(RNS) — The coronavirus pandemic has quickly swept the globe, throwing just about every human institution into chaos. Faith communities are no exception. With gatherings restricted in size or prohibited altogether, many houses of worship are fighting to stay connected, rapidly weighing technological options to keep as many people as possible engaged. This involves a a good deal of trial and error. Congregational leaders find themselves relying on multiple digital tools — some of which they have never used before — to connect themselves to their members and to keep their members caring for each other. As stressful as these times are, they have provided an extraordinary opportunity in my Christian community to reflect on our identity and mission as the church, and to imagine ways of being more connected than ever with our fellow church members. In normal times, most churches plow forward without much reflection on identity and mission. Now they have the chance to do … [Read more...]
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Worship Resources 2 days ago
Prayers of the people for Sunday, March 29, 2020
Jill Duffield reads the prayers of the people she crafted for this 5th Sunday in Lent. You are welcome to share this with your congregation or use it as part of your Sunday worship service. continue reading... -
Worship Resources 2 days ago
Christian education at home: All things bright and beautiful
Over the last few weeks, our children’s worlds seem to have shrunk dramatically. While they were used to going from school to friends’ houses to sports practices or dance classes, now they’re limited to moving from the bedroom to the living room to the kitchen. Time outdoors is a welcome respite to confining hours indoors — and it is an opportunity to be reminded that God is with us. This activity helps children see God in the natural world and know that God is always close by. Start your time… continue reading... -
Looking into the lectionary 2 days ago
5th Sunday in Lent — March 29, 2020
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 Lent 5A Rejoice, O Jerusalem, the prophet Isaiah declares, rejoice greatly. Jill Duffield’s lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlook’s email list every Monday. We’ve made it to the fifth Sunday of Lent. This Sunday marks 21 days before Easter. In traditionally higher liturgical branches of the vine, this Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday, “laetare” being the singular imperative of “laetari” — to rejoice. This Sunday is also known as a “Refreshment Sunday” akin to the third Sunday of Advent, when the pink… continue reading...
Parties in Stamford case had tried to expedite process in order to get a ruling on the merits of the case January 1, 1995 Uncategorized125 views The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission -- in sidestepping the question of exactly how deeply a session should be required to probe into the private life of a gay elder who has acknowledged being in a committed, life-long relationship but has declined to say whether he is sexually active -- has put the question off but has not put it to rest.- Ministering with the Earth January 1, 1998 Book Reviews109 views By Mary Elizabeth MooreChalice. 1998. 226 pp. Pb. $19.99. ISBN 0-8272-2323-4 Ministering with the Earth is a quiltwork, both the on-the-ground activity and Moore's book about so ministering. Moore, professor of theology and Christian education at Claremont School of Theology, is fond of the metaphor, suitably pastoral and feminist.
- Remembered Voice: Reclaiming the Legacy of 'Neo-Orthodoxy' January 1, 1998 Book Reviews106 views By Douglas John HallWJKP. 1998. 145 pp. Pb. $18. ISBN 0-664-25772-0 It was in this order. I first read Tillich's Dynamics of Faith. Riveting. Next came The Courage to Be. Gripping. Then I went back and read the first volume of the Systematic Theology. Things began to make sense. Next came Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality. Positive.
GA meeting site in Baltimore to be converted into field hospital March 25, 2020 Outlook Reporting1 comment A decision may be getting closer about whether to hold the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – set for June 20-27 in Baltimore – as scheduled.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced this week an order to convert the Baltimore Convention Center, where the General Assembly is scheduled to meet, and the nearby city-owned Hilton Hotel into a field hospital fo...
Amid coronavirus, Southern Baptists cancel annual meeting March 25, 2020 Religion News Service1 comment (RNS) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant group, have canceled the denomination’s annual meeting due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The decision, announced Tuesday (March 24) by Baptist Press, the denomination’s news service, means the meeting, which had been scheduled for June 9-10 in Orlando, Florida, will not be rescheduled for a later time. Instead, the denomination will skip a year and meet again in 2021.
The last time the SBC annual meeting w...
New advisory opinion on congregations celebrating communion March 25, 2020 Outlook Reporting1 comment The Office of the General Assembly has released a new advisory opinion from J. Herbert Nelson, the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), about how congregations can celebrate communion in an emergency or pandemic.
A key question: Can a PC(USA) congregation celebrate the Lord’s Supper if it is meeting virtually — not in person?
Yes, according to the new advisory opinion, titled “Communion in an Emergency/Pandemic” and released Ma...
Opinion: COVID-19 could end church as we know it. And I feel fine.
Clergy laugh off bloopers as the coronavirus forces churches online
(RNS) — The Rev. Megan Castellan has been livestreaming morning prayer from home every day through the coronavirus pandemic for her parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ithaca, New York. But Thursday’s prayer (March 26) was an “epic disaster,” Castellan told her followers on Twitter. Both the rector’s dog and cat decided to participate in the Facebook Live video, hovering over her shoulders on the couch. Offscreen, her husband, forgetting Castellan was on camera, made a loud phone call, then motioned to her that he was going to go get tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Castellan, also briefly forgetting she was on camera, responded by miming sticking a swab up her nose, part of the testing process. Then a “mysterious loud noise” sent her dog leaping off the couch to investigate, returning in time to lick the rector’s hand enthusiastically through the final prayer. Castellan briefly considered recording the video over again, she told … [Read more...]
PC(USA) corporate engagement committee calls on companies to support workers in COVID-19 crisis
LEXINGTON, Kentucky — The Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (MRTI) has joined nearly 200 signatories on a statement from global institutional investors urging companies to support workers and markets during the coronavirus pandemic. “The Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment signed on to this statement asking companies to provide paid leave, prioritize health and safety, and maintain employment, customer relationships, and financial prudence during this unprecedented time,” said Rob Fohr, Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement. “It is of the utmost importance that publicly-traded companies show leadership as this crisis unfolds and implement robust measures to protect their workers. “MRTI will work with other faith and values-based investors to ensure that these concerns continue to be raised with corporations.” The statement breaks down five areas the signatories want investors to … [Read more...]
Committee on the Office of the General Assembly considers options for the 224th General Assembly (2020)
LOUISVILLE (OGA) One of the questions surrounding Presbyterians in the midst of COVID-19 is how it will impact the planned gathering of the 224th General Assembly (2020) in Baltimore this summer. The assembly is currently scheduled for June 20–27 at the Baltimore Convention Center. This week, Baltimore officials announced that the convention center could also serve as a field hospital as the number of infected patients continues to rise. The convention center has not yet been converted or seen its first patient. As previously announced, OGA leaders have already delayed opening registration for GA224 until no later than April 20. On Thursday the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) met virtually to consider several options for conducting the assembly should the virus continue to spread in the coming months. The options range from moving ahead with the planned gathering in June to conducting a virtual assembly. Following an executive session, COGA released a … [Read more...]
Prayers of the people for Sunday, March 29, 2020
Jill Duffield reads the prayers of the people she crafted for this 5th Sunday in Lent. You are welcome to share this with your congregation or use it as part of your Sunday worship service. … [Read more...]
Protected: That the people of God may flourish: Serving as a deacon or ruling elder
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