Important This Week
  • The first Mission Rebuild Trip to Puerto Rico has begun.
  • Attend "LGBTQ+ Identity and Spirituality" event in Hatboro.
  • New suicide prevention for faith leaders available.
First Mission Rebuild Trips to Puerto Rico under way
The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference and the Penn Northeast Conference, in cooperation with the UCC Disaster Ministries, are jointly participating with the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Rico (IEUPR) in the Puerto Rican recovery effort. The first trip is from April 28 to May 4. The second is from May 12-18. The trips are being led by Penn Northeast Conference Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Gilberto Garcia-Rodriguez.

These rebuild mission trips have been full since mid-January. The first trip has 12 people from PNEC and 6 from PSEC. The second week it is reversed: 11 from PSEC and 2 from PNEC. Therefore, there are 17 from PSEC and 14 from PNEC. PSEC churches represented on the trip are: Philadelphia: Glenside and St. Luke’s; North Penn: Trinity, Telford; St. Paul’s, Fort Washington; First, Quakertown; and St. John’s, Lansdale; Ursinus: St. James, Limerick; and Palm Schwenkfelder; Covenant: Grace (Alsace); Schuylkill: St. Peter’s, Pine Grove.  We have churches from all five of our Associations.
The groups will be staying at the Yuquiyu Camp/Conference Center owned by the Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Puerto Rico. The Camp is in Luquillo near the Yunque National Forest. 

The work is primarily repairing private homes in the Humacao area, about 45 minutes from the camp. Participants will be working in groups of 3 to 4, with supervision.  Much of the work entails repairing cement roofs, interior ceilings and walls, installing windows and doors, as well as painting.

Please keep these trips in your prayers.

Photos courtesy Rev. Terri McNamara, St. Luke's UCC, Philadelphia
Cornerstone Fund features Grace-Trinity UCC in story

Rev. Dr. Chandra Soans of Grace-Trinity United Church of Christ is particularly proud of Grace Neighborhood Academy School, a funded project through the Cornerstone Fund. With the help of his wife Betsy, Grace-Trinity UCC, and other ministries in the area, this funded project has helped to revitalize and strengthen one of Philadelphia’s most economically-challenged neighborhoods. Read more.
LGBTQ+ Identity and Spirituality event next week

On Wednesday, May 8 at 7:00p, Love in Action UCC is hosting "LGBTQ+ Identity and Spirituality" as part of a Year of Civil Conversations via Interfaith Philadelphia and On Being. Join a diverse group for a conversation about LGBTQ+ identity and spirituality, and the intersections of various identities across a spectrum. This event is FREE and open to the public. To ensure a safe and meaningful environment for all, please register your attendance by signing up here . Click here for a flyer to share with your churches and friends.
Joint PNEC/PSEC Disaster Ministry Team meeting May 13

On May 13 the joint Disaster Ministry Team of the Pennsylvania Southeast and Penn Northeast conferences will meet from 6:30-8:30p at Zion Union Church, Maxatawny. A ZOOM option will be available.

You are invited to join with others who are passionate about helping our neighbors through disaster ministries. We will learn more about:
  • The UCC Disaster Ministry program and how you and your church can be involved.
  • What our Conferences are involved in at this moment.
  • How our churches can be more prepared.

We will also explore how our Conferences can work together to achieve our mission.

If you are expecting to participate please respond to kjones275@comcast.net , so we can prepare for your attendance.
Register now for this summer's Craigville Colloquy
 
 The 36th Craigville Theological Colloquy will be July 8-12 at Craigville Retreat Center in Cape Cod, Mass. Attendees will encounter those from various faiths and faith journeys, all gathered for a time of discussion, reflection, challenge, worship, and prayer. This year's topic will be "Faith and Science: The Choices We Make." For a flyer, click here . Registration is open .
Church opens day-long mission trip up to others

St. Peter's UCC in Pine Grove is traveling to Mission Central in Mechanicsburg on July 27. Mission Central is a mission of the Susquehanna Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. They are a fantastic resource for disaster ministries and much more, who are continuing to assist in the flood recovery efforts in eastern PA. The purpose of the trip is to do some work around their warehouse. The group from St. Peter's be leaving their church at 7:45a and working in Mechanicsburg from 9a-2p. To get more information or register please contact Pastor Jason Stump at 757-630-6577 or pastorstump@gmail.com .
Suicide Prevention resource available for faith leaders

Research indicates people who are struggling with thoughts of suicide are increasingly turning to faith leaders for help and support, even before they will seek care from mental health professionals. Faith leaders play a key role in suicide prevention and postvention care. To better equip leaders of all faiths with life-saving skills to prevent suicide, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and its  Faith Communities Task Force , (with UCC pastors, Talitha Arnold and Sarah Lund) recently released the resource  Suicide Prevention Competencies for Faith Leaders: Supporting Life Before, During, and After a Suicidal Crisis. This new resource aims to provide faith leaders with feasible, practical, research-based actions they can adopt immediately to help save lives and restore hope in faith communities nationwide.
Part-time Chaplain position open at Phoebe Wyncote

General Responsibilities: Responsible for conducting a variety of religious activities and providing for the spiritual needs of the residents and families; ministry with staff; volunteer development; mentoring CPE students; outreach to religious communities, and institutional advancement.
Basic Qualifications:
  • Education: Master of Divinity; ordination in UCC or partner denomination; Minimum: 2 units of CPE with preference for 4 units and eligibility for certification with Assoc. of Professional Chaplains
  • Skills: Proficient reading, writing, grammar, and mathematical skills, Proficient interpersonal relations and communicative skills
  • Experience: Experience in parish desired; chaplaincy experience desired.

Visit phoebe.org/careers to apply. For more info, c ontact Scott Brooks Cope, Director of Pastoral Care: 610-794-5119.
Webinar: Facing Your Church's Uncertain Future

On Thursday, May 2 from 3:30-4:50, the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund will be holding a webinar: Facing Your Church's Uncertain Future. When your church’s future is uncertain, it’s time to have courageous conversations and make faithful decisions. Ministry in these congregations calls for faithful, honest (and often difficult) conversations that pastors and/or their congregations might sadly avoid.  Facing Your Church’s Uncertain Future  is a NEW resource that offers good practices for discerning, discussing, and making decisions that concern a church’s future. Registration has ended for this webinar, BUT you can j oin Conference staff and other church leaders and pastors to watch the webinar together at the Conference administrative center in Pottstown. This option is free of charge, but spaces are limited so please RSVP to brea@psec.org.
Update from mission workers Nishan and Maria Bakalian

Global Ministries released this article about Mission Co-workers Nishan and Maria Bakalian in Lebanon. From 2007-2017, Nishan was pastor of Armenian Martyrs' Congregational Church in Havertown; his standing is with Philadelphia Association.

The very last day of January saw an amazing thing happen in Lebanon. The country, whose people had gone to the polls nine months earlier to elect a new government, could finally say that they had one. A "national unity" government was agreed upon, with various political parties taking a share of the cabinet posts, and leaving the population wondering what this will mean for the country's stumbling economy, crumbling infrastructure, ecological damage, emigration of its youth, and more. Nearly thirty years after the end of its civil war, Lebanon is still struggling to emerge from the turmoil that made its name synonymous with danger and unrest.
Sign up for the E&R Historical Society President's Reception

On Saturday, May 11 from 3:00-5:00p, the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society (ERHS) will be hosting a President’s Reception at Falkner Swamp UCC, 2077 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville. Join ERHS President Richard Berg for an inspiring afternoon of history at America’s oldest German Reformed church. There will be a keynote address by Rev. Dr. Lee Barrett of Lancaster Theological Seminary, a presentation by Rev. Dr. Martha Kriebel on her new book, Promise Kept with a Paintbrush , and remarks by Rev. Frances Chester, Pastor of Falkner Swamp UCC. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free; donations to ERHS are greatly appreciated. RSVP to ERHS by email erhs@lancasterseminary.edu or by phone 717.290.8734.
Resources for Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 5-11

Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 5-11, a good opportunity to learn and share the risks from a land-falling tropical storm or hurricane. FEMA has prepared the following hurricane preparedness toolkits for your convenience:
  • Hurricane Toolkit (complete with resources to share on your social media and talking points)
  • Teen Version of the Hurricane Toolkit (gives young people information on what a hurricane is and how to be prepared)
  • Older Adult Toolkit (addresses things like Social Security payments during an emergency and how to be prepared for an emergency if you have special medical or mobility restrictions)
PNEC Hosting Effective Transitional Ministry training

On May 24 from 9:00a-5:00p, the Penn Northeast Conference will host an Interim Ministry Network "Effective Transitional Ministry Training" event. Registration for the one-day event is $200. Click here for a registration form.
UCC Survey: Church Environmental Practices
On an annual basis, UCC Environmental Justice Ministry will be conducting a survey of all the churches in the denomination to gather data on what churches are doing to care for God's creation. We want to be able to measure and assess our denomination’s activity and growth in these areas. Please take a few minutes to provide us with information about your church.
Consistory Presidents gathering scheduled for May 11

A Gathering Community for Consistory Presidents is forming now. Many of our Pastors meet regularly in clergy groups to support one another, share ideas, and pray for each other. A gathering community for Consistory Presidents will offer similar opportunity for these critical lay leaders. As Presidents of Consistory (or other governing body of your church), we have opportunity and roadblocks facing us at all times. Our goal is to brainstorm, support, pray, laugh, and learn together in a confidential environment, so that we are strengthened to build healthy, vibrant, and faithful churches. There is no fee to attend.

Brenda Semach, Consistory President of Falkner Swamp Reformed UCC, invites you to a gathering 9:00-11:00a Saturday, May 11 at Falkner Swamp, 2077 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville (Covenant Assoc.). Please RSVP to her: kbsemach@aol.com
PSEC Events
May 1: Church Secretary Training in Boyertown

May 7: 25th Annual Clergy Convocation in Lancaster

May 15: Basic Boundary Training in Kutztown

May 24: PSEC After Youth Event in Denver, PA

May 31-June 1: Annual Spring Meeting in West Chester

Oct. 3: Basic Boundary Training in Schuylkill Haven

Oct. 22: Advanced Boundary Training in Norristown

View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Church Events

May 4: Ham and Filling Supper in Fleetwood

May 4: Rummage Sale in Royersford

May 4: Free Community Breakfast in Sumneytown


Submit Church Events here
View a complete list of Church Events here
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Educational Opportunities


June 3-5: Mercersburg Convocation in Lancaster


View more events on the PSEC Calendar
Church Openings
Many openings are on UCC's Ministerial Opportunities page. If you’re interested in a position, contact Rev.Sharon Morris: morris@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 302.
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