Quick Notes Update for December 9, 2022
version 2
added Grace Reformed search
removed Saddle Brook worship leader search
added Dismantling Racism meeting


Advent Candles In Church - Three Purple And One Pink As A Catholic Symbol
ADVENT IS ARRIVING! Let's share ideas and events with each other for inspiration and encouragement!


PONDS REFORMED CHURCH
Tuesday, December 13 at 1:30 pm (ET), for our last Dismantling Racism Prayer Gathering of 2022

Dear Siblings in Christ,
 
In this season of Advent, we are called to wait - to wait expectantly as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior and Messiah. We also wait with hope for his promised return.
In our work with Dismantling Racism, we also wait - we wait for all people to be treated equally, for justice to roll down like a river, and for all nations and tribes to gather at the throne of God. But in our waiting, we are called to pray. We are called to lament with hope and rejoice that we do have a Savior who has come into our broken world to restore the relationship with our God.
 
With this in mind, we invite you to join us on Tuesday, December 13 at 1:30 pm (ET), for our last Dismantling Racism Prayer Gathering of 2022. We will join our hearts together in Advent Liturgy, Poetry, Testimony, and Music as we ponder the Bethlehem of long ago. We will also hear brief reflections from our own Rev. Liz Testa and Rev. Dr. Joanne VanSant about their recent trip to Bethlehem. 
 
Our team will create a hospitable virtual space grounded in trust, vulnerability, humility, and unity as we engage this catalytic prayer opportunity to gather with like-minded leaders. Whether you are part of the RCA or another denomination, you are welcome to join us as we seek to move beyond words to true heart transformation resulting in transformative action with missional ripple effects that bring about healing, restoration, and flourishing for the whole church. This work is grounded in Rev. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier’s 1 Cor. 13 Project.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, December 13 at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT. Please register here if you haven't already and help spread the word to others. As always, all are welcome!

In peace, hope and solidarity ~
 
The Dismantling Racism Planning Team
Nancy Boote, Micheal Edwards, Lorraine Parker, Cynthia Peters, Jeremy Simpson, Liz Testa, Joanne Van Sant, Gordon Wiersma, and Gerri Yoshida 

Greetings!
The Church Multiplication Team has contracted with MissionInsite (see link at top) for one year. Any RCA church can request an analysis of their context. They can receive 3 different responses.  Churches may search by zip code or by street boundaries or by another geographic description.  

They will get data regarding Beliefs about God, Beliefs about Jesus, Beliefs about Moral and Spiritual Values, Faith and Religious Involvement in their context. They also get an Executive report about demographics.  They can contact me aletashepler@gmail.com for assistance.  

Peace and Grace, 
Aleta Shepler 
Church Multiplication Committee RSMAT 
INNOVATIVE MINISTRY

Rev. Donald VanAntwerpen is developing a unique virtual ministry. He invites others to follow and provide feedback and he reaches out through youtube.
A SHARED RCA/CRC RESOURCE ENCOURAGING VIBRANT CONGREGATIONS
DID YOU MISS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION IN YOUR SEMINARY YEARS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO RENEW YOUR SKILLS? CHECK THE NEW COLLABORATIVE CRC/RCA PROGRAM BELOW (Click on the link for the full brochure)
Full-time Lead Pastor for North Branch Reformed Church, a thriving congregation of 300 active members in beautiful Bridgewater, N.J. Must be an ordained minister/pastor and have prior experience. Compensation: Commensurate with experience, following the Classis of Delaware-Raritan guidelines. 
Visit https://www.nbrc.com/about/job-opportunities for complete job description and church information. Interested candidates are asked to email their resume to pastorsearch@nbrc.com.
Is God calling you to bi-vocational ministry?
The New Jersey Air National Guard is looking for clergy who meet these qualifications:
·       Be a United States citizen, dual citizenship is not accepted.
·       Possess baccalaureate degree with not less than 120 semester hours of undergraduate credit from an accredited college or university.
·       Possess Master's Degree in Theology or related subjects (not less than 72 semester hrs) from an accredited institution.
·       Be qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve Air Force personnel.
·       Be less than 40 years of age at the time of appointment. Age waivers are considered for prior military service and critical faith groups.
·       Pass the Air Force physical examination, and meet weight standards.
·       Pass a National Agency Check security background check and qualify for a security clearance.
·       Possess an ecclesiastical endorsement from a recognized denomination or faith. (The Reformed Church in America is a recognized denomination.)
·       Be available for the minimum required paid training.
·       Be available to attend the five-week paid Commissioned Officer Training (COT) and the six-week paid Basic Chaplain Course (BCC) within the first two years in the program.
·       Be sensitive to religious diversity and provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their dependents, and other authorized personnel the military services serves.
In the New Jersey Air National Guard, a Chaplain provides religious ministries of worship, religious education, pastoral care, counseling and visitation. Military Chaplains are non-combatants; as such, they are not allowed to handle weapons when in uniform. Pay is commensurate with officer rank and years in service.
Curios?
Contact: (908) 336-2869
Rev. Dr. David Kahler - Minister of Word and Sacrament, Delaware-Raritan Classis
Ch, Lt Col, David Kahler – Wing Chaplain, 108th Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN IMPROVING YOUR TECHNOLOGY USE!

Would you like to:
Discuss church software for managing member information and online donations?
Learn to use email newsletters to keep members informed?
Rework your website to a more modern look?
Create online forms for people to register for events and provide feedback?
Create online visual databases like the livestream example above?
Take your livestream to the next level?
Develop a social media plan and a team to implement it?

REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AS WE FORM LEARNING GROUPS!


THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES FOR ADDING THEIR LIVESTREAM INFORMATION TO OUR ARCHIVES PAGE
Wyckoff Reformed
Three Bridges Reformed
Ocean Community, Mahahawkin
Parkside Community
RSMAT churches are livestreaming and maintaining recorded service archives. This presents us with a unique opportunity to learn from each other and celebrate the amazing gifts in our community! Please use this webform to provide us with your church livestream link and a link to your recorded services archive. We will make a single page view available of all of this information so that you can visit around and get inspired!
Are you using a VR headset and exploring how virtual reality might be used in ministry? Let's have a conversation!
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.
GATHER TOWN is a fun way to add some social involvment to your online options.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ADAPTING AND INNOVATING TO SHARE FOR INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT? SEND IT TO US!
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.
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!
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.