July 5 Worship Service Video
The video of a complete worship service presented by the Presbytery of Boston with participation from across the PC(USA) is now available. The service was prepared for July 5, 2020, but is also appropriate for any Sunday. All congregations are welcome to use it, and you are encouraged to spread word about it to others.
In order to make the video as easily accessible as possible, a page for it has been created on our website. The YouTube, Google Drive, and bulletin links are all available there. Please note: because the file is large, Google will notify you that it cannot be scanned for viruses if you try to download it. Be assured that the file is safe.
We hope you enjoy the service and find virtually worshiping together meaningful. We also want to offer a special word of thanks to our Communications Coordinator, Benjamin Chicka, for editing together this video.
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Stated Clerk’s Interreligious Award
A number of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s ecumenical and interreligious partners were set to be recognized at the 224th General Assembly (2020) this year in Baltimore. The COVID-19 pandemic changed all of that, but it didn’t stop the Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), from lifting up the work of two individuals and one presbytery.
We are happy to announce that Tom Reid, a member of the Presbytery of Boston, was honored with an award. Click here or on the image above to read more.
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Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the PC(USA) Wrap Two-Year Term
Virtual events surrounding the 224th General Assembly are happening as you read these words, including Cindy Kohlmann ending her term as Co-Moderator with Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. Their final report can be found at the end of this article about their GA presentation.
Click here to read about the election of their successors, Elona Street-Stewart, executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, and Rev. Gregory Bentley, pastor of Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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New! Ordination Anniversaries in July:
Emily Chandler 7/10/83
Valerie Doering Crisman 7/11/09
Tom Kepler 7/13/58
Bill McIvor 7/29/73
Jean Southard 7/10/88
Jane Wilson 7/12/98
Congratulations and thank you! If your ordination anniversary is not listed when it should be, or is listed incorrectly, please send your information to: office@presbyteryofboston.org
New! Council Minutes: The latest council meeting minutes are now available on our website. Click here to read them.
New! Asylum Virtual Advocacy Days (July 14-16): The Asylum Working Group (AWG) and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) hope you will join them for virtual advocacy days from July 14 - 16 to demand that Congress defund the administration’s harmful anti-asylum policies and restore asylum protections. To take part, fill out this form. Your responses will help us with scheduling meetings with your Members of Congress during the virtual advocacy days. Feel free to share this invite widely with your networks!
21-Day Racial Justice Challenge: As part of our commitment to dismantle structural racism, you are invited to join in the 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge, formulated by the PC(USA) and shared through the Matthew 25 website. We will begin the challenge on Monday, July 6 and complete it on Sunday, July 26.
Three different opportunities for weekly conversation will be offered, but you can also form your own small group to go even deeper. However you do it, the purpose is to engage in daily learning challenges for 21 days, and to go deeper through conversation. You can learn more and register to join the challenge on our website by clicking here.
Webinar on Churches Reopening: In this resource Cindy Kohlmann presents theological, ecclesiastical, and practical considerations related to reopening church buildings, as well as reasons those considerations should encourage churches to continue virtual online activities moving into the future. You can click here to watch the webinar.
COVID-19 Resources: There is now a page on our website dedicated to COVID-19 resources. You will also find a list of what our congregations are doing as alternatives to Sunday services and other gatherings at their churches. As you finalize plans for live-streaming services and other activities, please email office@presbyteryofboston.org so we can list what your church is doing on the website.
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Connect Throughout the Week: We have two opportunities during the week to connect for support and encouragement. The login information can be found in the Presbytery calendar on the website.
Mondays at 10:00 am and Tuesdays at 4:00 pm.
Mission at the Eastward Housing Ministry Work Group Application: MATE is reinventing itself, and would like to draw all kinds of new volunteers into its existing and new and innovative programs. If you feel that you our your church may be called to come spend some time with us this summer, repairing the homes of our neighbors in Western Maine and serving the least of these, please reach out to Thea Kornelius at rev.thea.mate@gmail.com or just fill out this application and send it back to us at PO Box 206, Farmington, ME, 04938.
Women Thriving in Ministry: Ruthie Seiders, a member-at-large of our Presbytery, is leading a cohort of women pastors for encouragement and spiritual formation through a program called Thriving in Ministry in New England through Gordon-Conwell Seminary. This cohort is completely funded by a Lily grant. If you are interested, please email rseiders@grace.org
Jericho Walk every third Tuesday in Burlington: Jericho Walks around the ICE Administration Office in Burlington, MA are temporarily suspended due to the guidelines on social distancing. You can continue to receive information on how to advocate for our neighbors in immigration detention, who are vulnerable to the spread of this disease, through this page.
Upcoming 2020 Events - Save the Date
More details about events can be found on our website here.
Pastors' Canadian Canoe Trip: Sept. 20-28
Cindy's Travel as Co-Moderator
Due to COVID-19 and nationwide restrictions, all of Cindy's physical travel is cancelled, but most visits will still occur digitally.
Postponed: Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary moved commencement to Nov. 1
Postponed: Presbytery of Los Ranchos moved to Nov. 19
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