Synod Enews: Beloved Community Series; WMI's Race & God's Mission

 

	Sept. 10, 2020 The Synod of the Trinity Being More Together   Find the latest COVID-19 resources on the Synod website here. Synod of the Trinity A Time For Seeking ... The Beloved Community Author Rev. Dr. James Calvin Davis kicks off series Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. (EDT) Download complete flyer here The Synod of the Trinity is offering opportunities for us to consider and engage some of the issues and concerns of our times in light of Martin Luther King's Beloved Community. The first in the series will occur Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. (EDT) by video conferencing system Zoom. Rev. Dr. James Calvin Davis, of Middlebury College, will set the stage for the series by discussing: "Characteristics of the Beloved Community." In later weeks, we will move on to look at a variety of issues, including racism, hyper partisanship and technology. James' name may be familiar to you if you have read his book "Forbearance." Registration is mandatory here. For more information, including a review of James' book "Forbearance" and how to order it at a reduced cost, click here. It is not necessary to read the book to be part of the presentation. World Mission Initiative Jesus Christ and the 'Dividing Wall': Race & God's Mission On Wednesday evenings in October, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will host a four-part online series through World Mission Initiative titled "Jesus Christ and the 'Dividing Wall': Race and God's Mission." This free event will help churches find resources on how to have deep conversations on race. This series is a combination of the planned WMI Conference and the annual McClure Lecture in World Mission and Evangelism, co-sponsored by Continuing Education at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. For more details on the series, click here. Philadelphia Chester, PA, youth continue to excel through Freedom House initiative In September of 2017, in honor of the Synod of the Trinity’s 300th birthday, we awarded five Freedom Grants to congregations in our region. Freedom Grants were available for seed projects relating to a General Assembly priority around the plight of the African-American male. One of those grants went to Thomas M. Thomas and Aston Presbyterian Churches in the Presbytery of Philadelphia, which created the Freedom House. The Freedom House project is training local high school students to learn valuable construction, communication and team-building skills by transforming an unused property into a rehabilitation center. Read more about this initiative here. West Virginia At Enslow Park, PPP means 'People, Projects and Prayer' Enslow Park Presbyterian Church in West Virginia got creative when it received $36,000 in PPP loan money from the government. About $20,000 went to pay the utilities and salaries of the church’s five-member staff. The rest was used to hire 12 new employees to help with much-needed building repairs, several of which were their own church members. “For us, it has not been the ‘Paycheck Protection Program,’ it has been the ‘People, Projects and Prayer’ program,” said Pastor John Yeager, C.P. To read more about this creative plan, click here. Donegal Church embraces 'Masks for Neighbors' mission The Presbyterian Outlook Central Presbyterian Church in Downingtown, PA, created a "Masks for Neighbors" outreach recently, creating and offering masks to anyone who needed them in the community. It was a way to help everyone “love their neighbors” better. As of Sept. 1, the church has shared 1,800 masks with the community. To read more about this outreach, click here. PCUSA Stewardship Kaleidoscope moving online for 2020 Stewardship Kaleidoscope will be online in 2020 for three consecutive Tuesdays: Sept. 22, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 at 11:30 a.m.. Each week theological, practical and actionable perspectives will be shared. After the presentation a live Q&A session will follow – allowing additional time to share and learn further. Kaleidoscope is the Presbyterian Foundation-sponsored Annual National Stewardship Conference. It is for pastors, lay leaders and anyone who is looking to learn more about stewardship in today’s church context. Over 30 workshops will be offered. More information is available here.
Synod Sunday Sept. 20 Synod Sunday is Sept. 20. For those who don’t know (or remember), we have been doing a Synod Sunday for the past couple of years on the Sunday closest to Sept. 17, which is when our Synod first met in 1717. It's a time to share with our region the good work that has been occurring in our Synod. This year, the Synod will be producing a two-minute video that can easily be inserted into your online or in-person worship service on that Sunday. Look for more details next week! Synod's Ecumenical Grant helping in this unique time The past few months have presented new needs, new missional opportunities and new relationships. Have you been challenged in new ways to partner with other denominations to live out the love of Christ in your community? Has a local ministry need emerged or been pondered during these COVID impacted times? There may be grant support available to you to carry out this important work. A one-time grant of up to $2,000 is available for you to apply for, the application deadline is Nov. 1. Click here for more details and to access the Ecumenical Grant application. Presbyterian Week of Action resources available The Presbyterian Chuch (U.S.A.) held a Justice Week of Action in late August. This endeavor was structured to provide a public witness that facilitated education, visibility and action that reinforces our PCUSA statements and policy around the support of eradicating racism and acknowledging that God loves all Black lives. If you missed any of the events that occurred during that week, you can find recordings of videos and other resources here. BoP provides updates for 2021 plans Rev. Dr. Doug Portz has provided up-to-date information on the changes to the 2021 Benefits Plan of the Board of Pensions. Click here to see the updates to the program. Two options in Moving For Krislund's virtual fundraiser With the hope of raising $10,000, Huntingdon, Carlisle and Northumberland Presbyteries are sponsoring a virtual event called Moving For Krislund. Here are two basic ways that you can participate: 1.      You can walk, run, or ride bikes. In doing so, you seek pledges for each unit of activity such as each mile walked, run or biked. 2.      Or, you can help Krislund move forward by cheering on and financially supporting those who are walking, running or biking. For more on this unique opportunity, click here. Synod has 200 blue hymnals available The Synod of the Trinity has 200 of the blue hymnals available to a good home. Take some, or take all. The only stipulation is that you arrange a time for pickup. If you are interested, email mgivler@syntrinity.org. Conversations about Life, Race & Faith In response to the killing of George Floyd, Pittsburgh Presbytery staff members Ralph Lowe and Brian Wallace are recording a series of conversations you are welcome to use with your congregation in whatever format you find appropriate. Recently recorded is a five-minute conversation about one thing people can do to seek reconciliation with those around them. It is available both on YouTube as well as a downloadable file that can easily be included in a pre-recorded worship service or a live Zoom meeting. As a follow-up, Ralph and Brian have also recorded a 35-minute conversation where they seek to model honest and thoughtful ways of talking about the realities of race. Find links to the recordings here. 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: Non-Presbyterian Denominational maps Ruling Elder Training Communications Tools and Resources Continuing Education Employment Financial Resources Church Safety PCUSA-Related Online Readings 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!
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