Grace and Gratitude Newsletter, June 2020

I have not written in my journal for three weeks. Even though engaging my journal daily has been a ritual of mine for about 20 years, I have not been able to scratch out a sentence since my mom’s unexpected death three weeks ago. This has been a difficult road. The day before my mom died, I was eager to start a week of vacation. I was exhausted and spent; I needed to get away and experience healing and restoration. Even though I am fortunate to have work, COVID-19 was taking a toll on my life and energy. I was teleworking and living a new normal that I was not sure I had the gifts to endure. More

No justice, no breath A Just Worship documentary challenges churches to actively seek justice — or risk losing their breath. The documentary and its discussion guide are great resources to use as an entry point to have difficult conversations about race and racial justice. Learn

Vital Conversations The Vital Congregations team hosts weekly Zoom conversations on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. through July 20 on the Seven Marks of a Vital Congregation. Guests from around the denomination and globe will discuss how God is using the marks to transform congregational life — as they navigate COVID and post-COVID waters. Join via https://zoom.us/j/95057957584 More

Everyday God-talk View the latest Everyday God-talk from the Office of Theology & Worship. The Associate for Theology, So Jung Kim, talks with the Rev. Dr. Reggie Williams, an associate professor of Christian ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Williams suggests a moral analogy, which examines Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s criticism of the racial ideology in 20th-century Nazi Germany, comparing it to the white supremacy in the 21st-century racialized America. Watch

Faith formation at home Christian faith formation leaders say the pandemic has revitalized parents’ role of shaping their children’s spiritual development. Read

Mission Program Grants Eleven new worshiping communities and two presbyteries have received Mission Program Grants. The grants aim to help "1001" communities start and grow into their mission — and presbyteries’ congregational transformation efforts. More

‘Becoming Presbyterian’ Nick Pickrell (second from right, organizer of The Open Table KC) has never set foot in a seminary. But after five years co-leading this new worshiping community in Kansas City, Missouri, he’s going through the process of becoming a commissioned ruling elder. Discover how he and other "1001" leaders are "Becoming Presbyterian" in this latest new worshiping community video. Watch

Matthew 25-Actively engaged in the world The Matthew 25 invitation was officially launched in April of 2019. Over a year later there are more than 530 churches, groups and mid councils that have made the commitment to become a Matthew 25 church and work towards building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty. Learn about this bold vision

Coronavirus/COVID-19 — Latest church resources for congregations and members

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