This week marks the first-year anniversary of living with COVID. From the beginning we have offered guidance on how and when to return to in person worship respecting that fact that each congregation has the authority to decide. That question has renewed importance with the onset of Holy Week, the warmth of spring, and the growing numbers of vaccinated family neighbors. Our friends from the Missouri Mid-South Conference shared consolidated guidance from several sources which we are blessed to share with you. We pray this information will provide foundational guidance for the way you plan, implement, and evaluate your in-person worship and ministry. You can find that information by clicking here.

Next Monday, March 16 is the one-year anniversary of the beginning of sequestration and our weekly Conference Zoom meetings. We will worship together at 11:00 am with Service of Lament and Celebration—lament for the countless we’ve endured and celebration for God’s presence that has sustained us through it (Zoom link).

And finally, something new for our conference worship life – A Service of the Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows for ordained clergy will take place Maundy Thursday, April 1, at 9:00am via Zoom. It’s a long-standing custom in higher liturgical traditions for clergy to gather on the same day Jesus offered a new commandment for the reaffirmation of their ordination and the blessing of healing and anointing oils. We hope this will be an experience of spiritual encouragement and connection. The service includes the sacrament of virtual communion.

I pray you remained safe and well and in the care and keeping of the Holy Spirit,

Pastor Bill 

One UCC, Kenhorst (Rev. Rebecca Hoover pastor) covered the church's chancel in paper hearts, each representing a person in Pennsylvania who died of COVID-19. They started after Easter last year and have now hung over 24,000 hearts. Click here for entire story.

The first notice of the opening for Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call has been posted to the UCC Ministry Opportunities page (http://oppsearch.ucc.org/id/4384).

It reads: First Notice: The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference will begin the search for an Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call (ACM/SC) in April 2021. We have been blessed by the exceptional leadership of our most recent settled ACM/SC and our Interim ACM/SC who both worked diligently to connect pastors and churches amid some of the most anxious times of transition both can experience. Our goal now is to continue on the path of ministerial excellence with a candidate who will be a good match for an incredibly high functioning and well-connected staff which provides an expansive level of faithful service. Potential candidates will have experience with all facets of the search and call process, Committee on Ministry work, as well as a thorough familiarity with congregational dynamics and the Manual on Ministry. Additional details available soon; hiring anticipated in 4Q21.

On March 11, the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is hosting a webinar from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET to provide tips on how to apply for the FY2021 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Click here for more information.

This session will begin with sharing what has been happening at your churches. Betsy will then share the following two videos:

New Approaches to Faith Formation in the Midst of the Pandemic by John Roberto. Click here to access.

"12 Bad Habits Pastors Dropped During The Pandemic That We Shouldn't Pick Back Up" by Karl Vaters Click here to access.

As time allows, items covered at the Mid-Atlantic Association of United Church Educator's conference in February will be shared. Click here to register.

As part of Green Faith’s international day of action on March 11^th entitled “Sacred People, Sacred Earth,” a digital advocacy gathering is being organized by the Rev. Roberta Rominger of the UCC. The gathering is an opportunity for people of the Christian faith from across the country to oppose the expansion of the Line 3 tar sands pipeline. The gathering will begin with a moment to center ourselves in our faith and to hear the latest updates on the indigenous-led struggle to oppose the pipeline. Those present will then partake in actions while enjoying fellowship with each other. Join the gathering via Zoom at 1 pm ET on March 11^th by signing up now.

You may have heard of the word “reparations” in relation to racial justice. This webinar is a wonderful place to start to begin to explore the complex issue of reparations. (Click here to view)

The Humanitarian Disaster Institute is hosting a Spiritual Care Summit online on March 11. Learn more about this event and other disaster spiritual care news.

An Advanced Boundary Training on Family/ Church Boundaries will be held March 11 from 9:00a-12:00p. Sometimes pastors and their families feel like they live in a glass house, a spouse and/or children feel imposed upon, or the lines of being part of the same community as the church make it challenging for the pastor’s family. This training will offer ways for clergy family to maintain boundaries. We will look at a couple of cases and then use the collective wisdom of the group to consider healthy ways to navigate those situations with faithfulness and good boundaries. Click here to register. The fee is $20.

The 2021 CWS Kit Booklet explains all of the details of the Church World Service kit ministry. To view that, click here. For a list of drop-off locations in PSEC click here.

St. Luke’s Trappe is assembling clean-up buckets for CWS. WE HAVE THE BUCKETS. They are taller than a 5 gallon bucket that is normally used but CWS said they would be happy to take them. So, St. Luke’s is willing to drop off a bucket or buckets at your church and you can fill them. Or you can send us a check for $75 and we will fill them for you!. (Obviously sending us a check would be much easier!) If you have any questions or you would like buckets call Rev. Patrick Morris at 610-207-7361, Interim Pastor.

The environmental movement has widely lauded the actions taken by the Biden administration in addressing the climate crisis through early appointments and executive orders. Yet, there is a larger context to consider as indigenous leaders continue fights against pipelines and Syria is bombed. In this webinar, Mark Charles will provide an indigenous Christian perspective on the presidency. Charles is the co-author of the book, "Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery." In 2020, as independent candidate, Charles made a historic run for the presidency as a dual citizen of the United States and the Navajo Nation. Register now for this webinar on Wednesday, March 11^th at 1 pm ET. Even if you can’t make it, still sign-up, and you will be sent a recording afterward. Click here

Congregational Do’s and Don’ts:

Part 2 Don’ts

The Addiction and Recovery Task Force has posted lists of Dos and Don’ts for Congregations at the PSEC website. here are a few of the don’ts that can guide a congregation in being effective:

•      Pastors should not attend recovery meetings, unless invited

•      Do not enter a meeting space before, during or after a 12 step meeting while attendees are there

•      Never use language that stigmatizes (shames)

•      Don’t forget to support families that have people in active addiction or recovery

•      Don’t just refer people to local mental health or recovery institutes and think your job is done

•      Don’t give cash directly to someone who is using

•      Don’t let yourself get burned out by the work

Please see the information on the website for more ideas on Don’ts. Join us in the work to support our brothers and sisters struggling with addiction.

The UCC 2020 Disaster Ministries Highlights is attached to this newsletter and posted to the UCC website. You can download it from either location. (PDF, 22 pages.)

The First United Church of Christ Mission Fund through the Berks Community Foundation supports activities for children in need, activities and programs for seniors, initiatives that address hunger, ministry, and more. Applications are due March 15. For more information, visit the Community Foundation website. In 2020, the fund awarded awarded 12 grants totaling $36,925.

Would your church like some seed money to kick-start a new season of climate-saving activities? The Climate Justice team of PSEC invites applications for grants of up to $250, to be matched by the churches themselves.

The matching grants will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, until the team’s budget of $1,000 is met. Please apply by April 1 at psec.org/green.

Check out the list of possible activities in the climate justice link on our web site, psec.org/green.

Questions: Karl Jones (kjones275@comcast.net), Marian Shearer (uccrev77@gmail.com), Liz Brunton (lizbrunton2462@gmail.com).

"Introduction to Worship Leadership and Liturgical Practices" will be taught by Rev. Dr. Marty Kuchma, equipping worship leaders to plan, prepare, and practice congregational worship, rites, and rituals. Particular attention paid to baptisms, weddings, and funerals/memorial services. Students will be asked to articulate their own self-understanding of the pastoral role in relation to these practices. The class will be six-weeks online, meeting via Zoom on the following dates: April 10, 17, 24, May 1, and 15 from 10:00a–noon and May 6 from 6:00p–8:00p. The cost is $325. Register here by March 30.

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”.

Each Monday at 11:00a, authorized ministers and church leaders are invited to check in with Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley on a Zoom call, share experiences in this season of COVID, ask for advice, and be in community. We encourage you to join this opportunity for theological and practical reflection and discussion. Click here to join the call on Monday.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, world-renowned sex therapist who pioneered discussing human sexuality on radio and television, will present a live Q&A session on March 18 at the Phoebe Institute on Aging’s FREE Virtual Conference on “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: Baby Boomers and Aging”. For more info and to register, click here.

Secretary of Homeland Security announced last week the release of funding notices for eight different types of preparedness grants. $1.87 billion will be available. For more info on the grants, click here to read the press release.

Nearly fifty years later, the pathways, thankfully, are considerably widened for women in ministry in the UCC. And there continues to be a call to lift up pioneers and innovators in our midst, women who lead in extraordinary ways and who make possible other women’s ministries. From now until March 15, we invite your nominations of trailblazers (UCC clergywomen who honor Antoinette Brown’s vision of women in leadership in church and society) as well as catalysts (collectives, projects, congregations, or organizations that serve as provocative spaces that advance women in ministry). Honorees will be celebrated at our online General Synod 33 in July 2021. Click here to download the nomination form.

If your church isn't currently worshipping or you are not able or comfortable attending services, we have compiled a list of churches in PSEC that are holding digital/ virtual worship experiences. Share this with others that might not have another option for worship. Click here for an updated list.

March 16: Mission Central and Connecting to Local Mission Possibilities

“Mission Central is about ‘Connecting God’s Resources with Human Need.’ This is accomplished by following three areas of focus…Mission Outreach, Mission Education and Disaster Response.” Mission Central – located in Harrisburg – partners with over 180 different organizations and they provide resources to groups who are doing humanitarian work locally, across the country and around the world. Stephanie will talk with us about connecting with Mission Central as well as how to tap into mission opportunities and organizations in our various counties.

The Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar for pastors and lay leaders offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical, and tested ways to promoting generosity in our congregations. The seminar draws on current research, seeks guidance from the wisdom of scripture, and discusses the best practices in church-based fundraising. Class sessions held May 19, May 26, June 2, June 9, June 16, and June 23, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:00pm EST. Between class sessions, the instructors provide materials to help you analyze the culture of your own congregation and learn how to create change. Register today: The CGC Seminar is $150 per participant. Register here by April 30, 2021: cvent.me/7yV37Q.

Penn Northeast Conference is hosting an Advanced Boundary Training in May on "Social Media and Boundaries for Ministry." The Zoom training cost is $25; registration limited to 22 participants. Click here for more information and to register.