rsmat  
Quick Notes Update for April 17, 2020
Be sure to like our  facebook page for more updates!

KEY ITEMS
  1. RSMAT annual meeting postponed to a date in the Fall if possible
  2. Crossroads Women's Conference cancelled for this year
  3. Lay Recognition Dinner rescheduled for Friday, October 2
  4. General Synod meeting postponed, special session possible for a date in October. 
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.

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VARIOUS RESOURCES

There are literally hundreds of emerging resources for churches and pastors as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. It can be overwhelming to sort through them. 

If you let us know what problems you are facing or what questions you have, we can curate and customize some answers for you. 

Send us an email in your own words describing your question, problem, concern or issue and we will get back to you!

For instance, here are some that have come up:
  1. Can we apply for Payroll Protection help?
  2. How can we livestream our services?
  3. How can our consistory meet by zoom?
  4. Is zoom safe for us to use?
  5. How do we set up online giving for our church?
  6. How are different churches doing communion?
  7. What about funerals?
  8. Our audio is not working well in our livestream...
  9. Can non-computer people use phone to dial in?
Here are some of the new COVID resources we are tracking

  1. RCA Faithward resources
  2. RCA Albany Synod
  3. New York State Council of Churches
  4. Interfaith Center of New York
  5. United Church of Christ resources
  6. Horizon Stewardship CARES act resources
  7. PCUSA resources
  8. United Methodist Church
  9. Episcopal Church USA resources
  10. Christian Reformed Church North America
  11. Presbyterian Church in America Mission To The World

NEWS ABOUT THE REFORMED CHURCH HOME



NOTES FROM GREATER PALISADES CLASSIS 

CLASSIS CPD COMMITTEE

The Church Planning and Development Committee would like to invite you to share your practical ideas about how your church has been effective during the time of COVID-19 and being the church remotely.  A couple of examples might help.  On Easter, we got people to record testimonies about how they'd done some positive things they never would have, were it not for our current circumstances - for example, talking to long, lost friends.  We were able to insert these video clips directly into our taped worship service.  We've also been able to use materials we had on hand in our Sunday School closet to create Bible story craft kits for our town's children - it's helpful to keep them busy, and is a good witness.

SECOND REFORMED HACKENSACK

Dear Members and Friends of Second Reformed Church,
As we celebrated the Day of Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us also be reminded of our Gospel reading from John 1:4-5, "... in him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
If we believe that Jesus is the light that brings life, and if we believe that no darkness can overcome this light, I invite you to join with me in showing the world that Jesus is the light of the world and is still alive and well today.
As we move through this Easter week or until this virus has passed, place a light in your window. Each night as the sun goes down and darkness falls upon the Earth turn on your light as a sign of hope.
Let your light shine in remembrance of those who have passed away.
Let your light shine for those who are on the front line as a sign of encouragement to let them know they are not alone.
Let your light shine as a sign of hope, believing that God will bring us through this and any other challenge that will try to rob us of our joy.
May God continue to bless you and smile upon you as you allow your light to shine through the dark times that may come your way.
Blessings,
Pastors Dwayne & Anna
 
NOTE FROM A CITY CLASSIS CONGREGATION


NOTES FROM CLASSIS DELAWARE-RARITAN


Webinar: Light in Dark Times: Healing Souls During the Pandemic and Beyond
Here is a link to rewatch/download
 Also, here are the slides that were shared during the webinar:
As a special thank-you for being a part of this webinar, we'd like to offer you a 10% discount on registration for Fresh Expression's upcoming Social Media Academy, designed to give you the tools you need to:
Help your church feel connected again
Master communication methods you can use for counseling and discipling at a distance
Serve people in your community that might never come to a traditional church service
Use code "webinar" when checking out to get this 10% discount!

And don't forget to visit our sponsors- Fresh Expressions (http://freshexpressionsus.org), The Ecclesia Network (http://ecclesianet.org), Missio Alliance (http://missioalliance.org), and the American Bible Society (https://www.americanbible.org/).
A project of the Churches Improving Communities
Classis of New Brunswick Community Development Corporation


A 74 PAGE EXTENSIVE RESOURCE USED BY THE PEER SUPERVISION PROGRAM IN CLASSIS NEW BRUNSWICK


Notes from the RCA communications office 
click on the image below

NOTES FROM THE VISION 2020 GATHERINGS
at Greenville Community Church and NBTS
March 13 and 14

Greetings everyone!

I hope this email finds you well, even as we are all experiencing such uncertain and anxious times with the COVID-19 pandemic.  May we all continue to lift up one another, as well as those who lead and serve, in prayer, in our sure and present hope in Christ.  

With all the changes we've had in the last few weeks, the Vision 2020 gatherings at Greenville Community Church and NBTS seem like they were months ago, even though they only took place 2 weeks ago! 

Several of you were unable to make it to the gathering you had hoped to attend, and in light of our present situation, we still wanted to share the video and resource links below with everyone who wished to be present.  

Here are the links to several items from those gatherings, for your reference and use.  If you like, feel free to download #2-4. 
  1. Here is a video of the presentation that Jim Herrington and Trisha Taylor gave at NBTS.  Some parts of our time together were not recorded (so that conversation and questions could be freely offered by everyone present), so I apologize for anything that seems disconnected. 
    Feel free to share the link with others who might be interested. 
     
     
  2. Here is the PowerPoint presentation that Jim and Trisha used for both gatherings, noting that they weren't able to get through the entirety of the slides with either group.
     
  3. Here is the list of questions that they offered for the participant's personal reflection.
     
  4. And here's a guide to being Defined and Connected in an Emotionally Charged System that they handed out. 
     
F or those who attended one of the gatherings,  I've been asked by the Vision 2020 Team if you'd take a few minutes to fill out the survey (linked below). Your feedback is important to the Team and to their process, especially as they get closer to making a final recommendation for General Synod in June. This survey is different from the denomination-wide survey that went out a few months ago.
This survey is confidential and will only take a few minutes to complete. If your server has disabled the link, simply copy and paste the survey into your Web browser window and you will be taken to the survey.
Please, only fill out this survey if you attended one of the Vision 2020 gatherings.
Click here for the survey:
(If you have any trouble accessing the survey, please contact the survey administrator Megan Mullins at: megmullinsconsulting@gmail.com)


Thanks to those who attended the gatherings and took part in our conversations and learning... and to all of you, your families, and congregations, I pray constantly for health and wholeness - in body, mind, and spirit - in the days and weeks and months ahead.  

Peace to each of you - Greg Town

REGIONAL SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTICS TO OFFER ASSESSMENT RELIEF TO CLASSES


IS YOUR CHURCH LOOKING FOR 
ONLINE GIVING OPTIONS?
THE RCA HAS A SOLUTION FOR YOU!
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR FULL DETAILS

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."
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. Please let us know which topics are of interest to you. 
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. Livestreaming your services
  3. Online giving options
  4. Group texting options
  5. Using Twitter 
  6. Using free and low cost websites
  7. Using higher end paid websites
  8. Using podcasts
  9. Using mind mapping for planning and meetings
  10. Using visual thinking for planning and meetings
  11. Using online collaborative platforms for teams and organizations: basecamp, slack and more
  12. Using projection in your church ministry
  13. 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 

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and

calendar  

calendar 

for more current events!