Important This Week
  • Pandemic book discussion set for next month
  • New resources available on mental health, wellness during COVID-19
  • Tracking spreadsheet available for churches that received PPP funds
From Interim Associate Conference Minister: What to say?

Ever since Bill asked me to write the piece for the e-Blast for today…I have had many words spinning in my mind. With each piece I have written…I have hit the delete button. With each piece I have written I have come up “speechless”. THAT is a shock to those who know me. I am never without words. 

I am also an artist. I am a liturgical artist. So…art speaks to my heart. Given that the first action of God in our sacred text is creation…I think art is sacred and holy.
This song is one that speaks to my heart, my mind and my soul. I hope it speaks to yours.

For me, it is a calling for the church. If it isn’t for the church…it is at least the calling of my heart.

Blessings and Peace,
Susan
Rev. Dr. Susan A. Minasian
Interim Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call
Pandemic book discussion scheduled for next 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!
Resources on mental health during COVID-19 available now

Dr. Andy Johanson (North Penn Assoc.), a licensed marriage and family therapist, wrote an article on Thoughts and Hope on Our Mental Health During COVID-19 .


These articles are some of the resources on the PSEC Coronavirus webpage. Find those resources at psec.org/coronavirus .
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 .
UCC lists scams to watch out for during pandemic

We know members of PSEC churches have fallen victim to scams in the past few weeks. Please be vigilant when responding to electronic communications and share good practices with church members, family and friends.

“Another danger of pandemics is people taking advantage,” says the Rev. Don Remick, one of the UCC Southern New England Conference’s bridge Conference ministers. He lists these possible scams to watch out for:
  • Phishing emails from cyber-criminals posing as reputed organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO). These emails contain a malicious file attachment that claims to be useful information about coronavirus. When the unsuspecting victim opens the attachment, malware is installed on their PC.
  • Phishing emails prompting the recipient to enter their login credentials into a web site to access information about coronavirus. Once entered, the login credentials are stolen by the threat actors.
  • Fraudulent charities that use legitimate social media sites to ask for donations for charitable causes related to the virus.
  • Non-Delivery Frauds – fraudulent advertisements for medical supplies such as medical masks, gloves, disinfectants, etc. The fraudulent company will ask for upfront payment and will never deliver the ordered products. Be cautious when ordering such supplies online.
Insurance Board sets webinar on best financial practices

The Pension Board has scheduled an upcoming webinar on Financial Controls and Best Practices on Tuesday, April 28 at 2:00p. Register today.
Free Ministry during Pandemic book available online

Naomi Paget, an experienced disaster chaplain with the Red Cross and Southern Baptist Resource Network wrote a book about 10 years ago that has now been updated to help meet the spiritual care needs of the thousands that are affected by pandemic. What are the threats? What are the needs? What are the spiritual issues? In this book Naomi Paget offers a timely resource for  Ministry during Pandemic .  This book is absolutely free, provided by Judson Press.  Download now and learn how to increase your awareness, make preparations, and implement strategies for ministry, even (and especially) while under stay-at-home mandates and self-quarantines. 
The Festival of Homiletics has moved online and for free

The Festival of Homiletics is moving online! And because there’s no better time than our current crisis to learn how to “preach a new earth,” registration for the virtual conference is totally 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. Renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit.
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.
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 in April.
 
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.
Rev. Lynn Lampman retires from St. James UCC, Havertown
Rev. Lynn Lampman retired from St. James UCC, Havertown, on Sunday. She will celebrate 35 years of ordained ministry later this year, the last 10 1/2 of which were at St. James. In order to celebrate Rev. Lampman's ministry, members of St. James placed 8x10 photos of the congregation in the pews, presented her with a photo memory book, decorated outside the church with balloons and signs, and joined in a car parade who drove around the block to wish her well. Visit facebook.com/psec.ucc for more photos.
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. Please share this with friends, family, and church members that might not have another option for worship. Click here for an updated list.
Compassion fatigued? Join others for self-care, meditation

As compassion fatigue is looming large, self-care is essential to moving through the grief and heaviness that fills our days and nights as we minister to others. As a way to hold myself accountable to my own self-care, I am inviting you to join in meditation via Zoom, Monday & Wednesday at 3:00p April 20 through May 27. The meditation is based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and the whole process is approximately 40 minutes. During our weeks together, I will also walk through some aspects of energy work in clearing out our energy centers (chakras) and auras of stress to help keep our energy and spirits uplifted and strengthened. If interested, email Anne Cormier at annecormier@comcast.net for the Zoom link. Blessings to all.
Coronavirus resources available for churches, pastors

Visit ucc.org/coronavirus or psec.org/coronavirus for collections of resources that churches and pastors may find helpful in practicing ministry during the pandemic.
Pastoral Colloquy 2020 set with German, UCC pastors

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 gather July 26-31 for a week of learning, discussion, and fellowship at Elizabethtown College. For more information and to register, click here .
POWER releases list of ways
to help now in Philadelphia

POWER has sent a list of suggestions for how to support those in need now. Some ideas include donations to help displaced hospitality workers, signing a petition to get justice for stadium workers, or support for the Philadelphia Bail Fund. For more info, read the letter from POWER here . 
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!