Things will look a little different this session! Since we were unable to meet at Presbyterian College due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the planning committee arranged for this session to be held at the newly renovated Charleston Atlantic Presbytery offices in North Charleston, SC, formerly Park Circle Presbyterian Church. This building will allow for plenty of social distancing and safe, comfortable classrooms for our fall semester. 
 

We request that you follow the North Charleston mandated guidelines and wear a mask at all times while inside, the exception being at meal times. We also ask that you refrain from participating in Layschool if you are not feeling well and/or have tested positive for the virus within 2 weeks of class. The refund restriction will be waived if you become ill with COVID after registering or the refund deadline has passed.
 

Lodging has been arranged at the Holiday Inn Express in North Charleston, less than 2 miles from the Presbytery complex. The Holiday Inn is offering a free shuttle service between the church and the hotel. We hope you will enjoy joining us in our new surroundings for study and fellowship in the name of our Lord. 
 

 

 

APCE exists to support, equip, and connect all Christian educators - whether they be ministry staff, volunteers, or parents/guardians in the home. Let us help you provide the tools needed to grow in faith!

Instead of having weekly ZOOMs, we are going to transition back to our monthly cluster lunch gatherings, except we are going to do so, for the remainder of the year, by ZOOM. As a reminder, the schedule is as follows:

 

Grand Strand Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 2^nd Thursday, 12 noon

 

Sumter Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 3^rd Monday, 12:30pm (This is a change from 2^nd Monday in order to not conflict with the monthly CPM meeting.)

 

Cheraw Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 3^rd Thursday, 12 noon

 

Florence Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 4^th Wednesday, 12 noon

 

As usual, Juanita will send you a reminder and the link, which is also below, a week prior. However, please mark your calendars.

 

Moderators and Clerks,

 

Attached are the Guidelines for reopening in-person worship and activities, which are slightly revised from the draft you recently received. These Guidelines were unanimously adopted by your Guiding Council to assist and support your Session in its plans for reopening.

 

We are aware that some Sessions have set a date for reopening or are planning or conducting outdoor worship, using the draft Guidelines sent to pastoral leaders a couple of weeks ago, to make preparations. Many other Sessions are not rushing to reopen but continuing to provide worship and activities through means other than in-person and inside. The Guiding Council reaffirms, once again, that it is the Session that determines when and how a congregation reopens to in-person, inside worship and activities. However, the Guiding Council continues to advise and encourage this not yet happen.

 

We have just past the surge in cases and deaths for this area, but with the reopening of many businesses, there is a concern on the part of medical and health experts that cases and deaths could easily spike. Additionally, we are aware that many of our members are in vulnerable categories.  Thus, the Guiding Council encourages that each Session take this time to develop a strategic plan for your congregation and context for the time it does reopen to in-person, inside worship and activities. The attached Guidelines are to assist and support those Session plans in a way that ensures the safest way to do so at the time determined by the Session.

 

Please reach out to me or Julie should you need any assistance and support. We are grateful for your leadership and continue to pray for you and your congregation.

 

[Download the Guidelines]

 

God bless. Gavin

Rev. Gavin D. Meek