General Synod 33 began this past Sunday with a beautiful opening worship service. The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference will be well represented by 28 delegates, representing our five Associations, your Moderator and Conference Minister. This being the very first fully virtual General Synod, it promises to be a unique opportunity!

If you have not registered for General Synod, you can still enjoy the worship services.

Worship services, still to occur, include:

She is also a poet. Her works appear at her “By the Rivers” website and soon will be in a book, Drums in Our Veins.

Are you a retired pastor? A chaplain, counselor, or professor with Sunday mornings available? Please consider adding your name to the PSEC Sunday Supply list. This list is for churches and pastors to use to find Authorized Ministers and Members in Discernment to use for short-term situations (vacations, family leave, sabbaticals, etc.). If you're interested, click here for more information and the Sunday Supply profile form.

Join the COVID Community Corps and sign up for the National Vaccine Month of Action at https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/. Find lots of different vaccine resources on the Coronavirus resources page at PSEC.org. There you'll find information about vaccines, information to share on how to get an appointment, FAQ about the vaccines, materials on the Month of Action, a toolkit for hosting an onsite vaccination clinic, links to state and local health departments, graphics, and several other toolkits. Visit psec.org/coronavirus/ for these and other resources.

Siblings need support. They need a place to express their feeling with peers who will not judge, instruct, or refer, just listen and understand. You may get started by inquiring who in your congregation may themselves be in this group and have the heart for a ministry like this. After establishing a boundary and “ground rule” agreement with the volunteer, publicize the offering. A Sibling support group may well be a vital life line for many a young person. For more discussion and questions contact any member of the PSEC Task Force. See our website.

“Beyond White Privilege: How Churches Can Engage in Building Peace in Our Societies," featuring Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister, on July 28 1:00 to 4:00. We are extremely excited and honored that Rev. Blackmon has agreed to present the keynote address for us. Since we have not yet reached the point that it is safe for us to gather in person, the entire event will take place on Zoom and will be conducted in English. After the Rev. Blackmon’s presentation there will be an opportunity for small group discussions with both American and German colleagues. The problem of racism is an extremely important one in both our countries, and we anticipate a fruitful conversation about how the church in both our settings can be engaged as peacemakers in our respective societies. To register, click here.

If we have churches and individuals who want to support the UCC response to the building collapse in Miami, please let them know that the UCC is working with the Miami long-term recovery committee (FRIEND) in serving those who have been affected by the collapse. The UCC is seeking funds so we can make grants to support this effort. To make a gift online go to ucc.org/general-donation/. In the fund drop down select Emergency USA. In the designation box you can write Building Collapse in Miami. Complete the rest of the form. Or - You may make a gift by mailing a check made payable to the United Church of Christ, to 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. Please be sure to note Emergency USA - Miami Response on your check in the memo section and/or in an attached letter.

On July 15 at 2:00p, the Insurance Board will host a webinar on "COVID-19 Liability Considerations for Ministers," providing guidance on current COVID-19 HR and liability considerations. For more info, click here. To register, click here.

Some proposed climate policies have been described as false solutions by activists and policy analysts because they fall short in meeting the moral demands of science, equity, and justice. Learn what faith communities need to know in this webinar that will feature Leah Stokes, who authored Short Circuiting Policy, and Gabriela Sarri-Tobar, who serves the Center for Biological Diversity as the Energy Justice Campaigner. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00p on July 22, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording.

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”.