Important This Week
  • Stewardship workshop set for this Saturday with Rev. Cean James
  • Join online group for meditation
  • Insurance Board plans two free webinars on HR issues, finance best practices
From the Conference Minister: Doubt

"We have seen the Lord." But he [Thomas] said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."                              John 20:25

It has always made sense to me that the lectionary gospel text the Sunday after Easter would feature Thomas’ resurrection doubt. It doesn’t take long for the certainty of Sunday’s heartfelt proclamation, “Christ Is Risen” to slide into a head full of hesitation. And doubt. This season of disease, separation and death accelerates doubt.

I know doubt. The little ones -- like when a waitress brings a plate to my table and says, ‘NOW THIS IS HOT’. I have to touch it ever so lightly just to see. I will walk up to a copy machine with an “out of order sign” on it and press the power just to make sure. And the elevator button is already lit but I will still press it several times doubting that the car is on the way.

And then there are the big doubts. The why of human suffering in a world created by an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God. Jesus’ statement to the disciples that, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these… (John 14).” Works greater than Jesus? I doubt. And the power of the resurrection to change a world and a people that seem dead set against it.

I believe a healthy level of doubt is good for our spiritual life. Doubt keeps my faith in disquieted conversation with God. A faith without some doubt can lead us to a certainty of faith that becomes tyrannical (even to the point of ignoring social distancing orders established to protect the very people God has asked us to serve). But too much doubt keeps us from saying or doing anything that is transformative and can stop you and me from changing the world to betterment as Christ would have it.

We cannot live doubt. It traps us in fear and, at times, embarrassed/powerless by uncertainty. It isolates us from friends of faith. It convinces us of our failures and cuts us off from the strength faith gives to raise children, love the unlovable serve the community and live at peace.

The first person in the gospels to call Jesus "God" was Thomas. Peter got close with "you're the Son of the Living God," but Thomas said, "God" and then he put a pronoun in, "My Lord and my God." History wrote him off for his doubt, but he never did put his hand in the side of Jesus or his fingers in the nail prints. He believed.

I am inspired by the many ways you and your ministry settings proclaim faith in this season of doubt and disease. Trust and believe, Christ will come again, as he has promised, and our every doubt will be answered in the light of his presence. But in the meantime, we hold on together to the power of his resurrection and become the good news for a world desperately in need of it. 

Peace to your fragile and doubting hearts. Peace to doubting world.
Pastor Bill

Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
Stewardship workshop set for Saturday with Rev. Cean James

The Creative Stewardship workshop that was held this Saturday has been scheduled again for Saturday, April 18 from 10:00a-11:30a. For information on how to join the workshop, click here .

For most congregations today, financially supporting the work of ministry requires more than what is collected in the offering plate on Sunday morning. With a little thinking outside the box, congregations can use old and new techniques to undergird their streams of revenue. In this workshop we will explore how any congregation can find multiple sources of financial support.
Compassion fatigued? Join others for self-care, meditation

As compassion fatigue is looming large, self-care is essential to moving through the grief and heaviness that fills our days and nights as we minister to others. As a way to hold myself accountable to my own self-care, I am inviting you to join in meditation via Zoom, Monday & Wednesday at 3:00p April 20 through May 27. The meditation is based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and the whole process is approximately 40 minutes. During our weeks together, I will also walk through some aspects of energy work in clearing out our energy centers (chakras) and auras of stress to help keep our energy and spirits uplifted and strengthened. If interested, email Anne Cormier at annecormier@comcast.net for the Zoom link. Blessings to all.
Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors

Visit ucc.org/coronavirus or psec.org/coronavirus for collections of resources that churches and pastors may find helpful in practicing ministry during the pandemic.
Insurance Board webinars on HR issues, finance practices

The Pension Board has two upcoming webinars that may be of interest for your ministry:
You are not alone: Support for clergy during the pandemic

A Prayer Pause will be offered by Penn Central, Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast Conference staffs every day at 12:00p for pastors to check-in, share intercessions, scripture, and prayer. Click here for a flyer with the link to join in April.
 
Check in with the Conference Minister on Monday at 11:00a online. Use the information here to join the Zoom call and check in, share, and seek help from colleagues and conference staff.
View previous calls to find out how other churches are handling Sunday services, funerals, communion, reaching young members, and more.
POWER releases list of ways
to help now in Philadelphia

POWER has sent a list of suggestions for how to support those in need now. Some ideas include donations to help displaced hospitality workers, signing a petition to get justice for stadium workers, or support for the Philadelphia Bail Fund. For more info, read the letter from POWER here . 
UCC Counsel: Register
RIGHT NOW for SBA loans

The UCC General Counsel is encouraging churches interested in applying for the Small Business Administration loans to apply NOW; available funds are expected to be exhausted quickly. Click here for the loan application. Click here for the fact sheet from the SBA. The application should be submitted directly to a lender identified as a participating lender on the SBA's website ( sba.gov ), rather than seeking the application from the lender. Click here for FAQ for Faith-Based Organizations.

If you have questions about the SBA loans or the application process, PSEC finance manager Tammie Wisniewski may be able to help, contact tammie@psec.org .
Theology of virtual communion offered by retired PSEC pastor

The COVID-19 virus has challenged us to be church in new and different ways — including the celebration of communion. Rev. Dr. Deborah Clemens has helped us think through the theological implications of a virtual approach to our incarnational sacrament in this doc . You can also reference guidance issued by our PCUSA ecumenical partners here . Watch the recorded Conference Zoom call from Monday now posted here that concluded with a virtual communion experience.
CWS temporarily closes kit depots, discourages assembly

Church World Service is closing all of its kit depots in local congregations through May 31, 2020, in line with Centers for Disease Control, state and local guidelines.
CWS sent an email to its kit depots and its kit donors on Tuesday, March 24 informing them of this change. It also is updating  cwskits.org/  and  cwsglobal.org/ to reflect these changes.
Reminder about churches' not for profit determination letters

PSEC churches do not have individual not for profit determination letters, they fall under the letter regarding the United Church of Christ. For a copy of your church's not for profit 501(c)3 letter, visit the PSEC website .
Share this list of churches online with your congregation

If your church isn't currently worshiping, we have compiled a list of churches in PSEC that are holding digital/virtual worship experiences. Please share this with friends, family, and church members that might not have another option for worship. Click here for an updated list as a PDF (to view, email, and share) or here as a JPEG (to post to your social media page)
PSEC Spring Annual Meeting canceled due to coronavirus

The PSEC Spring Annual Meeting, June 5 and 6, 2020 at The Inn At Reading has been canceled. The Annual Meeting Planning Team is exploring a one-day worship gathering at the end of August to celebrate the end of social distancing and God’s sustaining presence through these difficult days. More information about that will be forthcoming. Fall meeting is planned for mid-November. If you have questions regarding your refund, contact Sue Creswell at susan@psec.org .
E&R Historical Society seeking Executive Director

The Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society seeks applications for an executive director. This is a two-year grant funded position. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works with them to carry out the current mission of the ERHS, to collect, organize, preserve and make available for research the records of the Reformed Church and the Evangelical & Reformed Church. Resume, cover letter, and references should be submitted to erhs@lancasterseminary.edu by July 15, 2020. For questions about this position, please contact Rev. James Semmelroth Darnell at james@davidsucc.net . For more information about the position, click here . For the job description, click here .
Pastoral Colloquy 2020 set with German, UCC pastors

Pastors from Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Central, Southern, and Wisconsin conferences as well as Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz and Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland will gather July 26-31 for a week of learning, discussion, and fellowship at Elizabethtown College. For more information and to register, click here .
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:
  • Allegheny UCC (Sunday supply)
  • St. John Hill UCC, Boyertown (full-time settled)
  • St. John's UCC, Orwigsburg (full-time settled)
  • St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
  • St. Luke's UCC, Ottsville (part-time settled or designated)
  • St. Mark's UCC, Reading (10 hrs/ week)
  • St. Paul's UCC, Kutztown (full-time settled)
  • St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown (part-time settled)
  • Salem Hetzel's UCC (shared ministry; full-time interim)
  • Trinity UCC, Rehrersburg (part-time settled)
  • Wyomissing UCC (part-time settled)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Dr. Susan Minasian: minasian@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
Classified Ads

Treasurer wanted in Reading

Submit Classified Ads here
View a complete list of Classified Ads here
Educational Opportunities
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Church Events
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View a complete list of Church Events here
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PSEC is the link that connects our church’s various and diverse ministries both locally and globally. Together, we provide our local churches, pastors and congregations with the training and inspiration they need to carry out our church’s wider mission. We are stronger together; therefore, we embrace diversity, and above all, we spread God’s love!