Congregational Vitality Archives

An elliptical sermon

Posted October 21st, 2020

The Rev. Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins has no doubt preached in many settings over his long career in ministry and in training ministers to be. Add the former garage he’s transformed into a garage gym to the list of his preaching venues.

Children can be part of giving

Posted October 16th, 2020

When I was a child growing up in the United Methodist Church, I remember that my parents once got a little cardboard folder to put quarters in. Although I don’t remember whether you were supposed to put the quarters in every day or every week — or even what the project was for — it really made an impression on me that kids could be a part of giving.

Beyond buildings, borders and geography

Posted August 26th, 2020

During a fast-paced two-hour Zoom conversation this week, the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow led more than 100 participants in a discussion on “The Scattered Church: Pastoring in a Time of Pandemic.”

Thursday’s COVID-19 memorial service is part of the Presbyterian Week of Action

Posted August 25th, 2020

At 5 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday as part of BLACKOUT Day during the Presbyterian Week of Action, a COVID-19 memorial service will be held via Zoom — and also streamed live on the PC(USA) Facebook and Week of Action pages.

See people like Jesus did and say ‘yes’ to the will of God

Posted August 24th, 2020

During the final worship service at the Vital Congregations virtual gathering last week, the Rev. Shanea Leonard challenged nearly 100 participants to become co-conspirators in the work of the gospel.

Pennsylvania’s Nottingham Presbyterian Church hosts 11th annual Back-to-School Fair

Posted August 24th, 2020

The last Saturday before school starts has come to be known as Back-to-School Fair day for Nottingham Presbyterian Church in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. This year the tradition continues with the 11th annual event set to provide 850 to 900 elementary through high school students in the Greater Oxford Area with grade-specific essentials, allowing financially disadvantaged students to begin the year on an even playing field with their peers.

Keynote speaker talks leadership development at VC annual gathering

Posted August 21st, 2020

“If you’re a leader expect sabotage, because sabotage is the experience of every leader trying to bring change. If you’re trying to lead a vital congregation and you haven’t experienced the sabotage of your own people — you will.”

A place of great danger

Posted August 20th, 2020

Describing the Israelites’ passage through the wilderness in Exodus and Numbers as a metaphor for challenges the church faces today, Dr. William P. Brownn took 160 people participating in the 2020 Vital Congregations Virtual Gathering on a journey into a place of great danger and extremes — a place where they can encounter God.

Visits that sing

Posted August 19th, 2020

On day one of the 2020 Virtual Vital Congregations Gathering on Tuesday, four panelists from Trinity Presbytery described how beginning the two-year VC initiative in January — and its Seven Marks of a Vital Congregation — helped prepare them as church leaders for the pandemic.

Is healing at the core of our congregations?

Posted August 11th, 2020

As a seminary student I heard a constant refrain from our professors: Jesus came to preach and teach. It was the pretext underlying our whole seminary education as they trained us to preach and teach.