rsmat
Quick Notes Update for April 30, 2019

PRAYERS FOR OUR ANNUAL MEETING SATURDAY, MAY 4 AS DELEGATES FROM EACH OF OUR CLASSES GATHER

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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

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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.


SAVE THE DATES

Training for Handling Sexual Abuse Allegations in Churches
Saturday, October 5th from 9 AM - 4:30 PM
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

RCA MISSION 2020
January 16-18, 2020

5th Annual We Shall Over-Run 5K run 
and 1 Mile Walk
Saturday May 4
 
On Saturday May 4 Lebanon Reformed Church will hold our 5th Annual We Shall Over-Run 5K run and 1 Mile Walk. Over the years we have been blessed with big turn-outs and generous donations to support Hunterdon Hospice.

This year the race will be dedicated as a celebration of the life of Rev. Rebekah (Becky) Pratt (Stanton Reformed Church).

Proceeds from the race/walk will benefit both Hunterdon Hospice and The Rebekah Pratt Legacy Campaign.

Online registration is now open to accept your entries and additional donations (if you choose) at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Lebanon/WeShallOverRun5K

So, come on out on Saturday May 4 for a morning of fellowship, fun, music, and refreshments. Spread the word to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. and organize a running/walking team to help make this year's event a success! I hope to see you there!

 

 The Great Synod of Dort was convened in the city of Dordrecht, the Netherlands, in response to a national crisis precipitated in the young republic over the question of human free will. Meeting in 180 sessions between November, 1618, and May, 1619, the Synod not only addressed that question, but touched on issues of liturgy and government as well, and not only involved the Dutch, but also brought in theologians from across Europe. And the effects of what happened at Dort and how the world understood Reformed thought have echoed through the Reformed world to this very day-and not always in positive ways.



On Thursday, May 9, from 9:30 to 3:00, the Reformed Church Center at New Brunswick Theological Seminary will celebrate the anniversary of the end of the Great Synod of Dort by hosting a discussion: 400 Years After Dort: Owning It and Letting It Go. 

We will be led in our discussion by some leading Reformed thinkers as we look at the effects of the Synod and discuss which aspects of Dort should be kept, refreshed, and built upon, and which we might well let go of as we enter a new century. There will be presentations by David Daniels, III; Daniel Meeter; Suzanne McDonald; Allan Janssen; and Matthew van Maastricht, with responses by Imos Wu, Kent McHeard, Young Na, Alfred Correa, and Janice McLean-Farrell. Go to https://www.nbts.edu/events/400-years-dort-owning-letting-go/ for more information.

The suggested donation for the day is $10.00, but seminarians are welcome for free and everyone else is welcome regardless of the ability to pay. RSVP to jbrumm@nbts.edu by Monday, May 6.

James Hart Brumm, Director
The Reformed Church Center
The Seminary Archives
The Theological Writing Center;
General Editor, Beardslee Press
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
848-237-1760
 ADRIAN CONDIS QUARTET TO BE FEATURED ON FINAL CONCERT  OF INAUGURAL OLD NORTH REFORMED CHURCH CHAMBER SERIES

The Old North Reformed Church in Dumont is pleased to present woodwind
specialist Adrian Condis, a Bergen County resident and graduate of the esteemed jazz program at
William Paterson University, in the church's historic sanctuary on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at
4:00 pm.

 

NEW BRUNSWICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
SPRING COMMENCEMENT
MAY 18, 2019 

Dear NBTS Family and Friends,
As January 2019 comes to a close, I am emailing you to communicate two exciting pieces of information surrounding our May 18, 2019 Spring Commencement. First, we are honored to have as our commencement speaker the Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Second, in an effort to accommodate our graduates and their families, our alumni, our supporters, our faculty and staff, and our friends we will hold our commencement at NBTS in the Rutgers Tent on Bishops Place behind their Honor's College.

Thus, on behalf of the NBTS Board of Trustees, faculty members, staff, and most importantly our graduating students, please accept this email as your invitation to attend our 2019 Spring commencement. See you on May 18, 2019!

In Joy and In Justice!
Rev. Micah L. McCreary, Ph.D.
President
John Henry Livingston Professor of Theology

"Think critically, act justly, and lead faithfully!"
New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
35 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732.247.5241, Ext. 1724
New Brunswick Theological Seminary @ St. John's University 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439; 718.990.6000; Fax: 718.990.5932

click on the image above for full information





 

CONGREGATIONS IN OUR REGION SEEKING PASTORS



VISIT OUR REGIONAL SYNOD ONLINE CALENDAR!



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Remember that the Synod Foundation has opportunities for loans and even some grants
...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.



FREE Online Learning Opportunities
Mediated Organizations: 
Technology for your church ministry

We are setting up online seminars for the Fall season. Please let us know which topics are of interest to you. Seminars are usually held online using Zoom or GoToMeeting on Thursday evenings. Other times are available on request.
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. Using Twitter 
  3. Using free and low cost websites
  4. Using higher end paid websites
  5. Using podcasts
  6. Using mind mapping for planning and meetings
  7. Using visual thinking for planning and meetings
  8. Using online collaborative platforms for teams and organizations: basecamp, slack and more
  9. Using projection in your church ministry
  10. 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 

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and

calendar  

calendar 

for more current events!