Special Event: What is the Status of Pennsylvania UCC churches?

When: March 24 at 10:00a via Zoom

Registration: Click here

On Tuesday, May 31 at 2:00, an Advanced Boundary Training will be held on the topic of "Healthy Boundaries for Retirees Serving Churches." This training will be available at the PSEC Conference Office in Pottstown or via Zoom. Note: this is a change of location and date. Registration for this 3-hour training is open here.

Last year, you may have received an email from the United Church of Christ giving an update for where to mail contributions. This change of address at the national church should not effect how OCWM contributions are sent to PSEC. Please continue to send your contributions to the PSEC office as before. If you have questions, contact tammie@psec.org. 

Douglas Tallamy’s books have awakened thousands to the problem of wildlife decline and the solution that resides in habitat restoration. This is a solution of which you and your faith community can be a part. The solution can be as close as your backyard or the property surrounding your place of worship. In this webinar, Tallamy will outline the crisis faced and what we can do in response. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00p on March 23, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

This month's PA Emergency Management Agency's ReadyPA Monthly includes info on flooding. Click here for the newsletter. Please share this information with your congregations to help keep everyone safe and prepared.

Take a Prayer Break every Thursday at noon during Lent join colleagues from the four PA UCC conferences for a short time of prayer on Zoom. Each gathering will be led by a conference staff member and will include readings, reflection, and a time for intercessory prayer. All are welcome to join. Zoom information is below and is the same for every week until they end on April 14.

Secretaries, assistants, and church administrators are invited to the annual PSEC Admin Luncheon. After a two year absence, we will fellowship over lunch and then spend time sharing resources and re-connect with one another. For flyer, click here. To register for the event, click here. We hope churches will pay the $15 cost of the event.

Pastoral Relations Committees provide essential leadership in the life of a congregation. On April 4 at 7:30p, come to this workshop from the UCC's Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization (MESA) Team to explore what the purpose of a PPR Committee is and is not. We’ll be talking through and naming the priorities and commitments of a well-functioning PRC. Revs. Tara Barber and Stephen Boyd will share best practices from around the church and be prepared to answer your questions. Open to pastors, lay leaders and judicatory staff. Register here.

"Crisis in Caring: Leaders Briefs" is being presented by Church World Service and Crisis Care Ministries. Upcoming programs are:

March 22, 11:00a–12:00: Taking the Long View with Faith. Explore the themes of challenge, resilience and hope through the lens of Jewish history and text. Presenter: Rabbi Vered Harris, Temple B’Nai Israel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

March 29, 11:00a–12:00: Increasing Your Racial Justice I.Q. Presenter: Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, Associate General Minister, Wider Church Ministries and Operations Co-Executive for Global Ministries, United Churches of Christ

April 5, 11:00a–12:00: What Emergency Managers Want Faith Leaders To Know. Being prepared to respond to a disaster or other significant event in your communities is paramount to best taking care of your people and property. This session will provide you with some key take-aways and resources to help you achieve a better preparedness posture.  Presenter: Miriam Gelo, Voluntary Agency Liaison, FEMA Headquarters, Washington D.C.

​   Register here for the sessions.

Sitters may work one shift, an entire day or both days. Sitters will receive free lunch and/or dinner if covering both shifts on either side of those meal times. Compensation will be $20/hour. Please share this opportunity with childcare/ nursery attendants you know. Anyone interested should contact Susan at the Conference office at susan@psec.org.

Lancaster Theological Seminary has been in the process of transformation into a combined theological institution with Moravian Seminary within Moravian University. This process reflects broader shifts in how churches provide theological formation for leaders. Dr Greg Carey, Professor of New Testament, has offered to provide some insight and clarity about what the future might look like at the completion of the combination process and what steps need to take place to get there. We'll also discuss what needs to happen between church bodies and theological schools. Whether you are part of the alumni/ae of either school or just a curious witness, you're invited to the conversation on Thursday, March 24, 2:00p via Zoom. Registration is required. Sign up here.

The UCC issued an appeal for the people of Ukraine and will be working with global partners to assist vulnerable communities within that country. The appeal joins an earlier call to prayer issued by the UCC’s executive officers and an invitation from Global Ministries to pray with the worldwide interfaith community. The national ministries are also encouraging people to call on the Biden administration to offer Ukrainians more humanitarian assistance, both in the U.S. and abroad. Read more

March 27, the fourth Sunday of Lent, is the recommended date for the offering "One Great Hour of Sharing." Resources to help promote the offering are available here.

The theme for the 2022 One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering is “Love Remains,” based on 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." These words were written to a church in turmoil to remind them what love looks like in community.

If you would like more information on how OGHS supports our disaster ministries, contact our Conference Disaster Coordinator, Karl Jones, 570-617-4018 or kjones275@comcast.net.

To read more about the urgent need for help click here, or visit the Holy Joe's website.