Important This Week

• Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen installation at Glenside UCC this weekend
• Church merger workshop scheduled for Saturday in Limerick
• Register for Annual Meeting, Addiction Taskforce Pen Pal program, and PATHWAYS classes

From the Associate Conference Minister for Search & Call:

On April 15, seventy-three of us gathered to participate in the first Lay Leadership Convocation being held at Trinity Reformed UCC and Zion’s UCC in Pottstown, who generously donated their space and labor to this gathering. When the Planning Team, under the wise leadership of the Rev. Dr. Charles Maxfield, was putting together this gathering we really had no sense of how the Convocation would be received. We worried if there would be enough interest, or whether we had chosen topics that would interest those in lay leadership. There were basic workshops on how the UCC works to how to do Sunday School post-Covid to more nuanced topics such as the spirituality of lay leadership. Thankfully, many of you did respond, and the initial feedback on the evaluation forms was positive. I’m thankful for the souls who took a Saturday from their busy lives to explore these topics. There will be another Lay Leadership Convocation next Spring, with some new topics being addressed, and our hope is that more will join the conversation.

It felt hopeful to me that we as a church are beginning to understand that the future really is shared, that we will have to keep exploring ways of both empowering the laity to share in some parts of pastoral leadership in new ways, as well as sharing resources between congregations. It is a mantra of mine that “the future is shared” and we might as well get on board before we get left behind. In my last congregation, we shared our confirmation classes and youth group with another UCC congregation nearby, and we were both were enriched by the experience. It also laid the groundwork for future conversations about how these congregations might share more ministry with each other in the future, as each of us dealt with the “post-Christendom” reality in America. The time is now to start asking this fundamental question: what can we do together that makes all of us stronger for the cause of Christ?

(Another way to explore our shared future: please consider attending a workshop on Church Mergers April 29 in Limerick and again May 6 on Zoom. Information is below.)

Kevin

Rev. Kevin J. McLemore

Associate Conference Minister for Search & Call

Church Merger workshop with Rev. Cean James this weekend

Many churches are exploring the best way to maintain their ministry during a time of decline. Several churches have found merging with another congregation to be a life-giving decision that energizes both congregations and produces a new ministry that is equipped for the church of today and tomorrow. Merging churches is not an easy decision or an easy process, but when done well many congregations have discovered that they are better together. This workshop is for church leaders who are anywhere in the process of discerning church merger. The workshop will be offered April 29 in Limerick and the same workshop again on May 6 on Zoom.

PSEC Addiction Taskforce Training for Pen Pals

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.”

The practice of visiting with men and women while in prison is perhaps one of the least practiced traits of discipleship on the list. Members and congregations often make charitable gifts for the sake of the poor, the homeless, those suffering from personal or environmental accidents. Members in congregations routinely remember, pray for, and visit those whom we know are sick. But to visit the imprisoned? For the most part that does not happen. This is for a variety of very legitimate reasons: ignorance of the mostly hidden population, institutional restrictions, and fear and prejudice. Yet the call of the Christ still exists.

The PSEC Addiction Task Force is now working with 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.

The communication would be through a secure App, sanctioned by the Department of Corrections. No personal phone or address information would be exchanged.

If you are interested in learning more about this act of discipleship, we welcome you to attend an informational/training event led by Russ Gates.

Click here for more information and to register.

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 Susan at the PSEC office at susan@psec.org to be added to the list.

Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen installation at Glenside UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

PATHWAYS Theological Education classes coming

PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. is a program affiliated with the Southeast Conference UCC that offers courses for those seeking authorized ministry, for those wanting continuing education, and for those looking for a progressive theology, ethics, or practical church course. The courses are asynchronous, geographically unbound, affordable, and aligned with the UCC Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers. For more information, visit pathwaystheological.org.

Upcoming courses include:

• Ethics and a Life of Meaning (6-weeks, May 17-June 27)
• New Testament Hermeneutics (6-weeks, May 17-June 27)
• Preaching for Special Occasions (6-weeks, May 17-June 27)
• UCC History & Polity (12-weeks, May 17-Aug. 8)
• Theology of Gender and Sexuality (6-weeks, May 17-June 27)
• Faith Formation (Children, Youth, Adults) (6-weeks, May 17-June 27)
• Introduction to Spiritual Health (6-weeks, May 17-June 27)
• Pluralism and Religion in North America (6-weeks, July 5-Aug. 15)
• Living the Heart of Progressive Christian Theology (6-weeks, July 5- Aug. 15)
• Old Testament Hermeneutics (6-weeks, July 5- Aug. 15)
• Congregational Ministry and the Future Church (6-weeks, July 5-Aug. 15)
• Contemporary Homiletics (6-weeks, July 5- Aug. 15)
• Variety of Belief within Christianity Today (6-weeks, Aug. 21-Sept. 30)
• Spiritual Care of Self and Others (6-weeks, Aug. 21-Sept. 30)
• Small Church Administration (6-weeks, Aug. 21-Sept. 30)
• Contextual Theology (6-weeks, Aug. 21-Sept. 30)
• UCC History & Polity (12-weeks, Sept. 6-Dec. 5)

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Words to ponder

"Deep communion and dear compassion is formed much more by shared pain than by shared pleasure.”

Richard Rohr, Breathing Under Water, p. 123

National UCC Climate Hope Cards Campaign

On April 29, the UCC will launch an effort to collect petition postcards seeking government action for cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Sign-up to get updates on the Climate Hope Cards campaign and this launch event.

Registration open for PSEC 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.

Phoebe looking for sponsors for CPE program

Dear Friends of Phoebe,

The Clinical Pastoral Education program at Phoebe Ministries is designed to offer clergy, seminary students, and qualified community members of all faiths the opportunity to practice ministry to senior adults in a variety of settings under supervision. This program has been accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education since 1998. To date we have trained over 200 students who now serve in various pastoral roles and ministries.

On June 15, Phoebe will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of our CPE program with current students, alumni, staff, generous donors and members of the community. The Reverend Naomi Washington-Leapheart, currently Director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs for the city of Philadelphia will be speaking at the event. She is a graduate of Lancaster Seminary. The event will take place at the Lehigh Country Club, at 2319 S Cedar Crest Blvd, Allentown. 

If your church, business or organization would like to be a sponsor for the event, click here for a form which explains the various levels that you can sponsor at. Our UCC Churches, Associations and Conferences and Phoebe have been partners in preparing people for ministry for many years. Your support of this significant milestone in our history will help the CPE endowment fund as well as make this event possible. Our CPE endowment at Phoebe now ensures that any student wanting to do CPE with us, can do so regardless of their ability to pay. 

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to be in contact with me. Peace, Scott

Scott Brooks-Cope, D. Min.

Regional Director

Pastoral Care and Education

Memorial to the Lost Installation at Gulph UCC

The members of Gulph United Church of Christ are partnering with Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence in The Memorial to the Lost, a display honoring gun violence victims and their surviving families.  T-shirts with the names of Montgomery County residents murdered by gun violence will be mounted and displayed on the front lawn of the church property from April 29 through May 12. The display will be installed on Saturday the 29th beginning at 11:00a. Members of other congregations and folks from the wider community are heartily encouraged to join us! The Memorial will be formally dedicated at our April 30 worship. It is a poignant and personal witness to the cost of gun violence, visible to those passing by and available to people who would want to stop and walk among the t-shirts in reverence and prayer. Gulph UCC meets at 101 Matsonford Road in Gulph Mills. For further information contact Scott Hutchinson at peacepoet@msn.com

Free clergy training on aiding veterans' whole health

From May 11-12, Cranaleith Spiritual Center, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, is offering a two-day training to educate clergy about issues facing returning Veterans and their families following deployment. Rev. Dr. Chris Antal, a veteran of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and staff chaplain at the CMCVAMC, will facilitate the training.

Training topics will address post-deployment readjustment challenges, the psychological, physical, behavioral, and spiritual effects of war trauma on survivors, such as moral and spiritual injury, and the important role of community in helping to reduce mental health stigma and support Veterans and their families.

For more information:

Click here for a flyer

Click here for a press release

Click here to register

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 Pennsylvania 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.

Wonderful ministry comes out of this ministry! If you are interested, you can learn more and apply here. You can also contact Rev. Maureen Duffy- Guy for more information: mduffyguy@hotmail.com or text her at 717-619-8337.

Theology with a Twist on

May 2 on Senior Adults

Tuesday, May 2 at 7:00p Theology with a Twist presents "Golden Years?" What the Old Testament and Contemporary Society say about the value of Senior Adults. 

Our speaker this month is Rev. Dr. Deborah Appler, Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Moravian Theological Seminary. Visit the PSEC website for more information. Join us as she presents and leads a discussion about the reverence and challenges of aging in the Old Testament, the modern politics of aging, struggles with elder care, and the joyous possibilities of our older years.

Theology with a Twist meets at Kutztown Tavern at 272 W Main St, Kutztown. We gather in the upper room of the tavern the first Tuesday of each month for a time of learning and discussion about a variety of spiritual, religious, and theological topics presented by local experts. The event is free but food and drink can be purchased in the restaurant downstairs and brought to our event space. Parking is available in the lot behind the tavern or on Main Street.