PNews – 1/21/21

Posted on January 21, 2021

News from Pittsburgh Presbytery

The Word of the Year for 2020 (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) is “unprecedented.” The natural response to unprecedented situations is anxiety, driven by uncertainty. Our nation is riddled with it. And alas, that has become true also for large swaths of the church. But is our natural response the best one? In this week’s meditation, Choosing Hope, Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge explores this question and more.
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Dr. David Campt will tackle how to use practical dialogue to dismantle unintended bias and racism with “The White Ally Toolkit” to create a compassionate and welcoming space where love is the driving force of belonging. Registration is open now for the free “White Ally in the 21st Century-Practices Toward the Beloved Community” workshop. We hope you will join us!
In keeping with the Board’s ongoing efforts to serve more with benefits that support wholeness, eligible members enrolled in either medical coverage through the Board or the Defined Benefit Pension Plan may now be eligible for Adoption Assistance and Transition-to-College Assistance grants.
Reflecting on Lenten themes of exodus, redemption, discipline, and repentance, this Lenten devotional confronts the legacy of American slavery and empowers readers for the work of racial justice. The publisher has also created free digital resources, which include a group study guide, sermon series guide, and images for use during worship or study.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, “clergy and other essential support for houses of worship” are part of the first phase of the coronavirus vaccine rollout. Clergy are listed in the chart under 1B (third from the bottom) on the Department of Health website. They are currently in phase 1A of distribution in Pennsylvania. When our region moves to phase 1B, the presbytery will send out another notification.
A second draw of Payroll Protection Program loans/grants for small businesses has been made available by the federal government. Religious organizations such as congregations are eligible to apply for these funds, under certain conditions. Most notably, this program makes grants only to those organizations that received first-round PPP Loans/Grants in 2020. The other major qualification is that the applicant must show a reduction of at least 25% in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. Click “read more” to access the guidelines for eligibility and applications.

Events at Affiliated Organizations

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