Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
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Mark Your Calendar!
Synod Meeting
July 25, 2009
Philo, Ill.
Here I Stand
Lombard Mennonite
Peace Center
August 18-20
Hinsdale, Ill.
Preaching Ordinary Time
Synod Workshop for CLPs
August 29
Champaign, Ill.
Continuing Education for CLPs & Preachers
Montreat Conference Center
October 21-23
Montreat, N.C.
Synod Meeting
Oct. 30, 2009
Urbana, Ill.
The Art of Transitional Ministry
Training for Interim Pastors
November 2-6
St. Louis
Check our website or contact the synod office for details!
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What's Up With
Your Ministry?We'd love to
share the news! Contact Marta at the synod
with updates from your presbytery, congregation,
camp, or other organization.We'll spread the
word! |
Someone is looking for your church. Invite them in.These professionally designed resources from PC(USA) are available free of charge to any Lincoln Trails congregation or presbytery. More information... |
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 Denomination Leader Will Speak at Synod Meeting July 25The next regular meeting of the Synod of Lincoln Trails will be Saturday, July 25, at Philo Presbyterian Church in Philo, Ill. Marcia Meyers, director of the PC(USA) Office of Leadership and Vocation, will speak to the group about exploring call and vocation at 10:15 a.m. Visitors are welcome to attend her talk and to participate in worship immediately afterwards. Please contact Judy Lucas at the synod office, (317) 923-3681, for more information about attending. Note that the meeting location is a change.
Synod meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Please contact Judy Lucas at the synod office, (317) 923-3681, for more information.
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A Word from the Co-Exec
Birthday Blessings
On Sunday, July 5, I celebrated another birthday. One birthday seems to follow another way before I'm ready for the annual celebration! I don't think time passes any more rapidly than when I was many years younger, but the calendar pages certainly seem to flip more quickly than they used to.
Because my birthday was on Sunday, I began the day by going to church at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. Ruth Moore, synod commissioner and former moderator, preached a fine sermon titled "Unanswered Prayer" and the music featured traditional African America spirituals - played on piano and organ and sung by an amazing baritone voice.
Ruth's sermon made me stop and think about the prayers I may be offering that don't seem to be receiving God's attention - or at least not receiving the kind of attention I want God to give them. And I realized that I pray regularly
- for pastors young in ministry who are seeking their second calls and not having much success;
- for pastors whose leadership is questioned by congregation members at every step of the way;
- for those who have completed commissioned lay pastor training - some many years ago - but who have never been tapped to lead a congregation;
- for congregations who seem to be in constant transition - whether from a continuous change of pastoral leadership, rapid economic changes in their communities, or slowly changing demographics that make them seem irrelevant to their surroundings;
- for the presbyteries in this synod as they, too, deal with the transitions of economic reality and changing demographics and overworked elected leaders.
But most of all I pray regularly for all of us to celebrate the gifts God has given us - we are a people abundantly blessed and sometimes we forget that. It took a birthday to remind me. Even on those days when I don't think God is listening to a thing I say, there are all around me signs of God's abundant love. I pray you will see them, too.
Carol McDonald
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Community Demographics Available to Synod Congregations and Presbyteries
The Synod of Lincoln Trails has contracted with MissionInsite, Inc., to provide customized data for local populations, households and families in any Indiana or Illinois zip code, community or census area. Reports include age, income, ethnicity, generation and lifestyle information. Ministry groups can use this information to discover what ministries are most needed in their particular area. The service is free to congregations and presbyteries within synod bounds. More information...
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Popular Presbyterian Author Will Speak to Pastors September 25Great Rivers Presbytery will host the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt in a discussion of her book, Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing
Generation. Pastors from other presbyteries are welcome to attend and should contact Julie Bainbridge at the Great Rivers office to register. Click here for more information about Tribal Church. |
Preaching Ordinary Time:
The Home Stretch - September through November
A Synod Workshop for Commissioned Lay Pastors
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Champaign, Ill.
More information...
Download a registration form
Map to Westminster Presbyterian Church
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