SYNOD MEETING PLANNED MAY 2-4: The next stated meeting of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies runs May 2-4 at the Mount Olivet Retreat Center, Farmington, Minn. Synod staff, commissioners and guests gather for dinner Sunday evening, May 2, and the meeting commences at 7 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to adjourn Tuesday, May 4, at 11:30 a.m.

 

SYNOD SCHOOL, 'INTELLECTUAL FAMILY CHURCH CAMP:' Writing about Synod School in the April edition (page 11) of The Valley Bridge, the newsletter of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, Lynn Miller, a member of First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, Minn., wrote, "Intellectual family church camp - that was how a friend described Synod School to me the first year that my daughter Amanda and I ventured to Storm Lake, Iowa, to find out what Synod School was all about. That was four years ago, and we haven't missed it since. Synod School has become very important to us and those dates go on our summer calendar before anything else. ... It's a place for faith, fellowship, and fun. We get excited in March when the registration materials are released." It is that time of year again and as of March 31 more than 360 registrations have been received in the synod office. The Synod School catalog and registration materials are located on the Synod of Lakes and Prairies website.

THAT TIME OF YEAR FOR CAMPS TO GEAR UP FOR SUMMER: Across the Synod of Lakes and Prairies there are five Presbyterian camps and all of them are preparing the busy summer season. The programs offered are many and varied. Information about each of the camps can be found online. The camps are Calvin Crest Camp Conference and Retreat Center, Fremont, Neb.; Presbyterian Camp on Okoboji, Milford, Iowa; Camp Rimrock, Rapid City, S.D., and Pioneer Camp, Lead, S.D.; Camp Wyoming, Wyoming, Iowa; and Presbyterian Clearwater Forest, Deerwood, Minn.

 

SOUTH DAKOTA PRESBYTERY DISTRIBUTES FUNDS TO ICE STORM VICTIMS: The Presbytery of South Dakota distributed more than $10,000 to victims of a January ice storm on the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Indian reservations in the northwestern corner of the state. According to an article in the Plain Song, the newsletter of the presbytery, "The funds were provided through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and an additional donation from within the presbytery." The newsletter noted that Hal Neller, the presbytery's interim administrator, and Pat Hammond, moderator of the presbytery's mission coordination committee, oversaw distribution of the funds. The funds were used to address a variety of needs, including frozen water pipes, heating assistance and other emergencies.

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN'S 'SOWER' IS NOW ONLINE: The March 2010 edition of "The Sower," the newsletter of Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies is on the synod's website. The current edition includes articles pertaining to leadership development, environmental activities, mission efforts and more.

 

WINNEBAGO WOMAN REPRESENTS SYNOD IN U.S.A. MISSION EXPERIENCE: Susan Leiber, a member of First United Presbyterian Church, De Pere, Wis., has been selected to represent the Synod of Lakes and Prairies in the upcoming U.S.A. Mission Experience of Presbyterian Women. Only one woman from each of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) synods was chosen to participate. For the U.S.A. Mission Experience the group of Presbyterian Women will travel to South Dakota Sept. 9-16 to meet with Native American women and learn about their day-to-day life, challenges they face, and concerns they have. Leiber has agreed to spend two years sharing experiences of the trip.

PRESBYTERIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE SET IN NASHVILLE THIS MONTH: Following up on its well-attended 2009 event, the Presbyterian Writers Guild has announced the Presbyterian Writers Conference for 2010 will be Wednesday through Thursday, April 28-29, at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn. The conference, which is aimed at helping writers produce marketable articles or books, develop a freelance career, and "impact the world with their words," will feature prolific Presbyterian author Cecil Murphey. Additional information and registration materials are on the organization's website. The Presbyterian Writers Guild is a support network of and for Presbyterians who write as a form of Christian ministry. Any Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) writer may belong to the Guild. The Presbyterian Writers Guild is a support network of and for Presbyterians who write as a form of Christian ministry. 

NATIONAL MULTICULTURAL CHURCH CONFERENCE SET IN CHICAGO IN MAY: Registration is now open for the 11th National Multicultural Church Conference May 26-30 in Chicago with pre-conferences on May 26-27. 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 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. Conference speakers include the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); the Rev. Victor Aloyo Jr., director of multicultural relations at Princeton Theological Seminary and moderator of the Presbytery of New York City; and the Rev. Jin Kim, founding pastor of Church of All Nations, Columbia Heights, Minn., and moderator of the Presbytery of Twin Cities Area. Details can be found at "Multicultural Church."

 

SCHOOL FOR PASTORS SET IN JUNE AT HASTINGS COLLEGE: The Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation's School for Pastors, featuring master teachers and diverse study topics, is slated June 16-23 at Hastings (Neb.) College.  Faculty for the 54th annual school are the Rev. James F. Cobble Jr., founder and executive director of Christian Ministry Resources Inc., Matthews, N.C.; the Rev. Mike Graves, visiting professor of preaching and director of continuing education at the St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo.; the Rev. Bonnie Sue Lewis, associate professor of mission and Native American Christianity, University of Dubuque (Iowa)  Theological Seminary; and the Rev. Paul Allen Williams, associate professor of religious studies, University of  Nebraska, Omaha. Application and selection criteria are online.

LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT SEMINAR SET NEXT WEEK AT UNION: The Executive Leadership Assessment Seminar that takes place at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va., April 12-15 will provide participants with clear and direct feedback on gifts and areas for growth. Seminar leaders are Diana Barber, associate executive for leadership development in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies; Jill Hudson, coordinator, governing body relations, for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); and Ken McFayden, professor of ministry and leadership development at Union. Seminar details are on the seminary's website.

ARMSS CONVENTION SET IN SEPTEMBER IN MINNESOTA: The Association of Retired Ministers, their Spouses or Survivors, will come to Bloomington, Minn., Sept. 9-12 for its 14th annual convention. With the theme, "Called to a Lifetime of Service - God's Plan OR Ours," the event takes place at the Ramada Mall of America. Membership in ARMSS is open to retired Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) clergy, spouses and their survivors. Membership is automatic when a minister is honorably retired, or is a spouse of an honorably retired minister or the spouse of a deceased minister. Ginny Nyhuis, Oostburg, Wis., is support staff for the organization.