NC Synod Shared Worship offers a sermon each Sunday:
A full recorded worship will be available for congregations to use for the Sunday after Christmas: Sunday, December 26. Details are forthcoming. It will be available by mid-December for downloading.
Beginning in October, the bishop's staff will be joined by colleagues from other synods of Region 9 in sharing a sermon video clip for each Sunday. This clip can be inserted into your congregation's recorded worship service as a help for rostered ministers taking time off, or simply shared in other ways for study and devotion. Download the sermon each week (available on Wednesdays by noon). This week's sermon is offered by Pastor Matt Steinhauer, Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Advocacy, Southeastern Synod, ELCA.
Re-Gathering Considerations
The synod's Re-Gathering Task Force under the direction of the NC Synod Council has been faithfully using the CDC guidelines and Governor Cooper’s Executive Orders as the basis of their deliberations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As mask guidelines have changed, the task force now offers these considerations for NC Synod congregations.
NC Synod congregations and pastors may use these forms to apply for grants from the COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Gathered Resources for Congregational Life during a Pandemic
- A Liturgy For When We Cannot Meet ©2020 by The Order of Saint Luke
- When We Face an Unknown Future COVID-19 hymn by Carolyn Gillette
- Being Lutheran: Real Presence in Digital Church LWF article and video series
Guidelines for Virtual Communion:
-
ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton’s reflection on virtual communion
-
NC Synod Bishop Smith’s reflection on virtual communion
-
Lutheran World Federation: Digital Worship and Sacramental Life in a Time of Pandemic
Livestreaming Worship:
- Livestreaming a Worship Service an ELCA guide
- Quick & Dirty Intro to Live Streaming Worship (register to see PRC webinar recording)
- Standing in the Pulpit: 10 Tips for Online Worship Leaders ResourceUMC
- Video Tips & Tools Red River Worship
- Tech Soup/NC Synod Partnership Access the best technology options at the most affordable cost.
Zoom:
- Zoom for Congregational Use SE Synod Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Michael Jannett
Music Copyright:
- Music and Copyright for Online Worship SE Iowa Synod
- One License Licensing Options
- CCLI Licensing Options
- Hymnary.org comprehensive index of hymns including those in Public Domain
- ELCA Considerations for Remote Council and Congregation Meetings During the COVID-19 Pandemic (revised, 12/15/20)
- FAQ Congregational Meetings NC Synod, Fall 2020
- Preferred ELCA vendors for online giving
- Comparison of some popular online giving platforms for churches
- Facebook's Charitable Giving payment platform process donations pay no fee; 100% of donations go to the charity
- Key Advice for Fundraising During a Crisis video by GSB
- CURRENT RE-GATHERING CONSIDERATIONS New!
- Thriving Beyond COVID Free Resources for Congregations
- Pastoral Recommendations Regarding COVID Vaccine and Religious Exemption
- Sample Letters to Congregations Regarding Re-Gathering
- Care-filled Worship & Sacramental Life in a Lingering Pandemic
- Sample Protocols from Congregations (Spring 2021)
- NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Places of Worship and Religious Services May 21, 2021
- NCDHHS Interim Guidance for Individuals Who Have Been Vaccinated Against COVID-19 March 10, 2021
- U.S. DHHS FAQ and Guide to Supporting Vaccine Confidence for Faith and Community Leaders toolkit
- Infectious Disease Expert Shares COVID-19 Update (SEPA Synod, May 11, 2021)
- When You've Been Fully Vaccinated (CDC, May 13, 2021)
- 6 Actions for Faith Leaders to Respond to COVID-19 (NCDHHS, May 2021)
- ELCA Faith Formation: Covid Resources - ministrylinks.online
- Coronavirus, Anxiety, Children and the Church - BuildFaith.org
- Coronavirus Conversations - Milestones Ministry
- Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource - National Association of School Psychologists
- Helping Children and Teens Cope with Anxiety related to Coronavirus - Children’s Hospital in Seattle
- Moving Faith Formation Online - Vibrant Faith
- Faith Formation Online: A beginner's guide – Google Doc
- Zoom: Using Breakout Rooms - Southeastern Synod, ELCA
- Presiding Bishop Eaton Guides Us in Faithful & Clean Practices A Facebook video posted by Metropolitan New York Synod
- Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic with your mental health intact
- Assessing mental health for depression and suicidality during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Free Online Grief Support Group Led on Facebook by grief expert David A. Kessler
- Online Recovery Meetings
- A COVID-19 Spiritual Survival Kit for Individuals From ChurchNext
- A COVID-19 Spiritual Survival Kit for Groups From ChurchNext
- Mapping What’s Ahead: The Emotional Journey of a Crisis Learn about a typical emotional life cycle of disaster
- Learn about biblical responses to suffering
- Unlocking Us Brene’ Brown’s podcast helps us tap into the feelings of grief, scarcity, and comparative suffering we are all feeling in this season of COVID-19. We are learning to have compassion for others and ourselves.
- A Pep Talk for Being Stuck An episode from The Lazy Genius Podcast
North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS) Resources
- At-Home Vaccine Providers—hotline, listing, registration forms New August 2021!
- U.S. DHHS FAQ and Guide to Supporting Vaccine Confidence for Faith and Community Leaders toolkit
- Community testing events page
- Vaccines Educator bilingual flyer New February 2021
- Updated Vaccine FAQs - Website In English & Spanish
- Vaccine Update - PDF March 8, 2021
- Updated Vaccine 101 decks in English and Spanish
- P-EBT Eligibility Infographic February 24, 2021
- NC Free Food Sites for Children (English) – Families who need food assistance for their children can text FOODNC to 877-877 to locate nearby free meal sites. The texting service is also available in Spanish by texting COMIDA to 877-877. After entering their address, families will receive a text with the location and serving times for nearby pick-up and drive-thru meal sites while schools are closed. Sites have been set up across the state with school and community partners.
- NC Free Food Sites for Children (Spanish) – Las familias que necesitan ayuda para encontrar comidas para sus hijos hasta los 18 años pueden enviar un mensaje de texto a COMIDA al 877-877 para ubicar los sitios de comida gratis cercanos a usted. Después de ingresar su dirección, las familias recibirán un mensaje de texto con la ubicación y las horas de servicio para los lugares de comida cercanos para recoger la comida desde su auto, mientras las escuelas están cerradas. Se han establecido sitios de comida en todo el estado en escuelas y organizaciones de la comunidad.
General Resources
- Choosing Safer Activities (including those fully vaccinated)—CDC Infographic
- Tips for Responding to Hunger in a Pandemic An ELCA resource
- Best Practices for Food and Housing Ministries An Episcopal Diocese of NC resource
- COVID-19: Recommended Preventative Practices and FAQs for Faith-based and Community Leader CDC
- Useful Resources for Children and Families During the COVID-19 Crisis Children’s Defense Fund
- NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery (NCIDR) network’s living document Resources and engagement opportunities for organizations serving historically under-resourced and marginalized communities
- Online Recovery Meetings
- Resources for Abuse Victims Amid COVID-19: Many members of our congregations are sheltering-in-place or isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendation of increased social distancing from the public will bring increased stress levels in many homes along with less access to helpful resources. As the coronavirus spreads, the message has been clear: home is the safest place to be. And, yet for victims of intimate partner violence and child abuse, nothing could be further from the truth. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has already reported getting calls from victims whose abusers are using the coronavirus as another excuse to isolate and harm family members. Support and services can be found below:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), available 24/7. TTY: 1-800-787-3224
- NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- NC Crisis Hotlines