Important This Week

  • 2021 Annual Spring Meeting - Registration Open
  • Dr. Ruth Aging Conference
  • Advancing Veteran's Whole Health
"That they may all be one"

Jesus spoke these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father . . . I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in me through their word; that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.” —John 17:1, 20–23

I am a student of the Catholic theologian Richard Rohr. He penned a reflection this week that took me straight to the heart of my commitment to the United Church of Christ. I cannot improve on what he says and so quote extensively from his writing which begins:

This beautiful prayer for union is from Jesus’ Last Supper address to his disciples. It might be the highest level of mystical teaching in the entire New Testament. Here Jesus connects everything: he in his Father, the Father in you, you in God, God in him, God in the world, and you in the world. It’s all one.
It’s all one, and yet like the Trinity, it is also different. What you do to another, you do to yourself; how you love yourself is how you love your neighbor; how you love God is how you love yourself; how you love yourself is how you love God. How you do anything is how you do everything.
To be a person of faith means we see things—people, animals, plants, the earth—as inherently connected to God, connected to ourselves, and therefore, absolutely worthy of love and dignity. That’s what Jesus is praying for: that we could see things in their unity, in their connectedness.
If we can’t connect with people of other religions, classes, or races, with our “enemies” or with those who are suffering, we’re not very converted. Truly transformed individuals are capable of a universal recognition. They see that everything is one.

I fell in love with the United Church of Christ growing up around people who could disagree passionately on all manner of issues and then come to the table knowing that division was the illusion and unity the reality. They saw that everything is one and God’s people could be too—if we keep working at it. But the work is hard and dangerous and understandably many have given up and taken sides. We have lost our hold on this truth, that division is the illusion and unity the reality; or this truth has lost its hold on us. We, our congregations, and denomination continue to grow weaker for it. The prescription is so simple as to be easily discounted or ignored. Father Rohr writes,

 If we want to live an isolated life, trying to prove that we’re better than everybody else or believing we’re worse than everybody else, we are already in hell. We have been invited—even now, even today, even this moment—to live consciously, in the Presence, in the Body, in the Life of the eternal and eternally Risen Christ. This must be an almost perfect way to describe salvation itself.

I pray we accept the invitation,
Pastor Bill

Rev. William P. Worley
Conference Minister
2021 Virtual Annual Spring Meeting
Registration Open

“Deeping our Connections, Deeping the Journey” is the theme, and the hope, of PSEC’s Annual Spring meeting that begins Friday, June 4 with nationally celebrated social justice leader and guest presenter Sister Simon Campbell a Catholic nun who, with a few sisters in faith, chartered a bus to change the world.
Our connecting continues with Saturday’s conferring sessions, workshops and worship services to honor anniversary clergy and congregations, to lament the losses endured through the pandemic and to welcome the hope of better days ahead. We gather online in a new virtual meeting space (“Whova”) for our (hopefully) last completely virtual Conference gathering. Click here to access the Call to Annual Meeting. Click here to access the annual meeting page on the PSEC website which includes the link to registration. 
Community Clergy Training for Advancing Veteran's Whole Health: - Thursday, 1-3 p.m.

- Many veterans and their family members seek help for their problems from clergy because they perceive the faith community as a safe and accessible place that provides confidentiality and acceptance. Yet clergy members sometimes have limited knowledge about suicide prevention, military culture, readjustment difficulties and the unique health issues such as post-traumatic stress and moral injury, common to returning veterans. This event can help prepare you to support them and make your faith community a place veterans can call home.
- For more information and to register visit go here.
Women’s History Month Service—March 28
As part of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ new era of diverse leadership and recommitment to Christian discipleship and advocacy, the Council will celebrate the role and contributions of women with a public Zoom worship service at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 28.  
The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister of the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ, will be the featured preacher.
The service is open to the public on Zoom, though registration is required. Click here to register.
Download and share this flyer.
Dr. Ruth at Phoebe's free Aging Conference Thursday

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.
Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Consider your Sunday prayers

     Many churches invite members to submit prayer requests to be lifted up in corporate worship. That may sound inclusive……. But, if we get into the habit of praying for people by names along with a description of their perceived issues or problems (cancer death, moving, new baby etc.), we risk leaving people out who need our prayers so desperately; (the addicts, convicts, abused, divorcing etc.) This is understandable because it would be awkward, even cruel, to publicly announce their problems.
     We suggest, instead of linking names to needs so directly, begin the time of prayer by praying for categories, i.e., the troubled, the abused, the imprisoned, the addicts, the sick, the dying, the grieving etc. Then end with a collection of first names only, of those entered by the congregation or on a prayer chain. Trust that God can make the appropriate link. He already knows the needs. Our task as intercessors is to raise them up to the Lord lovingly and without judging.
Check out our web page on the PSEC website.
"Ready Seniors"
Webinar next Thursday

Increasingly, frail older adults with complex health issues live alone in the community, far from their relatives and caregivers. An older adult may depend upon community service providers for basic necessities and psychosocial support prior to a disastrous event. However, the need for these critical services increases when services are disrupted, or the senior is impacted during a major disaster.  
 
To address this critical need FEMA is providing a training webinar - "Ready Seniors" - on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET, for organizations that provide critical support services to senior citizens in their communities. This group includes many of our churches.
 To register, click here.
Notice posted for PSEC
ACM for Search and Call

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.
Racial justice banners and yard signs available
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”.
PAM course on worship leadership starting this spring

"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.
PNEC offering Social Media Advanced Boundary Training

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.
DHS announces funding for preparedness grants

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.
Updated list available:
PSEC churches online

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.
St. Luke's Trappe seeking help
assembling clean-up buckets

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.
Church World Service releases 2021 booklet on kits

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.
Reparations:
A Complex Matter

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)
Listen in on The Rev. Tim Tutt, Westmoreland UCC, Maryland, moderator of this webinar, and his guest panelists as they explore what reparations might look like for their church communities as a part of their commitment to be antiracist congregations. The panelists are: The Rev. Grey Maggiano, Rector of Memorial Episcopal Church Baltimore, Maryland tells the story of his congregation’s journey as an antiracist congregation and how they came to understanding reparations after reviewing its congregation history through the lens of race.
Sushama Austin- Connor, Director of Black Theology and Leadership Center at Princeton Seminary, which has made a financial pledge to reparations
The Rev. Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister of the Minnesota Conference of the UCC which has passed a resolution to be in a process of reparations.
The Rev. Marvin Silver, Associate Conference Minister for the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC which is working with congregations exploring reparations. Bishop Scarf of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa which Diocese is beginning the exploration of reparations.
For congregations-If you can only listen to some of it, don’t miss the Rev. Grey Maggiano talking about the journey their congregation has taken and where they are now. (7min.25 sec. mark & again at 42 min. mark)
Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar

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.
Monday Meetings with the Conference Minister continue

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.
"Virtual Sunday School" Workshop - Sharing Continues

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.
Whether or not you attended the other "Virtual Sunday School" get-togethers, you are welcome at this one!
Click here to register.
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. Especially note:
  • Allegheny UCC (Sunday supply)
  • Bern Reformed UCC, Leesport (three-quarter time settled)
  • Christ Delong, Bowers, and St. Peter's, Topton (3/4-time interim)
  • Immanuel UCC, Shillington (1/2-time bridge associate)
  • St. James UCC, Limerick (3/4-time, interim)
  • St. John's UCC, Pottstown (part-time interim)
  • Salem Hetzel's UCC (shared ministry; full-time interim)
If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Dr. Susan Minasian: minasian@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
Church Events


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