Bi-Weekly Brief for September 29th

Bi-Weekly Brief
Presbytery of Lake Huron
"Rediscovering our mutual partnership
in Jesus Christ"

September 29, 2010

October is Clergy Appreciation Month and Sunday, October 10th is Clergy Appreciation Day. So in honor of all our clergy here is a poem for you. Thank you so much for all of the work that you do.

God's Instrument
This pastor appreciation poem is about how God uses pastors in our lives.

I see the hands that hold God's word
And fold in prayer to seek His will.
I see the feet that walk the path
And offers of praise as from lofty hill.
I see the hands that serve Him well,
The ears that seek to hear His call,
The mouth that speaks truth and wisdom,
The busy feet that carry the message to all.
I see the heart that was priked and entered
When God's man answered the gospel call
And yielded His life as a humble servant,
A man who is willing, as was Apostle Paul.
I see all of this as he stands in the pulpit,
An instrument through which God speaks
The words of wisdom, of love and peace,
To lead and guide all those whom God seeks.

by Judy Crowe
(From the my-pastor.com website.)

For Your Prayers

Elder Freda Lawther (Fairgrove, wife of the Rev. Rich Lawther) who will be undergoing surgery today for cancer and will soon begin radiation treatments.

Laurie Parker, wife of the Rev. Ken Parker (Saginaw-Countryside Trinity) on the death of her mother, Ruth Croschere, on Monday.

Elder Charles Richter (Saginaw-First and Committee on Ministry Member) who was recently diagnosed with CMML (Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia); the positive is it is chronic and not acute. A chemo regiment has been established and it might mean regular trips to Rochester, MN but that is OK. Thank you every one for your prayers, they obviously have been very helpful.

Elder Kay Adair (CLP of Swartz Creek-Mundy) whose cancer has returned.

The Rev. George Gillette (Honorably Retired) and wife Jeanette on the recent celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary.

The Rev. Melissa DeRosia (Caro-First), husband Matt and their daughters Lillian and Norah as they prepare to move to Rochester, NY where Melissa will begin a new call later this month.

The Rev. Lucy Der-Garabedian (LHP Member serving as an Army Chaplain) who was recently deployed to Iraq.

Rebecca Francek (Candidate Under Care of the Presbytery) who has been hospitalized with pancreatitis, doctors are trying to figure out the cause. Surgery may be need. In addition, Rebecca's husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan.

Cassie Todd (Candidate Under Care of the Presbytery) whose husband is a currently deployed to Afghanistan.

Marjorie Ackerman (Deckerville) who was recently examined and approved as ready for Ordination by the presbytery. She will soon be Ordained by her home presbytery (Mackinac) and Installed as Pastor at Deckerville on October 24th at 4:00pm. Welcome Marjorie!

Seth Normington (Linden) who will be Installed as Pastor at Linden on October 17th at 4:00pm.

Contact information for anyone on this list may be obtained by calling
the presbytery office at 800-621-6905 or 989-799-7481.

Caro-First Says Goodbye to the Rev. Melissa DeRosia
Sunday, October 3
2:00pm to 4:00pm

First Presbyterian Church in Caro will be having an open house on October 3rd, the afternoon after Pastor Melissa's last Sunday service, and it will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, with light refreshments. It is open to anyone who wants to stop by and wish the DeRosia family well on their upcoming move.

Join Us on Facebook

The Presbytery of Lake Huron has a Facebook fan page and you are invited to join. Get updates and meeting reminders quicker. Connect with others in the presbytery and share your church's news and events. Click here to go to our page and join today.

Session Records Review Coming Soon
October 9th

The annual review of session minutes and records will take place on Saturday, October 9th. Packets were mailed to all Clerks of Session on August 31st. All information regarding the review can also be found on our website on the Records Review page.

Two Installations Coming Up

Recently the presbytery has had the privilege of welcoming several new pastors - three of whom are newly ordained and beginning their first calls. Two pastors will be Installed to their positions this month. On Sunday, October 17th at 4:00pm Seth Normington will be Installed as Pastor of Linden. On Sunday, October 24th at 4:00pm Marjorie Ackerman will be Installed as Pastor of Deckerville-First.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend these very special events. Clergy are asked to please wear their robes.

New Resources Available

The Presbytery's Resource Center has received many new resources recently. To view a current list of new resources please visit the Resource Center page under the Resources tab of our website.

Continuing Education Opportunities

We have added a new page to our website that contains information on opportunities for Continuing Education and other learning events. Please check out our Continuing Education page today under the Resources tab.

Upcoming opportunities included:
G.L.A.P.C.E. Conference
Presbyterian Communicators Network Conference
Alma College events
many more...

Peacemaking Missionary Coming to LHP

October 8-13
As part of the 30th Anniversary of the Peacemaking Program, International Peacemakers from 8 countries are scheduled to visit the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from September 24 through October 18, 2009. These individuals from our partner churches will share about ministries in their countries that seek justice and pursue peace in the name of Jesus Christ. The Rev. Augustin Mukendi an International Peacemaker from the Democratic Republic of Congo will visit the Presbytery of Lake Huron, October 8-13. Among other responsibilities he has ministries that focus on working with children and issues that impact children.

Rev. Mukendi's itinerary while visiting Lake Huron Presbytery:
Friday, October 8: First Presbyterian Church, Fenton
Saturday, October 9: First Presbyterian Church, Saginaw
Sunday, October 10: Memorial Presbyterian, Midland
Monday, October 11: Flushing Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian, Flint
Tuesday, October 12: Countryside Trinity Church, Saginaw, Alma College World Religions class and First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Pleasant

Please visit the Forms and Brochures page under the Resources tab of our website or the Calendar for a printable flyer.

Women For The World

October 9th at Flint-First
Cost is $14
First Presbyterian Church of Flint presents Women For The World, October 9, 10:00 am, Cost $14 What do celebrating, learning and shopping all have in common? The Answer: Women For the World! Ladies you and your friends are invited to make a head and heart connection with local women to help women as near as your neighborhood and across the world. Our featured Speaker is Cindy Breilh from Women of Vision. Displays for learning will be in the Narthex including the PCUSA, World Vision, Carriage Town Ministries and the YWCA Partners in Transition. Also a unique mission fundraiser by several of our own young people will be introduced. Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade store will be here as well as the Presbyterian Coffee Project and a book table. The cost is $14 and includes a strolling lunch by a downtown restaurant. Come discover simple, fun and practical ways to show compassion, hope and new beginnings for women in poverty.

Please contact the church at (810) 234-8673 or kskaff@fpcf.org to register by October 4. For more details, you may download a brochure.

Presbyterian Communicators Network Regional Conference

October 18-20
Slippery Rock, PA (one hour north of Pittsburgh)

"Plugging In Without Shorting Out"

Are you running to keep up with the ever-changing world of church communication and marketing? Do you feel like there are too many hurdles to jump over to ever win that race? In just a three-day period we can help move you forward and give you a leading edge in that hectic race.

Join other church communicators at the PCN regional conference October 18-20 in Slippery Rock, PA near Pittsburgh.

The regional gathering is an intimate meeting with wonderful opportunities to build new, one-on-one, relationships with congregational and presbytery communicators. The smaller size allows for the workshops and plenaries to be interactive and include more dialogue of sharing best practices.

The theme for this year's conference is "Plugging In Without Shorting Out." It focuses on everything digital - from databases to live streaming of worship services. Find something for everyone, from the small church with a little budget to the larger congregation who is running to keep up with its growing membership.

Return home from this conference not only with many new resources, but also a new support team in the members of the Presbyterian Communicators' Network. Join us, we know it will be well worth your time and resources.

Register online

The Presbyterian Communicators Network is open to all who do church communication work. Whether you do the Sunday bulletin, newsletter or website or any other type of church or presbytery communication, this is the group for you. They offer so many wonderful resources, ideas and support. Join today!

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.

Despite overall membership decline, some good news

Louisville, KY

Even casual observers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are likely aware that the membership of the denomination has decreased steadily for quite some time. However, not all of the news about the PC(USA) is bad news. Consider these findings from the recently released Comparative Statistics 2009.

There were 20 new church developments in 2009.
Membership increased in 13 presbyteries (North Puget Sound, Northwest, San Juan, Twin Cities Area, Midwest Hanmi, St. Andrew, Atlantic Korean-American, Boston, Eastern Korean, Eastern Oregon, Kendall, Sacramento, and Hanmi).The numbers of racial ethnic candidates for ministry increased.
Investment income increased.
Asian membership increased.
There was an increase in Asian leadership (elders, deacons, and active clergy).
The number of congregations without pastoral leadership decreased.
There was an increase in the number of female ministers and the number of congregations with a female head of staff, solo pastor, or co-pastor.