
We live here. We grow here. Let’s give here, too. One #GivingTuesday,
We live here. We grow here. Let’s give here, too. One #GivingTuesday,
(From the Presbyterian Historical Society. To discover more about the 16th Century Reformation period that coincided with the bubonic plague that swept through Europe, and for a copy of the Plague Song, please visit www.history.pcusa.org.)
This week commemorates the Protestant Reformation (1517-1648) that transformed Europe as the Good News was proclaimed with renewed spiritual energy: Scripture alone. Grace alone. Faith alone. While the names of reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin are more widely recognized, it was Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) who left an undeniable impact on the Christian Church. In Switzerland, Zwingli was the newly appointed People’s Priest, or Leutpriestertum, at Zurich’s Groosmünster church. With the Reformation underway, while visiting the Swiss town of Bad Pfäfers in September 1519, Zwingli learned of a new wave of plague devastating Zurich and immediately returned home. The bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Zwingli ministered to the city’s afflicted and himself fell ill. His brother, Andreas, would perish from the disease, along with an estimated quarter to half of all Zurich’s citizens. Zwingli’s song shows him falling sick, battling the disease, and convalescing. The words speak to his acceptance of divine providence (“Do what Thou wilt; me nothing lacks. Thy vessel am I; to make or break altogether”)and promise a future of faithful acts (“my lips must thy praise and teaching bespeak more than ever before, however it may go”). As a Reformation leader Zwingli went on to oppose longstanding church practices that contradicted his understanding of the Bible, including the veneration of saints and statues, priestly celibacy, and the sale of indulgences. Although he didn’t write the Plague Song to be performed during worship services, the text can be found in many sixteenth and seventeenth century Protestant hymnals. Zwingli’s words remind us 500 years later that a commitment to others and even personal tribulation can lead to a renewed state of grace.
A Session is the leadership team for a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation, a denomination that Cold Spring Presbyterian Church has been a member of since, well, before the denomination was formed! The Session is comprised of nine (9) women and men who are Ruling elders elected by the congregation to terms of service. The Session Meeting gathers monthly with the Transformation Pastor, Dr. Kevin Yoho, who serves as the Session Moderator. The Session is responsible for the spiritual vitality of its members and listening to the Spirit of God and the voice of the congregation to best serve the community of Greater Cape May, New Jersey in the name of Jesus Christ.
Beverly Mate, Fred Ferrari, Kevin Beare, Lenore Bowne, Marjorie Wetherill, Martin Bowne, Norris Clark, and Tom Imperato. As of March 2020, there is one vacancy on the session. Our elders are structured to serve on one of six (6) ministry teams. Speak with them to share your ideas, concerns, joys, learn more, and please, consider joining a team that interests you.
The Session has been faithfully meeting via Zoom since March. In May 2020, the session restructured the teams to better achieve our mission together. Below are the team names and the elders who serve on them. Contact information for our session members can be found on our staff and leadership contact page.
Additional session leadership resources are discussed in the, The Presbyterian Trustee, A Guide, (Geneva Press, 2004).
Updated: March 12, 2020
We will follow directives from the State of New Jersey, Cape May County Health Department, or other state or municipal authority should they impose assembly restrictions, quarantines, or other constraints to prevent or contain virus exposure including cancelling or postponing worship services, events, and closing our facilities. (Check back often for updates.)
The session has established a Healthy Living Team to promote healthy living practices, especially during health crises like the coronavirus pandemic. Jonna Myers (R.N.) and Melissa Arnott (EdD.) are leading this team.
We encourage appropriate social distancing during the pandemic: Our sanctuary in the Red Brick Church is spacious enough to allow worshippers who choose to attend to comfortably practice recommended social distancing protocols. (Our average attendance is 70. Our sanctuary seats 300 including our balcony, leaving lots of room to spread out as needed.)
Live streaming of worship: Should services be cancelled due to the pandemic, visit our Facebook page for FaceBook Live video streaming, and/or our website for messages and music content. Stay spiritually nourished and connected!
What about Easter? Its possible that our two Easter services may be postponed, but they will not be cancelled! Should the coronavirus pandemic threat continue into April (Easter is April 12), we may need to postpone our services to a later, safer, date. Easter is one amazing event we don’t want to miss celebrating, so we will just choose a different date to gather if the April 12th events are postponed. (Stay tuned!)
What we are doing: We are re-doubling our efforts to ensure that Price Hall and sanctuary, bathrooms, other surfaces are clean, using disinfectants that are approved by the CDC. Boxes of tissues have been provided in center aisle pews. Hand sanitizer is provided. We installed automatic paper towel dispensers in our bathrooms that are safer to operate.
What you can do: We have our own special areas at home or at work that we need to pay attention to during virus outbreaks. Everyone’s cleaning list should include door knobs, handrails, and handles on your microwave, refrigerator, cabinets, and those toilet and faucet handles, too.
Check with neighbors! If you are able, reach out to your neighbors, especially those who are home bound.
Stock-up! Remember to have at least a three-week’s supply of food essentials and any required respiratory medications. BUT…
Please do not hoard – if you have extra soap and hand sanitizer – bring it to church – we will use it! Hoarding is not neighborly!
Contact the Deacons or call the office for assistance with essential shopping or doctor’s visits. We want to help!
Go Online! Shop for groceries, contribute to the church, listen to worship services, and even pay bills online. Follow us on Facebook, and please Like our page. It helps others discover our page!
In light of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), resources are available for our congregation. Now is the time to prepare and be aware of safer community practices. According to a Preparedness for Pandemics guide published by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, simple precautions can help everyone participate in healthy ways.
Everyday Musts During A Pandemic:
As we gather for events and worship, simply smile, and use your welcoming words, without handshakes. Frequently and thoroughly washing our hands is essential. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (containing at least 60% alcohol) can be found in and around bathrooms in the Red Brick Church and Price Hall. Use sanitizer often. (Again, hand washing is better!)
Thank you for modeling protective health practices and praying for those most severely affected by the pandemic, especially the most vulnerable and isolated members of communities around the world. Should you have any special needs or concerns, please let a Deacon or session member know how we can assist you.
Our weekly Connections emailed newsletter (which is also available online) is read by more and more subscribers every week. It provides relevant, timely information and better integration with our website, social media, and worship bulletin. Connections keeps us and our community better connected and engaged.
To complement the weekly Connections, and to reduce redundancy and production costs, we are experimenting with distributing a more comprehensive edition of the Brickette fewer times each year. In 2020, the Brickette will be published in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter; the first of March, June, September, and December. Special editions may also be added.
We look forward to receiving your feedback on our new publication schedule this year. Send your comments to hello@coldspringchurch.com, attention Publications.
The Rev. Dr. Kevin Yoho is our Transformation Pastor, serving in a part-time, interim role. Pastor Kevin’s mission is to resource the leadership and congregation to clarify its mission, reconnect to the community, and improve the growth and vitality of the church and community.
Kevin’s book on community and congregational transformation, Crayons for the City- Reneighboring Communities of Faith to Rebuild Neighborhoods of Hope, offers practical tools to increase impact. More information can be found here.
Kevin’s life mission is building hopeful and healthy communities using the lens of theology, technology, and transportation. (You can listen to Kevin’s messages, and read Kevin’s blog at www.reciprocalrevo.com.)
Kevin is a minister member of West Jersey Presbytery, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He Kevin served more than nine years as the presbytery executive of Newark Presbytery (NJ), a regional council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), building upon his 23 years in parish ministry. As a kind of ecclesiastical engineer and urban mission specialist, Kevin offers transformative leadership to empower thriving congregations that build healthy communities.
Kevin consults with other congregations and community organizations, and serves on the faculty of City Vision University. He is an instructional designer and teaches Strategic Planning for Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Youth Ministry, Leadership and Management, Organizational Systems, Technology, Life Balance, and Addiction, and Vocation and Calling: Theology of Work.
Dr. Yoho is a graduate of Washington Bible College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In 1999, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree with honors of distinction for his thesis project on church and community transformation, Revitalizing the Local Church for Mission.
Pastor Kevin is married to the love of his life, Dr. Melissa Arnott, EdD LPC LCADC, and they enjoy their family and neighbors making their home in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Cold Spring Church
780 Seashore Road
Cold Spring, NJ 08204 USA
609-884-4065
Cold Spring Church
780 Seashore Road
Cold Spring, NJ 08204 USA
609-884-4065
© 2021 Cold Spring Church. Site by: Hark.Digital
Cold Spring Church is worshipping both Online and In-person! In-person space is limited and under strict guidelines. Please refer to the worship guide for more information on in-person regulations and how to join online worship. Join us for Worship this Sunday @10:30 AM.