"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." Martin Luther King, Jr.
12 June 2020

Greetings in the name of Christ our Hope,

We are indeed people of hope. And as we all came together on Tuesday, I hope you experienced the community of Hudson River Presbytery in hope and love. From the Synod, to the national church, to all of those working within our Hudson River community – together, doing the good hard work of the Kingdom on earth.

This week’s updates :
· Reopen teams are hard at work, navigating the ever-shifting government organizations and preparing the necessary technical changes that will need to be made. As I noted on Tuesday, this is not JUST the work of Pastors, but that of all leaders in congregations. Please view and share with your Sessions this short video from Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson on opening:

· We will be offering two ZOOM events next week so that we might answer questions and hear from each other; those considering reopening soon and those who are waiting. You have received a ZOOM invite and are welcome to invite others to attend, but please revisit the HRP website for the recently changed, most up-to-date recommendations. Join us to share with each other our ideas, plans, questions, concerns!

Tuesday June 16 at 10 for  Reopening Your Church Building -- discussing rules and guidelines of the CDC, NYForward, the PCUSA, and other excellent resources available to church sessions as they think through when and how to reopen their physical campuses

Thursday June 18 at 10 for   Resuming Care-filled Worship - discussing guidelines and issues church sessions and pastors might consider to make faithful decisions about what public worship might be like as congregations begin to return to face-to-face gatherings.

· A reminder that there will be a ZOOM meeting for congregations with preschools and daycare centers on Monday June 15 at 10. You have received an invitation to this but here is the link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83406640392

· Our first virtual Presbytery meeting was well received! The video of the Worship Service and the PC(USA) Stated Clerk’s video, the Digest of Minutes and the Closing Prayer can be found here: http://www.hudrivpres.org/meetings/next-presbytery-meeting/

· The 224 th General Assembly is upon us! Your commissioners and YAD will be “gathering” on Friday evening June 19 for opening worship and to vote for the moderators. I highly recommend joining thousands of Presbyterians for this wonderful event via livestreaming. All are welcome! Find the schedule of events on www.pc-biz.org or the General Assembly website at https://ga-pcusa.org/

· A reminder of the worship services being offered by Holmes Camp on June 28 th , July 26 and August 30 th . This is a good opportunity for pastors to take a break while congregations enjoy the beauty of Holmes. For more information, visit www.holmescamp.org

· HRP member and mission coworker in Peru, Jed Koball, reflects on the pandemic:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1depiwNOqo

· You might remember Owen Borda from the US Census Bureau visited our Presbytery meeting last year. He notes that there are still many part-time jobs available all over the mid-Hudson region. Click this link for more information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9xwbWfehz8&feature=youtu.be

· Wednesday Clergy Connection ZOOMs for ministers in pulpits and Fridays Spiritual Practices ZOOM continue at 10 am.”

· Finally, the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) has extended its loan period to 24 weeks. If you received a PPP “loan” or are still considering applying, please pay close attention to your deadlines.
Go outside. Enjoy God’s beautiful creation. Be safe.

Deb Milcarek
General Presbyter