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| News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies | |
 HILLCREST MOVES TOWARD SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER: For the leaders of Hillcrest Family Services in Dubuque, Iowa, their journey with the institution has been one of faith. Gary Gansemer, Hillcrest president and chief executive officer, often used the word faith when he spoke May 25 at the fundraising kick-off event for a Spiritual Life Center, a multi-purpose recreation and chapel facility, on Hillcrest's Dubuque campus. "As I prepared for today, one word kept coming to my mind - faith," Gansemer said. The architect's drawing (above left) is Hillcrest's proposed Spiritual Life Center. Gansemer (lower left) addresses the kick-off gathering (photo by Jeff Stiles). The complete Presbyterian Neighbor News story can be found at "Spiritual Life Center."
SITE SUPERVISORS STILL NEEDED FOR CEDAR RAPIDS REBUILD: The following items appeared in a recent edition of "Out and About," the newsletter of the Presbytery of East Iowa. "The Community Recovery Center is in desparate need of on-site supervisors to oversee the work being done by volunteers to restore flood affected homes in Cedar Rapids. Do you have the time and talent to lend them a hand? 'We were very fortunate to have site supervisors as we participated in the Church World Service rebuild effort this spring, but now that the blitz is over, we still need qualified people to oversee volunteers finishing up those homes,' said Sue Driscoll, volunteer coordinator for the CRC and the Linn Area Long-Term Recovery Coalition." The complete story can be found at "Cedar Rapids."
FARGO PASTOR PREACHES IN SCOTLAND: The Rev. Steve Shive, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Fargo, N.D., preached at a service in a church in Luss, Scotland, as part of a celebration of the 1,500 year anniversary of Christianity coming to Luss. A group from First Presbyterian is touring for a couple weeks as part of the celebration. The video of his sermon is at "Scotland."
HOMESTEAD COMMISSIONS NEW MISSION WORKER: Homestead Presbytery recently commissioned the Rev. Karen Moritz, who has been serving the ecumenical campus ministry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to serve as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s ecumenical relations facilitator with the Ecumenical Church of the Czech Brethren in Prague, Czech Republic. She leaves for training at the end of June. The worship offering at the May 20 presbytery meeting in Wymore, Neb., provided $390.50 for this mission.
 MUSKEGO, WIS., CHURCH SPONSORS 'UNDIE 500:' During the month of May, members and friends of Heritage Presbyterian Church, Muskego, Wis., completed what the church called the "Undie 500," an effort to collect underwear and socks for Hope Center of Waukesha, Wis. (Shown at left are the baskets of donations.) The "Undie 500" was the inspiration of the congregation's mission committee this spring as it sought ways to support Hope Center, which serves people in need in Waukesha County, offering services to address the basic needs of financial assistance, food, clothing and child care. The complete Presbyterian Neighbor News story can be found at "Muskego." |
| News about the 219th General Assembly | |
 RUARK WRITES OF NEED FOR GA VOLUNTEERS:Writing in the June edition of "EMerge: Monthly," a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, Chaz Ruark, executive presbyter, wrote, "Hosting General Assembly is a big deal. As a result almost everyone I talk with these days says, 'You must be swamped getting ready for GA.' In point of fact there is a lot of work involved, but the OGA staff, executive committee, work group leaders and participants are working so well and so hard, that my part is pretty manageable. But the biggest item that now looms on the horizon calls for all of us Presbyterians in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area to step up. That item is volunteering for specific duties the week in which GA takes place." Ruark's complete column can be found at "Volunteers."
 TICKLE LEADS WORKSHOP JULY 5 DURING GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Office of Governing Body Relations, with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies as host, author Phyllis Tickle will lead a free workshop Monday, July 5, during the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis. Called simply "A Workshop with Phyllis Tickle," the workshop in Ballroom C of the Minneapolis Convention Center is open to the public and runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tickle wrote "The Great Emergence," a look at the current church and the changes in society that affect the church now and in the future. She will discuss ideas from that book and present ideas that will be in a new book scheduled for publication this year.
PHEWA SPONSORS FREE HIV TESTS AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Next month, Presbyterians will gather in Minneapolis for the 219th General Assembly where they'll listen, learn, debate, vote and worship. And for some, the week will also include an HIV test. The Presbyterian AIDS Network, one of the 10 networks of the Presbyterian Health Education and Welfare Association, is sponsoring free HIV tests July 3-7. The complete Presbyterian News Service Story is at "HIV Tests." |
| Education: Institutions and Resources | |
MACALESTER AMONG SEVERAL PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGES ON FORBES LIST: Gary Luhr, executive director of the Association of Presbyterian College and Universities, wrote in the association's monthly update, "There is just no end to 'best colleges' lists. The good news is that our colleges usually show up quite well on such compilations. The latest is Forbes magazine's list of the 20 best religiously affiliated colleges and universities." The top-20 list includes Macalester College, one of the seven affiliated colleges and universities within the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The complete list can be found at "Forbes List."
PITTSBURGH SEMINARY PLANS SUMMER YOUTH INSTITUTE: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has scheduled its Summer Youth Institute, a program that provides its participants a time for study, reflection, fun and fellowship, July 17-31 on the seminary campus. The program offers time to study and use the Library, field trips to local churches to shadow pastors, time to talk with seminary faculty, visits to city sites and a professional baseball game, evening programs and mission within the community. Chris Hopp, a former youth advisory delegate to the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and a current member of the synod's Committee on Representation, participated in the Summer Youth Institute in 2003. He can provide additional information about the institute and can be reached at 402.297.5484 or cphopp@hotmail.com. Additional information about the program, including registration and scholarship information, is available at the seminary's website. |
| Conferences and other activities | |  OLDER ADULT MINISTRY CONFERENCE SET IN OCTOBER: The Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network, a network of people who are engaged in ministry with older adults, has scheduled its annual conference Tuesday through Friday, Oct. 12-15, in Orlando, Fla. POAMN is related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a covenant network of the General Assembly Council. The conference, "Connecting the Generations: Model, Methods and Mentors in Ministry," takes place at the International Palms Resort and Conference Center and features 11 workshops. A limited number of scholarships are available. To receive more information and an application for partial scholarship, contact Ginny Nyhuis at 615.426.1545 or gnyhuis@verizon.net. The deadline for completed scholarship applications is Aug. 31. |
| News around the PC(USA) | |
MODERATOR REFLECTS ON TIME IN HAITI: Haiti's poverty and problems run far deeper than the damage done by the recent earthquake, said General Assembly Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow after his recent visit to the island nation. "What I knew intellectually, but saw now with my own eyes, was that Haiti's poverty and problems were not just because of the earthquake," he said. "Much has to do with global policies toward Haiti, and the decades of how we have not treated Haiti well." Reyes-Chow cited as an example how the U.S. has pushed Haiti to change its tariffs on rice. As a result, the country now grows very little rice and relies on imports from outside the country. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Moderator." |
| And just one (or two) more | | |
SYNOD WEBSITE HAS LINKS FOR WORSHIP RESOURCES: The website of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies has a variety of worship resources that range from the more traditional to what some might call the non-traditional - from the category of liturgy, preaching and worship, to drama ministry to ministry about movies. Comments about the list and suggestions for additions to the list are welcomed at dsweep@lakesandprairies.org. The list is at "Resources."
SYNOD FACEBOOK GROUP REACHES MORE THAN 180: More than 180 friends have become members of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies group on Facebook, a social networking site. While postings at the group are frequently updated, Duane Sweep, administrator of the group, promises not to flood your inbox with group messages - only from time to time as need arises. Facebook users can find the group by searching Synod of Lakes and Prairies. Those who are not Facebook users must become Facebook users to become members of the group. |
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