Book Discussion being offered Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for six weeks June 1- July 6. The study will focus on Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019. For Zoom links and weekly curriculum, visit the Racial Justice taskforce webpage here.

Heather E. Kimmel, General Counsel

Please read my story posted here.

Committee on Ministry work is important -- but sometimes difficult -- work. Being well-organized can make the work easier. Come to the Computer-side Chat to learn more about organizing Committee on Ministry materials and keeping the administration organized. On Tuesday, June 8 at 7:00p, Conference Registrar Brea Rarick will lead COM members on this Computer-Side Chat. To register, email brea@psec.org.

A year after the murder of George Floyd, a new booklet of praise songs and protests has been published by the United Reformed Church. Sunflowers & Thistles is a collection of songs written by URC minister and hymn writer the Revd John Campbell, and focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement and the coronavirus pandemic. The free online resources include the booklet of songs, which can be sung to the tunes of well-known hymns, PowerPoint presentations, and videos.

People of conscience are joining Indigenous-led nonviolent actions at the headwaters of the Mississippi in Northern Minnesota to stop the expansion of a massive oil pipeline. While not all of us can go in person, all of us can act in other ways to support this vitally important cause. The Line 3 Expansion is a tar sands oil pipeline project under construction that would cross a hundred waterways. It would also pass near the border of multiple Native nations and across hundreds of miles of treaty-protected land, which those communities depend on for drinking water and wild rice gathering. In the UCC’s next Creation Justice Webinar, we will learn more about Line 3 and what faith communities can do to stop it. Even if you can't make the webinar’s scheduled time on June 14, at 1:00p, sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Sign-up now for the webinar!

The Search Committee is building on the good work of the Profile Committee which completed the ACM/SC profile April 15. The profile and application went live on the UCC Opportunities Listing May 20. Several candidates have already responded. The Committee will begin interviewing qualified applicants soon after the June 15 application deadline. Please pray for the continued movement of the Holy Spirit through the process and the people who will connect with our next Associate Conference Minister!

The Annual Mercersburg Convocation will be held virtually June 7-8. "Polarization and Reconciliation: Hints from the Mercersburg Tradition" is the theme, with presenters: Lee Barrett, Ph.D., William Evans, Ph.D., and Linden DeBie, Ph.D. Click here for an event flyer or click here for a brochure.

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”.

Visit the Coronavirus Resources page at PSEC.org for resources related to re-opening, virus facts, disaster resources, and worship resources. Also on that page is the PSEC virtual church list. If your church isn't currently worshipping or you are not able or comfortable attending services, use this list to find a church in PSEC that is holding online worship.

Churches with Evangelical Synod and/or German Reformed roots are invited to celebrate June 13 as Heritage Sunday. For more information, including bulletin covers, liturgy, message from General Minister and President John Dorhauer, suggested hymns, and more, read this letter.

The UCC Musicians Association is hosting an online conference this summer, just prior to General Synod. On July 8-10, musicians, pastors and lay leaders are invited to attend a very special conference, filled with workshops, worship, networking and a concert. Take advantage of the online format and lack of travel expenses! All conference content will be accessible for one month after the event. Click here for info about the UCCMA, including registration for the conference. 

Join the Insurance Board on June 3 at 2pm for a webcast on Best Practices in Transportation for your Ministry, facilitated by Michael Harrold, ALCM, Loss Control Technical Program Specialist from Cincinnati Insurance Company. Click here to register. Click here for more information.

The upcoming workshop series will help participants learn how to detect, prepare, and respond to hostile incidents in and around places of worship, community centers, faith-based schools, and camp programs, among other facilities. The series is being held virtually June 1-3 from 2:30-4:30 with different presentations and discussions on trends, best practices and resources for protecting people and organizations. The June workshop series is free-of-charge. To register, click here.