Click here to view this email as a Webpage Having trouble reading on a mobile device? Try turning off "dark mode" or viewing as a Webpage.

Our Mission: To identify and strengthen leaders  so that every congregation makes new and mature disciples for Jesus Christ.

The Easter Season is still here . . .

. . . and, like the first disciples between Easter and Pentecost, we're still safer-at-home and growing in faith in ways we never imagined. Christ is (still) risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ is (still) risen indeed! Easter came, though it wasn't the same. And we are still finding new ways to care for each other and our neighbors when gathering in new ways instead of in-person for worship, Sunday School, small groups, bible study and all the rest. In this eNews, Presbytery Coach and Coordinator Patrice Hatley has asked me to attach another lette r from her about continuing to be faithful in caring for each other as Florida enters "Phase 1" of moving forward from the initial response to the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Although the letter is addressed primarily to ministers of Word and Sacrament and clerks of sessions for conversations with leadership of our congregations and ministries, Patrice wanted it to be available to all of you. Please take a few minutes to read Patrice's letter before scrolling on for the rest of the eNews. In the letter, she mentions several resources; along with links embedded in the letter, each of those pieces are included below for your convenience along with some others so you can find them later. + + + As I was typing this on Wednesday, Governor DeSantis had just announced the first steps in his plan to re-open Florida. While some businesses begin to reopen next Monday, he was also careful to say that we should still avoid gatherings of 10 or more people as has been the case for a while now. Church leaders, like civil and political leaders across the country, have been wrestling with very similar questions about what's next, and we've been fielding calls and emails from churches and ministries both large and small. Like so many small and large business leaders are asking government, many of you have been asking us, "when can we reopen?" Along with that is a sometimes stated, sometimes silent question: "when can we get back to normal?" But, as Patrice observes in her letter, we won't be going back , we'll be going forward . In the meantime, along with links to things Patrice mentioned in her letter, this issue of the eNews contains links to a few of the other resources we've been looking at and talking about with our counterparts around the country, No one of the things in any of the links below is the answer to all your questions or the checklist for your church to follow step-by-step, or the right solution for a particular setting in this presbytery. But, all of them offer some important things to think about in beginning to have discussions about what worship and ministry will look like as we move forward and as civil and public health authorities begin relaxing both enforceable orders and recommended guidelines, and later begin permitting groups larger than 10 to gather again. As we continue to move through the Easter Season toward Pentecost, and look forward to whatever's next, look below for info and links to: An article from Presbyterian News Service called Read and heed ‘Returning to Church’ long before it’s deemed safe to worship in person describing and linking to the guide from the Wisconsin Council of Churches Patrice mentioned. An article from Presbyterian News Service called Flattening the curve means keeping churches closed for now, leaders say with a subheading of "All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial." An opinion piece from Christianity today called Churches Should Not Be the First to Reopen, that notes how "the demographics of many US congregations make sanctuaries a risky place for gatherings to resume." A popular list of 24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return that several of you have asked about. Not every question will fit your setting, but they give more ideas of the things church leaders are exploring as we look ahead. A piece on Relaunching Church: How to Seize this Moment for Your Church’s Future, that asks, "What do we want to take into the future from the present crisis?" A fascinating piece called What Relaunching the Church Might Look Like Over the Next 3–12 Months, that leads off with "We are in the midst of a crisis that is forcing the church to learn a new song and dance." And, because several have asked, a Q&A on copyright law when live-streaming worship or other services and a new "limited podcast/streaming license" to help fill the gaps in what existing music licenses already cover. And a little bit more along the way! Things look different. Things will look different. But this is also still true: Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed! Blessings, Bill Rev. William A. Wildhack III Stated Clerk and Manager of Communications (813) 868-4800, opt. 2 statedclerk@pbty.com + + + My work---and this newsletter---is supported by per capita funds from congregations in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, which also help unite all Presbyterians in sharing God’s love through mission and ministry. Thank you!

But first, two new things!

First, the Commission on Church Vitality has authorized a temporary, part-time contract for a Ministry Connections Consultant . . . . . . and we're pleased to reintroduce Rev. John Reiter to the Presbytery in this new role! John writes: The past weeks of social-distancing and safer-at-home orders have created unique challenges for the church that we have never had to face before. Many of us have explored new ways of being the church: communicating, providing alternative worship experiences, carrying out pastoral care, offering virtual Bible studies and meetings, and even receiving tithes and offerings. My role as Ministry Connections Consultant is simple; help you (congregations, new worshiping communities, and covenant partner ministries) in assessing your ministry connection needs, recommending solutions, and helping you implement them. This is certainly a challenging time, but it is also a time filled with opportunities for the Holy Spirit to breathe life into ministry. With new tools and methods and even some good old-fashioned tools like the telephone, we can connect and communicate with our members and neighbors like never before. The first step in this process is to get a better sense of how you and all the ministries in the Presbytery are currently connecting and to learn about your particular needs, joys and struggles. I invite you to take 5 minutes to fill out the survey at the link below. Once I begin to receive your responses, I will start setting up appointments to dig into what specific needs you have and to dialog about potential solutions. I look forward to serving God and you in this new way. Thank you and God bless, John Reiter Click here to complete the Ministry Connections Survey (or copy and paste this link into your browser if your computer won't let you click through: https://forms.gle/tkAqT3iN1e1DWgqM6 You can reach John by email at john@pbty.com -- but please don't all jump on him at once!

Bread for the World Webinar

Second, an invitation to join Libby Shannon and others in making a difference for hungry people everywhere Are you interested in how you and your congregation might make a difference for hungry people in this country and across the globe even while you're remaining at home? Libby writes: Join trainers from Bread for the World, as well as staffers from our local Congressional representatives' offices and local feeding ministries, to learn about the virtual Offering of Letters and how our voices can make a difference for children in our neighborhoods and siblings in Christ around the world. The training will be online via RingCentral at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 13: Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/2097051382 Or iPhone one-tap: +1(469)4450100,,2097051382# (US South) Or Telephone: +1(469)4450100 (US South) then enter Meeting ID  209 705 1382 Please reach out to Libby if you have questions at libby@pbty.com. More information about what Bread for the World does in our country and across the globe, please check out their website at www.bread.org.

Some of what faith leaders around the country are writing and reading and thinking and praying about as civil authorities discuss "re-opening"

The links below come from a variety of sources from around the country and different denominations and churches. The first four are mentioned in Patrice's letter, and we offer all of them for you to have a better understanding of some of the issues beyond orders from civil authorities and guidance from public health officials.

Read and heed ‘Returning to Church’ long before it’s deemed safe to worship in person A guide from the Wisconsin Council of Churches has valuable suggestions, issues to consider — even a checklist

While Patrice was writing her letter including a link to the "Returning to Church" guide prepared by the Wisconsin Council of Churches, the Presbyterian News Service published this story about the guide. The first line of the story includes a link to download the original guide as a PDF, and it's also available from a link on the PC(USA) "Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Congregations and Members" website at https://www.pcusa.org/covid19/.

Read and heed 'Returning to Church' long before it's... by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service LOUISVILLE - " Returning to Church," a thoughtful and thorough resource for ministry during the pandemic and published by the Wisconsin Council of Churches, may be the best thing to come out of the... Read more www.presbyterianmission.org

Flattening the curve means keeping churches closed for now, leaders say ‘All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial’

Flattening the curve means keeping churches closed for... by Tammy Warren | Presbyterian News Service LOUISVILLE - For a couple of months now, Presbyterians and other faith groups have been staying healthy at home, washing their hands constantly, social distancing, taking part in virtual church through... Read more www.presbyterianmission.org

Churches Should Not Be the First to Reopen The demographics of many US congregations make sanctuaries a risky place for gatherings to resume.

Part of our reality in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay is that over half of all members of congregations in our presbytery are over 55. In 2019, our churches reported active membership of people age 56-70 higher than any other age group -- except for 71 & over. Our congregations and ministries continue to serve largely at-risk populations as defined by the CDC, and as the CDC and the rest of the world have learned more about the novel coronavirus and the different ways it affects different people, plenty of people not otherwise thought to be at risk have been seriously affected.

Churches Should Not Be the First to Reopen After most of the United States has been under stay-at-home orders for the past several weeks, the governors of some key states have signaled their intention to begin reopening businesses in the coming days. With that policy shift, churches will... Read more www.christianitytoday.com

24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return

This list by the Director of Sunday School for LifeWay Christian Resources comes from a source that doesn't come up very often in the PC(USA), but Ken Braddy got out in front early in brainstorming questions for church leaders to think about. Not everything here will apply exactly to your situation, but it will give you something to think about as you look ahead. As he writes at the end: "This list of questions is not exhaustive. It’s representative of many things we should be thinking about right now, before we get the OK from government leaders to gather again."

24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return This post initially had 20 questions - but several comments from readers revealed the need to add to this list. This week we all received good news from our president: the country is going to slowly reopen, and that includes houses of worship. I... Read more kenbraddy.com

Remember: your phone or browser may not automatically show you the whole newsletter.  As you scroll down, watch for something near the end -- just after it seems the eNews ends awkwardly -- that looks like: [Message clipped]   View entire message If you see that, please click through that link to see the rest of the eNews!

Relaunching Church: How to Seize this Moment for Your Church’s Future

From the link: [I]t is an exceedingly rare occasion when both people and institutions all face the same defining moment together. A moment like that calls for a courageous church leadership to become ruthlessly honest about its current state, equally frank about the conditions of the mission field, and then audacious enough to ask the most candid question of all: “How should this shared moment prepare us to become Jesus’ church for the present-future?”

Relaunching Church: How to Seize this Moment for Your... What do we want to take into the future from the present crisis? Each life is shaped by a series of defining moments. Sometimes, these crucial episodes are a single, unpredicted hour within our lives. Sometimes, they are seasons. Read more www.christianitytoday.com

What Relaunching the Church Might Look Like Over the Next 3–12 Months We are in the midst of a crisis that is forcing the church to learn a new song and dance.

What Relaunching the Church Might Look Like Over the... Today, we are in the midst of a crisis that is forcing the church to learn a new song and dance. Back on March 19, Tomas Pueyo published an article titled " Coronavirus: The Hammer and the Dance." In that article, he argued for strong measures... Read more www.christianitytoday.com

Because it keeps coming up: Q & A on Copyright and Streaming - and one possible solution

Q&A: Did My Church Infringe on Copyright When Using... Q&A: Did My Church Infringe on Copyright When Using YouTube Videos in a Live-Stream Service? What church leaders must understand about copyright law when doing church online. I pastor a small, rural church. This past week, due to the social... Read more www.churchlawandtax.com

NOTE: The appearance of the information at the link below should not be read as an endorsement by the Presbytery of Tampa Bay of this particular vendor for a solution, but to let you know of one possibility. Each church or ministry should carefully research other possibilities that may fit its situation better.

ONE LICENSE Announces the Launch of the Limited Podcast... ONE LICENSE unveils a new Limited Podcast/Streaming License Chicago, Illinois, April 13, 2020- OneLicense, LLC is thrilled to launch, beginning Thursday, April 16, 2020, a new Limited Podcasting / Streaming License, perfect for those who... Read more news.onelicense.net

Online Worship Opportunities around the Presbytery of Tampa Bay

Many churches in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay are offering worship experiences — in a variety of formats — online both on Sunday and on other days of the week Our listing of online worship opportunities has outgrown the eNews! In the interest of keeping the eNews a little shorter and easier to read, we'll be updating the list on the Presbytery website and on Facebook from now on. Here's where you can find it: Click here for the updated listing on our website. Originally posted on March 15, it was last updated on Sunday, April 26. It's also available from the homepage; look for it as one of the top three items under "Latest News" at the top of the page. Click here to go to the Presbytery's Facebook page. The list is pinned to the top of the posts, so it shouldn't be hard to find --- and you can access it even without a Facebook account (though FB will nag you about creating an account). If you’re at one of the churches in this Presbytery offering online worship and don’t see your service listed at the links — or see an error — please send an email to info@pbty.com for adding to later updates.

New resources get added to the PC(USA) COVID-19 website regularly

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Congregations and Members Updated April 28, 2020 1:04 p.m. ET Newly added resources in red. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Read more www.pcusa.org

This site is expanding and being updated more frequently, so check back from time to see what's new! Here are the headings of the sections you'll find on the page to give you an idea of what you'll find there: Livestreaming and Online Worship Resources for Congregations Digital Worship Services for Members — Listings and Resources Worship and Sacramental Celebrations Resources for Mid Councils Stewardship and Financial Resources Documents and Helpful Information from the PC(USA) and the U.S. Government Responding to Community Needs Pastoral Opportunities to Stay Connected With Members and Colleagues Connect with God, Nature, Each Other and the Blessings that Sustain

Church Financial Management in Challenging times -- from Church Law & Tax

From the lInk: The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and the accompanying “stay-at-home” directives underway in most states, present numerous challenges to churches, particularly with respect to financial management. This one-hour webinar with CPA Mike Batts directly addresses these financial management challenges for pastors and church leaders. Download the presentation slides by clicking here or on the website at the link.

Church Financial Management in Challenging Times The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and the accompanying "stay-at-home" directives underway in most states, present numerous challenges to churches, particularly with respect to financial management. This one-hour webinar with CPA Mike Batts... Read more www.churchlawandtax.com

#titheyourcheck -- a challenge for people who don't need the CARES Act stimulus check as much as others might

From one of our pastors via Facebook Messenger . . . I’m starting a movement: many folks who are still being paid will receive a check from Uncle Sam. I challenge you to tithe or better that check to your favorite church. Because churches can’t have regular services, they are hurting financially. I’m signing over my entire check to [insert name of church]. How much will you give and to what church? #titheyourcheck Along with helping your church with some of your stimulus check, ask where else you can do some good for somebody else with the rest of the check. Maybe a food ministry or community food bank? Services for those who are homeless? Other ministries or charities?

Cedarkirk exists to provide faith-building experiences that are transformative and community-focused. We provide a place apart where all of God's children can nurture their spirits in a natural environment focused on relationship formation in a beautiful, natural setting.To see a complete list of our programs,click  here .

Find out more about COVID-19 and Cedarkirk's response by  clicking here .

Cedarkirk's board was scheduled to meet this week to discuss the summer; visit https://cedarkirk.org/ for updates.

Thank you for your support of the ministry at Cedarkirk!

Cedarkirk Capital Campaign Continues

Capital Campaign Cedarkirk's Capital Campaign Setting a place for all. Sharing meals is a fundamental means of caring for and including one another in fellowship and in the formation of community. The table is often at the heart of our giving thanks and is a... Read more cedarkirk.org

Food ministries continue to meet needs

Beth-El Farmworker Ministry continues to serve -- and needs your help Click below for a recent newsletter from Beth-El, including a list of needed items and how you can donate on line

You can keep the food distribution going! Beth-El Farmworker Ministry Staff Teresita Matos-Post, Executive Director. ext. 223 email: director@beth-el.org Rev. Tamara Leonard Lara, Pastor ext. 222 email: pastor@beth-el.org Roberto Villadoniga, Property Administrator ext. 224 email:... Read more us11.campaign-archive.com

Info from other organizations

Looking for some continuing education for the preacher that doesn't require any travel? The Festival of Homiletics is now ONLINE . . . and FREE! Join May 18-22, 2020 for a synchronous streaming experience of preaching and spiritual renewal

Festival of Homiletics The Festival of Homiletics is moving online! And because there's no better time than our current crisis to learn how to "preach a new earth," registration for the virtual conference is totally FREE! Already registered? Explore your options. NOTE: ... Read more www.festivalofhomiletics.com

Remember, there's always something new to see on our Facebook page and more at the Presbytery of Tampa Bay website, with info about all the presbytery commissions and committees, resources for clerks of session, news and announcements, and more. Click the button below to start exploring!

Visit the Presbytery of Tampa Bay's Website

Be sure to visit and follow us on Facebook, too!

‌

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! -- Bill