The Bible tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes (chapter 3) that there is a season
for everything to occur – each thing in its own good time according to the will o of God. Throughout the history of our Christian faith, there have been many
seasons and each one brought with it its own challenges and gifts to those
of us who practice that faith. And now it appears, my friends, that a new season is upon us.
For the past two years, representatives from our Pennsylvania Southeast Conference have been in conversation with the other three conferences in our state – Penn Northeast, Penn Central, and Penn West Conferences of the UCC. Their conversation has focused on evaluating the changes occurring in churches across our state and the country and even across denominations. The UCC is not alone in noticing these changes to the importance of “church” in the lives of people in recent years. And the Spirit is calling us to respond in positive and productive ways.
Their conversation has now culminated in a proposal to merge together the four conferences here in the state of Pennsylvania and call it the Keystone Conference, UCC. The reason for this merger is a simple one – we recognize that we are stronger together. And we want to celebrate that we are called to be “on-in-spirit” not only in word, but in action in tangible ways to the glory of God. This seems like a noble cause that has now been put before us.
Noble though it may be, the movement to create this merger is ambitious and complicated. Mergers are always messy – but we are fortunate that a lot of the work has already been put into this project – two years of conversation that has resulted in a nearly 70-page document. You can access all the information about this process on the PSEC website at www.psec.org.
Of course, there are a lot of details to iron out – such as, what the location will be for the one physical conference; who will serve as staff for the one conference; how will the churches be served; when will all these changes occur? But the “why” is clear – this is an idea whose time has come! We will be stronger together and better able to serve our purpose as God’s people in our ever-changing world.
This past weekend of June 7th-9thwas the annual Spring meeting of all four conferences and we met together at State College for the event. It gave us a taste of what the future might look like. And I’m happy to tell you I came away from that event feeling very positive about this proposal. Good things will surely come from this new season before us.
It was said at that meeting that with all that is happening with the church today, the future of all ministry, to be done from the local church to the national setting of the UCC, will be “shared” ministry. We need to be ready to meet that challenge. I, for one, am grateful to our conferences for leading the way for all of us.
I have no doubt that we are entering into a spirit-filled and fruitful time in the life of the church and her people – if we can meet this challenge that God has placed before us with faith and hope and love. We are being called to not only meet this challenge, but to make it a truly new season filled with new life for the church of Jesus Christ.
This coming November 9th, each of the conferences will have the opportunity to vote to affirm this merger. Our proposal will then go to the General Synod of the UCC for approval. And then, the work begins to answer all the questions that will make this merger a reality. To everything, turn, turn, turn and to everything a purpose under heaven. Let us be mindful of the movement of the spirit among us calling us to “be one”. And let us put our trust in God that he is with us in all things. Glory be to God!
Pastor Susan
She was ordained in the United Church of Christ at her home church, St. John's UCC in Lansdale, PA on January 9th, 1994 in the middle of a winter weather event of snow and ice. That storm didn't stop their celebration that day - and she hasn't stopped serving in the ministry since then – no matter what. We like that about her - and you will too when you get to know her.
Pastor Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from Florida State University; a Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary; and a Master of Arts
degree in Pastoral Counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary.
And she completed her certification as a Reiki Master in 2013 – the same year she came to our church. She's also participated in specialized training through the United Church of Christ to serve as an intentional interim minister to churches while they are in transition from one settled pastor to the next.
Early in her thirty year career as an ordained minister, it became her calling to assist churches during these times of transition, taking her to twelve different settings in local churches, as well as chaplaincy positions in nursing home facilities. She'll tell you that she “has seen it all, heard it all, been through it all” with the people she's met – and even so, she still likes people and loves working with them in ministry settings.
That love is what brought her here to St. Vincent UCC – her “lucky number 13” setting as she likes to call it. When she arrived, it was to serve as a temporary supply pastor while we were in transition. But, we liked each other so much, we decided to just stay together on a permanent basis. In April, 2018, Rev. Hanson was installed as our settled pastor.
Our pastor believes that ministry is something we all do when we strive to be like Jesus and follow his ways. Her job, as she sees it, is to help all of us be the heart and hands and voice of Jesus in our own time and place and in our own way – so that we will do good; make a positive difference; and leave the world a better place for us having been here. She says, “That's the way real ministry happens – one gracious thought, one good word, one act of kindness - one moment at a time”.
Susan and her husband, Doug, who is also an ordained pastor at St. Peter's Pikeland UCC, live in Chester Springs. They have three grown children – their daughter Laurabeth and son Eric live in the local area. Their daughter Lindsay and her husband Charlie live in Alabama where they're raising the two grandchildren of whom Pastor Susan will be happy to show you pictures and tell you how wonderful they are – just like any other proud grandparent.
Come, join us – and meet our pastor. If you are looking for a worship experience which makes you feel good for having been here – then, come and meet us. We worship together every Sunday to share the spirit, the light, and the love of Jesus and become empowered to take it with us when we go back out into the world in which we live and for whom our ministry really matters.
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“Bind Us Together With Love” St. Vincent United Church of Christ
137 Ridge Rd (Rt 23), Phoenixville, PA 19460 - All Rights Reserved.