Our work includes supporting your work in cultivating intentional, beloved, transformative congregations across the country. Whether through MESA and their work or in our Tuesday and Thursday digital gatherings, our partnership is made stronger as we support local church ministries and leadership. Our Washington D.C. office provides local church resources for addressing issues of justice and compassion. Our Wider Church ministry team engages local congregations and helps equip them with global resources. Your Conference provides assistance in Search and Call, develops the leadership capacity in our congregations, and brings churches together for common mission and ministry.

In collaboration with the Conferences and the National Setting, we are launching an Authorized Minister’s Still Speaking Partners to raise resources for the work we (UCC ministers and Conference and national setting staff) do jointly. Will you join me in becoming a Still Speaking Partner?

Your participation in the Still Speaking Partners begins with a monthly recurring gift of $20.00 (or more).

I invite you to prayerfully consider this new opportunity to support our common work and ministry. You can start your monthly online donation here. Thank you for your leadership.

Did you know the UCC has a Washington DC office in addition to the Cleveland offices? The dedicated staff of the Washington office work to promote public policy for both international and domestic issues. Conferences are regularly updated on their work and we will periodically share those in eNews. The Justice Update for this week is available here.

Bethany Children's Home, an Open and Affirming partner in ministry with the United Church of Christ, is seeking a Chaplain on its Womelsdorf campus! As a member of the Bethany community, you would be invited to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our community as we seek to grow together in faith and love. For more information, visit bethanyhome.org/employment/ .

Some proposed climate policies have been described as false solutions by activists and policy analysts because they fall short in meeting the moral demands of science, equity, and justice. Learn what faith communities need to know in this webinar that will feature Leah Stokes, who authored Short Circuiting Policy, and Gabriela Sarri-Tobar, who serves the Center for Biological Diversity as the Energy Justice Campaigner. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00p on July 22, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording.

On July 15 at 2:00p, the Insurance Board will host a webinar on "COVID-19 Liability Considerations for Ministers," providing guidance on current COVID-19 HR and liability considerations. For more info, click here. To register, click here.

What is meant by destructive? The disease of addiction could be compared to a tornado. The path of a tornado destroys all that it comes into contact with. Nothing is left intact or whole after the tornado has passed. The disease of addiction destroys all things in the same manner. Self-worth, societal relationship, careers, finances, housing, friendships, and family connections. 

If you are familiar with the disease of addiction, you may be wondering if the damage can be repaired. The answer is a resounding YES! With surrender and willingness, we can REBUILD!

Want to learn more? Please visit our webpage on the PSEC website.

Our General Synod this year will be all virtual, so we are trying to provide some opportunities to have Conference-focused, in-person connection. Friday and Saturday July 9-10, we will be hosting a “PSEC Strong” event along the Schuylkill River Trail, a time for fellowship and fun physical activity together. There are opportunities for everyone at every level of physical fitness to participate, and you can participate in all/specific parts of the weekend (see the schedule below for how to “jump in"). Hope you can join us!

For a schedule of this event, click here. To register for the Friday event at Fork & Ale Restaurant in Douglassville or the Saturday kick-off party at Old First Reformed Church in Philadelphia, visit psec.org/general-synod.

Book Discussion being offered Tuesdays at 3:00p and 7:30p for six weeks June 1- July 6. The study will focus on Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019. For Zoom links and weekly curriculum, visit the Racial Justice taskforce webpage here.

Visit the Coronavirus Resources page at PSEC.org for resources related to re-opening, virus facts, disaster resources, and worship resources. Also on that page is the PSEC virtual church list. If your church isn't currently worshipping or you are not able or comfortable attending services, use this list to find a church in PSEC that is holding online worship.

From July 11 – 18, Special Edition General Synod, will include powerful worship, not-to-miss keynote speakers, 50 workshops, youth programming and business sessions. To accommodate different time zones, many sessions will take place in the afternoon and evenings.

This is a great opportunity for you to attend a General Synod without having to travel. In order to support that, we are offering the following assistance for you to attend General Synod: The cost to sign up for General Synod as a visitor (non-delegate) is $100. The first 25 people to email Sue Creswell (susan@psec.org) will have their entire $100 paid by the Conference. The next 200 individuals who sign up for General Synod and submit to Sue Creswell their receipt, will receive a $50 rebate on their $100 registration fee. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience all that General Synod has to offer!

For information on General Synod 33 and the link to register, visit generalsynod.org.

UCC Resources is selling General Synod stoles, communion sets, altar cloths, jigsaw puzzles, tote bags, notebooks, face masks! Order yours today at uccresources.com.

Eleven resolutions will come before the delegates at General Synod 33. For a brief recap of these resolutions, click here.

The UCC officers invite the entire church to join a 21-Day Prayer Journey to General Synod. Click here for more information.

The Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Initiative team, in promoting racial justice, is offering banners and yard signs free to churches and individuals.

For those who are able, we are suggesting a love offering of $70 per banner (image of the 4’x10’ Vinyl Banner with grommets below) and $7 per yard sign (image of the 18’’x24’’ Yard sign above right). The love offerings will go to further our efforts in this sacred ministry of racial equity and justice. To order, please email Anne Cormier at annecormier@comcast.net. Include in the subject box “banner” or “yard sign”.