Important This Week
  • Guidance for re-opening churches
  • An LGBTQIA+ diversity training is being held this weekend
  • Save the date: conference meetings
  • Climate team starts green challenge
From the Conference Minister: Re-opening Churches

Dear PSEC Friends–
 
I am frustrated and I suspect you are too. The weather is nice. I want to be out and back to something that looks like normal, healthy life. The disciples in our lectionary texts this Sunday are well beyond the locked doors of the first Easter and I want to go with them. But we are not there. Not yet.
 
There are regions of Pennsylvania that will be in the Governor’s Yellow Zone next week. Meaning that they can begin gathering in groups of 25 if they are able to meet the safety guidelines associated with that Phase. Our Conference is ground zero for COVID-19. We will be among the last in the state to move from the lock down of the Governor’s Red zone which likely will not happen until sometime after June 1. I know there will a push in many places to move directly from Red to Green. Don’t. We will need to take the time necessary to move through the liminal Yellow/middle space so we can keep on moving to a “new normal” and not be back to stay at home orders this fall.  

I shared in yesterday’s Conference wide zoom call ( listen to that here ) the following guidance about “Returning to Church” that is a combination of the PA Governor’s three phase plan (Red, Yellow and Green) and helpful guidance for congregations by the Wisconsin Council of Churches (that is also shared with PA churches via our State Council of Churches). You can find that document here . You can also find a helpful chart created by my colleague, Rev. Dr. Carrie Call in Penn Central Conference that consistories/councils and committees can use to clarifies specific actions in light of Governor Wolf’s phased re-opening here .

Ultimately, the decisions related to reopening need to be fully considered by lay leaders and pastors working together. There is MUCH to think through and plan for including the vulnerability of church members, the potential vulnerability of your pastor, and how well your congregation can meet the guidelines for safety. There are tasks you need to work on NOW to make sure that when you gather again, everyone will be as safe as possible.
 
We will devote next Monday’s Conference-wide zoom meeting to this topic. I strongly urge you or someone from your church to come listen, learn, and share so that we can strengthen each other through this transition
 
Continued prayers for you and the people you love and serve,
Pastor Bill
Rev. Bill Worley
Conference Minister
Resources: returning to church in COVID-19 recovery steps

The Insurance Board has created a detailed "Your Ministry During COVID-19: Re-Opening Your Church Office" resource. This document includes suggestions on preparing to reopen your office and guidelines for daily operations.

The Wisconsin Council of Churches has created this document to guide churches to return to ministry during COVID-19 stages of recovery. This resource can be used to follow Pennsylvania's recovery plan and also provides a guidance for churches to follow in planning next steps.
LGBTQIA+ diversity training taking place this weekend

Boehm’s UCC, in collaboration with the Montgomery County LGBT Business Council, is offering an “LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency Training” workshop via Zoom on Saturday, May 9 from 9:00a to noon. Todd Snovel, former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, will be facilitating the workshop. Registration is limited to 100. The Eventbrite link for additional information and registration/tickets is available here . This training has been approved by all PSEC associations as meeting the requirements for diversity training.
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.
 
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.
Disaster Ministries email lifts up PSEC disaster coordinator

Do you receive the UCC Disaster Ministries news emails? If not, then you missed the most recent one, including information on applying for SBA paycheck protection funds, a story about the Indiana-Kentucky Conference's face mask challenge, how COVID-19 interrupted hurricane recovery, a Q&A with PSEC Conference Disaster Coordination Rev. Karl Jones, and more! Check out this email here .
German, UCC pastoral colloquy postponed to 2021
 
Due to uncertainty about continued travel restrictions the July pastoral colloquy for 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 be postponed until 2021. More info will be shared when available.
PA Council of Churches seeking Executive Director

The Pennsylvania Council of Churches (PCC), with offices in Harrisburg, PA, seeks full-time Executive Director to lead the PCC in addressing the issues facing the Christian community. The successful candidate will be a skilled and committed ecumenist combining broad scriptural/theological scholarship, passion for and demonstrated experience in ecumenism with strong leadership and relationship-building skills. For information, visit pachurches.org or email searchcommittee@pachurches.org. Click here for the job description. Click here for the application process.
NY Disaster Interfaith Services offering webinars on COVID-19

To better prepare for public health emergencies facing congregations & faith-based nonprofits such as COVID-19, NY Disaster Interfaith Services is offering a series of online webinars described here . The trainings focus on writing Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP), spiritual care for congregations during COVID-19, and an Exercise that helps identify and problem-solve obstacles facing congregations and faith-based nonprofits.
PSEC climate team starts
50-50-50 green church initiative

The PSEC Climate Justice Workshop Group invites churches to commit to doing something "green". The 50-50-50 Challenge is that 50 PSEC churches will commit to do something to mitigate climate change during the 50 days of Easter for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. For a list of churches that have made a commitment, suggestions for actions your congregation can take, more information, and a form you can use for your church to accept the challenge, visit psec.org/green .
Conference Consistory approves dates for gatherings

PSEC Consistory approved these dates for conference-wide gatherings in 2020.

On Saturday, Aug. 15 , from 1:00-4:00p a service of Healing, Praise, and Communion with a very limited business session will be held at Zwingli UCC, Souderton. The business of this meeting will include electing officers and re-electing the Conference Minister.

On Sunday, Nov. 15 , from 3:00-5:00p a Fall Meeting will be held at New Goshenhoppen UCC. The business of the meeting will include anniversary churches/ pastors celebration, constitution amendments, and budget approval.
Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors

For resources churches and pastors may find helpful in practicing ministry during the pandemic v isit ucc.org/coronavirus or psec.org/coronavirus .
Pandemic book discussion scheduled for this month

PSEC, PNEC and PCC clergy, lay leaders and friends are gathering on line to discuss Faith in a Time of Pandemic by Bruce G. Epperly Wednesday, May 20 at 3:00p via Zoom ( Join Zoom Meeting ). You can download or order the book here .

The Coronavirus is changing our church and culture (and the culture of church). It’s provoked isolation and self-interested individualism. It also inspires kindness, generosity, patience, and compassion. Facing the pandemic with God as our companion deepens our sense of agency as well as peace. Bruce Epperly’s very short treatise provides a theological, pastoral, and spiritual pathway to help us find a way through the wilderness of the Coronavirus pandemic.Join the discussion!
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. Share this with others that might not have another option for worship. Click here for an updated list.
Ursinus Association spring meeting recording online

The Ursinus Association Spring Meeting (Tuesday, April 21) was held via Zoom. The recording available on the association page of the PSEC website includes the program component (Dr. Stephen Treat on the topics of Grief and Compassion Fatigue in the COVID-19 Era) and the business meeting. To view that, click here .
PPP Loan Forgiveness Tracking Spreadsheet available

If your church received Payroll Protection Program funds, this worksheet can help track them. The calculation of utilizing 75% for payroll and the other 25% for utilities, rent, etc., isn't as clear cut as it seems. This worksheet helps so that you will not be surprised when you report back to the bank at the end of this 8 week period. If you have questions about the loans, contact PSEC Finance Operations Manager Tammie Wisniewski at tammie@psec.org .
The Festival of Homiletics has moved online and for free

The Festival of Homiletics is moving online is now FREE! The event will be held May 18-22. RESERVE YOUR SPOT . Be inspired by God’s Word proclaimed by some of the nation’s finest ministers and teachers. Experience the fellowship of hundreds of preachers. Learn and worship in an atmosphere that is dynamic, friendly, nurturing, and prophetic.
Register for June 4 continuing education event, workshops

Training events that were scheduld for Thursday, June 4 prior to the (now-cancelled) annual meeting have been moved to the Zoom platform and registration is open. Sign up today for one of the following events. Workshops will not happen without at least 20 registrants. All workshops will be June 4 from 2:00-4:00p.
Church closure training from Church Building & Loan Fund

A Zoom Webinar titled “The Last Pastor: Faithfully Closing a Church” will be held on May 21. How does closing a church impact pastors? Learn leadership skills that lead to grace-filled transformations and church closure in a zoom webinar with Gail Cafferata, author of  The Last Pastor: Faithfully Steering a Closing Church .  Rev. Cafferata will be speaking from her interviews and research with pastors who served closing congregations, as well as her own congregation’s experience. Cafferata helps pastors and church leaders understand the complexity of concluding a ministry with sensitivity to the spiritual and practical dimensions of closing a church.  Register  here for The Last Pastor Zoom Webinar on Thursday, May 21 at 3:00p.   Hosted by Rev. David Schoen and sponsored by the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund.
Spiritual Care hotline now available to help 24/7

Click here for a flyer and or click here for more info on the now operational Spiritual Care Hot Line that has been established by the Keystone Disaster Spiritual Care Network, in cooperation with the PA Department of Human Services. You might remember that KDSCN was established several years ago in large part by a grant from PSEC. PSEC Disaster Response Coordinator, Rev. Karl Jones, is helping to coordinate this project. Trained listeners and counselors are available on the line 24/7. It is available to everyone.
PSEC Financial snapshot for the first quarter now available

The PA Southeast Conference Financial Snapshot as of March 31, 2020 is now available on the PSEC website. To read that, click here .
UCC Valley Forge shares form for collecting needs and offers

United Church of Christ at Valley Forge created this Google Form in order to encourage members of their community to share what needs they have and what assistance they can offer during the stay-at-home order. View their form here .
Bethany Children's Home shares needs during COVID-19

At this time, churches and individuals can help Bethany Children's Home in these ways:
1. Financial : Monies specific to youth birthdays, Class of 2020 , Staff Appreciation, gift cards, PPE for staff. There is a link on our website to give online to BCH . Please indicate that it is to help during the COVID-19 crisis so that we funnel to these specific areas of need. Checks payable: "Bethany Children's Home"
2. Written: birthday and appreciation cards for youth and staff. I will coordinate a date and location to pick up or they can be mailed directly to BCH. Whichever is easiest and safest.
3. Video : A 3 minute or LESS (due to bandwidth) video saying Happy Birthday or Hello or We Appreciate you made for BCH in general or to a specific cottage. A Tik Tok type of video/challenge would be FIYAH (ijs)! Place video in Google Drive or Dropbox if file is too large to email. I can help with that.
4. Masks : We hope to supply staff with as many masks as needed considering they will need to be washed and possibly disposed of.

Cottage Names: Dietrich, Reed, Knorr, Eck, Henning, Leinbach, Brobst, Moyer, SIL (supervised independent living)

1863 Bethany Rd, Womelsdorf, PA 19567

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
~ Pastor Kim
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!