summer courses with PA Academy of Ministry

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 1

May 23-June 27, Tuesdays, 7-8:30p, Zoom

Would you like an introduction or a refresher on biblical interpretation? Clergy and laity are invited to join instructor Kelsey Wallace for an introduction to the art and practice of biblical interpretation. Old Testament / Hebrew Bible. Details here.

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 2

July 11-Aug 15, Tuesdays, 7-8:30p, Zoom

Instructor Kelsey Wallace. New Testament. Open to all laity and clergy; Biblical Interpretation 1 is NOT required. Details here.

Support the Friedens UCC, Oley Mission Trip to Peru

Friedens UCC, 337 Main St., Oley is sponsoring a two-week Mission Rebuild Trip to Peru, Aug. 5-19, 2023 to help the Fuller Center for Housing build houses. There are still a few spots open for volunteers to join this trip. The cost of the tip is expected to be approximately $3,300 per person. Interested people can contact Sue Henne, s.henne73@icloud.com, 601-451-3209 for more information.

On May 13, the church will hold a Spring Yard Sale to benefit to Mission Trip to Peru. For more information, click here.

The church's shoe collection to benefit the Mission Trip to Peru has been extended to May 10. Click here for more information on that.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Register for Training for Pen Pals event

Lord, when did we see you sick or in prison and visit thee?

And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to me.”

On Sunday, June 25 the PSEC Addiction and Recovery Taskforce will host Rev. Russ Gates, former Chaplain at Phoenix Maximum Security State Prison (in Graterford) to raise awareness of the people held in our criminal justice system and to remember that they too are children of God and worthy of our compassion. We hope to offer our conference an email “Pen Pal” program (pun intended). This program would give some especially caring individuals a safe and effective way to communicate with some inmate electronically. The purpose is to simply relate person to person and give that stranger some hope of knowing that others care about their wellbeing.

Click here to register and for more info.

Phoebe Ministries President discusses recent growth

The President/CEO of Phoebe Ministries was featured in an interview in both the digital and print editions of the most recent Lehigh Valley Business. Click here to read about Phoebe Ministries President discusses recent growth and staffing issues amid challenging times.

This Saturday: 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 May 13 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 Sue at the PSEC office at susan@psec.org to be added to the list.

Disaster information on Mississippi and Alabama

The Mind, Body, Spirit newsletter from the UCC Wellness Ministries May newsletter (available here) included this information:

In March 2023, deadly tornados ripped through Mississippi and Alabama. On March 24th twenty tornados touched down in the two states. The town of Rolling Fork, MS was severely damaged. One week later, on March 31st, severe thunderstorms again tore through the U.S. Midwest and Mid-South . These storms spawned dozens of tornadoes across seven states. The town of Wynne, Arkansas was especially hard-hit. In the wake of these storms, lives were lost, downed trees interrupted electrical power, and some towns were almost completely destroyed.

Caring responses have begun through national and regional organizations. Varieties of aid and assistance are needed. People in these communities express hope for rebuilding and restoring their daily lives, even as they are surrounded by destruction. The UCC Disaster Ministries provide physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual care to those affected by disasters and respond through a network of Conference Disaster Coordinators. Check with your Conference Coordinator, Karl Jones (kjones275@comcast.net), for current response work and support.

Check out the latest

Global H.O.P.E. email from UCC

The Global H.O.P.E. email (Humanitarian. Opportunities. Progress. Empowerment.) email from the UCC's Wider Church Ministries is now available. Read about:

• Information on Disaster Ministries "Partners in Service" including Sharon Sgriccia and Eileen SanPedro in PSEC.
• Did you know the UCC sponsored 1 out of every 100 of the total Afghans evacuated in 2021-2022? Read more about those efforts and an upcoming webinar."
• Found out more and become a "Willing to Respond" congregation.

Read the Global H.O.P.E. email here and use the button in the upper left corner to subscribe to receive future emails.

UCC webinar on police violence, environmental justice

In Atlanta, faith leaders have been involved in a struggle to confront violence in multiple forms as they seek to prevent the destruction of the Weelaunee Forest for the building of a police training facility in a predominantly Black community. Through their actions for a just world, these faith leaders have additionally sought to honor Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán who was killed by the Georgia State Police while protecting the forest. This webinar will feature faith leaders from Atlanta as they share with us about this cause of justice. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on May 10, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Music for PSEC Spring Annual Meeting

We are reaching out seeking a church choir, youth choir or bell choir who would like to perform for the closing worship service of our upcoming Annual Spring Meeting. The event is held at West Chester University, West Chester, PA and the closing worship will take place on Saturday, June 3 at approximately 4:00p. If you have a group that would be interested, please contact Susan at the PSEC office at susan@psec.org.

Chaplain in the Park Opportunity at Locust Lake

Do you love the outdoors? Do you enjoy worshipping surrounded by God’s beautiful creation? Consider becoming a campground minister this summer at Locust Lake State Park! Every summer, chaplains lead Sunday worship in many Pennsylvania State Parks through the Campground Ministry program of the PA Council of Churches. Chaplains can be -- but need not be -- ordained ministers. Duties include the worship service as well as visiting campsites to lend a listening ear and invite campers to worship. If you are interested, you can learn more and apply here. Contact Rev. Maureen Duffy- Guy for more info: mduffyguy@hotmail.com or text her at 717-619-8337.