 For Your Prayers
The community and congregations of Alma on the tragic deaths of four members of the Alma community in an airplane crash on July 23.
Vassar-First as they begin a new phase of their ministry following the retirement of their pastor of 38 years, the Rev. John Becker.
Ithaca-First as they begin a new phase of their ministry following the retirement of their Interim Pastor, the Rev. Mary Anne Evans-Justin.
The Rev. Ron Grimes (Kinde-First and Elkton-Chandler) on his upcoming retirement at the end of the month.
The Rev. Jim Neumann and wife Trish (Saginaw-Second) on the recent birth of their first grandchild.
The congregations who hosted Vacation Bible School and summer programs this year. It is a great ministry and there is always a lot of time and hard work involved in making a VBS successful. And Lake Huron Presbytery had many amazing VBS programs this year!
Contact information for anyone on this list may be obtained by calling
the presbytery office at 800-621-6905 or 989-799-7481.
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 We're Back and We Brought A New Website With Us!
After six weeks we are finally back to publishing the Bi-Weekly Brief. Those weeks have gone by fast but they have also been productive. We are pleased to announce that the presbytery now has a new website. We hope that you like the new design and that you will find it much more user-friendly. It is still a work in progress and things will be added and tweaked over time. Please check it out at www.presbylh.org. Feedback and constructive criticism can be sent to spercy@presbylh.org.
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 Special Called Meeting of Presbytery Scheduled
August 24th, 11:00am
There will be a special called meeting of presbytery on Tuesday, August 24th at the Presbytery Office at 11:00am. The
purpose of the meeting will be to examine a candidate for ordination as he
prepares to receive a call within our Presbytery. The agenda and other information for this meeting are posted on our website on the Presbytery Meetings page.
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 Order your 2011 Mission Yearbooks now and pay the lower bulk rate
2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer
& Study
The
stories found in this edition are centered around the General Assembly Mission
theme of "Grow Christ's Church Deep and Wide" based on Matt. 28:18-20
and Mark 9:35.
It's Time To Order
The Presbytery
offers the opportunity to order the 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study at the discount price
of $8.00 per copy. This special price
(including shipping) is available to all individuals, groups and congregations
who join in the prepaid bulk order coordinated through the Presbytery Office.
The Mission
Yearbooks will be distributed at the December 2010 presbytery meeting.
DEADLINE: Your
order must be submitted and prepaid by August 25, 2010.
Please
complete and return the order form (found on our Forms and Brochures page) along with full payment.
Checks should be made payable to the
Presbytery of Lake Huron.
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 Staffing Hours
With so many of the Presbytery Staff being part-time employees it may be helpful for you to know when their normal hours are.
Following are the days and hours that the part-time employees typically work and their extensions. Click on their name to send them an e-mail.
Vanessa Scott, Administrative Assistant, Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 2:30pm, extension 0.
Staci Percy, Communications Manager/Recording Clerk, Monday-Wednesday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, Thursday mornings at home, extension 2.
Ted McCulloch, Stated Clerk, Monday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, extension 4
Valerie Fargo, Resource Center Director, no set hours, typically in the office 2 days a month, extension 5
Andrea Drapp and Louise Brokaw are the only full-time staff members. Andrea may be reached at extension 3; Louise may be reached at extension 1
When calling the office on Fridays, please use Andrea Drapp's extension which is 3.
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The Rev. John and Emily Becker
 | Thank You Good and Faithful Servants
Sunday, July 25th we reluctantly said goodbye to three clergy members
of Lake Huron Presbytery. All served their congregations, community and
the presbytery in many ways. Showing the love of God to all they met.
While we wish them well in each of their new phases of life, they will
be missed greatly by all.
Thank you, John Becker, Mary Anne
Evans-Justin and Amanda Riley.Visit our website for details and more pictures. |
 New Resources For All Ages
The Resource Center has wonderful new resources. New
DVD's include Walking the Bible, a journey through the sites of Genesis through
Deuteronomy; Start>Being a Good Samaritan, about putting faith in
action; eight new short films in the
Nooma series; and two films about teenagers and faith. Books range from I Am My
Grandpa's Enkelin, a children's book by Walt Wangerin, to hospitality in the
church, celebrating faith milestones, Biblical interpretation and women in the
Gospel of John.
Check out the complete list on the Resource Center page of our website. |
Health Fair at Stone Elementary School in Saginaw on July 8th
 | Thank You For The Health Kits
Thank you to everyone who contributed health kits for
this year's health fairs. The health fairs took place on July 6-9 and July 13
and included migrant programs and urban settings. Churches donated over 500
kits that were distributed to health fair participants and to shelters in
several communities.
Visit the Health Fairs 2010 page under the Committees tab of our website for more pictures. |
 New Interpreter's Bible For Sale
Tawas Area Presbyterian Church has a complete set of The New Interpreter's Bible for sale.
The set is 13 volumes and is in mint condition. They have a retail price of $800,and a CBD price $600. For more information, please contact the church at (989) 362-2371.
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Summer Magic Final Celebration at
Saginaw-Warren Avenue
 | Summer Magic at Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church
"Sailing the World" was the theme for the 2010 Summer Magic
program for Saginaw
city children. This program was held July 12-23rd compliment a more comprehensive program for
children and youth provided by the Cathedral District Summer Day Camp that meets at the
church. All the children from Summer
Magic also participate with the Cathedral District Youth Center Day camp.
The Warren Avenue Presbyterian church, making a commitment
for many years to provide "value based" programming for children, had 39
children participating in activities ranging from poetry, Chinese lanterns,
lummi sticks, tall ship sun catchers, digeridoo, playpus puppets, animal masks,
penguins, kente paper weaving, corn grinding, windmills, pyramids and scrolls,
and cooking. Field trips included
bowling, Gym-Jesters, Shantz's blueberry farm and the Tall ships Celebration in
downtown Bay City.
Peacemaking in the home and non-violence are key themes we
teach children and parents. Paid staff
include Debbie Davis, Administrative director and Jewel Chatman program
director and Nina Kwater our bus driver.
A secondary objective of this program is to provide
"training" for ten teenagers workers who are hired to provide support for all
the workshops and field trips.
We thank friends throughout the presbytery for support
through the years. This year a special
"shout out" to Midland Memorial in paying for
the children to have a wonderful day at "Gym-Jesters".
As one community mother said, "this is one of the best kept
secrets in the city" in supporting community children.
In addition to Summer Magic the church works with the Cathedral District Youth
Center and Women of
Color's Inc. to provide year-round programming for children and youth in the
community.
Contact Information:
Summer Magic Director:
Debbie Davis 989-752-6474
Cathedral
District Youth
Center Director: Yvonne
Thomas 989-753-0411
Women of Color's Inc.: Evelyn McGovern 989-759-3944
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 New Mission Support Tool
The
Synod of the Covenant recently announced it's latest ministry support tool.
Now any project, program, charity, ministry and/or
organization that is associated with a Presbytery within the Synod of the Covenant can register at the Covenant Mission Exchange, www.covenantmissionexchange.org.
Covenant Mission Exchange is a website that connects donors with
missions based on interests and giving needs (time, money, items). Learn more
and view our video by visiting our About Us web page.
Registration is simple.
Go to www.covenantmissionexchange.org/register and complete the required information. The Synod will contact your home
presbytery to seek acknowledgement of your mission.
Once acknowledgement is received your mission profile page will be
available for donors to view.
September 1 is the date the exchange will officially start receiving donations
to the missions listed at the site. This should give your presbytery
enough time to acknowledge your mission.
Join the CMX email list to receive official notifications from the exchange.
Information will include updates on registered missions, donation information
and suggestions on promoting your mission! Click here to sign up!
The presbytery also has a link to this website on our homepage. |
 Taking a Break From the Lord's Work
The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few
years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from
obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most
Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen,
while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they
could.
Public health experts who have led the studies caution that there is no
simple explanation of why so many members of a profession once
associated with rosy-cheeked longevity have become so unhealthy and
unhappy.
But while research continues, a growing number of health care experts
and religious leaders have settled on one simple remedy that has long
been a touchy subject with many clerics: taking more time off.
"We had a pastor in our study group who hadn't taken a vacation in 18
years," said Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, an assistant professor of health
research at Duke University
who directs one of the studies. "These people tend to be driven by a
sense of a duty to God to answer every call for help from anybody, and
they are virtually called upon all the time, 24/7."
Continue reading this NY Times article online.
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 Alma College Offers Continuing Education Opportunites
T wo free Continuing Education Seminars for Clergy, Christian Educators and Congregational Leaders are coming soon to Alma College.Sexuality Education in the Church will be held on September 23rd from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. This seminar will address the question: Have you ever wondered how to address topics of sexuality in your ministry
All interested congregational leaders are encouraged to join Dr. Kate Ott as she makes a case for why the church is indeed a place where effective sexuality education can happen, and explores the ministerial skills needed to address questions related to sexuality in the congregation. She will offer a holistic definition of sexuality informed by theology, and will identify strategies for addressing typical issues that may arise among congregants. Click here for details.
The Church Online will be held October 4th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. This seminar asks: Can Podcasts, Facebook or Email enhance your ministry? Are there electronic ways to facilitate meetings?
Join Mr. Tim O'Brien, Alma College's Social Media Coordinator, in an exploration of the electronic tools available to enhance your ministry. This interactive workshop will give you the opportunity to try new tools. Please bring your own laptop or you may borrow one from the College library. Click here for details. |
 PW Fall Gathering
October 23rd at Bay City-Westminster
The Presbyterian Women of Lake Huron Presbytery are holding their annual Fall Gathering on Saturday, October 23rd from 9:30am to 2:00pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bay City.
"Share God's Love"
Guest Speaker: Elder Chris Wolf, Vice Moderator for Justice and
Peace Churchwide Coordinating Team for the GAMC and CLP at
Marlette-First and Marlette-Second
Come share fellowship with others, learn more about the work of the
CCT Experience, an inspiring worship service, and share information on
mission projects throughout the presbytery.
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 Save These Dates!
June 30 - July 3, 2011
The PC(USA) is having another Big Tent Event. This time in Indianapolis. The Big Tent Event is a collection of conferences of various ministry groups within the PC(USA) which would normally host an annual conference on their own. By hosting them at the same time, in the same place attendees are able to attend training and plenary sessions of any group. Offering an amazing learning opportunity and for meeting new people with a wide variety of interests and gifts. The fellowship and worship are unmatched! Start planning now to attend. Watch for more information after the first of the year.
Click here to watch a video summary of the first Big Tent Event held in Atlanta in June 2009.
Click here to watch a video from the PC(USA) about the event.
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 The guide to all things Presbyterian
Presbyterians
Today's special issue and guidebook "Welcome to the
Presbyterian Church!" is a wonderful introduction and overview of all things
Presbyterian. This issue is packed with facts, stories, pictures, charts, links
and a lot more valuable information, this inviting, easy-to-read guide gives
readers a fast, reliable way to learn all about the Presbyterian Church. Read "Welcome to the Presbyterian Church!" and
learn about Presbyterian beliefs and worship, church organization and
governance, the Bible, prayer and the sacraments. Get highlights about social
justice, evangelism, stewardship, vocation, ecumenism and mission. Find out what
it means to be "connectional" and Reformed. Get copies as low as 85 cents when buying in bulk.
On a personal note, I have children who are about to go through Confirmation and I bought a copy for home after reading the one we received in the Presbytery Office. I thought it was an excellent guide for me to help them learn what it means to be Presbyterian. -- Staci Percy |
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
(All meetings are at the Presbytery Office unless otherwise noted.)
Coordinating Team
August 11
10:00am
Interim Pastors Gathering
August 12
10:00am
Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP) Class
August 14
9:00am
Worship Team
August 16
10:00am
Committee on Preparation for Ministry (CPM)
August 24
9:30am
Special Called Meeting of Presbytery
August 24
11:00am
Committee on Ministry (COM)
August 24
Immediately following the Special Called Meeting of Presbytery
Retirement Celebration for the
Rev. Ron Grimes
August 29
10:00am
Elkton-Chandler
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