rsmat
Quick Notes Update for November 29, 2018

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Have you checked the synod calendar to see what's happening? For more information on the events below, click on the calendar link.  Don't see your church's event listed - be sure to include the synod on your email and mailing lists by sending information to rsmat@rca.org.

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The information and materials that appear in the email newsletter, facebook page or on the Website of the Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics of the Reformed Church in America ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE OPINION OF THE REGIONAL SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTICS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA, NOR ARE SUCH NECESSARILY ENDORSED BY THE REGIONAL SYNOD.  THE ACCURACY AND VALIDITY OF THE INFORMATION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROVIDER OR AUTHOR.


YOUTH EVENTS AT CAMP WARWICK
CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW FOR THE FLYER PAGES!













"Remembering Who We Are: How Congregations Commemorate and Celebrate Their Heritages" on Thursday, 6 December, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

REFORMED CHURCH CENTER, NBTS

What we do with those pasts, how we remember and celebrate, is significant to understanding how we live out our faith, according to David Zwart, Associate Professor of History at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, and 2018-19 Albert A Smith fellow in Reformed Church History at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He will be the keynote speaker at "Remembering Who We Are: How Congregations Commemorate and Celebrate Their Heritages" on Thursday, 6 December, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. We will also hear from Patricia Singletary about how Elmendorf Reformed Church has led the way in rediscovering an African Burial Ground in East Harlem; Gerri Igarashi Yoshida's story of how the Japanese American United Church celebrates its history; and Regina Brannock telling us how Apache Reformed Church in Oklahoma connects with its heritage. Finally, Russ Gasero, RCA Archivist, will help us consider how congregational histories help strengthen the ministries of local churches and denominations.

More details are available at https://www.nbts.edu/events/smith-fellowship-presentation-reformed-church-center-history-program/. There will be a suggested donation of $10.00 for lunch, but all will be fed regardless of ability to pay. Lunch is free for all seminary students. RSVP to James Brumm at jbrumm@nbts.edu by Monday, 3 December.
 





 The Reformed Church Center will host 
"Looking at the Great Lakes Catechism," 

a time of presentations and discussions to help office-bearers and congregations unpack this document referred to us by the 2018 General Synod and consider our responses, on 

Tuesday, 15 January 2019, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. 

We will be led by Chris Dorn, Tricia Sheffield, Matthew van Maastricht, Cora Taitt, and Micah McCreary. More details at https://www.nbts.edu/events/looking-great-lakes-catechism/. The suggested donation for lunch (which is free for all seminarians) is $10.00, but all will be fed regardless of their ability to pay. RSVP to jbrumm@nbts.edu by Wednesday, 9 January.
NOTE FROM FREEHOLD REFORMED



MLK Day of Youth Service
offered through the Freehold Clergy Association

WHO: 6th-12th graders in groups from parishes & schools (plus adult chaperones/drivers)

WHY: To use this day off of school to honor the legacy of Dr. King by serving those in need in your local community.

WHERE: You will be placed at a service site within an easy drive of your host parish (Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine). Each host parish will send groups to a variety of sites.

WHAT TO BRING: A toiletry item to donate to a local non-profit; a water bottle; weather appropriate clothing (there is potential to work outside); a positive attitude and willingness to serve wherever needed. If your site requires additional supplies, we will notify you ahead of time.

WHAT IS INCLUDED: CFJ will set up all service sites, will provide reflections, activities, and opening/closing prayer services.







NOTE FROM REV MARISOL FERRER 
ABOUT PARADISE CALIFORNIA
Greetings,
As many know, I served a Congregational Church (denomination NACCC) for nine years. I met Rev. Andrew McHenry along the way. A few years ago, he was excited about moving from the midwest to California to start ministry in a town called Paradise. Who wouldn't want that?

Paradise has been almost destroyed completely. Andrew, his wife and two cats were able to escape the campfire that destroyed their church and home.

If you want to help. I received this information from another pastor in the fold:

WE CAN HELP WITH IMMEDIATE NEEDS for Craig Memorial Congregational Church in Paradise, CA.

Walmart, Target, and Visa gift cards can be sent to the church (They will be delivered to the post office in Chico.) and distributed to church members who have been evacuated and are in need of clothing, food, toiletries, etc. . .
Craig Memorial Church
5665 Southwood Drive
Paradise, CA 95969















CONGREGATIONS IN OUR REGION SEEKING PASTORS



VISIT OUR REGIONAL SYNOD ONLINE CALENDAR!



Remember that the Synod Foundation has opportunities for loans and even some grants
...visit their  webpage on our website

Wise men and women in 1987 created an independent, not-for-profit corporation named the Synod Foundation:

To receive, hold, manage, invest, and re-invest the real estate and investment assets of PSMA [aka RSMAt], and to process and act upon loan requests and upon requests for grants from the churches and classes within the jurisdiction of PSMA from its commissions and subsidiary corporations, and from others within the scope of its concern and mission.

The Synod Foundation is governed by eight trustees appointed on an annual basis at RSMAt's annual meeting. The Trustees approve the loans and grants and manages the other investments. The Foundation currently has 20 active church and social responsibility loans totaling over $1.1 million. The balance of the funds, $1.8 million, are invested in a wide variety of short and long term securities.

Churches secure loans for new roofs, parsonage or church furnaces replacement or upgrades, repointing brick or stone, interior church and parsonage renovations, removing accessibility issues, purchasing a building, and hurricane cleanup and repairs. Recently, four churches have secured loans for solar systems as a witness to green stewardship and expecting to lower their future electrical energy costs even as the solar system loan is being paid. With the Federal and New Jersey government assistance, the expectation is for the loan to be paid in around 12 years with the life of the solar system good for another 15 or so years.

See the Foundation flyer for commonly asked questions or contact the Synod Office for more information.



FREE Online Learning Opportunities
Mediated Organizations: 
Technology for your church ministry

We are setting up online seminars for the Fall season. Please let us know which topics are of interest to you. Seminars are usually held online using Zoom or GoToMeeting on Thursday evenings. Other times are available on request.
Consider having a custom training for your own church team or board! On-sites are possible with enough notice.

Let us know what you are interested in or if you have questions!

  1. Using Facebook 
  2. Using Twitter 
  3. Using free and low cost websites
  4. Using higher end paid websites
  5. Using podcasts
  6. Using mind mapping for planning and meetings
  7. Using visual thinking for planning and meetings
  8. Using online collaborative platforms for teams and organizations: basecamp, slack and more
  9. Using projection in your church ministry
  10. Using email newsletters: constant contact and mailchimp
Courses are taught by The Rev. Dr. Philip Bakelaar, , rsmat communications coordinator, pastor at Ocean Community Church in Manahawkin and adjunct professor in the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. 

remember to check our 

website posts 

and

calendar  

calendar 

for more current events!