Regional Synod News January 23, 2017

     NEWS

The IRS mileage reimbursement rate for 2017 has changed to $.535 per mile.

The RCA is featuring a new resource from Todd Billings, professor of Reformed theology at Western Theological Seminary.  In these three videos, Todd examines what it means for Reformed Christians to read and interpret the Bible as the Word of God. The accompanying study guide is intended to help small groups engage with and process Todd’s teaching. The videos are designed to be used either in one 90-minute session or in three separate, one-hour sessions—whatever better fits your context.  The videos and study guide, entitled “A Light to My Path: Interpreting Scripture as Reformed Christians,” are available on the RCA website.

The Third Annual Celebration of Women in Church Leadership will be held Saturday, March 4, 2017; 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan.  Come for a day of celebration, encouragement and equipping.  All RCA, CRC and ecumenical sisters welcome!
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A Youth Corresponding Delegate to General Synod is still needed for this year’s RCA General Synod taking place in Holland, MI at Hope College from June 8-13, 2017.  This non-voting delegate is one who is somewhere around traditional college age.  In addition to participating in the regular business of the General Synod, the youth corresponding delegates meet and do things together.  It is anticipated that the youth delegates have given some thought about the possibility that God may be calling him or her into ministry, but that does not necessarily mean that a decision has been made.  It is an intention of the participation in General Synod as a youth delegate to help that person discern hearing the Holy Spirit’s voice.  Do you know of someone who might be a candidate for this youth delegate?  Please contact Chad.

Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism
The Wisconsin Council of Churches will be putting on this event led by Dr. Drew G. I. Hart.  Dr. Hart is a professor in theology, an author, and an activist with ten years of pastoral experience. This event will be held March 3-4 at Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, 702 North St, Sun Prairie, WI.  You can learn more about this event by clicking HERE.

Mass Incarceration RCA Gathering – As requested by General Synod 2016, the RCA is planning a meeting about the issue of mass incarceration. RCA members who are interested in working on and engaging this issue and can attend the meeting.  The meeting will be held on March 10 and 11, 2017, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Louisiana incarcerates more people per capita than any other state or province in the United States or Canada.)

Here are some of the goals for this gathering:
1.      Increase awareness of mass incarceration.
2.      Root responses to criminal behavior and mass incarceration in our identities as followers of Jesus.
3.      Equip people to share fruitfully with others about mass incarceration.
4.      Identify ways for congregations and individuals to address mass incarceration.
5.      Invite people to be part of a mass incarceration learning community or advocacy effort.

Be on the lookout for more information in early January 2017. If you have questions about the upcoming meeting, please feel free to email wchang@rca.org.

The RSMA annually gives out Urban Ministry Grants.  In 2017 we will be supporting ministries such as: a Director of Multi-Cultural Worship, a Violence Prevention ministry in the inner-city, and other ministries that seek to reach out to people who are typically thought of as “the least of these.”  These ministries seek to missionally impact urban areas within our region.  Your church can help support these ministries by giving to our Urban Ministry Fund.  This “asking” is $4 per church member and $2 per Sunday School participant.  Any amount given is used completely to fund these ministries.  For more information, contact Chad.

News from Camp Manitoqua
Fathers and sons, join Camp Manitoqua and Retreat Center for our Forge weekend retreat, March 10-11, 2017. Designed to give fathers the opportunity to commission their sons to begin the process of becoming men through biblical teaching and hands-on learning. Visit Manitoqua.org/forge for information and to register or call the office at 815.469.2319.
Summer Staff: Have you considered spending a summer in ministry? Applications for 2017 summer staff at Camp Manitoqua & Retreat Center are available online at www.manitoqua.org/jobs and are being accepted.
Cooks & Summer Kitchen Assistants: For cooks, food service experience and sanitation license is preferred.  No experience needed for summer kitchen assistants.  Contact leah@manitoqua.org for an application or call the office at 815.469.2319.
Registration for ‘Summer Camp 2017 begins February 1st. Remember to register early for preferred dates. Visit Manitoqua.org for more information and to register, or call our office at 815.469.2319.
Looking for some fun winter activities?  Come enjoy a game night at Camp Manitoqua & Retreat Center on Monday nights!  For children in first grade through freshmen year in high school, the game nights will include rotations based on age and activities.  Cost is $5 per child per week or $15 if you come all 4 weeks!  Dates & times are Feb 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm.  Parents are invited to come join in the fun at no extra cost or relax and watch the action!  To RSVP, please contact Nathan@manitoqua.org or call 815.469.2319. Payment can be submitted upon arrival.  Space is limited so RSVP soon!

    STORIES OF CELEBRATION

We share stories of celebration to glorify God.  This month’s story comes from Trinity Community Church in Brown Deer, WI and Pastor Bill Flavin.  We hope these stories inspire and encourage others in our region.  If you’d like to share what God is doing in your church, please email Chad.

As a church we wanted to create opportunities for people to stretch themselves and serve our community, and to find ways to serve in our community where opportunities already existed vs. creating new ones.  With a sidewalk being installed in front of our church last year, we thought Trick of Treating for Halloween could be a great chance where we will already have foot traffic passing by.  So we invited people at church to bring some candy, camping chairs, and a card table; dress up if they wanted, and just interact with our neighbors.

We made a campfire, brewed up some apple cider, and waited.  For the first 30 minutes it was quiet, maybe 15-20 students came past.  Then the sidewalk became a highway, and in the next window of time we had 150-200 students come past, ran out of 7.5 gallons of cider and all of our candy in the next 1.5 hours.

The event ended about 30 minutes before we had hoped, as we ran out of candy and cider, because of the large volume of people who had come through.  As we were cleaning up a Mom and Grandma with their two small children came by.  So I went out to apologize that we had run out of candy and supplies, and they made sure to stop me and just thank the church.  They told us how they heard what we were doing from other families who were out in the neighborhood, and they were so grateful we did this, and asked if we would do it again next year.

So now as we packed up we had a chance to reflect on what just happened, how it worked or didn’t work, and our joy at how many people came, and the impact it had on the community.