Important This Week

• Annual Meeting is this weekend
• VBS materials available for churches
• Register for Safety and Church webinar
• Webinar next week on Politics, Polarization, and Prophetic Ministry
• Full-time and part-time ministry openings

From the Conference Minister:

We are days away from our historic for Pennsylvania Conference meeting. Almost 500 people from congregations around the state, and more online, will meet for the first time to worship, pray, learn, and fellowship together with an eye toward becoming one. This has been momentous undertaking which is clearly evident in the Delegate Booklet posted last week (psec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DELEGATE-BOOK.pdf). The Keystone Working Group has attempted to balance the need for decision making information as well as the strong desire to remain open to possibilities not yet named or unforeseen.

At our own Conference’s conferring session Saturday morning, we will receive reports from Nominating Committee and the 2023 Audit, updates about OCWM, and discuss (but make no decisions about) a draft of the 2025 Conference spending plan that will continue to evolve until it comes to the floor of our Fall Conference Meeting (Saturday, November 9). Several other reports have been posted to our Conference web page (psec.org/annual-meeting-2024/). Please take the time to review those. The Conference Consistory has set aside a significant portion of our conferring agenda to discuss the Keystone Project. We will get to make a report out about our conversation and hear the reports of the other conference’s conversations about Keystone in Saturday afternoon’s plenary session.

A small army of people have worked tirelessly tending to a never-ending list of details to prepare for your arrival. I cannot begin to thank them all, but it has me wondering, if we are capable of this, what other great things might God help us accomplish together? I pray that delegates come to the meeting with an open heart tuned to the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. If you are not attending this Conference meeting, I covet your prayers for those who will.

With the Peace of Christ,

Pastor Bill

Rev. William Worley

Conference Minister

Get ready for this week's Spring Meeting

"Together We Are Stronger"

Keystone UCC conferences June Meeting

June 7-9, 2024

State College and Online

Visit psec.org/annual-meeting-2024/ for information on this week's Spring Meeting. Included on the webpage include info on the mission project, a weekend schedule, conferring session agenda, reports, and more. You'll also find liturgy and a sermon that can be read for use in churches on Sunday. The materials align with Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson's theme for the Sunday meeting at Annual Meeting.

If you are registered for the meeting, keep an eye out for an email later this week with information on the meeting or, if you're registered to attend virtually, with the Zoom link.

Safety and Church webinar

Ensuring the safety and security of our congregations is an increasing challenge in our polarized world. Whether it’s safeguarding against physical threats, addressing health and wellness concerns, or promoting a culture of inclusivity and support, the safety of our church communities is a shared responsibility. This presentation will equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and resources to create a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can worship, learn, and fellowship without fear. Chad Cunninham, Director of Loss Control for our UC Insurance Program, will offer basic strategies and best practices to cultivate a culture of safety that reflects the values of love, compassion, and protection that define our faith. To register, click here.

'Together for tomorrow' initiative for planned giving

Learn how to promote planned giving in your congregation. Planned gifts provide a way for a donor to give out of their accumulated assets such as property or stocks to support a congregation or other charitable cause close to their heart. This free course will help you learn basic concepts, practice skills, and create an implementation plan for your congregation. Register for the seminar here. Scroll down to find the course entitled “Together for Tomorrow Planned Giving In Your Congregation.”

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Join us

Our Mission....To share God's love with people suffering from the destructive disease of addiction and their affected family members and friends. Our goal is to decrease stigma surrounding addiction by broadening individual knowledge, awareness, and understanding while providing support, resources, and other vital information about this disease to ministers and congregations.

Contact us at: psec.ar.taskforce@gmail.com

New Search and Call video

We are continuously adding new resources to PSEC.org. The newest resource is a video on What to do when your pastor resigns. Check out that video with Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call Rev. Kevin McLemore here:

Webinar: Politics, Polarization, and Prophetic Ministry

As the attention of the world focuses on the 2024 elections, what will be the role of churches that embody the prophetic tradition of the Christian faith? What will preachers say from the pulpit? How will justice-centered ministries be called to act? These can be difficult questions to answer in the context of church cultures in which there is a fear of political conflict and polarization. In this webinar, we will address these critical issues and questions with the help of our featured panelists. Dr. Obery Hendricks has authored both "The Politics of Jesus" and "Christians against Christianity," while the Rev. Dr. Leah Schade has authored both “Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide" and “Creation-Crisis Preaching.” Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on June 12 at 1:00p, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Webinar: Generative Artificial Intelligence for Churches

Join the Insurance Board for a webinar on June 18 to unveil the potential and pitfalls of AI in faith-based communities. This enlightening presentation will feature the risks and rewards of using generative artificial intelligence in churches and give insights into policy development for mitigating potential risks. Click here for more information and to register. Registration is limited, so sign up now.

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.

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.

Fill in when your pastor is away

PSEC maintains a Sunday Supply list of clergy to fill in when pastors are away. During summer vacations it can be harder to find someone. Have you ever thought about preaching when your pastor is on vacation? Among the many resources on our Resources for Lay-led Worship page are sermons that can be read and training videos if you want to try writing a sermon.

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