A link under "Holy Thursday Communion Services scheduled for clergy" was broken in yesterday's email. Please use the link in this email to join those Zoom calls tomorrow. We're sorry for the inconvenience.
Important This Week
  • Communion services for clergy planned for Thursday
  • Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services and resources available
  • Read a message from the Conference Minister
From the Conference Minister: 'Take this cup from me'

I have to confess, isolation has worn me down. What was at first a blessing to my introverted self has turned to burden and I find myself praying with Jesus, “Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me.”

I am alone and not connected despite Zoom which is a very poor substitute for connecting with you all. The comfort of all that was familiar about this Holy Week is pretty much gone and the grief of that is profound.

This experience of isolation helps me connect with Jesus in ways I haven’t before. The pattern of Holy Week has always been predictable. Maundy Thursday communion. Good Friday afternoon vigil. Easter lilies. Now, there is no pattern — or at least a very different one. Some of us are trying to back fill the loss, almost past the point of exhaustion, by creating workarounds that will disappoint because they are not the experiences we annually anticipate.

In the garden, Jesus prayed to God, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” His isolation is self-selected; ours is COVID-19 imposed. While that is a critical distinction, the effect — loneliness and loss — remains the same.

God’s will was that Jesus would lose everything. And Jesus was willing to be obedient to that plan. Even at the risk of disappointing those he loved the most. Even to death. It’s a stark reminder that Jesus’ “Follow me” isn’t about maintaining the patterns of a familiar Holy Week.

Richard Rohr suggests “ When all of our idols are taken away, all our securities and defense mechanisms, we find out who we really are. We’re so little, so poor, so empty — and a shock to ourselves. But God takes away our shame, and we are eventually able to present ourselves to God poor and humble. Then we find out who we are and who God is for us. ”

As much as I really want this cup of disease, isolation and loss pass, it is the one I have to drink from. For now.
 
God bless you as we share this cup,
Pastor Bill

Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
UCC Counsel: Register
RIGHT NOW for SBA loans

The UCC General Counsel is encouraging churches interested in applying for the Small Business Administration loans to apply NOW; available funds are expected to be exhausted quickly. Click here for the loan application. Click here for the fact sheet from the SBA. The application should be submitted directly to a lender identified as a participating lender on the SBA's website ( sba.gov ), rather than seeking the application from the lender. Click here for FAQ for Faith-Based Organizations.

If you have questions about the SBA loans or the application process, PSEC finance manager Tammie Wisniewski may be able to help, contact tammie@psec.org .
Holy Thursday Communion Services scheduled for clergy

The Conference Ministers of Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Northeast, and Penn Central conferences will be holding Holy Thursday Communion Services for Clergy at 9:00a, 12:00p, and 4:00p. For links to join the Zoom meetings and more information, click here .
You are not alone: Support for clergy during the pandemic

A Prayer Pause will be offered by Penn Central, Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast Conference staffs every day at 12:00p for pastors to check-in, share intercessions, scripture, and prayer. Click here for a flyer with the link to join in April.
 
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.
Twelve pastors collaborate for online Good Friday service

Twelve PSEC pastors are working together to hold a Community Good Friday Service on Friday, April 10 from 12:00-3:00p. The service will feature 15-minute segments from each pastor featuring a combination of scripture reading, meditations, prayer, and music. People are invited to join the Zoom meeting/call for as long or as little as they wish. Participating pastors include: Gary Rarick, Mary Etta Mest, David Blitch, Linda Kozlowski, Zack Jackson, Nichole Jackson, Dan Clark, Ann Bolek, Glenn Rarick, Frances Chester, Tammie Wisniewski, and Steve Ohnsman. For more information, click here .
Another stewardship workshop planned with Rev. Cean James

The Creative Stewardship workshop that was held this Saturday has been scheduled again for Saturday, April 18 from 10:00a-11:30a. For information on how to join the workshop, click here .

For most congregations today, financially supporting the work of ministry requires more than what is collected in the offering plate on Sunday morning. With a little thinking outside the box, congregations can use old and new techniques to undergird their streams of revenue. In this workshop we will explore how any congregation can find multiple sources of financial support.
Maundy Thursday At-Home Liturgy available for use

This Maundy Thursday At-Home Liturgy was created by Rev. Jon Komperda of Point Place UCC, Toledo, Ohio. The short-document provide prayers, prompts, and instructions for an at-home.
Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors

Visit ucc.org/coronavirus or psec.org/coronavirus for collections of resources that churches and pastors may find helpful in practicing ministry during the pandemic.
Montgomery County churches encouraged to ring bells

State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, encourages churches and fire stations across Montgomery County to show solidarity by extending appreciation to first responders, health care workers, educators, and others for their service during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. First responders and religious leaders should activate their sirens or ring bells for up to five minutes on Monday, April 13 at 7:05p For more information, click here .
First UCC-wide online service held Sunday; more scheduled

A one-hour Palm Sunday service this week was the first-ever online service for the whole United Church of Christ. The service featured live music, prayers from across the nation, and several leaders. To read about the service, including a link to register for the Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service, click here .

Pre-recorded portions of the Maundy Thursday service, which was put together by the 2030 UCC Clergy Group and includes communion from Rev. John Dorhauer, is available online now . The Facebook page for the extended service is available here . The live service will give space for more voices than was possible in the pre-recorded video.
Pension Board continues coverage, offers assistance

The Pension Boards wants participants to know that all UCC Health Plan coverage remains in place, including access to Teladoc telemedicine services , and that annuity benefits will continue to be paid to retirees on schedule.

The Pension Board also offers emergency assistance to members and the ministry settings they serve who are suffering severe financial impacts of the pandemic. UCBMA Emergency Grants are available to:
  • current Authorized Ministers in the United Church of Christ;
  • lay employees of a UCC congregation, Association, Conference, or National Setting with a minimum of 10 years of service;
  • surviving spouses/partners of the above; and
  • Members in Discernment for at least a year.
Contact Conference Minister, Rev. Bill Worley ( worley@psec.org ) to make a request for assistance. 
Theology of virtual communion offered by retired PSEC pastor

The COVID-19 virus has challenged us to be church in new and different ways — including the celebration of communion. Rev. Dr. Deborah Clemens has helped us think through the theological implications of a virtual approach to our incarnational sacrament in this doc . You can also reference guidance issued by our PCUSA ecumenical partners here . Watch the recorded Conference Zoom call from Monday now posted here that concluded with a virtual communion experience.
E&R Historical Society seeking Executive Director

The Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society seeks applications for an executive director. This is a two-year grant funded position. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works with them to carry out the current mission of the ERHS, to collect, organize, preserve and make available for research the records of the Reformed Church and the Evangelical & Reformed Church. Resume, cover letter, and references should be submitted to erhs@lancasterseminary.edu by July 15, 2020. For questions about this position, please contact Rev. James Semmelroth Darnell at james@davidsucc.net . For more information about the position, click here . For the job description, click here .
Pastoral Colloquy 2020 set with German, UCC pastors

Pastors from Pennsylvania Southeast, Penn Central, Southern, and Wisconsin conferences as well as Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz and Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland will gather July 26-31 for a week of learning, discussion, and fellowship at Elizabethtown College. For more information and to register, click here .
Reminder about churches' not for profit determination letters

PSEC churches do not have individual not for profit determination letters, they fall under the letter regarding the United Church of Christ. For a copy of your church's not for profit 501(c)3 letter, visit the PSEC website .
Share this list of churches online with your congregation

If your church isn't currently worshiping, we have compiled a list of churches in PSEC that are holding digital/virtual worship experiences. Please share this with friends, family, and church members that might not have another option for worship. Click here for an updated list as a PDF (to view, email, and share) or here as a JPEG (to post to your social media page)
PSEC Spring Annual Meeting canceled due to coronavirus

The PSEC Spring Annual Meeting, June 5 and 6, 2020 at The Inn At Reading has been canceled. We have not made a final decision regarding the Pastor’s Continuing Education events scheduled for Thursday, June 4. The Annual Meeting Planning Team is exploring a one-day worship gathering at the end of August to celebrate the end of social distancing and God’s sustaining presence through these difficult days. More information about that will be forthcoming. Fall meeting is planned for mid-November. Refunds are forthcoming via your reservation thru Eventbrite. If you have questions regarding your refund, contact Sue Creswell at susan@psec.org .
Clergy Convocation canceled for 2020; speaker set for 2021

In the interest of the safety of our clergy and communities the Clergy Convocation, set for May 5-7, has been canceled. The good news is that our presenter, Rev. Dr. Emily Heath, is able to be with us at next year's event: May 4-6, 2021. Refunds for those who registered will be issued through Eventbrite in the coming weeks. On behalf of the Convocation Team we pray for all of you faithfully serving your communities in these days of pandemic and give thanks for the grace which binds us together as one in Christ.
ACPE seeking volunteers to provide tele-chaplaincy

The Association of Professional Chaplains is beginning to receive calls from healthcare institutions who need additional spiritual care provider assistance. If you are a student who needs hours to complete a CPE unit, a retired professional who is searching for ways to help, a psychotherapist who wants to provide mental health support to affected communities, or a trained lay person or member of the clergy who would like to offer spiritual care through telechaplaincy, complete the form linked below. 

If you would like to be considered for telechaplaincy support, please complete this form . Names and information will only be shared with institutional leadership working to meet the needs of those whom they serve. If you have questions or need more information, please email  COVID-19@acpe.edu . We encourage you to review the APC Code of Ethics before signing the volunteer registration form.
CWS temporarily closes kit depots, discourages assembly

Church World Service is closing all of its kit depots in local congregations through May 31, 2020, in line with Centers for Disease Control, state and local guidelines.
CWS sent an email to its kit depots and its kit donors on Tuesday, March 24 informing them of this change. It also is updating  cwskits.org/  and  cwsglobal.org/ to reflect these changes.
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:
  • Allegheny UCC (Sunday supply)
  • St. John Hill UCC, Boyertown (full-time settled)
  • St. John's UCC, Orwigsburg (full-time settled)
  • St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
  • St. Luke's UCC, Ottsville (part-time settled or designated)
  • St. Mark's UCC, Reading (10 hrs/ week)
  • St. Paul's UCC, Kutztown (full-time settled)
  • St. Paul's UCC, Pottstown (part-time settled)
  • Salem Hetzel's UCC (shared ministry; full-time interim)
  • Trinity UCC, Rehrersburg (part-time settled)
  • Wyomissing UCC (part-time settled)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Dr. Susan Minasian: minasian@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
Classified Ads

Treasurer wanted in Reading

Submit Classified Ads here
View a complete list of Classified Ads here
Educational Opportunities
View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Church Events
Submit Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
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!