January 27, 2009

Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
Mark Your Calendar!

Synod Meeting
January 31, 2009
Philo, Illinois

CLP Preaching for Lent
February 7, 2009

Youthfest
February 20-22, 2009
Jameson Camp, Indianapolis

Stewardship Kaleidoscope
March 9-11, 2009
Kansas City

Spring Into Faith!
Synod-Wide Middle School Event
March 20-21
Crawfordsville, Ind.

Religion Communicators Conference
March 26-28, 2009
Boston

Presbyterian Writers Guild
April 23-24, 2009
Atlanta

Interim Pastor Training
May 4-8, 2009
St. Louis

Big Tent
June 11-13, 2009
Atlanta
10 different PC(USA) conferences, at the same time and in the same place!

Covenant Gathering
Family fellowship
and learning
June 28 - July 3
Hillsdale, Mich.

Check our website or contact the synod office for details!
McCormick Doctor of Ministry Program Now Accepting Applications for 2009
 
Do you want to deepen your ministry skills?  Retool with new concepts and ideas?  Need to draw from a deep well of spiritual renewal? McCormick is now accepting applications from individuals who wish to begin study either in June or November of 2009.

More...
Visit the Lincoln Trails Neighborhood at the
Presbyterian Neighbor News


Check out what's happening nationally at the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
 
 
What's going on in your
presbytery?
 

Be sure to visit our website
www.lincolntrails.org
CLP Preaching for Lent Preaching for Lent
A Workshop for Commissioned Lay Pastors

Saturday, February 7, 2009 · 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church
1700 Crescent Drive, Champaign, Ill.
(click for map)

The leader for this valuable workshop is the Rev. Dr. Laura B. Reason, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Highland, Ind. and five-time teacher of preaching to Synod of Lincoln Trails CLPs. Cost of the workshop is $30 per person, which includes lunch and preaching materials to take home.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Click here for a downloadable registration form or contact Kristi Miller at the synod office, (317) 923-3681, for more information.
Synod Will Meet January 31 in Philo

The regular quarterly meeting of synod commissioners will be on held on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Philo (Ill.) Presbyterian Church. Meeting papers will be posted on the meeting information page of the synod website and invitees will be reminded by email.

Synod meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Please contact Judy Lucas at the synod office, (317)923-3681, for more information.
Mission Yearbook '09 PC(USA) Mission Yearbook Launched in New Formats

21st century tools provide access to 117-year-old publication

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, which dates back to 1892, is now available in formats never dreamed of by our  Presbyterian ancestors. In addition to the traditional printed version, the 2009 yearbook is now also available as a podcast, through a Web site, through an RSS feed, or by e-mail.

To access the mission yearbook in these new ways, go to the PC(USA) mission yearbook web page to see daily readings online, subscribe to receive readings by e-mail, or get information on downloading podcasts or subscribing to an RSS feed (Really Simple Syndication).

Visitors to the website can view that day's reading or access readings for any other day of the year. The online readings include links to presbyteries and e-mail addresses for individuals appearing on prayer lists.
Explore Relationships at Youthfest 2009
February 20-22, 2009, Indianapolis

High schoolers and college freshmen and sophomores are invited to join us at Jameson Camp in Indianapolis for the 11th annual Youthfest, sponsored by the Synod of Lincoln Trails. Visit the Youthfest 2009 web page for details and a downloadable brochure.
Reach Out and Touch Someone

Need to contact a synod staff member? Want to know who the synod commissioners are from your presbytery? A downloadable version of the 2009 Synod Directory is now online with all this information and more!
Twitter All A-Twitter...
How can your congregation stay connected when the church doors are closed? Many church leaders and members are joining online communities that allow families, friends, co-workers - and faith communities - to stay in touch 24/7.

Web-based tools like Twitter help you keep your finger on the pulse of your community, as users answer one question - what are you doing? "Twitterers" send status updates in 140 characters or less. Some Twitter users are expanding the scope...how about sending the daily lectionary as a "Tweet"?

Twitter is just the tip of the social networking iceberg. Facebook serves as a meeting place for Presbyterians around the world. You can form a group around any topic and share ideas with your friend in the next pew or in the next time zone.

If you prefer to limit your audience, private networks like Ning offer the capabilities of Facebook without the onlookers.

Key to these online communities is the idea that participants no longer have to be in the same time or space to have a conversation.  Get started now: Follow the PC(USA) on Twitter. Visit the PC(USA) on Facebook. Join the Deep and Wide community on Ning.