Important This Week

• Register for Annual Meeting, Clergy Convocation, Advanced Boundary Training, Church Closure workshop, worship-leading workshop
• Update on Keystone Project

PSEC minister attends UCC Disaster Ministries conference

“Come Away and Rest Awhile.” The title of the trauma retreat I attended this past week echoes Jesus’ words to his disciples (Mark 6:31). He invited them to a time of restoration and recovery, to “pray, reflect, and seek God’s grace” as Mary Nelson Keithahn so beautifully characterizes in her hymn.

Presented by UCC Disaster Ministries and the UCC Florida Conference, the retreat provided space for attendees to understand how disasters and trauma affect not only their congregations, but themselves as they care for survivors. The retreat offered information on how we react in such situations, time to reflect and process these experiences, as well as scriptural resources and other tools to build resiliency.

Following the retreat, members of the UCC Emotional and Spiritual Care Team (ESCT) held our first in-person gathering. This was an opportunity for us to share knowledge with one another from our respective backgrounds and to plan future offerings for pastors and church leaders. The goals of ESCT focus on preparing clergy and their communities for disasters and fostering resilience following both natural and human-caused disasters.

Our time together coincided with an evening launch by SpaceX that was visible to us in Orlando. I stood outside with the ESCT team members and watched as the red plume of light headed into the expanse of sky. Looking upward, surrounded by my ministry companions, I marveled not only at the technology, but at the powerful love of God who accompanies us on all our journeys, wherever we may travel.

Rev. Jenny Smith

Member of UCC Disaster Ministries Emotional & Spiritual Care Team

Keystone Study Group -- Summary of 2/3 meeting

The fourth meeting of the Keystone Study Group* took place Friday, February 3, 2023 at St. Thomas UCC, hosted by the Penn Central Conference Office staff. The KSG meets monthly to explore the possibilities of mutual or consolidated ministry among the four conferences in Pennsylvania toward the question, “could we become ONE Pennsylvania Keystone Conference?”

We reviewed progress in the first of four phases of our outlined process overview. We continue to ask about our common driving mission to identify the role of “the conference” to “the local church” in supporting and strengthening the faithful in the Great Commandment (Love God and neighbor) and the Great Commission (Go and share). Recognizing we are all called to live and grow as disciples of Jesus, we look for ways to empower the local church.

Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities were identified at the levels of conference, association and local church, and we looked for similar and unique characteristics and trends from all 4 conferences. We found encouragement in hearing the many ways which congregations and conferences have been creative over the pandemic years to establish new ways of being the church. While we can all identify problem areas and share common struggles, we clearly found areas where improvement can be achieved for us all collaboratively, especially with technology support.

We also began identifying “Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) for which we are developing responses which will be shared in upcoming Conferences’ E-news and website communications. A link will soon be available for sharing our unified message of anticipating your questions, such as:

• Why are we exploring becoming one Pennsylvania Conference?
• How will our ministry be strengthened?
• What benefit will joint relationships bring for resources and services to the local church?
• How will restructuring as one conference support the local church with personnel?
• How will assets of buildings, land, endowments and other financial resources be managed?
• What bylaws will be needed to support governance, authorization for ministry (CoM), and denominational structure?

With these weighty topics driving our work, our next priority is to develop and recommend a communication/engagement plan and the FAQs for what a possible merger would look like to be shared at upcoming conferences’ and associations’ Spring meetings. Forums and workshops will be planned to connect with all 4 conferences to solicit input and gather more data for potential options for a new vision and ministry model for the Keystone state.

Sharing our progress in grace and hope,

Communications Team

Steve Davis, St. John’s UCC, Fullerton (PNEC)

Sterling Fritz, Redeemer’s UCC, Littlestown (PCC)

Robin Hightower, Peace In Zion UCC, Zieglerville (PSEC)

Deb Long, First Trinity UCC, Youngwood (PWC)

*A study and discernment group of the 4 PA UCC Conferences – Penn West, Penn Central, Penn NE, and Pennsylvania SE

Visit psec.org/keystone for previous meeting summaries.

Registration opens for Spring Meeting in West Chester

Registration is now open for the Annual Meeting, June 2-3 in West Chester. The theme will be "May They All Be One: Unleashing the Spirit". With the future of the church being anything but status quo, we find ourselves in a wilderness experience struggling to navigate the harsh realities and uncertainties of what lies ahead. We invite you to open to the Spirit’s leading as we explore together the life-giving seeds of possibilities within the wilderness experience, and re-imagine what it means to be the Body of Christ in this place and time. That reimagining includes building partnerships between local churches who share resources (including pastors), merge ministries, and connect with community partners. Representatives from congregations around our conference will share how this has been life giving for them and how they overcame longtime resistance to making it happen. Similarly, representatives of the Keystone Study Group will share their conversations about creating partnerships between and among our four PA Conference that may lead to a four Conference merger. Visit psec.org/annual-meeting-2023 for more information.

Registration open for Advanced Boundary Training

On April 26, an Advanced Boundary Training will be held on the topic of The Limits of Pastoral Care, facilitated by Revs. Bill Worley and Kevin McLemore. This training will explore the practical and spiritual limits for providing pastoral care within congregations. Topics that will be included are the emotional and spiritual toll of overfuctioning in a pastoral capacity, as well as practical guidance on such challenges as power of attorney documents, convicted sex offenders within the church, and other recent contemporary issues. Click here for more information and to register.

'Foundations of Worship Planning' for lay, clergy

“Foundations of Worship Planning” prepares lay leaders and refreshes authorized ministers on the foundational principles of worship with an emphasis on practical application. Participants will gain tools and sharpen skills for planning meaningful worship that facilitates holy encounters. No previous experience with worship planning is necessary.

Participants should bring a recent bulletin or order of service from their context as well as a Bible and music selection resources (i.e. hymnal and/or songbook). Click here for more information.

Register for 2023

PA Clergy Convocation

The Pennsylvania Clergy Convocation is scheduled for May 2-4 in Lancaster. Our time together for Clergy Convocation will focus on connection – connecting with God, self and others. We will have times dedicated for worship, theological reflection, gatherings of affinity groups, connecting with folks from other Conferences, and free time. Our teaching focus on clergy wellness will take shape in four 90-minute sessions, each dedicated to one of the components of wellness every pastor needs: spiritual wellness, vocational wellness, financial wellness, and physical wellness. Pension Boards staff and outside facilitators will provide attendee with thoughtful and relevant content for those engaged in local church ministry. Click here for more information and to register.

Pension Boards hosting retirement planning seminar

If you are an actively-contributing Pension Boards member, 45 years of age or older, join the Pension Boards for a two-day Planning for the Transition to Retirement seminar on March 29-30.

During the two-day event, the presentation will address landmark issues along the journey to retirement and how we can best prepare, the two largest financial sources for most of our members: Social Security and the UCC Annuity Plan, how our investment choices should be informed by our lives and future goals, and review additional benefits to help smooth our path. Register here by March 28.

"When Does Closure Become an Option Workshop"

Since 2014, one PSEC congregation has closed, on average, every six months. This isn’t often talked about — partly because that news is filled with feelings of profound loss and grief. It’s the source of uncomfortable shame — that somehow church members failed to do all they could to maintain their sacred space. It provokes questions about the power and/or presence of God. Taken together, these things make it difficult to say what sometimes needs to be said: “It’s time for our church to close.” 

A workshop will be held Feb. 18 (Please note, the date has been changed.) in Limerick to create a safe space where difficult questions can be asked and information shared with congregations facing decline and potential closure. You will receive resources and hear about church closure experiences. Click here for more information and to register.

From the Racial Justice Initiative:

LOVE is a form of Death

In this month that celebrates Black History and in this week that shines a light on LOVE, I offer you the words of a modern day prophet, Cornel West.

“Love is a form of death. And you have to learn how to die in order to learn how to love,” says Cornel West. We live in a society that avoids death and yet love is an action that ultimately leads to death. In order to love we must die to ourselves, and this is the exact opposite message we get from culture every day.

He adds: in “disagreement” we’re not talking about something merely political or civil, but something spiritual. ... Click here for full transcript. Click here for YouTube video.

Youth opioid awareness and Narcan training event planned

Welcome Project PA will host a "Youth Opioid Awareness and Narcan Training Event" on Feb. 18 in Hatboro. This is a free educational event for youth, parents, teachers, and school administrators. Click here for more information.

Lay Leaders Support Group sets February meeting

A Lay Leadership Support Group exists for Consistory Presidents and those serving on Consistory. We gather once a month on Zoom – so please join us! We have found it to be a great place to form new friendships, to gain support, and to be educated on a variety of topics concerning our churches. The discussions are centered around sharing valuable information about what our churches are doing or maybe could be doing. For more info and free registration for the Feb. 18 meeting, click here.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Words to ponder

"In other words, the goal is actually not the perfect avoidance of all sin which is not possible anyway (1 John 1:1-9; Romans 5:12), but the struggle itself, and the encounter and wisdom that comes from it,"

Richard Rohr, Breathing Under Water, p31.

Enneagram workshop scheduled in Lancaster

There are still tickets available for Parish Resource Center’s March 24-25 conference, The Path Between Us: The Enneagram and Healthy Relationships with Suzanne Stabile.

“Few people can teach you the Enneagram with the genuine insight, humor, and potential for real growth and change better than Suzanne Stabile!” — RICHARD ROHR

PRC is hosting Stabile in Lancaster for The Path Between Us Conference, an event that will guide participants into more profound insights about the self, God, and others with the goal of experiencing healthier, more life-giving relationships. The weekend will be particularly focused on the building blocks of community, exploring how each Enneagram type behaves and interacts relationally.

This event is a wonderful opportunity for leadership teams and congregants to attend together and bring new insights back to the larger church body.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Church yearend

reporting is now open

Earlier this month, emails were sent to church offices and pastors with information on year-end reporting. If you should have received that information and didn’t, please contact the Conference Registrar, Brea Rarick, at brea@psec.org or 484-949-8774 ext. 311. Also, you may visit psec.org/reporting for more information on this year’s reporting.

Recording of Rev. Dr. Russ Mitman's service available

The Service of Resurrection for Rev. Dr. F. Russell Mitman was held on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Church of the Good Shepherd in Boyertown. A recording of that service is available here. The obituary announcement is available here.

Facilitators sought for table discussions at Spring Meeting

In the evaluations of last year’s annual meeting there were requests for time to bring together like-minded individuals.  

The planning team has heard this request and although our schedule is already extremely tight, it was decided that lunch time, and the round tables in the dining hall, would make for perfect, relaxed spaces to begin these conversations.

The next step is finding individuals with passions they want to share by leading these conversations. So, we are seeking anyone who is willing to take a topic and lead open discussions around that topic over lunch Saturday afternoon.

Topics could range from “pastors under 40”, “how do I help my church become ONA”, “LBGTQ”, “Consistory Presidents”, etc. There is no limit.

IF YOU have a topic and you are willing to lead that discussion during the lunch hour, please reach out to Susan at the PSEC office at susan@psec.org.

Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg installation at Valley Forge

Click the invitation below to download a PDF to share.

Sunday Supply pastors needed

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.

Online Youth Book Discussion starting

Rev. Ernest Glover, Youth Coordinator at House of Faith (UCC) in Philadelphia, and Rev. Anne Cormier are calling on young “Holy troublemakers and unconventional saints-in-the-making” to join them in a weekly Sunday evening (7-8 pm) Zoom conference for an open discussion on a few Holy Troublemakers. The discussion will start on the first Sunday of March and continue for eight weeks, except Easter. Both Mr. Glover and Rev. Cormier want young people (middle and high school age) to bring their honest opinions, thoughts, and ideas to the table. Mr. Glover says, “Let’s find inspiration in these pages to: do the right thing, even when it’s the hard thing, stand up for those who are standing alone; work together for the common good; and have courage when the odds are against us. The future is yours to shape. Let’s learn to be brave, cause a little trouble when necessary, and love with our whole hearts like the saints who have gone before us.” Click here for more information and to register.

Lay Leaders Convocation planned for April 15

Local church leaders are invited to a Lay Leaders Convocation, a full day of worship, address, workshops, and fellowship on Saturday, April 15 in Pottstown. Save the date, registration will be available by March 1. Click here for a flyer with more info.

Climate Justice Team offering Green Grants for 2023

Would your church like some seed money to kick-start a new season of climate-saving activities? The Climate Justice team of PSEC invites applications for grants of up to $250, to be matched by the churches themselves. Please apply by April 1 at psec.org/green.

• Could you use $100 for seeds and soil for your community garden? 
• $100 to buy the books on climate activism and theology you’ve been meaning for your study group to read? 
• $200 toward the $400 needed to replace every light bulb? 
• $250 to add to your $250 for a $500 jump-start on replacing a drafty window? 
• $250 toward the $500 for food, books and activities for your environmental summer outdoor school for the neighborhood? 
• A couple of hundred in sight so you can go to an individual donor and ask them to match it?

Questions: Marian Shearer (uccrev77@gmail.com), Liz Brunton (lizbrunton2462@gmail.com).