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Important This Week
  • Juneteenth resources and info from the Racial Justice taskforce
  • 'From Lament to Action' gun violence awareness event this weekend
  • 'The Ugly but Hopeful Truth' from the Racial Justice Initiative
From the Associate Conference Minister for Search & Call:

Friends,

This past weekend many of us gathered in West Chester for our Spring Meeting where we enjoyed fellowship, learned, and explored new and ancient spiritual practices, and worship the living God. And we did some Conference work as well, amidst my installation as the ACM for Search and Call for the PSEC. We also sent forth Conference Bill Worley with our blessings for a much-needed time of rest and renewal during his sabbatical. This was my first in-person annual meeting of our conference, and it did not disappoint. There was a lot of laughter, a renewal of relationships, and a deep gratitude for having this opportunity to be with each in-person. For me, it already feels like home, and I can now see why so many of our clergy have stayed within the conference during their ministries.

If you were not able to make it, I invite you to join us in Fall when we hopefully re-gather again in-person. (Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 13.)

On behalf of the Conference, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Planning Team for planning and executing this gathering, and to our Conference staff – Brea, Tammie, and especially Sue – for managing what was essentially a large family reunion. It is good thing to be a part of this family of faith.  

Rev. Kevin J. McLemore
Associate Conference Minister for Search & Call
Juneteenth National
Independence Day (June 19th)
 
The PSEC Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Team encourages all PSEC congregations to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth.
Click here for Juneteenth worship resources.
Click here for full article on the history and meaning of Juneteenth. 
The Ugly but Hopeful Truth
 
Rev. Anne Cormier, Co-Chair
Racial Justice Initiative

In the whirlwind of the PSEC Spring meeting and the various hats I was wearing throughout our time together, I woke up grieved in my soul for the things I failed to say as I took the podium for the Racial Justice Team. So please indulge me as I take this opportunity to speak from my heart to the PSEC churches’ White congregants and their leadership. Click here for full article.
Schuylkill County church hosting ecumenical worship
 
We are very excited to announce a multi-denominational Ecumenical Worship Service, followed by a picnic, on Sunday June 12 beginning at 4:00p at St. Paul’s Summer Hill UCC in Auburn. Click here for an event flyer.
 
This special worship service and time of fellowship for Schuylkill County churches is being sponsored and planned the UCC’s Pennsylvania Southeast and Penn Northeast conferences, the Presbyterian Church’s (USA) Lehigh Presbytery, the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
 
All UCC, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Lutheran congregations in Schuylkill County are encouraged to attend to make new acquaintances, renew old friendships, and unify as one Body of Christ.
 
This outdoor service will be on a level lawn under shade trees, followed by an outdoor pot luck picnic. Please bring your own chairs. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided, but please access the link in the flyer to the on-line signup sheet to indicate what you may be able to bring.
'From Lament to Action' gun violence awareness event

You might have seen the memorial to the Lost Tee-shirts Display somewhere in Philadelphia. We are missing and have lost so many young people, as well as people of all ages, to gun violence in the City of Philadelphia. The Religious Leaders Council and Heeding God’s Call are coming together with various religious community members to honor the memory of those taken by gun murders. The date is Thursday, June 9 at 2 pm at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul,1723 Race St., Philadelphia. Following an interfaith service honoring all those taken by gun violence in 2021, there will be a witness walk to a place of gun violence in Center City and an advocacy session at City Hall supporting sensible laws and the elimination of illegal handguns from our community. Come out, join with others, and make your voice heard! Say “NO” to the proliferation of guns and gun deaths in our city! Click here for a flyer about this event.
From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Step Three

We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.
 
As addicts, our will and our lives were controlled by drugs affecting our total body, mind, and spirit. In recovery, we make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him. Addicts do not need to come from a religious background to take this step.
 
For the first time since that first high, we made a decision for ourselves. This decision implies action and is based on faith. We see miracles happening in the lives of clean addicts and the relief of letting go and letting God helps us to develop a life that is worth living.
 
Surrendering to the will of our Higher Power gets easier with daily practice. At times during our recovery, the decision to ask for God's help is our greatest source of strength and courage. Principles such as open-mindedness, willingness, and surrender are the keys to this step. Our fears are lessened and faith begins to grow. We are no longer fighting fear, anger, guilt, self-pity, or depression. We are slowly beginning to lose the paralyzing fear of hopelessness. 
 
Addicts enjoy living clean, and want more of the good things recovery has to offer. Upon completion of this step, we are ready for our first, honest self appraisal and move on to Step Four.
Resources for Reformed Heritage Sunday (June 12)
 
Heritage Sunday is scheduled for June 12 and we hope you will join the over 2,000 former Evangelical and Reformed churches throughout the United States in celebrating this special event. On the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society's website, you will find several resources to assist churches, including bulletin covers, inserts, liturgies, and hymns.  
UCC webinar: Discerning and Deciding: Bold climate action
 
According to a recent UN climate report, the world has less than three years for its greenhouse gas emissions to peak and head into a relatively rapid decline. Careful discernment is needed on where to place our time and energy in seeking policies that will lead to a more just and hospitable world. This webinar features three leaders in the climate movement: Keya Chatterjee from the U.S. Climate Action Network, Miranda Ehrlich from the Sierra Club, and Jean Su from the Center for Biological Diversity. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00p on June 8, sign up, and we will send you a recording.
Upcoming opportunities from the PA Academy of Ministry

Personal Finances for Ministers, July 12-Aug. 16. Tuesdays, 7-8:30p. Instructor Lovett Weems. Introduction to basics of personal financial management, including special considerations for religious professionals and congregations where they serve. Topics include budgeting, debt, compensation and taxes, insurance, investing, and estate planning. For pastors and lay leaders. 2.5 CEUs. $125

Ministerial Ethics and Professional Development, Aug. 23-Sept. 27. Tuesdays, 7-8:30p. Instructor Jessica Young Brown. A Ministerial Institute class. An in-depth look at ethics in ministry, including confidentiality, fiduciary duty, healthy boundaries, and self-care. 2.5 CEUs. $325.

Church Finances, Oct 11.-Nov. 15. Tuesdays, 7-8:30p. Instructor, Lovett Weems. Skills for creating and presenting budgets grounded in the church’s mission, expanding means of giving and sources of income, presenting accurate tracking and reporting of giving, proper financial administration of funds, and exploring new options for funding ministry. For pastors and lay leaders. 2.5 CEUs. $125.

For information or to register, click here.
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:
  • Barnesville-Delano Tri-Charge, Schuylkill County (full-time settled)
  • Bern Reformed UCC, Leesport (three-quarter time settled)
  • Brownback's UCC, Spring City (full-time interim)
  • Community UCC, Reading (full-time interim or designated)
  • Glenside UCC, Glenside (full-time settled)
  • Immanuel UCC, Shillington (half-time associate pastor)
  • Pleasantville UCC, Chalfont (full-time interim)
  • St. Andrew's UCC, Perkasie (full-time settled)
  • St. James UCC, Havertown (full-time interim)
  • St. John's UCC, Lansdale (full-time interim)
  • St. Paul's UCC, Exton (full-time interim)
  • Trinity Reformed UCC, Pottstown (full-time interim)
  • Wentz's UCC, Lansdale (full-time settled)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev. Kevin McLemore: 484-949-8774 ext. 302 or mclemore@psec.org.
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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!