rsmat
Quick Notes Update for August 16, 2019

Be sure to like our facebook page for more updates!

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

See the developing archive of our past emails in the side bar of the news page!

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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.


TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE
  1. RCA Global Mission Facebook Live: Volunteer Opportunities
  2. Warwick Conference Center webpage updated
  3. Griggstown Harvest Home Festival
  4. Church World Service CROP walks in our region
  5. Community Mission Center of Long Branch: Lot Party
  6. Warwick summer camp staff reunion
  7. Reformed Church Home golf outing
  8. Seminary President to preach at Brookdale
  9. Town Clock CDC major fundraising event: special speaker
  10. Workshop on responding to abuse in the church: October event
  11. Mission 2020 January RCA event information
  12. RCA women's ministry Holy Land trip information
  13. Christian Health Care Center August Newsletter
  14. Ministers Pension reallocation information
  15. First Long Branch update
  16. Clergy financial flourishing grants
  17. Classis Delaware-Raritan congregational renewal grants
  18. Churches seeking pastors in our region
  19. Regional Synod online calendar
  20. Regional Synod Foundation grants and loans
  21. Opportunities for learning social media, church technology
rcaglobal
RCA FACEBOOK LIVE ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
MONDAY, AUGUST 19



Join us on Monday, August 19 at 3 p.m. EST on RCA Global Mission's Facebook page for Let's Talk: Volunteer Opportunities. This half-hour conversation will help you learn more about volunteering with RCA Global Mission and also give you a glimpse into the volunteer experiences that are available. Do you have a question about volunteering you'd like us to address during this webinar? Submit it here. 
warwick
WARWICK CONFERENCE CENTER



We've updated the webpage on our site, visit today!

"Echoing God's desire for all people to be still and draw near, the Warwick Conference Center is a broadly inclusive place of welcome, hospitality, reflection, and retreat where all are invited to seek renewal, pursue personal and corporate growth, and have the opportunity to listen for God's voice."
griggstown
 crop
MANY OF OUR CONGREGATIONS WILL BE TAKING PART IN CROP WALKS THIS FALL SEASON
FIND THE ONE NEAREST TO YOU AND BRING SOME FRIENDS!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEARCH
portico
 warwickreunion
rchgolf 
mcbrook
 click on the image below for the full flyertclockmetoo
abusechurch

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE FULL FLYER

mission2020
RCA MISSION 2020
January 16-18, 2020

calledholyland
chcc
pensionallocation
 MINISTERS PLEASE NOTE: REALLOCATION OF PENSION FUNDS OPPORTUNITY


flourishing
CLERGY FINANCIAL FLOURISHING GRANTS AVAILABLE AGAIN

The RCA is relaunching the Ministerial Excellence Fund. Through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. and a matching gift from BOBS, over the next year, the RCA plans to give away over $300,000 to pastors to relieve and eliminate personal debt.

About the grant:
The Ministerial Excellence Fund is used to give grants to pastors to relieve the burden of personal debt. Half of the fund is a generous gift from the Lilly Endowment, and BOBS will match those funds to double the amount to give away.

The Lilly Endowment states this conviction: Financial burdens carried by pastoral leaders are significant barriers to effective, faithful, and fruitful ministry. BOBS couldn't agree more, which is why it has utilized this fund to help clergy become financially healthy.

Along with distributing money, BOBS will offer financial planning and education to equip pastors to lead well in their ministries.

If you want to donate to the fund-and have your funds matched-to help lessen pastors' personal debt, you can do so below.

Who can apply?
RCA pastors: ordained ministers of Word and sacrament (including specialized ministers) and commissioned pastors. The grant covers a range of debt, including student loans, medical debt, credit card debt, and other common forms of debt. Average grants given in the past have been $5,000. Grant amounts are based on need and criteria met.



Click here to apply and for more information

cdrfoundation
ATTENTION CHURCHES
IN CLASSIS DELAWARE-RARITAN

The Classis of Delaware-Raritan has established a foundation whose
purposes are to support Church Multiplication, Clergy Renewal, and
Congregational Revitalization Projects to churches within the Classis of Delaware-Raritan. This foundation will provide grants to congregations,  not loans. (For loans, congregations may avail themselves of the Synod Foundation or the Reformed Church in America’s Church Growth Fund).  The first round of applications will be considered in the fall of 2019. The  deadline for applications (see attached) is September 1. All applicants for  grants for the coming year will be notified of the disposition of their  applications as soon as the Trustees have met and awarded the grants.






pastorjobs
CONGREGATIONS IN OUR REGION SEEKING PASTORS

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE CURRENT RCA LISTINGS


rsmatcalendar
VISIT OUR REGIONAL SYNOD ONLINE CALENDAR!



synodfoundation
Remember that the Synod Foundation has opportunities for loans and even some and even some starter grants for new missions
...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.



onlinelearning
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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calendar 

for more current events!