- Call to the Called Meeting of the Presbytery
- Connections
- Disaster Response
- Revitalization (VCI)
- When To Re-Open?
- COVID-19 Resources
- PYCC
Call to the Called Meeting of the Presbytery
Dear colleagues,
If you attended the November stated meeting of the presbytery, you might remember that a request was made to have a called meeting in January to consider the revisions requested for the Transgender Inclusion Policy. You may download the three versions here – the original, a redline with revisions (which shows the edits), and a “clean copy.”
I am adding a second item to the agenda which will be to elect people that the Nominating Committee is inviting to serve on our committees. These will be the only two items of business.
The meeting is scheduled for two weeks from today, Wednesday, January 20, at 6:30 pm. We hope that our congregations might elect the same commissioners who attended the November meeting since they were part of the discussion about the policy. Please send them the files that are attached as well as the link to register. Only those that register will receive the link to the Zoom meeting.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/called-meeting-of-the-presbytery-of-new-covenant-tickets-135426800205
Prayers for peace!
Lynn Hargrove
Hurricane Delta Relief Items Needed
Please send to:
Pastor Leslie Mansell
513 N. Lebanon St
Sulphur, LA 70663
Leslie is the pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sulphur.
Sulphur Church Website
Baby Formula
Food
Nishiki Medium Grain Rice, 80 Ounce
BARILLA Blue Box Thin Spaghetti Pasta
StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 5 oz. Can, Pack of 48
Tuna Helper Variety Pack (3 Pack)
Hamburger Helper Variety Pack of 9
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 18 Boxes
Libby’s 18Piece Vienna Sausage, 5 lb
Swanson Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast, 12.5 oz. Can
Spam Classic, 12 Ounce Can
Bristol Cooked Smoked Ham 16oz (Pack of 2)
Cleanup Bucket
Cleaning Supplies
Clorox Clean-Up All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach – Original
FABULOSO All-Purpose Cleaner with Bleach Alternative (Case of 6 Bottles)
Tub O Towels TW90 Heavy-Duty 10″ x 12″
Amazer Scrub Brush Comfort Grip & Flexible Stiff Bristles 2pack
S&T INC. 968601 Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges 6pack
ToughBag 55 – 60 Gallon Black Trash Bags 100 Pack
G & F Products 12 Pairs Large Rubber Latex Double Coated Work Gloves for Construction
Kotap TRA2030 Blue Rip-Stop Cut Size: 20×3 20 x 30-ft
Soap
Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Soap 8 pack
Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap (4x19oz) + Non-Scratch Sponge (2ct)
Paper Products
Disposable Plates 9″ Paper Plate Bulk, White, 500 Count
Lunch Napkins, 250 Napkins per Pack, 12 Packs
Clear Disposable Plastic Cups [240 Pack – 12 oz.]
Berkley Jensen Super Premium Heavyweight Plastic Cutlery, 360 ct. – Clear
Handi-Size Perforated Paper Roll Towel, 2-Ply (Case of 30 Rolls, 120 Per Roll, 3,600 Towels)
Solimo Freezer Gallon Bags, 90 Count
Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders
Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders has two volunteer sites in Southwest Louisiana ready to take volunteers. The two locations are:
Celebration Worship Center
3231 S Ruth St
Sulphur, LA 70665
For general inquiries, and to learn their needs and COVID policies, please contact Lyn Wilson, Volunteer Scheduler for Fuller Center, disaster-rebuilders@
Financial Donations
If you would like to make a financial contribution, you can “Give Now” and enter an amount in Disaster Assistance, or you can send a donation to the Presbytery office.
Presbytery of New Covenant
4803 San Felipe St.
Houston, TX 77056
Contact Jamie Hannan, Presbytery of New Covenant Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Coordinator, at jhannan@pbyofnewcovenant.org if you have any questions.
Vital Congregations Revitalization Initiative (VCI)
The Revitalization Initiative is a two-year covenant relationship between Presbyteries and the PC(USA) to prayerfully walk with pastors and existing congregations in intentional efforts of revitalization. Year I builds authentic relationships of faith. Churches will embark on an honest assessment, capturing their unique stories, confessing their realities, and discerning the Spirit’s call to action. From 7 Marks of Congregational Vitality, churches will determine a course between 3 Actions:
- Re-forming churches—re-envision and change how we are church together through the 7 Marks of Congregational Vitality
- Missional Clustering churches—revitalize by clustering congregations into new communities of worship and ministry
- Death and Resurrection churches—revitalize by grace and gratitude in the death and legacy of a congregation, in witness to the resurrection
To learn more, visit vitalnewcovenant.org or contact Rachel Young at ryoung@pbyofnewcovenant.org.
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. – 1 Corinthians 10:24
The decision on when to re-open for worship and other church activities is complicated. Each congregation has its own context. A church of under 50 has different circumstances that a congregation of 600 or more. Our congregations spread across 39 counties in Southeast Texas. Some counties have had more cases of COVID-19 diagnosed than others. One pastor said, “When I can make visits in the hospital again, we will consider reopening.” Another said, “With all of the precautions, and no singing, and no bulletins, while keeping our social distancing, it just isn’t worth it to gather at this time.”
Resources for Congregations
WORSHIP
Advisory Opinion Regarding Communion
PC(USA) National Easter Service
From Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Hymnal and Book of Common Worship Rights during Covid-19 Pandemic
Hymnals
Presbyterian Publishing grants rights to livestream or distribute photocopies anything in the hymnal ( Glory to God ) that is copyrighted by Westminster John Knox Press, which is around 30 hymns. Public domain hymns are always okay to use. But most copyrights are owned by others and we cannot speak for them. As of March 13, ONE LICENSE has posted an announcement about their response to the virus and gratis licensing is available through April 15. For more detailed information regarding the use of the Glory to God and 1990 hymnal during this time, please download our fact shee t . Note that as the rights situation changes we will update this document.
Book of Common Worship
We’re happy to grant gratis permission for use of any Book of Common Worship material copyrighted by Presbyterian Publishing. To determine if the material is owned by another publisher, please check for three small initials immediately after the text. If no initials appear, no permission is necessary! If initials do appear, the copyright holder will be listed next to the corresponding initials in the acknowledgements section on pages 1152-1154.
Applications for our presbytery’s 2020-2021 PYCC are now available!
- Youth who exhibit a mature faith, potential for leadership, and a heart for service
- Young people who have gifts and abilities for music, drama, worship, recreation, AV
- Adults with a mentoring spirit, strong relationship with Christ, and who encourage others
Stay Connected
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- Connections: Sign Up | Read Presbytery’s Connections Newsletter
- Read Postlude: Presbytery’s Meeting Report
- PC(USA) Latest News
Our Filing Cabinet
Many useful documents and links are in Our Filing Cabinet to help you find just what you are looking for! Each folder listed on the following page contains documents, forms, flyers, manuals, articles and links related to the name of the folder.
