There was a lot going on when Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin what we now call “Holy Week”. It amazes me how he heads right into the best and worst of humanity. From his time in Gethsemane, we know that he’s not exactly thrilled about it. “If it is possible, take this cup from me,” is one of the most vulnerable things Jesus says. There is deep pain there, but he does not let that pain, or the fear it creates, keep him from moving forward.

He moves forward toward enemies who plot his death. He also goes to Jerusalem to fail his followers. He moves towards confrontation, pain, and the reality that he would let down friends and acquaintances who laid many lofty expectations upon him. But he went anyway.

Brené Brown, in her book Daring Greatly, writes about how creativity, loving, and living fully requires vulnerability. If we’re going to do great things we need to be willing to dare to do great things. This demands us to bear risk: risking failure, risking disappointing others, and disappointing ourselves (The eyes of the world are on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, for his capacity to do this very thing.).

Jesus is the icon of many great things, but he is the perfect image of a life lived with a vulnerability that transcends shame. Jesus does not begin with the assumption that he is not enough; that he needs more friends or more likes and followers on social media to trust God and risk vulnerability. That is one of the most powerful ways to manifest the presence of God in world. 

If Jesus approached life like most of us, he’d be crushed — internally pulverized from the constant questioning, rejection, and persecution. To brave that takes a huge heart. To brave that and still be in love with those who reject him — and be willing to die for them? That’s the stuff of which miracles are made.

Jesus shows us that disappointment doesn’t have to have the last word. In fact, disappointment can walk out of a tomb and shatter the present powers of this world.

Jesus is enough because God is more than enough. Are you ready to join him in accepting and living that truth? We have less than a week to decide. Prayers for us all that we get to a confident, life altering, love creating “yes.”

With Holy Week Blessings,

Pastor Bill

Rev. William Worley

Conference Minister

Take ADVANCED BOUNDARY TRAINING – SUPERVISING STAFF – Via Recorded Session. This is an opportunity to watch a recorded training, which took place March 10 and submit paperwork for a 3-hour Advanced Boundary credit.

Click here to register for this training opportunity here.

Creation Justice Ministries has created an ecumenical resource to assist churches entitled “Weathering the Storm: Faithful Climate Resilience” which helps churches respond to the question, “How can we be hubs of resilience, helping our neighbors weather the physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis?” The resource can be used year-round and is also particularly useful in preparing for Earth Sunday (April 24). In this webinar, Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, will introduce the resource and talk about ways churches can deliver a powerful message on Earth Sunday. Even if you can’t make the planned time of 1:00p on April 13, sign-up and we will send you a recording.

The Reporter published an article on Friday about the upcoming final service for St. Luke's United Church of Christ in North Wales. Click here to read St. Luke's United Church of Christ in North Wales closing, but will leave legacy.

If your congregation is considering closure, please contact Rev. Bill Worley or Rev. Kevin McLemore for support.

Last week, the General Counsel of the UCC wrote an article on whether local church ministers are W-2 employees or independent contractors who need a Form 1099-NEC. To read that article and for additional resources, click here.

Click here for the newsletter. Please share this information with your congregations to help keep everyone safe and prepared. 

Take a Prayer Break every Thursday at noon during Lent join colleagues from the four PA UCC conferences for a short time of prayer on Zoom. Each gathering will be led by a conference staff member and will include readings, reflection, and a time for intercessory prayer. All are welcome to join. Zoom information is below and is the same for every week until they end on April 14.

The Future of Multivocational Ministries, April 21–May 17, instructor Darryl W. Stephens. For lay and clergy leaders seeking to understand the benefits and challenges of bivocational and multivocational ministry. Participants will receive a copy of the forthcoming ebook, Bivocational and Beyond. $125* (supported by a grant from the Walters Trust). Register by April 18.

Personal and Spiritual Development, May 24–June 28, Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm. This Ministerial Institute class is taught by PCC Conference Minister Carrie Call. Participants will learn about spiritual disciplines, congregational systems, and vocational discernment. Appropriate for lay leaders, clergy, and MIDs. $325. Register by May 18.

For information and registration click here.

This special online Earth Week event will focus on what the Hebrew Prophets can teach us as well as what prophetic actions are currently being taken. The event will consist of three parts: an opening keynote, a panel discussion, and a suggested action for congregations to take in their own community. Even if you can’t make the scheduled times on Saturday, April 23, at 10:30a for the keynote and 11:45a for the panel discussion, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

Most of us are closely watching the invasion of Ukraine over the past weeks with horror and disbelief. We see the images of people suffering, children killed, whole towns leveled. We also hear and see the chaos and polarization in our world, our country and sometimes our own families and churches. It would be wonderful to just turn it all off and walk away. But we can’t.

How do you deal with all the stress, feelings of helplessness, sense of despair? Do you turn to the love and comfort of a God who has promised never to desert you? Or do you turn to a substance that can numb the pain, fear and despair? What do you do if you have never been taught about Jesus who suffered himself and so understands our human pain? What if you have never been inside a church? What if you never had a loving church community that supports you and accepts you no matter where you are on life’s journey?

We need to do a better job of reaching out to those who need the church. We need to be the answer to the question, “Where can I turn?” Please see the resources on the PSEC Addiction and Recovery work group’s webpage and plan to attend the workshop on May 11 Changing the Way Church Views Addiction. You can register here.

Sitters may work one shift, an entire day or both days. Sitters will receive free lunch and/or dinner if covering both shifts on either side of those meal times. Compensation will be $20/hour. Please share this opportunity with childcare/ nursery attendants you know. Anyone interested should contact Susan at the Conference office at susan@psec.org.

The NEPA Synod of the ELCA is offering in-person Basic Boundary Training for churches in our region in 2022. There are three in-person options, dates, and locations in May for that training:

For more info and to register, click here.

July 24-29, clergy from some UCC conferences and their German partner churches will gather for the 2022 Pastoral Colloquy in Elizabethtown, PA. The theme will be "Building a Just Peace in an Unjust World: Learning with and from Our Anabaptist Colleagues." For information on the Colloquy or to register, click here.