Quick Notes Update for August 27, 2021 |
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Looking at White Christian Nationalism, Liberation Theology, and Being Reformed
After the riots at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley linked White Christian Nationalism to the theology of Abraham Kuyper, a prominent Dutch Reformed theologian whose teachings were used to justify South African Apartheid. While we remember that not everyone in the Reformed tradition necessarily follows Kuyper too closely, it still leaves us, and the world wondering whether being Reformed should somehow be linked with being racist, or can we do better?
On Friday, September 10, at 11:00 am, Dr. Juan A. Carmona will lead our first Reformed Church Center conversation of the new academic year, with a discussion of “Calvinism, White Christian Nationalism, and Liberation Theology.” This is another installment in the series of discussions begun in 2020, seeking to help congregations be more anti-racist. Dr. Carmona will examine the connections between Calvinism and White Christian Nationalism, and suggest equally strong, and more biblical, connections to much more expansive and inclusive theologies. After his presentation and some response by James Brumm, Director of the Reformed Church Center, we will open up the gathering to everyone for questions and discussion.
Juan Carmona is a retired prison chaplain, parish pastor, and teacher at various institutions of higher education. He served as a Visting Scholar/Professor of Theology for several years at the Tainan Theological College/Seminary in Taiwan, teaching courses on Liberation Theology and Prison Ministry. An ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America since 1978, he holds degrees from the State University of New York, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and Colgate-Rochester Crozer Divnity School.
James Hart Brumm, Director
The Reformed Church Center and The Theological Writing Center
General Editor, Beardslee Press
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
35 Seminary Place New Brunswick, NJ 08901
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The 29th Annual Reformed Church Home Golf Classic is back!
New All-Inclusive Pricing and Online Registration are COVID friendly and Convenient
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It’s not too early to start thinking about your fall plans – make your reservations early as we expect to sell out this year’s outing! Won’t you join us for a day of beautiful weather, fellowship, laughter, contests, great golf, outdoor dining and of course all for a great cause? Come out to support the residents of Reformed Church Home on Monday, September 20, 2021 at the beautiful Battleground Country Club in Manalapan, NJ. Our new all-inclusive pricing and online option will make registration easy and convenient. No need to pay separately for contests, mulligans, super tickets, etc. – our new $350/golfer pricing includes everything you need to have a fantastic day on the course without ever having to reach into your pocket. Greens fees, golf carts, mulligans, all on-course contests, hot dog cart and on-course beverage and snacks are all included in this year’s comprehensive fee.
We’ll forego our usual and popular ticket auction this year for a Super Raffle of CASH prizes and a few donated items. Even if you cannot attend the outing, you can support RCH by participating in the Super Raffle, but remember you have to be in it to win it! Make sure you buy your tickets in advance as you won’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity! Super Raffle Tickets are $25 each or $100 for 5 tickets. Cash prizes will include: 1 winner of $1,000 plus 2 winners of $500 each plus 4 winners of $250 each. And there will be more fabulous donated items to win as well.
For more information, please contact Paula LeBlanc, Director of Development at pleblanc@rchnj.org or call 732-607-9230, ext 108.
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The Six Mile Run Reformed Church in Franklin Park, NJ is seeking a full-time pastor to lead our small but dedicated congregation. One who is willing to partner with us as we celebrate the Lord through fellowship, worship, leadership development, outreach and serving our community.
Six Mile Run Reformed Church is a progressive, open and affirming, intergenerational congregation with deep historical roots in Franklin Park, New Jersey as well as in the Reformed Church in America. Our location in Central New Jersey, situated between New Brunswick and Princeton, is rich with opportunities for employment, healthcare, education, recreation, history and culture, as well as spiritual growth.
The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, innovative, approachable and adaptable with the gift of preaching God’s word and administration. The ability to work in teams is essential. Expectations include, leading worship, preparing worship for live, as well as virtual services in cooperation and collaboration with ministry team, pastoral care, spiritual and leadership development and community outreach.
Six Mile Run Church is a diverse family of God, an inclusive community for all, united in faith, hope and love. To learn more about us, who we are, and what we desire for our future read our Self-Study by visiting our website at https://www.sixmilerun.org/ and click on “View the Study Here.” To read “Our Church Profile” go to https://www.rca.org/pastor-search-support/.
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Job: Pastor
Stanton Reformed Church,
Hunterdon County, NJ
Here at Stanton Reformed, Hospitality is our Heart. In 2019 we adopted an ambitious Welcome Statement in an effort to create an expression of our mission of hospitality that we could live and grow into. We put that Statement prominently on the front page of our website and created an All Are Welcome working group to push us and challenge us as we grow our understanding and gifts of hospitality.
Our excellent music program sets the stage and creates the atmosphere for our worship and warm community life. We value traditional worship with a blend of chancel choir, bell choir, instrumental music by our members as well as outside ensembles.
We are thrilled to have a solid group of families with young children who want to raise their children in faith. Our next pastor will guide us into the next season of spiritual growth, for individuals, families and children of all ages.
We look forward to partnering with our new Pastor as we learn and live into our new mission statement: We see God's light in every person. Through faith, worship, fellowship, and hospitality, Christ calls us to affirm, accept, and embrace all who enter our doors.
Applicants with 5+ years in ordained ministry may anticipate $53-60K cash salary plus parsonage, 4 weeks of vacation, 1 week of study leave, and appropriate reimbursable expenses.
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Need inspiration in these challenging times? Check out our new podcast, Lavish Hope, stories of resilience and overcoming. Available on Spotify, Apple and Google players.
Find out about Women's Transformation & Leadership and sign up for our quarterly enewsletter at www.rca.org/women.
Join our community on Facebook ("RCA Women" closed group and "She is Called" page)
She is Called/Ella es Llamada
Women of the Bible Study,
Volume 1 - print editions
in English and Spanish
now available!
"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing." 1Thessalonians 5:11
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WATCH THE RECORDING FROM THE JUNETEENTH JUBILEE HELD JUNE 19TH, SPONSORED BY THE DIVERSITY JUSTICE AND MERCY COMMITTEE OF THE CLASSIS OF NEW BRUNSWICK
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NRC is looking to hire a new part-time interim administrator (see the attached job description). We foresee this job requiring 20 hours/week some of which will be on Sunday mornings. We can pay $15-$20/hr based on experience. If interested please contact Rev. Chris Kile at pastor@neshanicreformedchurch.org or 215-933-8805.
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REGIONAL SYNOD OFFICE MOVES BACK TO NEW BRUNSWICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY SPACE
35 Seminary Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
848-237-1794
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CAMP WARWICK SUMMER CAMP
SCHEDULE NOW POSTED!
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Summer camp is a place to experience the love of God in a transformational way. Campers begin their mornings in voices of praise and end each fun packed day in quite devotional conversations in their cabins. Camp is a place where kids grow at every level; some will grow emotionally as they navigate the new friendships at camp while others will grow physically as they conquer the climbing wall for the first time. There are new skills that are developed all in God’s natural creation.
The time spent outdoors is the cornerstone of the camp experience. Our children unfortunately spent more time in front of a screen than they do outdoors, and this year of pandemic has forced more time in front of digital screens. Children need to cultivate a sense of wonder by spending time in God’s majestic creation, climbing a hill, swimming in a lake, learning about trees and animals; realizing the awesomeness of this place we call home.
While at camp, campers are encouraged, they are reminded how they are the beloved of God and have value. They have the freedom to develop new friendships in a climate where there is no judgement of peer pressure. Camp is a place where the Christian story is lived out in the daily experience of acceptance. A joy of the camping experience at Warwick is our campfires, where we sing, tell stories, and everyone has a chance to participate and where everyone is honored for their contribution.
Our hope is that every camper has the opportunity to deepen the relationship with God that has been fostered by you, their faith communities, or that they will experience for the first time a loving God that cares for them, through time in creation, time in worship, or just a quiet conversation with a new friend.
Our theme for Summer 2021 is “MADE UNIQUE” building on the theme of Psalm 139.
In Psalm 139, David celebrates God’s unique knowledge of him when he speaks about God being the master weaver creating all of his internal and external features; but not only did God do this, but God also made him a living soul with the capability to have an intimate relationship with God. In this Psalm, David responds to God’s gift of life in awe and wonder.
All of us are special and at Camp Warwick and Camp Sunrise we want our campers to realize that we are a marvelously unique creation made with loving hands and we are welcomed by an ever-loving God and belong to a community.
We are asking that you consider taking a special offering on a Sunday in June for our camps. We are grateful for the generosity that you have shown to us throughout this past year of pandemic. We are excited to have the laughter of our campers back this summer! There is a bulletin insert available for download along with a few nature craft ideas for families or Christian Education classes on our website: www.campwarwick.org/giving.
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MORE ONLINE LEARNING COHORTS |
The Churches Learning Change Big East community is pleased to announce 10 months of innovative resourcing designed to respond to the current pandemic reality and assist congregations and leaders in seeking flourishing as we move toward a new normal. ALL are invited to participate!
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Post the flyer on the left at your church or include in your emailings. The image below contains an online form to apply. |
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Are you using a VR headset and exploring how virtual reality might be used in ministry? Let's have a conversation! |
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MURAL and other online whiteboards provide a way to add more interaction to zoom meetings. Let me know if you want to explore this further. |
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GATHER TOWN is a fun way to add some social involvment to your online options. |
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DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ADAPTING AND INNOVATING TO SHARE FOR INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT? SEND IT TO US! |
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NJ CONGREGATIONAL CENTER FOR CANCER CARE |
We have created an online gathering of all of the newsletters of the program. Find help for those facing cancer.
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CHURCH BASED MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVE |
We've created an online gathering of all of the newsletters the program has sent out during COVID. Very helpful insights to pass along to your congregations! |
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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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