Important This Week

• Register for Annual Meeting
• VBS materials available for churches
• New part-time positions added to Ministry Opportunities

From the Conference Minister:

We are sixteen (16) days away from our Four Pennsylvania Conference meeting in State College. Registration to attend, in person or online, has been extended until May 30 so you still have time! Although the room block at The Penn Stater is full, another room block at The Comfort Inn & Suites has been secured. Our PSEC Conference Consistory met last Saturday for their regular meeting and finalized the agenda for our Conference’s conferring session on Saturday morning. They are excited about all the possibilities that our conferences coming together hold (both for the June meeting and a merger) and to that end created this brief video to share with you.

Register now for the Spring Meeting in State College or online

Registration is still open for the 2024 PSEC Spring Meeting. For the first time, all four Pennsylvania conferences of the UCC will be gathering for a shared Annual Meeting on June 7-9 at The Penn Stater in State College. We will have shared worship, workshops, meals and meetings as well as each conference's separate business meeting.

While the hotel block at The Penn Stater is now closed, registration for the event, including virtual attendance, remains open through May 30. Make sure that your church is represented! Each church can send two lay delegates in addition to authorized ministers with standing in the Conference.

Register here today. We recognize that the prices for this event are significantly higher than our most recent Annual Meetings. We do not want budget concerns to prevent your attendance at this important meeting. When you register, use this code: ­­­­­PSECAnnual75

A very limited number of rooms have been blocked at a nearby hotel. he Country Inn and Suites State College is about 4-5 minutes from The Penn Stater with free hot breakfast, pool/fitness, and a shuttle that runs to The Penn Stater from 8:00a-11:00p. Click here to reserve a room there or call or call 814-234-6000 and mention "United Church of Christ". If these rooms don't fill up, you must reserve before May 20.

Visit psec.org/annual-meeting-2024/ for more information, including info on the mission project, a weekend schedule, conferring session agenda, reports, and more.

VBS materials to share

Is your church storing supplies, decorations, or curriculum from a previous Bible school that's in good condition but likely won't be used again soon? If you have VBS materials available that you would be willing to loan or donate to other churches, email brea@psec.org. To see the updated list with LOTS of materials churches are willing to share, click here.

Spirit on Tap with 'Safe Berks' in May in Reading

The next Spirit on Tap will be May 28 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading. Safe Berks is the agency in Berks County that provides support services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. During this presentation, they will define domestic violence, who it affects, and what barriers survivors face seeking services or leaving an abusive relationship, with a specific focus on the role of religious and cultural stigma. They will briefly discuss what we can do to support survivors in our community and what services are provided by Safe Berks. Click here for more info.

May ReadyPA Monthly available online now

This month's PA Emergency Management Agency's ReadyPA Monthly includes info on hurricanes and dam safety. Click here for the newsletter. Please share this information with your congregations to help keep everyone safe and prepared. 

Black Churches leading with Solar: Incentives, Financing

With the federal government paying for at least 30% of the cost of solar installation, if not 40 to 50%, many congregations that own their own building can no longer afford to not go solar. In this webinar, we will focus on Black churches leading with solar. We will hear experts discuss everything one needs to know about government incentives and solar financing. Even if you can’t make the webinar at 1:00p on Wednesday, May 29, still register, and we will send you a link to the recording afterward. Register now!

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Recovery Texts

The Task Force has Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Recovery Dharma textbooks to offer for people who want to better understand addiction, see what recovery is about, perhaps begin their own journey, or give to someone who may be in need. The books are free, but there is a limited supply – First come, first serve!  Please email: psec.ar.taskforce@gmail.com and indicate which book you would like.

NA Basic Text: A book that is intended as a complete textbook for every addict seeking recovery, describing the NA program and how it works. It includes the spiritual principles, the NA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, as well as many personal stories of people who have found freedom from addiction through Narcotics Anonymous.

AA Big Book: A book that details the cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcohol addiction, explains the A.A. program, the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, the history of A.A., and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease by sharing their personal experiences.

Recovery Dharma: This book describes a way to be free from the suffering of addiction using Buddhist practices and principles. The program is based on the idea that everyone is their own guide in recovery from addiction, with the help and understanding of wise friends and sangha (community).

Compelling Preaching program beginning this summer

Southern New England UCC Conference (SNEUCC) received $1.25 Million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish a Compelling Preaching program in partnership with the PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. and Hartford Stage Company.

Jointly developed (PATHWAYS and SNEUCC) preaching courses will be on the PATHWAYS asynchronous online learning platform. The following year, the Hartford Stage Company and SNEUCC will bring Part II with a preaching camp and a Revival.

In our regular program this summer, the following Four-week and Six-week courses include:

• What about the Bible (4-wks) – June 1-30
• Pluralism and Religion in North America (6-wks) – July 10-Aug. 20
• Introduction to Spiritual Health (Pastoral Care) (6-wks) – June 19-Aug. 6

Go to pathwaystheological.org to find out more.

Join a Community of Practice

There are openings in Communities of Practice for the second half of the year. Spots are available in:

• a group that meets on Zoom Monday afternoons and discussion focuses on Netflix movies and specials
• a group that often meets in-person (usually in Berks County) on Wednesdays and discussion focuses on best practices for church growth
• and a traditional group that meets on Wednesdays on Zoom

These clergy groups meet ten times a year for shared worship, to check in, and to complete a shared study/book discussion/etc. The cost for a group is $250 per year and will be pro-rated for 2024. For more information on Communities of Practice or the available spots, please email brea@psec.org.

UCC Musicians Association biennial gathering

The biennial gathering of the UCC Musicians Association will be July 10-13 in Greenwich, CT. Complete information is available here.

Rev. Melissa Burkhart installation at Zion's Church

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

This email is brought to you by your generous gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission)! Thank you!