Coronavirus Update and Racial Justice Initiatives SEPTEMBER 2020
FLU SEASON
Flu shots are now available for the upcoming flu season. People are encouraged to get a flu shot this year to protect against getting both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, but also to lessen the chance of contracting the flu and putting additional stress upon the health care system that may need to prioritize for COVID patients should the virus spike again.
CDC recommends that people receive the flu shot by the end of October, keeping in mind that it takes about two weeks for the shot to build up to full protection in one’s system. Older persons and persons with underlying conditions that compromise the immune system may want to wait until close to the end of October to get the shot to allow for full effectiveness of the shot through the peak months of the flu season. According to the CDC, “getting vaccinated early … is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults.” (For more information, see the CDC article on the flu vaccine.)
Some pharmacies are offering the opportunity to make appointments to get the flu shots. Check with your pharmacy. If you are a member of the Benefits Plan, these shots are 100% covered as a preventative procedure.
MATTHEW 25 INITIATIVE
At the September stated meeting, a Special Committee of Council presented a statement and resources about the acts of racial injustice that have been so prevalent in the public consciousness since at least this past spring. Pastors and sessions are encouraged to make use of this statement and resources to address the issue of racial justice in their congregation and community. The statement is available on the Presbytery’s web site.
At least two opportunities come to mind of ways in which this issue may be addressed by congregations. One is to become a Matthew 25 congregation. The Matthew 25 Initiative is a program of the Presbyterian Mission Agency that has three focal points:
There is a wealth of information and resources about the Initiative and how congregations can implement it on the PMA web site, including a page by which to sign up as a Matthew 25 congregation. (There is also a link for groups to register in the Matthew 25 Initiative.) Central Florida Presbytery has registered as a Matthew 25 Presbytery, meaning that we will also encourage at least 20% of our congregations to register as Matthew 25 congregations. So far, the following congregations have registered with PMA in this Initiative: St. Mark’s, Altamonte Springs; St. Andrews, Forest City; El Buen Vecino, Kissimmee; Hope, Orlando; Washington Shores, Orlando; El Redentor, Oveido; Port Orange; Spring Lake, Sebring; First, Umatilla.
Central Florida Presbytery is also part of the second wave of the Vital Congregations Initiative, looking forward to guiding at least fifteen congregations through this process starting in 2021. All pastors and sessions received a mailing this month about the VCI, with an invitation to become part of it. If a congregation participates in the Vital Congregations Initiative, that will be addressing one of the three focal points of the Matthew 25 program, enabling them to register as a Matthew 25 congregation.
PITTSBURGH SEMINARY PROGRAM
The second way congregations can go deeper in addressing issues of racial injustice is to participate in Pittsburgh Seminary’s W. Don McClure Lectures and World Mission Initiative’s Month of Mission Series titled “Jesus Christ and the 'Dividing Wall': Race and God's Mission.” These “flipped workshops” will take place each Wednesday evening in October, starting on October 7 at 7:30 pm. There is no cost for this program, but participants must register.
These workshops will provide an opportunity for congregations looking for resources on how to have deep conversations on race. There is an option for churches to organize watch parties to gather their members for guided discussion following the plenary presentations. Besides these four lectures, there will be also six pre-recorded workshops that can be accessed and used in the future by participating churches and individuals.
Central Florida Presbytery is a co-sponsor for these workshops. For complete information on this event, please see the event brochure .
Dan Williams
Executive Presbyter / Stated Clerk
Central Florida Presbytery
Flu shots are now available for the upcoming flu season. People are encouraged to get a flu shot this year to protect against getting both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, but also to lessen the chance of contracting the flu and putting additional stress upon the health care system that may need to prioritize for COVID patients should the virus spike again.
CDC recommends that people receive the flu shot by the end of October, keeping in mind that it takes about two weeks for the shot to build up to full protection in one’s system. Older persons and persons with underlying conditions that compromise the immune system may want to wait until close to the end of October to get the shot to allow for full effectiveness of the shot through the peak months of the flu season. According to the CDC, “getting vaccinated early … is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults.” (For more information, see the CDC article on the flu vaccine.)
Some pharmacies are offering the opportunity to make appointments to get the flu shots. Check with your pharmacy. If you are a member of the Benefits Plan, these shots are 100% covered as a preventative procedure.
MATTHEW 25 INITIATIVE
At the September stated meeting, a Special Committee of Council presented a statement and resources about the acts of racial injustice that have been so prevalent in the public consciousness since at least this past spring. Pastors and sessions are encouraged to make use of this statement and resources to address the issue of racial justice in their congregation and community. The statement is available on the Presbytery’s web site.
At least two opportunities come to mind of ways in which this issue may be addressed by congregations. One is to become a Matthew 25 congregation. The Matthew 25 Initiative is a program of the Presbyterian Mission Agency that has three focal points:
- Building congregational vitality.
- Dismantling structural racism.
- Eradicating systemic poverty.
There is a wealth of information and resources about the Initiative and how congregations can implement it on the PMA web site, including a page by which to sign up as a Matthew 25 congregation. (There is also a link for groups to register in the Matthew 25 Initiative.) Central Florida Presbytery has registered as a Matthew 25 Presbytery, meaning that we will also encourage at least 20% of our congregations to register as Matthew 25 congregations. So far, the following congregations have registered with PMA in this Initiative: St. Mark’s, Altamonte Springs; St. Andrews, Forest City; El Buen Vecino, Kissimmee; Hope, Orlando; Washington Shores, Orlando; El Redentor, Oveido; Port Orange; Spring Lake, Sebring; First, Umatilla.
Central Florida Presbytery is also part of the second wave of the Vital Congregations Initiative, looking forward to guiding at least fifteen congregations through this process starting in 2021. All pastors and sessions received a mailing this month about the VCI, with an invitation to become part of it. If a congregation participates in the Vital Congregations Initiative, that will be addressing one of the three focal points of the Matthew 25 program, enabling them to register as a Matthew 25 congregation.
PITTSBURGH SEMINARY PROGRAM
The second way congregations can go deeper in addressing issues of racial injustice is to participate in Pittsburgh Seminary’s W. Don McClure Lectures and World Mission Initiative’s Month of Mission Series titled “Jesus Christ and the 'Dividing Wall': Race and God's Mission.” These “flipped workshops” will take place each Wednesday evening in October, starting on October 7 at 7:30 pm. There is no cost for this program, but participants must register.
These workshops will provide an opportunity for congregations looking for resources on how to have deep conversations on race. There is an option for churches to organize watch parties to gather their members for guided discussion following the plenary presentations. Besides these four lectures, there will be also six pre-recorded workshops that can be accessed and used in the future by participating churches and individuals.
Central Florida Presbytery is a co-sponsor for these workshops. For complete information on this event, please see the event brochure .
Dan Williams
Executive Presbyter / Stated Clerk
Central Florida Presbytery