Nearly a month after an electrical fire heavily damaged its sanctuary, the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, New Jersey is still counting its blessings. The March 22nd blaze destroyed portions of the roof, stained-glass windows and the church steeple in the building which dates back to 1870.
But the damage has not stopped the congregation from growing and learning and that includes reaching out and connecting with other congregations. The church is in the middle of a three-week joint worship with Temple Sinai of Bergen County, a Reform synagogue.
Information is still coming in about the devastating effects of the earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is organizing a response to help sustain life and restore hope in the coming days.
Essential hygiene kits assembled with help from congregations by Scott O’Neill | Presbyterian News Service The Mid-Kentucky Presbytery is aiding the PC(USA)Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) program by assembling hygiene kits for use in disaster relief efforts. The effort coincides with Louisville, Kentucky mayor Greg Fischer’s 5th annual Give a Day Week of Service initiative. The 2016 week… Read more »
National Response Team Annual Meeting Concludes after Full Agenda The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team (NRT) treats every annual meeting like a family reunion. More than 100 volunteers and team members gather each year for training, worship, sharing and, in many cases, laughter. There are no strangers, just a close group of Presbyterians eager to meet and greet, catch up on travels and occasionally rib one another.
Thanks to partnership with PDA, Ferncliff expands its “healing camp” ministry for survivors of school gun violence By Paul Seebeck Since 1998, after a mass shooting occurred in their community at Westside Middle School, Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center has hosted numerous healing camps for children and youth affected by school gun violence. ““People stopped saying,… Read more »
Discernment to determine heart and commitment to disaster support The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team gathered recently in Jacksonville, Fla., to consider adding a group of new members. The so-called “Discernment Weekend” is an opportunity for those interested in serving communities impacted by disaster to determine if they are physically, emotionally and spiritually committed to the… Read more »
Ecumenical partners update Presbyterian Mission Agency staff Presbyterian Mission Agency staff received an update on life in Sierra Leone, post-Ebola this week. Two people, one who lives and works in the troubled country and another who works there, spent several days with staff in Louisville, reporting on the physical, psychological and economic health of the country,… Read more »
