On March 23rd the Presbytery of Lake Huron elected the Rev. Ted McCulloch as Stated Clerk.  Ted will officially join the staff on April 1st.

While we are sad to say goodbye to our retiring Stated Clerk, Douglas Tracy, we are looking forward to working with Ted.

You may contact Ted at the Presbytery Office at 989-799-7481 extension 4 or via e-mail at tmcculloch@presbylh.org.

Please take a moment to welcome Ted to the staff.

This 19-month calendar that begins with June 2010 contains many planning aids for pastors and other church leaders.  Building on the theme, "Growing Christ's Church Deep and Wide," the calendar calls Presbyterians to our life together.  Photos, scripture, and other reflections express our joy and common purpose: to share the love of God in Jesus Christ in word and deed.
 
 
The Presbytery Office will place a bulk order for the 2010-2011 Presbyterian Planning Calendar for individuals and churches.  If the calendars arrive in time, they will be available for pick-up at the May 4, Presbytery meeting at the Korean Church in Saginaw.  Otherwise, they can be picked up at the Presbytery office. 

The cost is $7.00 and payment must accompany order.

Click Here to go to our Documents page for an order form.

An excellent video study of Jesus' parables.

Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God is a film-based Bible study that looks at six of Jesus' parables.  For each parable there is a short dramatic film of about 15 minutes that expresses the parable in a modern setting. A 10 minute application video reflects on the meaning of the parable. Also included are a leaders' guide, a participant's study book, and suggestions for teacher preparation. In addition, there are six lessons on cinematic theology: film style and content.


As a reminder, VBS Preview Kits are available.  To find out what is new for 2010 click here.


To search our catalog from the comfort of your home or office, just click here.  When you find items that you would like to borrow, call the presbytery office at 800-621-6905 or 989-799-7481 to make arrangements for picking them up.  If you have any questions about the Resource Center, please contact Valerie Fargo.

It's that time of year again.  Health Kits are needed to distribute at the Health Fairs this summer.  A note from the committee:

Dear Pastors:

Would you please print the two Minutes for Mission in your bulletin on two Sundays in spring found on the Documents page of the presbytery's website?  A personal word of encouragement from you in the pulpit will also make a big difference in how many respond!  Many Presbyterians know little about this significant work of our Presbytery.  Drop off points are listed on the bulletin insert found on the presbytery's website.  For further information please contact Bob Lakey at (989) 793-7869 or the Presbytery Office at (800) 621-6905.  Thank you.

For all those helping congregations adapt to the 21st century

April 19 - 20

St. Francis Retreat Center
DeWitt, MI


Promoting Healthy Congregations is a joint effort of the Michigan Presbyteries to provide opportunities for leaders,  particularly Committee on Ministry people, but also other congregational leaders, to develop skills and knowledge which help them provide support and guidance for congregations, sessions and other leaders. How does a congregation adapt to changing circumstances within itself as a congregation, as well as becoming accessible and relevant to people who are not members of the congregation.    Learning how to help people move through grief related to the church not being like it was 25 years ago; Learning how to help people connect with what has been best within their congregations and build upon that; Learning how to help people to realize that conflict is one of the necessary dimensions of positive change, and become comfortable working with conflict - developing the skills and knowledge to really walk helpfully with congregations when it is time for change, or developing a new way of seeing and doing ministry is the purpose of the Promoting Healthy Congregations Seminars.   Visit our Upcoming Events page for a brochure.

As the Synod of the Covenant begins looking for a new Synod Executive, the question of the role of Synods looms large.  There are several overtures being sent to General Assembly this year which recommend changing the nature of Synod and their role significantly.  One even recommends the elimination of Synods. Lake Huron is one of the 11 presbyteries which compose the Synod of the Covenant.  Seven of these 11 presbyteries are in Ohio and the other four are in Michigan.
 
The needs of our neighborhoods and the world for the love and compassion of Christ are as great as they ever have been.  However, as the numbers of people and dollars for being and doing as the love and compassion of Christ decline, we must seek guidance for the role our governing bodies, (Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods and General Assembly), can best play to support people in being and sharing the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Hence, the Synod of the Covenant leadership, knowing there are no clear or easy answers is asking that we be in prayer for the next few months. 

Please visit the Documents page of our website for the "Community in Prayer" bulletin insert regarding this very important matter.  All congregations are asked to consider placing this in upcoming bulletins and newsletters.

 

The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, the Rev. Gradye Parsons,  recently wrote a thought-provoking letter to all Presbyterians regarding Conscientious Objection.  Please take a moment to read his letter online regarding the various ways that military service is supported as well supporting those who are conscientious objectors.

 

Presbyterian youth groups across the country are invited to participate in an on-line Youth Video Challenge as part of ymiLIVE (Youth Mission Initiate LIVE, pronounced why-em-eye LIVE).  Youth groups will compete to win one of two $25,000 endowment funds established by the Presbyterian Foundation to benefit their church youth ministry programs.

Interested Presbyterian youth groups can register now at ymiLIVE.org to participate in the Youth Video Challenge. 

Registration is now open for the 11th Annual National Multicultural Church Conference, May 26-30, 2010 in Chicago with pre-conferences on May 26 to 27. This year's conference explores the theme, "H20:  Deepening our Faith, Widening our Culture" focusing on the biblical vision of Ezekiel 47:1-12.

The conference seeks to explore "growing the Christ's church deep and wide" in an increasingly diverse world. The conference is a place of differences. People with varying languages, cultures, ethnicities, theologies, genders, generations and backgrounds will come together to recognize the amazing potential of differences and, through affirming and celebrating those differences, create something new. 

Come and wade in the H2O, that is the 2010 11th National Multicultural Church Conference and be nourished, sustained and reborn.

The migration of thousands of people from the earthquake-devastated areas around and in Port-au-Prince to rural areas of Haiti is threatening the security and sovereignty of rural food systems. The Joining Hands network FONDAMA is prioritizing the urgent need for an increase in rural food production. FONDAMA's goal is to purchase 400 tons of local seeds for immediate distribution to 30,000 farmers nationwide. The local cost is estimated at roughly $1 million.

Donations for the purchase of these local seeds by our partners in Haiti can be made to the PHP account for Haiti H000014.

The planting season has started. Seeds are needed now.

 

 

 

 

The following seminars have been set up by Lake Michigan Presbytery and you are invited to attend.  They will all be held at First Presbyterian Church in Lansing and they are all led by Board of Pensions Education Specialists.  The seating is limited to the first 30 participants who register online or by mail.  The cost is nominal.  Once you have registered you will be told how and whom to pay (meals and travel cost).
 
April 12-13    Growing into Tomorrow...Today (mid- to late career clergy and lay Benefits Plan members who are not retired and your spouses or fiancés)
April 14    Render unto Caesar (for clergy, church treasurers and personnel chairs - a seminar on understanding Terms of Call and clergy tax issues)
April 15    Getting in Shape Fiscally (designed for clergy and lay Benefits Plan members - designed to help you get on the path to financial wellness)
April 16    Post Retirement
 
Click here  to learn more and to register.

If these dates are not good for you but you are interested in attending one or more of these seminars please contract Andrea Drapp at the Presbytery Office at 989-799-7481.  We may be able to schedule at least two seminars to be held within our presbytery later in the year.

 

The Great Lakes Loons are excited to once again offer our Faith Days to your congregations. One of our top priorities is to build and maintain strong relationships within the community, which is why we want to invite you to join us for a group outing at Dow Diamond!  We expect to have church groups at the ballpark every night, but we have dedicated a few special nights as Faith Nights at Dow Diamond.  Faith Nights will be held on Tuesday, June 1; Tuesday, July 6; and Sunday August 8.  These games will feature faith-themed promotions such as post-game entertainment. Your church's name will be displayed on the scoreboard as well as be announced over the public address system. 
 
Group outings are a great way to bring your congregation together while having fun in a new and exciting atmosphere. These outing are perfect for members of all ages and a great way to raise awareness in the community.
 
We want to make this event as easy as possible for your church.  After you have decided on a date, the Loons will help you with every step of the process from promotion to securing ticket orders to distribution of the tickets.  We want this to be a fun experience for everyone involved and something your church looks forward to each season.
 
We hope to see you out at Dow Diamond this spring.  If you are interested in planning an outing for your church or would like more information, please contact Tiffany Seward at (989) 837-6167 or email to Tseward@loons.com; or Jessica Olpere at (989) 837.6136 or email Jolpere@loons.com
 

 

WNEM TV5 has uncovered the "coolest" schools in Mid-Michigan, now they're in search of the "coolest" churches. That's right, churches!

They want to know what is cool about your church. Fill out the form on their website and tell them what innovative or positive things your church has going on.

They'll feature a cool church every weekend LIVE on WNEM TV5 News.

May 16-23, 2010
With Additional Paid Summer Internships*
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join us May 1 and 2 for a weekend of fun, fellowship and clean-up.  Join us Friday, April 30 for a good nights sleep and a warm hearty breakfast Saturday morning.  Stay until Sunday afternoon for worship and meals.  Contact the office at office@campgreenwood.org for reservations. 

Greenwood Web 
Greenwood Email

Michigan mayors from Benton Harbor, Saginaw, Flint and Alma will lead a nonpartisan conversation at Alma College about the ways that communities and local governments are responding to statewide problems.
 
Alma College's Center for Responsible Leadership and Public Affairs Institute will host the mayoral summit, "Leading Michigan Forward," from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 7th in the Remick Heritage Center. Admission is free and open to the public.
 
The mayors  - Wilce Cooke of Benton Harbor, Joyce Seals of Saginaw, Dayne Walling of Flint and Melvin Nyman of Alma - will discuss the immediate and long-term challenges that Michigan's economic troubles pose for the residents of the state and share the local strategies that are being used to meet those challenges. Presentations will focus on economic, educational, health and environmental challenges. An open dialogue with the audience will follow the mayors' presentations.
 
"The Center for Responsible Leadership students were committed to organizing a leadership forum that will not only inform but inspire members of the community to better understand both the problems and the opportunities that are in front of us," explains Peggy Thelen, assistant professor of education.

"These dedicated civic leaders are on the front lines of the efforts to actually meet those challenges and make the most of those opportunities. This forum is a real effort to help lead our own local and regional communities forward." 
 
Walling of Flint recently worked on President Obama's campaign as regional coordinator and is owner of a company that serves the local community in long term business solutions.
 
"The forum is an opportunity to see how mayors have given back to their communities and how students and other members of the audience can give back to the community," says Greenville junior Adam Ellsworth, who helped plan the event.
 
"It should be an example of what real community leadership looks like," says Ellsworth.
 
Alma College's Center for Responsible Leadership provides opportunities for students to develop and utilize their individual leadership skills in addressing campus, community, state, national and international issues.