rsmat
Quick Notes Update for March 28, 2020
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.
emotional
CANCELLATIONS
laydinner
2020 Lay Recognition Dinner
 POSTPONED
crossroads

CROSSROADS WOMEN'S 35TH CONFERENCE
POSTPONED

FAITHWALKING 101
POSTPONED

***************************************

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

VARIOUS RESOURCES

A letter and article by Walter Brueggemann from the Journal For Preachers referencing the COVID-19 crisis

United Reformed Church youtube message for 
Sunday, March 29

Classis Delaware Raritan learnings about virtual worship

Ocean Community Church, Manahawkin
Streams at this link
Online giving and website at this link

Classis Delaware Raritan has a list of congregations doing adaptive ministry

Albany Synod churches doing adaptive ministry
IS YOUR CHURCH OR CLASSIS DOING ADAPTIVE MINISTRY IN THIS EMERGENCY?
Send us an  email  to we can tell your story!






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

URBAN MINISTRY TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH

I would love for our classis to be aware of something that New City Kids is doing this Sunday at 3pm. I work at this Christian nonprofit where we bring whole life transformation to youth in Jersey City, Paterson, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. We run after school programming where kids are tutored and taught how to play instruments by teenagers from the very same neighborhoods. Then the teens receive academic, musical, leadership, and spiritual development from our adult staff.

On March 29th, Sunday at 3PM, we are having our first ever Hope-raiser to share the mission and impact of New City Kids. This amazing and uplifting show will be done online via youtube. All people have to do is click this link to register and they will get a link to watch the show earlier on Sunday. Churches can have this be a part of their fellowship for their Sunday as families at home can watch it together!



The show is a great way for our churches to get introduced and involved in urban ministry. I know many of the churches in our area are looking for ways to be involved in next generation and youth development and this is one incredibly way where they can get in touch with this type of holistic ministry.

If any leaders want to follow up and see how they can get their churches involved with New City Kids, they can reach me directly via email (sookonkim714@gmail.com) or cell (201-693-8793).

In Him,
Soo
201-693-8793
sookonkim714@gmail.com
DO YOU HAVE HR AND PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHURCH STAFF?

HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES ABOUT HOW THE STIMULUS PACKAGE MAY AFFECT CHURCHES


ALSO FROM THE RCA NOTING A SEMINAR ON THE CARES ACT


FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR A LIST OF COVID RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FROM RCA, UCC, CHRISTIANITY TODAY AND OTHERS
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 

website posts 

and

calendar  

calendar 

for more current events!