|
|
|
|
Being More Together
Find the latest COVID-19 resources
on the Synod website here.
|
|
|
Synod of the Trinity
Answers are in! Click on the photo to view the comments from church leadership in our region about how things are going in this time & place.
Beaver-Butler
Old Union Church opens hearts (and now its doors) during pandemic
Old Union Presbyterian Church in Mars, PA, has been stepping up during this pandemic. The congregation hosted its first blood drive, has made more than 400 masks available to the community and took part in an eight-pastor online Good Friday service.
Last weekend, with Butler County in the yellow phase of precautions, Old Union held in-person worship for the first time since mid-March. Many, many safety measures were put into place for the three services that were held in order to observe social distancing guidelines. Find a list of them and even a video that outlines them in the story here.
Lackawanna
An offering that makes sense: We are servants, we go and help serve'
One of the roadblocks when it comes to online worship is the taking and receiving of the offering. While most relate "an offering" to monetary contributions, the Rev. Dr. Martha Jordan in the Presbytery of Lackawanna is making sure that the two congregations she's presiding over (Wyoming Presbyterian Church and First United Presbyterian Church of West Pittston, PA) understand that offerings come in many different shapes and sizes.
Click here to learn more about Martha's message.
West Virginia
A service of lament and hope
The worship service above, created by the Presbytery of West Virginia, is composed of recorded scripture readings, poetry and music, and is accompanied by a bulletin and hymn lyrics.
This service invites us individually, in our congregations, and beyond to engage with and prayerfully process this grief and to see, with God's help, some bit of hope for the present moment.
View the recording of the service here.
Synod of the Trinity
Technology Grant
 We are experiencing a period of great need for community in Christ. Discernment and creativity are critical as we journey forward to connect and create deep, meaningful experiences in a virtual setting that will progress and keep momentum into the future.
The Synod of the Trinity Technology Grant is intended to support congregations and presbyteries in procuring the technology, technological training and support, and/or technological needs assessment critical to moving forward with their ministry in these changing times.
More information on this grant is available here.
Coronavirus Resources & Information
The Synod of the Trinity continues to update its resource pages in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Links to our information can be found below.
Coronavirus
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bruce Reyes-Chow to lead workshop
The Synod of the Trinity has been invited to join with Lackawanna, Lehigh and Northumberland Presbyteries in hosting past GA Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow on Tuesday, June 16, at 1 p.m. to discuss "Ideas for a Hybridized Worship Experience Between People on Zoom and People in Person."
More information is available here.
PCUSA proposes no per capita increase in 2021-22
Because of significant revenue declines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, revised budgets for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 2021 and 2022 call for millions of dollars less in spending over what had been presented just a month ago – reflecting the lacerating financial impact the pandemic is having across the globe.
The reports suggest the prospect of significant income declines across the PC(USA) continuing over the next several years, with income down about 25 percent overall in 2020 and 2021. The proposed budgets call for no General Assembly per capita increase in 2021 and 2022.
Read more about this decision here.
Recording: Live Streaming for the Long Haul
Rev. Brian Wallace, the associate minister to Pittsburgh Presbytery, hosted a webinar on “Live Streaming for the Long Haul” in early May. This webinar explored the five technical components required for live streaming a typical worship gathering.
It provided a topic of discussion so that you and your congregation are ready to “go live” as we move into the future.
The recording and other helpful links are available here.
Top 10 reasons your pastor needs a break
In this time of the coronavirus, pastors are doing more than ever to help keep their congregations connected. Some may feel that they need to be on every video conference call and reach out to every member of the church in order to justify their work. (Some people believe with no live service on Sunday, the pastor has less to do. This simply is not true.)
It is resulting in burnout and exhaustion for many clergy. Find a way to give your pastor a break, a vacation, so that she or he can recharge her/his battery. Check out this article that helps explain why your pastor needs a break.
SoMA offering sermons on 4th week of month
The Synod of Mid-America is offering a pre-recorded sermon every fourth Sunday during the period of online worship. By signing up for their mailing list, you will receive an email the Wednesday prior with links to a video, audio recording and a print copy to use as you see fit. Two weeks prior, they will email you with the sermon title, scripture text, theme and preacher so you can choose relevant hymns and prayers.
To sign up for their mailing list, click here.
Presbyterian Outlook creates video devotions
The Presbyterian Outlook is creating a weekly video devotion, worship liturgies that you and your church are welcome to use and share no matter what your worship looks like these weeks, and lessons and guides for child-friendly family worship and education.
Presbyterian Outlook invites us to use their weekly lectionary reflections, Looking Into The Lectionary, for weekly worship, Bible study or devotions. And they will be posting information and resources frequently for as long as we are homebound.
Find helpful resources on Synod website
The Synod of the Trinity continues to be a resource hub for the region. On the Synod's website, you can find helpful links to the following categories:
If you have something to contribute to these sections, or have an idea for a resource page, contact Synod Communications Coordinator Mike Givler at mgivler@syntrinity.org.
Subscribe to the Synod's enews today!
If you or someone you know would benefit from receiving the Synod of the Trinity's e-newsletter, simply send that person's email address to Synod Communications Coordinator Mike Givler at mgivler@syntrinity.org and he'll get you signed up!
Synod office working virtually
Due to the coronavirus, the Synod of the Trinity staff is working remotely until further notice. This link provides contact information for us.
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment