Congregational Vitality

Virginia congregation living out its vows to the first sextuplets baptized in the PC(USA)

Certain stories are unforgettable. Like this one, which was first told by the Rev. Mary Kay Collins at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, in 2018. Before baptizing the sextuplets of Adeboye and Ajibola Taiwo, she spoke of the couple’s longing to have children. Introducing their story, she asked, “Is anything too wonderful, too great, too difficult or too tough for God?”

Fire destroys sanctuary but not spirits

Never has a lectionary passage been more providentially timed. Just four hours after worship ended on Sunday, Jan. 2, a major fire erupted in the sanctuary of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Spokane, Washington, the result of what fire officials determined was an “overloaded circuit.”

Being church in a COVID world

What can you do with a photo of paper clips and a Zoom chat box? Quite a lot — and it might be just the thing to open up a discussion on innovation and empowering servant leaders.

Sixty-four African American churches receive booster grants

When Theology, Formation & Evangelism ministries realized they had some underspent funds in their budget this year, the Rev. Carlton Johnson, coordinator for Vital Congregations, had an idea: Why not use the funds to support  historically underserved African American churches in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?

Scripture as a cookbook, blueprint or trail map

What do a cookbook, a blueprint, a trail map and the Bible have in common? According to the Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger, associate professor of a leadership formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, they are all performative documents.

You’re welcome

Most churches in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) proclaim welcome to anyone attending worship for the first time, whether worship is occurring in person or online. Why welcome matters and how much impact welcome can have were among the topics explored Saturday by Trinity Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri, which welcomed the Rev. Brian Ellison, executive director of Covenant Network of Presbyterians, to both speak to and listen to a welcoming congregation. Watch the 75-minute event here.

You say goodbye, and we say hello

In addition to the transitions everyone’s endured during the pandemic, the clergy team of the Rev. Mihee Kim-Kort and the Rev. Dr. Andy Kort said goodbye last year to the church he served, First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Indiana, and hello to the church they’re currently serving as co-pastors, First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis in Maryland.