Upcoming Meetings
and Events
(All meetings are at the Presbytery Office unless otherwise noted)
Nominating Team
April 4
1:00pm
Alma College Presidential Inauguration
April 8
Alma College
CLP Class
April 9
9:00am
Installation of Sharlyn Gates as Pastor of Holly
April 10
3:00pm
Holly
Coordinating Team
April 13
10:00am
Committee on Ministry
April 26
12:00pm
Details on these meetings can be found on the presbytery's website on the calendar.
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Registration for the 2011 Big Tent Event is now open.
Join thousands of Presbyterians for your choice of nine national conferences, all under one roof.
And children and youth will be vital participants of Big Tent too! Not only will there be child care, and children and youth programs, but older youth will have the option to participate in a
Pathways event
that will run alongside the Big Tent. The children's and youth programs will take advantage of the location - museums, the zoo, NCAA Hall of Champions and more all offer a great opportunity for easy access off-site experiences!
This is a phenomenal event that you do not want to miss. The Coordinating Team has set up 10 scholarships for Elders who would like to attend the National Elders Conference. The scholarship will cover the cost of registration ($285). Participants will cover the cost of lodging ($99/night at the JW Marriott) and any meals not included in the registration price. They have also arranged for vans to transport anyone who is interested in saving some money that way. The scholarship application may be found on our
website
on the
Big Tent 2011
page. If you have any questions, please contact Staci Percy via e-mail at
spercy@presbylh.org
or at the Presbytery Office at 800-621-6905 x2.
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A Prayer in Spring
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.
For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.
- Robert Frost
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 Elder Grant Carman (Sandusky, COM Member) on the death of his father last week. Elder Sue Loenshal (CLP of Alma-Eastminster) who continues to undergo treatment for cancer. The Rev. Desiree Lawson (Flint-Trinity United) on her recent Ordination in Boston and Installation at Flint-Trinity United. The Rev. Sharlyn Gates (Holly) who will be Installed on April 10th. 
We lift up the following congregations and their pastoral leadership:
Davison-St. Andrews (The Rev. Annie Duncan)
Deckerville-First (The Rev. Marjorie Ackerman)
Elkton-Chandler (Elder Kathy Grimes, CLP)
Fairgrove (The Rev. Richard Lawther)
Fenton-First (The Rev. Dale Swihart)
Fenton-Tyrone (Elder Linda Living-Hawley, CLP)
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 989-799-7482.
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Presbytery Meeting Information
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 Welcome Sharlyn Gates Celebrate with Holly as they Install their new Pastor At the March 1, 2011 meeting of Presbytery we had the pleasure of meeting and welcoming the Rev. Sharlyn Gates as a new minister member of Lake Huron. Now come help Holly Presbyterian, Sharlyn and her husband Fred celebrate the joyful celebration of Installation as Pastor. Event details: Sunday, April 10th
3:00pm to 5:00pm
Holly Presbyterian Church
207 East Maple Street
Holly For information call (248) 634-9494 or visit their website http://www.hollypc.org/
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Flint-Trinity United On TV
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 On Sunday, March 27th, Flint-Trinity United celebrated the Installation of their new Pastor, the Rev. Desiree Lawson. ABC12 was there to capture the joyful day. Click here to watch a short video that includes a brief interview with Desiree and some of the service.
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Invitation from Alma College
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 All members of the Presbytery are welcome to join the celebration of Alma College's 125th anniversary and the inauguration of Alma's 13th president, Dr. Jeff Abernathy on Friday, April 8, 2011. You are invited to attend any or all of the following events: 8 a.m. Opening Worship, Dunning Memorial Chapel 10:30 a.m. Hogan Sculpture Dedication 12:30 p.m. Inaugural Symposium: Building Sustainable and Compassionate Communities, Heritage Center 3:30 p.m. Inauguration Ceremony, Hogan: Smith Arena 5 p.m. Post-inauguration Reception, Hogan lobby For more detailed information, please see: http://www.alma.edu/inauguration
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Our Synod, the Synod of the Covenant, is forming a "Haiti Response Team" to serve as a conduit for individual congregations and presbyteries to help alleviate the devastation in Haiti. The Synod is inviting all presbyteries in the synod to identify mission groups in their congregations and individuals with a passion to help Haitians. Some significant matching funds for accepted projects are expected to become available. The Haiti Response Team is being coordinated through the Fuller Center for Housing, a spin-off from Habitat for Humanity.
Potentially interested congregations and individuals are requested to express their interest to Ced Currin (Memorial Presbyterian Church, Midland) at currcorp@tm.net or phone 989-631-3304.
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Good Friday Worship Invitation
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 Saginaw-Warren Avenue wishes to extend to churches without Good Friday services an opportunity to join them for a community Good Friday Worship Service. For over 30 years several downtown Saginaw congregations have been hosting a Good Friday Worship Service during the lunch hour. This year's 45 minute service will be held at the Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church, 612 Millard Street, Saginaw on April 22nd at 12:15pm. They will have a combined choir under the direction of Nickholas Schmelter and Dorothy Moll. The choir will rehearse at 11:00am prior to the service. The Rev. Todd Farley, new designated pastor of First Congregational Church, will be preaching through MIME. A special offering will be received to support the East Side Soup Kitchen. Anyone wishing more information about the ecumenical choir, please contact the church office at 989-752-6474.
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Stephen Ministry Workshop
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 Has your congregation been thinking about becoming a Stephens Ministry congregation? Want to know more about this wonderful caregiving ministry? Midland Evangelical Free Church, 7221 N. Jefferson Avenue, Midland is hosting a half day workshop presented by the Stephen Ministries organization on Saturday, May 7th from 9:00am to 1:00pm (check-in and on-site registration begin at 8:00am.) Cost for the event is $15 per person, or $50 per congregation (group of four or more). Click here to register on the Stephen Ministries website or call them at 314-428-2600.
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 The State Theater and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bay City present singer/songwriter Jason Gray in concert on May 7th at 7:00pm at the State Theater, 913 Washington Ave., Bay City. One of the most respected singer/songwriters in the Christian music business, Jason Gray released his latest studio project, Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue, in the fall of 2009. Heralded by numerous media outlets, the project landed at No. 8 in CCM Magazine's Top Ten best faith-based albums in 2009 and Worship Leader magazine says, "Gray's songs don't really work as background music, they demand to be listened to and considered." Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students (18 and under).
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Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant Gathering
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 The Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant will hold their annual gathering on June 24-26 in Findlay, OH. The keynote speaker will be Lake Huron's own Elder Chris Wolf. For more details, please click here.
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Overcoming Loneliness in Ministry
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 Overcoming Loneliness in Ministry
by Barbara J. Blodgett
While there may be something to the idea that as ministers we should always feel like we are "in over our head" (or else we may not be taking our calling seriously enough), there is no point in drowning! Joining with our peers to figure out what makes ministry so hard can help us keep our heads above water. While loneliness is traditionally one of the hardest parts of professional ministry, we do see signs today that pastors are changing this. There are many members of the clergy who are not struggling and who want to join peer groups because they relish the chance to reflect on work they enjoy (even if they find it challenging) and desire to improve. Peer groups are, in short, for those who are keeping their heads above water and want to stay there.
Pastors need to get a collective grasp, first of all, on what contributes to the loneliness they experience. I am not pointing out anything new by saying that the ministry is considered a lonely pursuit. Nearly every conference I attend or piece I read on the formation of ministers stresses our need somehow to change the culture of loneliness for clergy and other religious leaders.
Continue reading, "Overcoming Loneliness in Ministry"
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Resource Center Catalog Online
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Now you can search the extensive collection in your Resource Center in the comfort of your own home or office. The Resource Center catalog is now online, check it out on the Resource Center page under the Resource tab of our website. When you find the items that you would like to borrow, just call Vanessa Scott at the Presbytery Office at 989-799-7481 x6 or e-mail her with your request.
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Did you know that again this summer our Presbytery will hold Health Fairs for migrant workers and inner city children in Bay City, Flint, Imlay City, Reese and Saginaw? Each person is given free eye, dental, hearing, blood pressure exams plus testing for diabetes? Those with health needs are referred to local health clinics. Each person is given a "health kit" of nine personal items and a booklet on hygiene and health issues. Health kits are made by congregations of Lake Huron Presbytery. In addition to serving several hundred migrant families and urban residents, about 200 kits, each worth about $25 are given to women's and men's shelters and occasionally to victims of floods, storms or fires. Make up a kit and bring to church by June 1st.
Details on how to make a Health Kit and where they may be dropped off please visit the Health Fairs 2011 page on our website .
Dear Pastors:
Would you please print this Minutes for Mission in your bulletin on two Sundays in spring?. 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 below. For further information please contact Bob Lakey at (989) 793-7869 or the Presbytery Office at (800) 621-6905. Thank you.
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220th General Assembly Clergy and Elder Commissioners and YADs
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Are you, or know someone, interested in representing the Presbytery of Lake Huron at next summer's 220th General Assembly in Pittsburgh? If so, then complete the appropriate form and mail it to the Presbytery Office. Forms can be found on our website on the Forms and Brochures page under the Resources tab.
Please note: Commissioners and YADs must be able to use a computer and carry it with them.
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Camp Greenwood offers a camp for all ages! Grandparent/grandchild, special needs, Jr & Sr high and elementary camps. River trips, SERV Weeks and Isle Royale trip. With 2, 3, 5 & 8 day camps to explore our 5 connected all sports lakes, learn archery and sports, fish, swim, challenge course, care for petting zoo animals and make new friends. Sign up before May 1 when the price goes up. Check us out at www.campgreenwood.org or call Greg at 616-754-7258. See you soon!!
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Theological Education Fund
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The top 12 things you should know about our seminaries
1. We have 10 Presbyterian seminaries nationwide, plus two that are closely affiliated. As Presbyterians, we place a high value on an educated clergy. It is a hallmark of our denomination - indeed, a source of pride. To continue this tradition of excellence, we have entrusted 10 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminaries and two theological institutions related to the denomination by covenant agreement with the responsibility of educating and equipping persons of faith for pastoral leadership.
Find the rest of the top 12 things you should know about our seminaries here.
Consider helping our seminary students by contributing to the Theological Education Fund. For more information, please contact the Rev. Karen Blatt at beaverton1stpresby@sbcglobal.net or 989-435-7086.
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The Presbytery has a Facebook page and would like you to join us. Get updates and information faster. Connect with others to share ideas and to post information about events happening in your congregation. Join us today!
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Staci Percy
Communications Manager/Recording Clerk Presbytery of Lake Huron spercy@presbylh.org 989-799-7481 x2
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The minutes of the March 1st presbytery meeting are now available on our