Quick Notes Update for March 9, 2022

Note our new email for the Synod Office:

WOMEN’S STORIES DAY 2022 LOOKS AT SINGLE WOMEN IN MISSION IN THE 1800s: MARCH 26

American Church History tells us that one of the primary ways women answered the Spirit’s call to ministry in the nineteenth century was to enter the mission field. Women who were discouraged from preaching, teaching, medical work, and many other professional endeavors in North American congregations were welcomed in foreign fields and supported by those same churches that didn’t think this was their place back home.

The featured presentation for the Reformed Church Center’s annual Women’s Stories Day, hosted with the RCA Office for Women’s Transformation and Leadership for the seventh year, is “Bustin’ Lintels, Bursting Doors: Molly Talmage and Single Women in RCA Mission in China.” This presentation, by David Alexander, this year’s Hazel B. Gnade Fellow in RCA Women’s Studies, will be on Saturday, 26 March 2022, 1:00 to 3:00 pm via Zoom, and will include responses by Laura Osborne, Reformed Church in America coordinator for Interreligious Relations and a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry in Missiology and Global Christianity at NBTS, and Tracie Alston, another candidate for the Doctor of Ministry in Missiology and Global Christianity who has also served as a missionary to Thailand. After that, there will be time for questions and discussion among all the participants.

Deepika Srivastava will be our devotional leader. Born at Christian Medical College (CMC) and Hospital in Vellore, India—the hospital and school founded by RCA missionary doctor Ida Scudder—Deepika is Director for Church Relations at the Vellore CMC Foundation in New York City and a deacon at Bethany Memorial Reformed Church. She has a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Rochester along with a passion for sharing the healing ministry of Christ and building spiritual families.

David Alexander is a retired RCA missionary who served for most of his career with his wife, Char, in Taiwan. They currently live in Holland, Michigan. An NBTS graduate (Class of 1980), David was awarded the Global Ministry Alumni Award by NBTS in 2019. He is our Hazel B. Gnade Fellow in Reformed Church Women’s Studies for 2021-2022. This fellowship, created through the diligent work of Mary Kansfield, historian and wife of former president Norman Kansfield, is named for the longtime secretary of the RCA Women’s Board of Foreign Missions.

This program, like all programs offered by the Reformed Church Center, is free and open to everyone, but all participants must register through this link: .

James Hart Brumm, Director
The Reformed Church Center and The Theological Writing Center
General Editor, Beardslee Press
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
35 Seminary Place New Brunswick, NJ 08901
jbrumm@nbts.edu | 848.237.1760
NOONDAY LENTEN SERIES ON WEDNESDAYS

Good Afternoon Friends,
Second Reformed Church of Hackensack is once again doing their annual Noonday Lenten Series. Unfortunately because of the virus we will be on YouTube, like last year. Below is the link for the series which will begin live on Wednesday March 2nd at noon and will run 6 weeks at the same time through the same link.

I believe if you miss it any given day you should still be able to go back and watch it.

The theme is “Rebuilding Our Relationship with God"

March 2 - Rev. Dwayne Jackson
March 9 - Pastor Arlene Romaine
March 16 - Rev. Charles Singletary
March 23 - Rev. Don McCracken
March 30 - Rev. Debbie Rundecker
April 6 - Rev. Mark Ennis

I do hope you join with us live if you are able or at some point when time permits. I have been blessed to be a part of this for the last few years and it really does help to slow me down a bit and focus on the most important things.
On the Journey,
Pastor Debbie
EASTERN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S RETREAT
We are in search of an Assistant Chaplain about 10 - 15 hours a week
Job Summary - The assistant chaplain (or chaplaincy intern) will work with the chaplaincy team to provide spiritual care to the residents and staff at ECCR. Specifically, the assistant chaplain will be the primary pastoral figure for up to five group homes and will improve the quality of life for each resident by providing spiritual care in the form of Bible reading, prayer, praise, activities, leading group worship services, etc. He/she will also spend time with the residents and staff of the group homes and practice the "ministry of presence"; such times can include playing games with residents, taking walks with them, talking with them, etc. The assistant chaplain will also serve as an administrative liaison for the group homes, updating ECCR administration of needs and the general welfare of each home.
For more information and to apply use this link
To learn more, join a zoom update meeting on Wednesday, March 16
(ID: 89188437389, passcode: 393792)
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT WORKING WITH UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, MARCH 15, HIGHLAND PARK

Dear Friends, 

7 months ago I held our first community meeting at RCHP to share with justice & mercy loving friends about the work of Accompany Now!, a program that we have that is largely government funded and that has allowed us to hire 7 social workers to be closely engaged in the lives of nearly 600 youth a year coming to New Jersey from across the Southern Border. All of these youth spend time in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) shelters, before being released to some parent, grandparent, cousin, friend, or 'sponsor.' It is the work of our social workers to 'vett' the quality of the living situation and safety for the child prior to arrival (Home Studies) and/or to assist the child with 90 days of Post Release Services after they come to New Jersey.  

We've run our program for 3 full years now, and last summer, frustrated by the limits of how government funding can be used for Unaccompanied Minors, and aware of the massive needs of youth for community connections, we held our first community meeting. Many of you responded with generosity we couldn't imagine. Enough winter coats for ALL youth, gift cards, school supplies, baby items for teen moms, food...you did so much! We also found that for many of you this program--with its focus on children and youth--resonated with your faith communities and institutions.

On March 15th, at Noon, I will hold an IN PERSON meeting in Highland Park for you all to meet the social workers who are engaged directly with kids and to hear additional ideas for forms of support. We continue to grow our understanding of how best to offer care and compassion for this particular population. We'd love to share, and, we'd love to listen. I hope you'll join us. Feel free to pass this invitation on to anyone you think would appreciate the opportunity to learn more.  

Peace, Seth Kaper-Dale
19 S. 2nd Ave, Highland Park

PS--while you're here, buy lunch at Global Grace Cafe--our refugee run cafe!
Reformed Church Center Examines Routley’s Legacy In Reformed Worship: MARCH 10

At various times in the history of the Reformed Church in America, the denomination has been profoundly influenced by people from outside our church community, often without even realizing it. One of these people was Erik Routley (1917-1982) a minister of the United Reformed Church of England and Wales who was considered one of the great hymnologists of the twentieth century. Late in his life, he immigrated to the United States to teach at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he met Howard Hageman and became involved with the RCA hymnal project tat would be Rejoice in the Lord.

Nancy Graham, the 2021-2022 Poppen-Young Fellow in Reformed Worship at the Reformed Church Center, is writing a biography on Routley and his massive work in the fields of Biblical studies, liturgics, theology, and hymnody. Her work on the fellowship is a small piece of that, looking at the Englishman’s involvement with the RCA hymnal, one of his last large projects, and his impact on congregational song in the US. She will present results of her research on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:00 am in the program “What We Still Owe Erik Routley.” A response to her presentation will be given by James Hart Brumm, Director of the Reformed Church Center and General Editor of the Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America, who has written and presented extensively on Reformed hymnody and Routley’s work.

Nancy L. Graham is a hymnologist, author, musician, and teacher, with a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Foundation House in Oxford, United Kingdom, and a Doctor of Sacred Music from The Graduate Theological Foundation, as well as a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College.

The Alvin J. Poppen-John R. Young Fellowship in Reformed Worship was established by members and friends of the RCA denominational staff in honor of these two long-time staff members, who each assisted and mentored countless RCA pastors and congregations. It provides a stipend and the possibility of a two-week residency at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, along with the wide variety of worship resources and experiences in the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan area, to support research in Reformed worship, particularly as it pertains to the RCA.

Like all Reformed Church Center programs, this webinar is free, and everyone is welcome, but all participants must register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocuGorz8oE9ZmB1y7gUuaBgKBNvQgGYFn.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN IMPROVING YOUR TECHNOLOGY USE IN THE NEW YEAR!

Would you like to:
Discuss church software for managing member information and online donations?
Learn to use email newsletters to keep members informed?
Rework your website to a more modern look?
Create online forms for people to register for events and provide feedback?
Create online visual databases like the livestream example above?
Take your livestream to the next level?
Develop a social media plan and a team to implement it?

REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AS WE FORM LEARNING GROUPS!
PEQUANNOCK REFORMED CHURCH
Looking forward to calling a pastor (part-time) to lead and serve with strong lay leadership enabling the pastor to focus more on preaching, teaching and pastoral care! The Pequannock Reformed Church has an extensive history of service in the community. The church is located just 25 miles from the Lincoln Tunnel, in the suburbs of North Jersey. There are many opportunities to engage the community and to experience a committed faithful congregation. 

If you feel God’s Holy Spirit leading you to explore this opportunity, please contact Matt Perkins at pjmkm@aol.com or call Matt directly at 201-704-2629.  
You are warmly invited to take advantage of this special Lenten offer!

If you register for the Building God’s Church Together Bible Study course by March 2, you'll get free access to our virtual, facilitated Bible Study.

Enrich your learning this Lent by joining our weekly discussion group. The Building God’s Church Together Bible Study explores how God calls both women and men to serve and lead in the church, and to create thriving environments where all God's children can embrace their gifts and develop healthy, flourishing ministry partnerships to build and bless the body for mission in the world.

Adding to the study material, these interactive meetings will offer the unique opportunity to go deeper into the content with like-minded leaders. Discussions will be led by Rev. Elaine May, CRCNA, and Rev. Liz Testa, RCA, with guest practitioners from March 9 through April 6. I hope you'll join us.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE COMPLETE UPDATE LETTER

Trustees Needed for the Warwick Conference Center
 
The Warwick Conference Center is a subsidiary corporation of the Regional Synods of the Mid-Atlantics and New York. The Board of Trustees for Warwick is made up of laypersons and clergy from both synods.  We are currently looking for 5 people who are willing to serve on the Board of Trustees from the Synod of the Mid-Atlantics, especially persons with gifts in the following areas:
·      Property (maintenance, sales, leasing)
·      Legal (familiarity with NY law would be helpful)
·      Finance and investments
·      Human Resources
·      Publicity and/or fundraising 
If you are interested in serving, know of someone who might be, or if you have questions about what service on the board entails, please contact Rev. Jill Fenske (President of the Board of Trustees) at jcfenske@optimum.net or the synod office at rsmatoffice@gmail.com


THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES FOR ADDING THEIR LIVESTREAM INFORMATION TO OUR ARCHIVES PAGE
Wyckoff Reformed
Three Bridges Reformed
Ocean Community, Mahahawkin
Parkside Community
RSMAT churches are livestreaming and maintaining recorded service archives. This presents us with a unique opportunity to learn from each other and celebrate the amazing gifts in our community! Please use this webform to provide us with your church livestream link and a link to your recorded services archive. We will make a single page view available of all of this information so that you can visit around and get inspired!
The Reformed Church Center at New Brunswick Theological Seminary helps people to explore what it means to be Reformed in the 21st Century. As part of that mission, every year, the Center offers three fellowships.

Do you want to learn more and share more about a subject or idea that interests you? Is there a question you’ve been pondering?
Would you like to spend two weeks in study and sharing, and have somebody pay you (a little) instead of you paying them?
Do you have something to say about being Reformed in the 21st century?

Then maybe you should send in a brief proposal for one of three fellowships at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 2022-23! The Reformed Church Center is looking for those proposals, to be submitted by April 8, 2022.

Here is what past fellowship recipients say:

Have you ever had a question on your heart that burns to be answered, but life is busy and you know this important topic will be pushed aside? This happened to me, in my last ordination class. I saw a gap in women’s history—about a fateful gathering of young women in 1978 who emerged, in renewed ties of sisterhood, committed to ask their many classes across the country for ordination. The Hazel B. Gnade Fellowship enabled me to speak with many of them, capture some of their experiences and then share this critical moment with the rest of our denomination.
–Liz Estes
Pastor, Readington Reformed Church
Hazel B. Gnade Fellow, 2018-2019

Being a recipient of the Smith Fellowship enabled me to complete a project about Rev. E. T. Corwin and the history of the Millstone church that I had been working at in tiny bites. The fellowship committee could not have been more helpful and the time for research was instrumental to my progress. The application process is not difficult and worth the effort. As a result of my research, numerous other avenues of discovery have opened up in my project and my work continues. My research benefitted my church, the denomination and enabled me to accomplish something I have long wanted to do. I would be happy to dsicuss my experience with anyone considering application. 
–Fred Mueller
Pastor, Hillsborough Reformed Church at Millstone
Albert A Smith Fellow, 2019-2020

I had a vague idea about a project, but I fleshed it out a bit and sent off the application. The vague idea turned out to be a project that has captivated my attention for almost a year now. I’m grateful for the opportunity the Gnade Fellowship provided.  
–Lynn Japinga
Professor of Religion, Hope College
Hazel B. Gnade Fellow, 2019-2020

Sharing the stories of some of the African American women leaders of the RCA from the 1960s and 70s was a highlight of my year. I celebrate the Reformed Church Center’s Hazel B. Gnade Fellowship for encouraging and supporting this project and giving me the opportunity to accomplish it.
-Anna Jackson
Co-pastor, Second Reformed Church, Hackensack
Hazel B. Gnade Fellow, 2020-2021

What do you need to get one of these fellowships? You need some practice doing scholarly research, whether that’s by reading old manuscripts or books or conducting oral interviews, etc. You also need to demonstrate that you have done some preliminary research into your question and can define a project within your question that you can significantly complete within a couple of weeks of intense work.

What DON’T you need to get one of these fellowships? You don’t need to be a pastor or a professor. You don’t need specialized theological training . . . just some familiarity with the subject matter.

You can write a proposal for . . . 

The Albert A. Smith Fellowship
An opportunity for research in Reformed Church History
The Smith Fellowship provides a stipend of $500.00 and the possibility of a two-week residency at New Brunswick Theological Seminary to support research into the history of the Reformed tradition, particularly as it pertains to the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Get more information and download an application here.

The Alvin J. Poppen And John R. Young Fellowship
An opportunity for research and/or presentation in Reformed Worship and Liturgy
The Alvin J. Poppen and John R. Young Fellowship provides a $500.00 stipend, travel expenses, and the possibility of a two-week residency at New Brunswick Theological Seminary to support research in Reformed Worship, particularly as it pertains to the RCA. Get more information and download an application here.

The Hazel B. Gnade Fellowship
An opportunity for research in RCA Women’s Studies.
The Hazel B. Gnade Fellowship provides a $500.00 stipend and the possibility of a two-week residency at New Brunswick Theological Seminary to support research in the history of women’s involvement in the RCA. Get more information and download an application here.

Are you using a VR headset and exploring how virtual reality might be used in ministry? Let's have a conversation!
MURAL and other online whiteboards provide a way to add more interaction to zoom meetings. Let me know if you want to explore this further.
GATHER TOWN is a fun way to add some social involvment to your online options.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ADAPTING AND INNOVATING TO SHARE FOR INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT? SEND IT TO US!
NJ CONGREGATIONAL CENTER FOR CANCER CARE
We have created an online gathering of all of the newsletters of the program. Find help for those facing cancer.
CHURCH BASED MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVE
We've created an online gathering of all of the newsletters the program has sent out during COVID. Very helpful insights to pass along to your congregations!
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.