rsmat
Quick Notes Update for September 25, 2019

Be sure to like our facebook page for more updates!

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.

All feedback welcome as we develop this new version more fully

See the developing archive of our past emails in the side bar of the news page!

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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.


TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE

NEW IN THIS ISSUE
STILL CURRENT
  1. Warwick Conference Center webpage updated
  2. Church World Service CROP walks in our region
  3. Seminary President to preach at Brookdale
  4. Town Clock CDC major fundraising event: special speaker
  5. Workshop on responding to abuse in the church: October event
  6. Mission 2020 January RCA event information
  7. Christian Health Care Center August Newsletter
  8. Ministers Pension reallocation information
  9. First Long Branch update
  10. Classis Delaware-Raritan congregational renewal grants
  11. Churches seeking pastors in our region
  12. Regional Synod online calendar
  13. Regional Synod Foundation grants and loans
  14. Opportunities for learning social media, church technology
abusechurch

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE FULL FLYER

unitedspeak
 click on the image below for the full flyertclockmetoo
read300
artschcc
flushot
fairtrade
REFORMED CHURCH OF HIGHLAND PARK
 is providing a Fair Trade Marketplace
 to highlight the beauty of goods from around the world while making sure artisans are fairly reimbursed for their creativity and skill.



Global Grace Marketplace is open from 11:30am-8:00pm.

Come and get lunch (11:30-2) or dinner (5:30- ) at Global Grace Cafe and take a look at the products that we've procured to start up this initiative!

cnbsiteCLASSIS NEW BRUNSWICK WEBSITE 
is under development. A recent theology report is included in the documents section.


grovemusic
Grove Church, in North Bergen, NJ, is seeking a:
Director of Music & Worship (Part Time-15 hours/week)

SUMMARY
The music director will work closely with our pastor in cultivating worship  services and worship teams that help lead our congregation to see and  savor the greatness of God in Jesus Christ, in the power of the Spirit.  Fostering dynamic congregational worship, singing the best of the old and
the best of the new, is a key priority for our church and we are seeking an  individual who's called and gifted by God in the following areas:

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Collaborating in the planning of our weekly Sunday 10:45am worship  service. Choosing congregational hymns and songs that engage the  congregation and support the reading and preaching of God's Word.
2. Modeling and leading heartfelt worship in an invitational style - that  draws people in, encourages participation, and points people to Jesus.
3. Recruiting, auditioning, teaching, and training volunteer musicians and  singers in the church and community to serve the congregation as a team  with musical skill and humility.
4. Building up a core/several teams of volunteers to sing/play/minister in  Sunday morning worship. This could include a praise team/volunteer  choir/quartet/soloists/ children's choir/etc.
5. Leading weekly rehearsals/Bible Studies that serve a dual purpose: (A)  preparation for Sunday and (B) cultivation of Christ-centered community.
6. Building on our traditions and having a vision for where God might be  calling our congregation and our musicians to grow in new expressions of  worship.
7. Serving as a member of the ministry team at Grove, demonstrating a  commitment to this congregation and its mission.
8. Oversee the AV/Production team and volunteers.

This individual is expected to: (A) be gifted in leading congregational  worship (B) have a pastoral heart and love for Christ (C) be skilled in  leading with/playing an instrument (D) possess leadership and  organizational skills, and (E) be a team player.

If interested, please submit Resume AND Cover Letter to

warwick
WARWICK CONFERENCE CENTER



We've updated the webpage on our site, visit today!

"Echoing God's desire for all people to be still and draw near, the Warwick Conference Center is a broadly inclusive place of welcome, hospitality, reflection, and retreat where all are invited to seek renewal, pursue personal and corporate growth, and have the opportunity to listen for God's voice."
 crop
MANY OF OUR CONGREGATIONS WILL BE TAKING PART IN CROP WALKS THIS FALL SEASON
FIND THE ONE NEAREST TO YOU AND BRING SOME FRIENDS!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEARCH
mission2020
RCA MISSION 2020
January 16-18, 2020

calledholyland
cdrfoundation
ATTENTION CHURCHES
IN CLASSIS DELAWARE-RARITAN

The Classis of Delaware-Raritan has established a foundation whose
purposes are to support Church Multiplication, Clergy Renewal, and
Congregational Revitalization Projects to churches within the Classis of Delaware-Raritan. This foundation will provide grants to congregations,  not loans. (For loans, congregations may avail themselves of the Synod Foundation or the Reformed Church in America’s Church Growth Fund).  The first round of applications will be considered in the fall of 2019. The  deadline for applications (see attached) is September 1. All applicants for  grants for the coming year will be notified of the disposition of their  applications as soon as the Trustees have met and awarded the grants.






pastorjobs
CONGREGATIONS IN OUR REGION SEEKING PASTORS

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE CURRENT RCA LISTINGS


rsmatcalendar
VISIT OUR REGIONAL SYNOD ONLINE CALENDAR!



synodfoundation
Remember that the Synod Foundation has opportunities for loans and even some starter grants for new missions
...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 panel system good for another 15 or so years.

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



onlinelearning
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!