Upcoming Meetings and Events
(All meetings are at the Presbytery Office unless otherwise noted.)
Presbytery Office Closed
December 24 to
December 31
Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP) Class
January 8
9:00am
Nominating Team
January 10
10:00am
Coordinating Team
January 12
10:00am
Appreciation Celebration for Jim Offrink and Annie Duncan
January 16
3:00pm
Flint-Trinity United
Committee on Ministry
January 18
12:00pm
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Prayer for Today
Christmas grows closer
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
John told the people to prepare
for you when you were very near.
As Christmas grows closer day by day,
help us to be ready to welcome you now.
Amen
From prayer-and-prayers.info
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For Your Prayers
 The Rev. Lucy Der-Garabedian (LHP Member serving as an Army Chaplain) who is deployed to Iraq.
CLP Sue Loenshal (Alma-Eastminster) who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
CLP Kay Adair (Swartz Creek-Mundy) who is undergoing treatment for cancer and preparing for retirement at the end of the month
CLP Gloria Watson's (Twining-Maple Ridge) great-granddaughter who has an inoperable tumor on her brain stem.
Elder Charles Richter (Saginaw-First and Committee on Ministry Member) who is being treated for CMML (Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia).
Elder Roger Terrill (Fenton-First and Coordinating Team Member) whose 16-month-old grandchild is undergoing chemotherapy.
Elder Freda Lawther (Fairgrove) who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
Rebecca Francek and Cassie Todd (Candidates Under Care of the Presbytery) whose husbands are currently deployed to Afghanistan.
We encourage everyone to send a card or e-mail or make a phone call to those listed. Sometimes a small gesture creates a big smile.
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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December Presbytery Meeting Minutes
 The minutes of the December 7th presbytery meeting are now posted on our website on the Presbytery meetings page. You will also find a PDF version of the PowerPoint announcements that were shown at the meeting. |
It's That Time of Year Again - Annual Statistics Time
 Information regarding the reporting of church's 2010 Annual Statistics were mailed out to all Clerks of Session last week. All the information that you need to begin can be found on our website on the Annual Statistics page. Your congregations' login information was included in the letter sent to Clerks. If you have misplaced that information, please contact the presbytery office.
We appreciate all the work that you do. Should you need any assistance or have any questions, please contact either Staci Percy or Ted McCulloch.
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2011 IRS Mileage Rates
 The IRS just announced the mileage rates effective January 1, 2011. They are as follows:
Business/Ministry $0.51
Medical/Moving $0.19
Charitable $0.14
This information may also be found on the Forms and Brochures page of our website under the Financial heading.
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Alma College Needs Your Input
 President Abernathy of Alma College has recently appointed a Church Relations Task Force, as part of a broad-based strategic planning process, to review the College's relationship to the Presbyterian Church (USA). The goal is to clarify and strengthen the College's church relatedness and improve the already vibrant religious life on campus. To facilitate this goal, the task force invites Lake Huron Presbytery to give their input to the process by way of a survey. A paper copy of this survey was distributed at the December 7th presbytery meeting and if you have already completed that survey, thank you. If you have not yet completed the survey and would like to participate, please follow the link below and fill out this 10-question survey. The task force will be grateful for your participation.
Please click here to begin the survey. |
Hurricane Ike...The Forgotten Storm
The Presbytery of New Covenant (Houston, TX) is assuming responsibility for the operation of the Volunteer Village in Texas City, serving the greater Galveston area in the final projects of recovery from Hurricane Ike. The work on the coast of Texas is not yet done and the Village will be open through May, 2011. Groups may reserve space using the PDA call center as always.
Click here for more details.
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Grants for Low-Income Groups Organizing for Self-Development
 The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Self-Development of People (SDOP) program will hold a series of free workshops across the country during 2011 for grassroots groups interested in applying for grants to aid community organizations. Self-Development of People is a ministry of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. The first workshop will be held in Columbus, Ohio in February where groups can learn how to apply for the grants. To attend, RSVP to Mary Lewis. |
Communications Tip
Did you know that many radio stations have a community calendar on their website that you can add your church's event to? It is a free service and it takes just a few minutes to add your event. They will often mention upcoming events that are on their calendars on air. Hard to beat free advertising!
For an example, click here to go to Saginaw's WHNN 96.1FM Community Calendar.
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New Resources Available
The Resource Center now has a complete set of The New Interpreter's Bible. This is a valuable resource for preaching, teaching, and Bible study. A new DVD for group study is The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight.
Visit the Resource Center page on our website to view the new items
2010 VBS Kits available to any church that would like them.
The titles of the kits from 2010 are:
- Baobab Blast
- Praise Party
- Galactic Blast
For more information, please contact either Vanessa Scott or Valerie Fargo at 800-621-6905 x0 or 989-799-7481 x0.
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Will You Be There? 1600+ Other Presbyterians Will Be
Come join over 1600 of your fellow Presbyterians at the second Big Tent Event. 11 conferences will be held concurrently June 30-July 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN. You can attend seminars in any of the conferences or in just the one you signed up for. Groups holding conferences being held include:
- National Elders
- Presbyterian Communicators Network
- Healthy Ministries
- Evangelism and Church Growth
- Peacemaking
- National Multicultural Church
"You won't get a chance to see as many parts of the church in one place as you will at Big Tent."
Click here for more information.
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Early Registration Discount and Job Opportunities
Greenwood Discounts - Register for a camp before January 1 and receive a discount on your application. Sign up a new Greenwood camper and receive an additional $25 discount. Check us out at www.campgreenwood.org.
Need a Job - Camp Greenwood is taking applications from high school and college youth for staffing in 2011. If you feel God is calling you to a ministry with kids, this may be your opportunity to heed His calling in your life. Applications and job descriptions can be found at www.campgreenwood.org. Deadline is January 30, 2011. |
2011 Transformation/Small Church Ministry Conference
 Churches are struggling, trying to reinvent themselves in order to cope with the loss of finances, constant dwindling of membership and the apparent need to become missional. Many are understaffed and cannot cope with the amount of work required to make changes in worship and programming in addition to training of leadership. Conferences that can reach the masses are more desirable and more cost effective than trying to work with one church at a time. Additionally, having such a conference in Ohio provides a location that will accommodate more congregations at less cost.
The Synod of the Covenant and the Presbytery of Detroit have partnered to offer such a conference. So Save the Date! Thursday, May 5 thru Saturday, May 7, 2011
Holiday Inn - French Quarter
10630 Fremont Pike
Perrysburg, OH 43551.
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Poinsettia Legend
 The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.
From wikipedia.com
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 Merry Christmas
The presbytery staff wishes all of you a very Merry Christmas. May God bless you and your loved ones this holiday season.
Louise, Andrea, Ted, Staci, Vanessa and Valerie.
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Presbytery Office Closed
 As a reminder, the Presbytery Office will be closed December 24th to December 31th.
(Staci Percy, Communications Manager/Recording Clerk, will be out of the office from 12/17 to 1/10; surgery has been canceled but not the vacation time.)
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