October 6, 2009

Developing, Nurturing
& Supporting Leaders
Mark Your Calendar!

PATHWAYS
Youth Leader Development
Oct. 17
Bloomington, Ill.

Congregational Transformation
Coaching Skills for Presbytery Teams
Oct. 19-21
St. Louis

Continuing Education for CLPs & Preachers
Montreat Conference Center
Oct. 21-23
Montreat, N.C.

World Mission
Celebration '09

Oct. 22-24
Cincinnati

Synod Meeting
Calvin Celebration
Oct. 30, 2009
Urbana, Ill.

Annual Tentmaking Conference
Oct. 30 - Nov. 1
Mundelein, Ill,

The Art of Transitional Ministry
Training for Interim Pastors
Nov. 2-6
St. Louis

Stewardship Kaleidoscope
Presbyterian Stewardship Conference
March 15-17
Indianapolis

Check our website or contact the synod office for details!
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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!
Synod of Lincoln TrailsOctober Synod Meeting Will Honor John Calvin

The next regular synod meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 30. It will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, Ill. The meeting will include a celebration of the "Burdens and Benefits of being Calvinists." Dr. Ken Sawyer will be the featured speaker. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Central time and the morning will be devoted to the Calvin celebration.

Anyone is welcome to attend synod meetings. Visit the synod meeting information web page for details.

The first synod meeting of 2010 has been changed to Saturday, January 23. The location is the same: Philo (Ill.) Presbyterian Church.
Presbyterian Foundation Presbyterian Foundation Offers Innovative Gift Program

As with conventional gift annuity programs, the foundation's new charitable gift annuity program provides the donor with an attractive lifetime income, but under the new program, in most cases, the gift portion will be made available to the charity named by the donor immediately. This approach allows the donor to witness the impact of their giving during their lifetime. The charity receives an immediate gift which is always welcome. More information. Contact regional foundation development officers Lisa Tait Longo (Indianapolis, 800-710-5094) or Karen Krum (Wheaton, Ill., 888-751-9222) for details.
 
International Peacemakers Chicago and Blackhawk Presbyteries Will Host International Peacemakers

Eleven international peacemakers will be visiting 49 presbyteries and one synod preaching, speaking at presbytery meetings and church suppers, talking to college students and teaching Sunday school classes. If an international peacemaker will be visiting near you, please make time to attend one of the events. Learn more about the international peacemaker program and see where they are visiting.
McCormick Seminary McCormick Seminary to Host Interfaith Event

Dr. Mary Mikhail and Dr. Muhammad Sammak will visit McCormick and LSTC as part of a tour organized by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Interfaith Relations Office.

Two leading scholars and practitioners of Christian-Muslim dialogue in the Middle East, Mikhail and Sammak will be making a special stop on the shared campus of McCormick Theological Seminary and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) on Monday, October 26.

Co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Interfaith Listening Project, the Presbytery of Chicago, McCormick Theological Seminary, and LSTC's Center for Christian Muslim Engagement for Peace & Justice, the day will consist of informal fellowship and formal discussion about how religious life in Lebanon compares with religious life in the United States.

This event is free and open to all.  For more information click here.
Doing Ministry With Muddy Feet Doing Ministry With Muddy Feet
2009 Annual Tentmaking Conference
October 30 - November 1

Explore the benefits and the blessings of bivocational ministry at the 2009 Annual Tentmaking Conference sponsored by the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers (APT) to be held October 30 - November 1 in Mundelein, Ill. Download a brochure.

The APT also offers a wealth of resources year-round, offering seminarians, candidates, CLPs, new immigrant pastors and others many opportunities to learn more about why tentmaking ministry makes sense in the light of changing leadership models in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Visit the Church Leadership Connection website for other helpful resources or to download more information about the upcoming Annual Tentmaking Conference.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Responds to National and International Disasters

Over the last 10 days, there have been several significant disasters to which PDA is actively responding. Gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering makes this possible.

We ask that you remember to lift up in prayer all of the people who have been impacted by these disasters, remembering especially those who need courage to rebuild their lives. Pray that they will feel God's presence and find hope in the knowledge that even in the midst of chaos, God remains in control.

Georgia Floods
Severe flooding has affected 18 counties in Georgia. Three PC(USA) presbyteries have been affected: Cherokee, Greater Atlanta, and Northeast Georgia. Twelve PC(USA) congregations have sustained significant damage. PDA has provided One Great Hour of Sharing funds and has sent six members of the National Response Team (NRT) to work with affected presbyteries in their response. Gifts to help in the Georgia flooding response should be designated for DR000015 - U.S.A. Disaster response.

International Disasters
Indonesia: Two earthquakes, centered in the area of Padang, have hit Sumatra island in a 24-our period. PDA has also responded to the earthquake that struck West Java on September 2, 2009.

Philipines: Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) hit the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam, but the Philippines has been most affected.

Samoa: A tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake has affected both the Independent State of Samoa and the adjoining United States territory of American Samoa.

Visit PC(USA)'s PDA website for more information about Presbyterian response to these disasters.