Important This Week

• Register for Annual Meeting - Sunday is the deadline for the hotel block
• Join a Community of Practice
• Final Keystone merger Townhall Meeting this week
• New full-time pastor position added to Church Openings

One week left to reserve rooms at The Penn Stater for the Keystone Meeting as well as PSEC's Spring Meeting

Use group code ­­­­PENN24B to get our rate of $139.99 per night (enter that code in the "promo code" box). https://thepennstaterhotel.com/ or call 814-863-5000.

Monday, May 6 is the last date to reserve rooms at this rate!!!

There are other events in State College the same weekend, so there may not be rooms available at The Penn Stater at regular rates after the deadline (or other area hotels) so book yours soon!

For the first time, all four Pennsylvania conferences of the UCC will be gathering for a shared Annual Meeting on June 7-9 at The Penn Stater in State College. We will have shared worship, workshops, meals and meetings as well as each conference's separate business meeting. You can read the latest news from the Keystone Working Group here.

We will be joined by General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, who will be preaching during closing worship on Sunday. All four conferences will be hosting a reception with her on Saturday evening as well. Our own Rev. Cean James (Founding Pastor Salt and Light UCC and PSEC ACM) preaches at the opening worship service with amazing music offered by The Salt and Light Music Team!

Register here. On-line event registration is open through May 31.

We recognize that the prices for this event are significantly higher than our most recent Annual Meetings. We do not want budget concerns to prevent your attendance at this important meeting. When you register, use this code: ­­­­­PSECAnnual75

Our joint mission project for the Spring conference meeting is to make Period Packs. A link to the sign up is on the registration which you can visit even if you are not actively registering. The goal is supplies for 200 kits. As of 4/18 we have enough for 50. Help us make our goal!!!!

We recognize that the prices for this event are significantly higher than our most recent Annual Meetings. We do not want budget concerns to prevent your attendance at this important meeting. When you register, use this code: ­­­­­PSECAnnual75

Our joint mission project for the Spring conference meeting is to make Period Packs. A link to the sign up is on the registration which you can visit even if you are not actively registering. The goal is supplies for 200 kits. As of 4/18 we have enough for 50. Help us make our goal!!!!

Join a Community of Practice

There are openings in Communities of Practice for the second half of the year. Spots are available in:

• a group that meets on Zoom Monday afternoons and discussion focuses on Netflix movies and specials
• a group that often meets in-person (usually in Berks County) on Wednesdays and discussion focuses on best practices for church growth
• and a traditional group that meets on Wednesdays on Zoom

These clergy groups meet ten times a year for shared worship, to check in, and to complete a shared study/book discussion/etc. The cost for a group is $250 per year and will be pro-rated for 2024. For more information on Communities of Practice or the available spots, please email brea@psec.org.

Town Hall Discussion on potential Conference merger

There is one more opportunity to attend a Town Hall Discussion on the proposed Conference merger. These will provide a chance to share questions and observations. Please make sure you have viewed the Keystone page on our PSEC website prior to joining the meeting. The discussion will be May 2 at 2:00p. Click here to register.

UCC hiring summer interns for Vote for Climate campaign

The National Setting of the UCC is seeking to hire eight summer interns devoted to the success of a UCC campaign called Vote for Climate Hope. The principal task of interns will be to collect voter pledge cards that prioritize a commitment to a more just and equitable world for present and future generations. Interns will be trained and coached on engaging the public for the advancement of climate justice. Learn more and apply here.

Materials for Strengthen the Church offering

The Strengthen the Church offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of UCC local congregations. Your support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries that meet emerging needs of communities. As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. Most congregations will receive the STC offering on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024. For free downloadable resources, click here.

Basic Boundary Training from the Lehigh Presbytery

Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training is tailored to focus on strategies to foster clergy emotional resiliency and well-being. While we still cover the "requirements," we believe the best prevention involves encouraging leaders to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation to violate boundaries arises.

This online boundaries training is 5 total hours split over 2 days (2.5 hours each day). Following the first session, participants will engage in a bit of reflection work in preparation for the second session. This training will be conducted May 7 and 8 from 1:00-4:00p and Oct. 15 and 16 from 10:00a-1:00p.

Limit is 40 people per class. Zoom link and workbook will be emailed to all participants 1 week prior to the scheduled training.

$50 for PCUSA/$65 for non-PCUSA participants. Click here to register.

National Day of Prayer Zoom gathering with Penn Central

Siblings, let us join our hearts and Zooms at noon on May 2. For this National Day of Prayer, let us pause in a unison voice of prayer as we go to the only source great enough to give us strength for journey. Register here. 

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Thanks

Thanks to all that helped produce the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program on April 20. The sharing of stories and networking among participants was extraordinary. Participants were very grateful for the opportunity.

We would like to share the material we brought to the event more broadly. If you or someone you know was unable to make the program, you can still receive information and resources by contacting us. Contact information can be found at our Addiction and Recovery webpage on the PSEC website.

Rev. Joseph Motz installation at Bausman Memorial UCC

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

May Spirit on Tap

The last Theology with a Twist for the season will be "Spiritual Motivation" on May 7, 7:00p at Kutztown Tavern. One of our biggest challenges as people of faith is helping one another grow and change.

A paper delivered in 1983 by Bill Miller and Steve Rollnick launched a movement of counseling focused on helping people find their own motivations. This work was initially applied in addictions care and subsequently used in a wider range of settings. Preaching and pastoral care, too, are often a source of motivational care that is empathetic and person-focused while still working to evoke change.

Rev. Jack Abel, Corporate Director of Spiritual Care for Caron Treatment Centers in Wernersville, will be joining us this month and leading a presentation and discussion that brings thoughtful reflection on the Motivational Interviewing treatment method as it applies to our spiritual lives. Click here for more information.

Bethany Children's Home needs bedding

Each youth that arrives at Bethany Children's Home needs sheets, a pillow case and comforter for a twin sized bed. If you'd like to help, send donations to 1863 Bethany Rd. Womelsdorf, PA 19567. Or donate online at and put "bedding" in the notes! You can also order directly off Amazon using this link.

Rev. Dr. Jan Remer-Osborn installation at Zion's Red Church

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Boundary Training: When confidences can be broken

This advanced boundary training will explore the moments in ministry when the confidential conversations between pastors and congregants must be broken for the safety of others. The training will explore PA Mandatory Reporting laws and UCC Ministerial Code. (NOTE: this is NOT a replacement for state mandated requirements for Mandatory Reporting Training). This training will be offered on May 16 at 9:00a on Zoom or completed as a "view on your own". For more information, click here.

Mercersburg Society Convocation set for May 20-21

On May 20-21, the 2024 Mercersburg Society Convocation -- "The Mystical Presence and Sacred Meals" -- will be held at Lancaster Theological Seminary.

The Mercersburg heritage has encouraged a profound and heart-felt sense of the mystical presence of Christ through the celebration of the Eucharist. This Mercersburg Society Convocation will explore the experiential dimensions of this Eucharistic spirituality, focusing on the emotions and dispositions that it has sought to nurture. We will compare this rich form of piety to the unique Eucharistic spiritualities of other Christian traditions and also to the spirituality implicit in secular corporate meals.

Information about registration, rooms, and meals can be found here.

This email is brought to you by your generous gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission)! Thank you!