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July 15, 2021
Taking risks for the sake of the gospel

Welcome to the MIDWEEK MUSINGS,
our bi-weekly newsletter to equip, spark and grow our mutual ministries. 
We invite you to share our publication with your church and community ... with thanks!
Balance the risk with facts
Masks .... Delta variant ... Vaccines 
From Elder Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Cincinnati 


As sessions meet to consider masks, the Delta variant and vaccines, here are a few things to consider: 
  • The Delta variant is in all 50 states and currently makes up more than 50% of new cases in the US and 80% of new cases in the Midwest
  • The Delta variant is 60% more infectious than the original variant Alpha, and about twice as infectious (200%) as the original virus.  That means it has and will continue to spread very rapidly, particularly in unvaccinated people.
  • Those who have both doses of an mRNA vaccine are more than 80% covered against Delta.  Those who only have one shot are about 30% covered.  The J&J shot is also effective at about 65% coverage.
  • The Delta variant has shown that it can evade certain elements of the vaccine.
  • New COVID cases in the US are above 20,000 per week for the past several weeks.  Hospitalizations and deaths are also increasing in 42 states.
  • 99% of deaths are in unvaccinated people.
  • The Delta variant has infected some vaccinated individuals.  Generally symptoms are mild but they can still be infectious.
  • Globally, although this varies greatly by country and region, 25% have received one dose and 12% have received two doses.
  • Spikes are beginning globally, again primarily in unvaccinated individuals.
CDC guidance continues to require masks for unvaccinated individuals and recommends all people stay masked when gathering with people indoors who are not family.
Training - TONIGHT and in September!
Training opportunities include:
  • New Castle Presbytery Training and Equipping for Elders and Deacons 
    • July 15, 5-6:00 p.m., Well functioning personnel process
    • View the guidelines to be discussed on our training webpage, in addition to access information for the Zoom link for the training
  • PC(USA) Anti-Racism Training
    • September 28, 6:00 p.m. - Pre-registration required here
Special Called Meeting of Presbytery 
Tuesday, August 3, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Via Zoom

Official notice will be posted on the Presbytery meeting page no later than July 27.
NCP Session 2020 Minutes Review - UPDATE!
REGISTER TODAY! 
 
When the clerks bring their minutes for review, make it a road trip with a larger purpose! Bring along some elders and other church members who might be interested in talking about Church Transformation and Revitalization. Missional Presbyter Tracy Keenan will be leading the conversation in which we can explore habits of vital congregations, what outreach and evangelism can look like, and what we can learn about strategies (and the discomfort) of learning to do new things in new ways for the sake of the Gospel.

Dates and times for minutes review and leadership training are as follows: 
  • Sunday, August 15 at 3 p.m. – Elkton Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921
  • Sunday, August 22 at 3 p.m. – Seaford Presbyterian Church, 701 Bridgeville Highway, Seaford, DE 19973
  • Room specifics will be confirmed and emailed to registrants the week prior to the gathering
Please register online to facilitate our planning. The form has been updated to allow you to indicate neither date works for you so that we may plan accordingly. 
 
Our Committees - CORN
Nominations Deadline: August 1!
REMINDER! The 225th PC(USA) General Assembly will be held June 18, 2022 - July 9, 2022, both virtually and in-person in Louisville, KY.
 
The Committee on Representation and Nominations (CORN) is responsible for presenting the slate of nominees 
View guidelines and online application forms on the Committee on Representation and Nominations webpage here.  Nominees for Commissioners and Alternates will be selected from the nominations received by August 1, 2021 and submitted to CORN through the appropriate nomination form.

If you need additional information, please contact Rev. Caitlan Gartland, Committee on Representation & Nominations chair via email.
PC(USA) Matthew 25: The Real Deal
Jesus' Teaching on "The Judgment of the Nations" 
by Mike Ferguson, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The Rev. Dr. Floretta Barbee-Watkins calls her online outreach “Zoom at Noon,” and Wednesday’s edition “Matthew 25: the real deal.” But it might well have been labeled “Exegeting Matthew 25:31-46 in practical ways everyone can understand.”

Barbee-Watkins, transitional general presbyter for the Presbytery of Detroit, had has her guest  Dr. Bridgett Green, assistant professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, who’s set to start in January 2022 as Presbyterian Publishing Corporation’s vice president of Publishing and editorial director of Westminster John Knox Press. Watch their hour-long discussion here.

Continue reading here
 
RESOURCES - Racial Justice

Resources for racial justice have been consolidated and updated on the PC(USA) website to provide direct access to: 
  • Black Lives Matter - Get Involved 
  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirits 
  • Statements from the PC(USA)
  • Worship Resources
  • Policy Statements 
  • Recommended Books
  • Study, Training and Discussion Materials 
  • Articles
Connect here!
 
NCP Interfaith Peacemaker
Rev. Tom Davis
IVW Activities During the Covid Pandemic 

IVW continues to hold monthly board meetings on Zoom, provide veteran-to-veteran hospice visiting by phone, continue counseling/teaching of mindfulness meditation via Zoom and more! Visit our website for updates: https://www.ivw.website/022016/. 

Also, please hold in your prayers one of our minister friends serving in Haiti. It’s a particularly uncertain situation there, and we pray for peace and safety for our siblings and those they serve.

Peace, Tom
NCP Health Ministry 
Hemochromatosis Awareness

Have you ever heard of the Celtic Curse? What about Bronze Diabetes? Both terms are used synonymously for the condition called Hemochromatosis. This disease involves a buildup of iron in the body that leads to organ destruction. However, although the most common genetic disease, it is usually misdiagnosed or under diagnosed due to the popular misconception that it is “rare”.  Most people don't experience signs and symptoms until later in life — usually between the ages of 50 and 60 in men and after age 60 in women.

View the full article and learn more about how it affects the human body, if you are at high risk for developing this disease and how to prevent it.

Be well and be your own best advocate!  Steph 

Stephanie Scully Eskridge 
BSN RN, Health Ministry Editor
Our Partnerships
Guatemala

It's Tree Planting Time!

The rains have arrived, which means it is time to plant trees. The Association recently delivered 7,000 tree seedlings to a group of 40 women in a small village in Guatemala. Each woman will plant 175 trees near her home, establishing new growth forest that will benefit the community for generations to come. Trinity Presbyterian Church (Wilmington, Delaware) has generously underwritten the Association’s reforestation project for the past three years. View the full article and learn how you might support this effort too!
PC(USA)
Week of Action
SAVE THE DATE! August 23-29, 2021 
THEME: Shades of Oppression, Resistance & Liberation 

The week and theme are crafted to bring attention and action to the plight of those suffering from differing forms of oppressive situations. Events will be both virtual and potentially in person. The Week of Action has at its core the idea of being a visible arm of justice in our communities around the denomination as we stand on the foundations
of both Matthew 25 and the Hands & Feet Initiative. View the Week of Action webpage for further details.
Board of Pensions 

Employer Agreements open July 19 through October 8. View a step-by-step guide for insight to making benefits decisions for your group.
Custodian
First Presbyterian Church-Newark
Newark, DE
 
Custodian – Part-time, 20 hrs./wk.
Primary job is to maintain the cleanliness of First Presbyterian Church’ campus buildings.  Perform minor maintenance as required.  Must be able to lift 50 lbs., use step ladder and have basic maintenance experience.  Must pass national background check and be able to converse in English.  For complete job description and to apply, please send resume to Human Resources-First Newark. 
 
Organist
Presbyterian Church of Dover
Dover, DE
 
The Presbyterian Church of Dover seeks an organist beginning approximately Sept. 1. Successful applicant will play Sunday worship service. Also accompany the choir and soloists with a two-hour rehearsal Thursdays. Job description and further information from Personnel Chair Reid Beveridge at 302-645-1659 or via email to Reid Beveridge.
 
Sunday School Coordinator
New Castle Presbyterian Church
New Castle, DE
 
This position is part-time, providing co-ordination and teaching for the Sunday School program at New Castle Presbyterian Church from September through June and reports to the Pastor as Head of Staff. 

Schedule: Sundays 10:00-12:00 p.m. onsite with additional time for planning and preparation, as well as Christian Education Committee Meetings. View the full position description here and apply via email. 

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PASTORS WEEKLY GATHERINGS
ZOOM meeting times:
Tuesdays, 9 a.m. – General sharing time
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – Lectio Divina and prayer
Thursdays, 12 p.m. –Transformational pastors

Pastors are gathering with Presbytery staff “online” through Zoom each week to laugh, share experiences, ask questions, and find support.  All pastors are invited to join us at one or more of these times.  A link to join the ZOOM meetings is sent each Monday.  Misplaced the email? 
Contact the administrative office and we'll send it to you!
https://www.facebook.com/NCPresbytery/
Website
NewCastlePresbytery
Email
Visit NCP's Website here
Presbytery staff are here to serve you!
The NCP physical office has limited in-person hours, however the staff are available via email and cell phone.  Business hours, with noted sabbath exceptions, include: 

Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  (A staff person is available Monday and Wednesday in the office, however please call to confirm.)
Friday closed  (limited staff available via email)

SABBATH DAYS: 
Tracy Keenan - Fridays
Cindy Kohlmann - Mondays 
Donna Scully - Fridays (during the summer months) and Weekends 
Jerry Hunter - Thursdays and Weekends

UPCOMING HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES INCLUDE: 
Monday, September 6(in observance of the Labor Day holiday)
 
View the ABOUT tab and OUR TEAM on our website for contact information.
 
NCP Mailing Address:
1102 W. Church Road, Newark, DE 19711
( Please email or call the Presbytery administrator before mailing important letters/packages to insure your information is not delayed.)


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