“Holy week is upon us. The familiar story that begins with a palm parade and ends with an Easter proclamation is being intruded upon by proclamations of COVID-19 news and clear guidance to continue social distancing — at least until the end of April.”

I wrote those words one year ago this week. They seem so naïve now — the notion that social distancing and the pandemic might only last one more month. Here we are one year later. Still masked. Still distant. It has been a long year of pain, endurance, exhaustion, and confusion. Holy week is a long week of pain, endurance, exhaustion, and confusion. Both the pandemic and the passion story reveal the best and worst of humanity.

In the worst, the Prince of Peace is nailed to a cross. The disciples, called to watch, fall asleep. Judas and Peter, two of Jesus’ closest companions, deny and betray. Followers flee. The crowd demands blood. The authorities connive. Pilate washes his hands.

Of the best, friends break bread. A woman anoints Jesus’ feet. Simon of Cyrene carries Christ’s cross. Women of courage gather at the foot of torture. The disciple that Jesus loved assumes responsibility for Mary. Joseph of Arimathea steps forward to provide a tomb. 

Humans are liable to terrible deeds AND capable of amazing grace. We’re a mixture of good and bad, but God... God is good all the way down, all the time, all the way beyond forever and back. And as such, we can confidently make some bold proclamations.

“Jesus shows us that disappointment doesn’t have to have the last word; and neither will this disease.” I wrote those words last year too and I have watched you, colleagues and friends, adapt and change and grow into new ways of delivering the good news online, via Zoom and Facebook, in parking lots and community parks, in safely served community meals and protests that bring about better, more just ways of living. Thanks to you, the disease has not had the last word and it now never will.

May God walk with you though this Holy Week,

Rev. Bill Worley

Conference Minister

Pennsylvania Southeast Conference ministry staff will host a Service of the Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows for ordained clergy on Maundy Thursday, April 1, at 9:00a via Zoom. It’s a long-standing custom in higher liturgical traditions for clergy to gather on the same day Jesus offered a new commandment for the reaffirmation of their ordination and the blessing of healing and anointing oils. We hope this will be an experience of spiritual encouragement and connection. The service includes the sacrament of virtual communion.

Churches of our conference are asked to let Joshua Baird know if you are seeing an increased influx of refugees and migrants in your area. Please share your updates with Joshua Baird, Team Leader, Global HOPE, Bairdj@ucc.org 216-736-2182. Thanks so much!

From Church World Service: Churches Unite to Launch Ecumenical Declaration to Expand Welcome, Restore American Leadership on Global Displacement

From UCC: U.S. Churches Speak as One in Solidarity with Migrants and Refugees

The Committee is looking for a lay or ordained chaplain to serve at Locust Lake State Park on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. It is a part-time position. Duties of the chaplain include leading Sunday worship in the park, and walking through the campground, visiting campers in a socially distanced manner on a Friday or Saturday. All ministry takes place outdoors, so it is among the safest ministries!

Worship draws many kinds of people from many different church backgrounds. The position description can be found here. Training is provided.

Interested persons can apply online here.

Everybody wants the church to be a safe place for all members, especially for children. We are all aware of hearing reports of tragic, sinful instances when children have been abused, a building has been vandalized or robbed, online services have been hacked. That’s just terrible and, of course, we must do everything we can to prevent that. 

However, there might be a down side to our best intentions. We may be conveying a message to the stranger that the church is not for them; that those seeking charity will be seen as suspect; that those needing employment need not they apply if they ever were arrested.

It is a touchy subject but it is worth considering. Is your church more like a club for the “in crowd”, or a hospital for the sinful and the sick? Check out our website for more information.

The Board of Directors and faculty of Eden Theological Seminary invite you to virtually attend the Inauguration of Deborah Krause as the 14th President of the seminary on Tuesday, April 6 at 5:30p CDT. Register for the Zoom link at eden.edu.

Support For Vaccine Distribution: Local governments know that ensuring the public can get vaccinated quickly and effectively will be a whole-of-society effort — including our churches. Therefore, the churches of the PA Southeast Conference are urged to be ready to assist with the vaccine distribution. This is an opportunity for your church to locally provide something vitally important to your community! For information on how to help and specifics for your county/region, click here.

Share factual, valuable information: People have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. In order to build vaccine confidence, the CDC has shared answers for some Frequently Asked Questions found here. This information may be valuable as a bulletin insert or newsletter item. Check out the CDC website for additional tools and resources at cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccines.

How to help: The US Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-based and Community Partnerships created this resource regarding how Houses of Worship can support Vaccine Sites.

“Deepening our Connections, Deepening the Journey” is the theme, and the hope, of PSEC’s Annual Spring meeting that begins Friday, June 4 with nationally celebrated social justice leader and guest presenter Sister Simone Campbell, a Catholic nun who, with a few sisters in faith, chartered a bus to change the world.

Our connecting continues with Saturday’s conferring sessions, workshops and worship services to honor anniversary clergy and congregations, to lament the losses endured through the pandemic and to welcome the hope of better days ahead. We gather online in a new virtual meeting space (“Whova”) for our (hopefully) last completely virtual Conference gathering. Click here to access the Call to Annual Meeting. Click here to access the annual meeting page on the PSEC website which includes the link to registration. 

"Introduction to Worship Leadership and Liturgical Practices" will be taught by Rev. Dr. Marty Kuchma, equipping worship leaders to plan, prepare, and practice congregational worship, rites, and rituals. Particular attention paid to baptisms, weddings, and funerals/memorial services. Students will be asked to articulate their own self-understanding of the pastoral role in relation to these practices. The class will be six-weeks online, meeting via Zoom on the following dates: April 10, 17, 24, May 1, and 15 from 10:00a–noon and May 6 from 6:00p–8:00p. The cost is $325. Register here by March 30.

Each Monday at 11:00a, authorized ministers and church leaders are invited to check in with Conference Minister Rev. Bill Worley on a Zoom call, share experiences in this season of COVID, ask for advice, and be in community. We encourage you to join this opportunity for theological and practical reflection and discussion. Click here to join the call on Monday.

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”.

From the Racial Justice Initiative Team: Brene Brown, in a 2017 video, lifts up the importance of owning our story, our truth. She states that “we spend a lot of time running away from our stories. And our collective story in the United States is a largely a story of white supremacy. That is the story. That is our story.” She goes on to say that “if we truly own our story we get to write the ending…The stories that we don’t own collectively, own us.” As we enter into Holy Week and examine the wounds of Jesus, his suffering and sacrifice, may we also be willing to look at the wounds and long suffering of Black America inflicted largely by white America and racist policies. May we commit ourselves to the process of owning our collective story so we can write the ending – an ending of healing, resurrection and new life!

The Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar for pastors and lay leaders offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical, and tested ways to promoting generosity in our congregations. The seminar draws on current research, seeks guidance from the wisdom of scripture, and discusses the best practices in church-based fundraising. Class sessions held May 19, May 26, June 2, June 9, June 16, and June 23, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:00pm EST. Between class sessions, the instructors provide materials to help you analyze the culture of your own congregation and learn how to create change. Register today: The CGC Seminar is $150 per participant. Register here by April 30, 2021: cvent.me/7yV37Q.

If your church isn't currently worshipping or you are not able or comfortable attending services, we have compiled a list of churches in PSEC that are holding digital/ virtual worship experiences. Share this with others that might not have another option for worship. Click here for an updated list.