Important
  • Message from Conference Minister
  • New time for Prayer Pause meetings starting Monday
  • Get resources for holding worship online, staying informed, and helping
  • SBA loan process
From the Conference Minister: Do not desert one another

“Now if a deadly epidemic strikes, we should stay where we are, make our preparations, and take courage in the fact that we are mutually bound together…so that we cannot desert one another or flee from one another.” Martin Luther, 1527, in the face of the Black Death

I found some solace in Martin Luther’s words. They were shared this week by my Conference Minister colleague Rev. Dr. Carrie Call with her Conference. We have indeed passed through difficult, dark, disease ridden days before -- as we will pass through this time. Even while we are socially distant we do not desert one another or flee one another as God does not desert or flee from us. Wherever your ministry setting, I know that you are doing your best to take care of your people, your residents and patients. Your capacity to remain calm in the midst of chaos and uncertainty is God’s gift of faith to the world and to your own heart. In these times of high anxiety, irritability, and fear, remember Paul’s words to the church in Philippi, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”

Trust in that and keep the faith,
Pastor Bill

Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
You are not alone: Support for clergy during the pandemic
A Prayer Pause is being offered by Penn Central, Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast Conference staffs every weekday at 12:00p ( note the new time ) for pastors to check-in, share intercessions, scripture, and prayer. Click here for a flyer with the link for this week.
 
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.
Resources: online worship, disaster response, COVID-19 facts

Visit the PSEC website for a collection of resources to help churches during this pandemic. Find COVID-19 facts without fear or falsehoods, worship materials, guides for streaming and copyright, a guide for funerals while social distancing, and more. Visit psec.org/coronavirus .
Details on SBA process for churches to apply for disaster loans

Below are the instructions for churches who want to apply for Disaster Loan Assistance from the Small Business Administration ( disasterloan.sba.gov) . (Accessing the website some time after hours is the best idea.) Churches would need the following forms:

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION (including Houses of Worship, Association, etc), THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED: This application (SBA Form 5), completed and signed. A complete copy of the organization's most recent tax return OR a copy of the organizations's IRS tax-exempt certification and complete copies of the organization's three most recent years' "Statement of Activities" Schedule of Liabilities. Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 4506-T), completed and signed for each applicant and for any affiliated entity. Affiliates include, but are not limited to, business parents, subsidiaries, and/or other businesses with common ownership or management.
From our Disaster Coordinator on church response

I know that our churches are doing amazing things in the face of COVID-19. The Conference would like to know about how you are serving your church and community. Please answer a few "simple" questions to help us serve you better:
1. Please name a few of the ministries that have continued.
2. Please name any new ministries you have begun in the face of COVID-19.
3. Please let us know of community partnership that are assisting you serve the community.
4. Please let us know of any resources that we need to help you in your work. (Please remember that I might be good at what I do, but I might not be a miracle worker.)

Rev. Karl Jones
Disaster Ministries Coordinator
Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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!