8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.                     --2 Corinthians 4:8-10

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.                     --Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“To be clear,” writes Father Richard Rohr, “it is inconceivable that a true believer would be racist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic, homophobic, or bigoted toward any group or individual, especially toward the poor. In order to end the cycle of violence, our fight must flow from our authentic identity as Love.” As challenging as it is to love in the face of evil violence, I believe with Dr. King that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word because we carry around the death and life of the resurrected Christ.

(Written by Anne Cormier giving permission to use and adapt as needed.)

The Rev. Dr. Susan C. Bertolette receives a citation from the Pa. House of Representatives in honor of her 42 years of service to the church and the Lansdale community. Rev. Bertolette retires from St. John’s United Church of Christ in Lansdale on June 12. The citation was presented by Pa. State Representative Steven R. Malagri (D-53) before the Sunday worship service on May 15.

This weekend, the United Church of Christ's national offices will experience a partial interruption in computer service as part of the office's move. This outage will affect clergy and church directories on the PSEC website and association pages. We're sorry for any inconvenience. To read about how this will affect the national offices and their move, click here.

1. There is a continuing need for work groups for our work in the Eastwick section of Philadelphia. Dates are available throughout the summer and early fall. Housing is available at Salt and Light Church. Tools and supervision are also available. For more information and to sign up, contact Sharon Sgriccia, Eastwick Volunteer Coordinator, at 610-689-0583, isaiasrecoveryvolunteers@gmail.com.

2. We are also pleased to support the Indiana Kentucky Conference as they begin to offer work camps in Graves County (Mayfield), KY this May. Contact Rev. Greg Denk, IKC Conference Disaster Coordinator, for more information: gdenk5258@att.net or 317-709-1088.

3. We also ask for support for the Greater Dayton, Ohio area, where a tornado outbreak in May 2019 damaged thousands of homes. The Disciples of Christ's Week of Compassion and the UCC's Heartland Conference are helping families displaced from tornado-damaged rental housing become first-time homeowners. Volunteer teams of 4-10 people are needed. Jaye Herrick, formerly the Construction Site Manager for our work in Eastwick, will be doing the same in Dayton. For more information contact Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold: 203-772-8597 or

caroline@weekofcompassion.org.

The spring issue of the Insurance Board's "The Steward" newsletter is now available. This issue features several articles on water damage. Click here to read the newsletter.

Click here for a flyer with further details about the webinar training, including the link to register. Please note, this program will be recorded and posted on the Lehigh County Emergency Management website so those who are not able to attend live may view the recording at a later date.

This month's PA Emergency Management Agency's ReadyPA Monthly includes info on hurricane preparedness in PA, wildfires, dam safety, and more. Click here for the newsletter. Please share this information with your congregations to help keep everyone safe and prepared.  

During May, the Racial Justice Initiative of PSEC invites congregations to celebrate and recognize the unique gifts of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) people and cultures, and to hold them in prayer.

Erina Kim-Eubanks is Co-Pastor and Director of Advocacy at Bethel Communities. Pastor Kim-Eubanks is Korean American and states:  “In the last decade, as I’ve grown in maturity and explored my sense of personal voice and identity, I’ve come to realize that to live into my Korean American identity is an act of resistance in this country, which was founded on white supremacy. And part of this resistance is to assert our dignity by making intentional space to remember our history, celebrate our cultures, and honor our ancestors and homelands”.

We invite you to explore and celebrate the complex diversity of histories, cultures, languages, peoples and traditions that fall under the AAPI umbrella. To get you started, here is a link to some wonderful worship resources.

We are very excited to announce a multi-denominational Ecumenical Worship Service, followed by a picnic, on Sunday June 12 beginning at 4:00p at St. Paul’s Summer Hill UCC in Auburn. Click here for an event flyer.

Congregations and UCC-affiliated organizations across the country have taken advantage of Cornerstone Fund offerings. Regardless of your church or organization needs, the UCC Cornerstone Fund may be able to assist. Visit CornerstoneFund.org to learn more or contact a lending specialist at 888-UCC-FUND or lending@cornerstonefund.org.