(RNS) — When it came time to pass the peace Sunday at Pathway Baptist Church, Senior Pastor Mike Donald didn’t hesitate. “Everybody, wave to the right,” Donald said. In response, the hundreds of people at the Calvert Drive-in Theatre in Calvert City, Kentucky, turned to their right and waved to the people sitting in the cars next to them. There was a smattering of honks in place of applause between songs like “Power in the Blood” and “Victory in Jesus” and some prolonged blasts to express appreciation for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and the owners of the theater. Worship leaders bundled in winter coats stood six feet apart from each other beneath the blue awning, and a deacon in a yellow safety vest led prayers. “What a sight!” Donald said as he looked out across the cars parked at the theater. The church later counted 134 in aerial photos. “The church has left the building.” The Calvert Drive-In Theatre has hosted two weddings and a number of concerts, Donald … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (OGA and PMA) — Building on Wednesday’s pastoral letter to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the COVID-19 health crisis, denominational leaders the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II and the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett have released a video created this week in the Chapel at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky. “Siblings in Christ,” says Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, “these are truly trying times for all of us as we face a rapidly-spreading virus, panic buying that has left grocery shelves nearly empty and supplies in great demand. “We have seen the worst in people and the best. Yet through it all, we take hope in Christ and the promise to never leave us. We are holding each of you in prayer. Like the rest of the country, our Presbyterian communities are separated, but we are still deeply connected through our common humanity, spirituality and strong faith in God.” “We are not only with you in prayer and … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) – Compassion, Peace & Justice Training Day, set for April 24 in Washington D.C., has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. “We regret that due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are cancelling Compassion, Peace & Justice Training Day,” said Catherine Gordon, Associate for International Issues in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness on Capitol Hill. “Everyone who has already paid will receive a full refund. “We are working on putting something together for folks online.  Please stay tuned for more information and updates! Sending our prayers for your health and safety.” Also canceled is the companion Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), which was set for April 24 to 27, culminating in a day of lobbying on Capitol Hill. The annual events are a time for Presbyterians to gather on CPJ Day and join with people of other Christian faiths on EAD Days to sharpen their skills for advocacy and social justice through seminars, workshops, … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the President and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency have written a pastoral letter to Presbyterians living with the rapidly-spreading coronavirus pandemic. The letter, written by the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, and the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, is as follows: Dear Siblings in Christ, These are truly trying times for all of us as we face a rapidly spreading virus, panic buying that has left grocery shelves nearly empty and supplies in great demand. We have seen the worst in people and the best. Yet, through it all, we take hope in Christ and the promise to never leave us. We are holding each of you in prayer. Like the rest of the country, our Presbyterian communities are physically separated, but we are still deeply connected through our common humanity, spirituality and strong faith in God. We are not only with you in prayer and solidarity, we are also here to … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — The Office of Theology and Worship has developed an order of worship, available here, that’s been adapted for congregations gathering exclusively or primarily online in response to the coronavirus. Since it’s intended primarily for online worship use, the Lord’s Supper is not included. Sources for the new resource include the “Book of Common Worship,” “Glory to God,” and “The Presbyterian Hymnal,” which was published by Westminster John Knox Press in 1990. Sections in the new “Service for the Lord’s Day” include Gathering, Word and Sending, with subheads offering worship leaders options throughout the service. The Rev. Dr. David Gambrell, associate for worship with the Office of Theology and Worship, said that when liturgical materials for the first few pages of the “Glory to God” hymnal were being developed, the editors imagined they would be used as a teaching resource, on church retreats or for congregations that wanted to avoid printing worship aids … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 reminds us of this: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” (NRSV) For the past 40 years, the Presbyterian Conference for Seminarians of Color has been living into this Scripture to make sure that seminarians of color are thoroughly prepared to utilize the gifts God has activated in all of them. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the conference. The brainchild of the Rev. James Foster Reese, the conference came into being following a survey conducted by Reese in the mid-1970s that revealed Presbyterians of color represented a small percentage of seminarians attending theological institutions throughout the country. In some cases, there were very few seminarians of color per campus. Often they were not members of the same racial ethnic group. Most recently a new … [Read more...]