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| News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies | |
SHARON JOHNSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT: In a letter earlier this month the Rev. Sharon Johnson, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Northern Waters, announced that she would retire Dec. 31. "For quite some time," she wrote, "my husband and I have been attempting to discern God's guidance and direction in our lives. We have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to retire and to provide the presbytery the opportunity to call a new person to serve this wonderful organization." Johnson has served the presbytery for the past 18 years, and she wrote that her call there was the "highlight of my 30 years of ordained ministry." She added, "I feel very good about my ministry in our presbytery. Northern Waters is an incredible organization; you are strong, loving, healthy and financially stable. Your future is bright." EAST IOWA CONGREGATIONS RECOGNIZED FOR DISASTER-RELIEF MINISTRY: Four congregations in the Presbytery of East Iowa recently received the 2010 Governor's Volunteer Award for their disaster relief-related ministries during the past year. The recipients were Christ Church Presbyterian in Cedar Rapids, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids, Meet & Eat Program at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids, and First Presbyterian Church in Marion. PMRV EXECUTIVE WRITES ABOUT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: The Rev. Kevin Keaton, executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley, writing in the Aug. 16 edition of Monday Morning in the Presbytery, the presbytery's newsletter, noted, "An older cartoon from The New Yorker gets a little close to home for many organizations: 'We have lots of information technology. We just don't have any information.' Truth of the matter is, we simply do not adequately utilize the available technology to effectively communicate the information we possess. The greatest communication challenge for most churches usually stems from the assumption that communication is a 'one and done' task." Keaton's full column can be found at " Communication."
 IOWAN IS 'HEAD CHEERLEADER' FOR YOUTH TRIENNIUM: Laura Stover, right, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, is proud of her reputation. Among the many ways she has served in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the veteran Christian educator is perhaps proudest to be known as the Presbyterian Youth Triennium's biggest cheerleader. "Triennium is the best thing our denomination's got going," Stover said. "I am the best P.R. person for Triennium in the whole church." Stover, who attended the PC(USA)'s first Triennium as a 19-year old in 1980, has missed the gathering only twice in 30 years. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at " Stover." NORTH CENTRAL IOWA STARTS FREE WEIGHT-LOSS EVENT: The Presbytery of North Central Iowa is starting a free weight-loss event and a number of the presbytery's pastors have already agreed to participate, according to a presbytery announcement Aug. 19. To take part in the event, participants need to send at email to Kaylene Hoskins in the presbytery office. Participants will be asked to weigh themselves Sept. 1, then again on Sept. 13, sending an email to Hoskins with the amount of weight loss or gain. Then, using the honor system, participants will weigh themselves every Monday, providing Hoskins of their gain or loss. "We don't need to know your actual weight, just your gains or losses," she wrote. There will be surprises, prizes and tips "as we all journey," she added. "You can start groups in your church, family or among friends and challenge yourself even more. Let the losing begin." TWIN CITIES AREA CHURCHES JOIN 'TAKING ROOT' INITIATIVE: At least three congregations in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area have joined " Taking Root," an initiative of the Minnesota Council of Churches to foster interfaith understanding and hospitality in the region. The effort has grown out of the recent controversy regarding the building of a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York. "It is a reminder of both of the barriers that exist between people of different faiths as well as the bonds that can be forged across faiths," reads a statement on the presbytery's Web site. "Taking Root" is a program that pairs Christians and Muslims together to sponsor a refugee. To date, participating PTCA congregations are Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul and Church of All Nations in Minneapolis. NORTHERN PLAINS EXEC WRITES OF AGREEING TO DISAGREE: The Rev. Steve Minnema, interim executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Northern Plains, writing in Light of the Northern Plains, the newsletter of the presbytery, addressed a question the Rev. Peg Chemberlin put to the audience when she spoke at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in July. Chemberlin is executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and president of the National Council of Churches. Minnema wrote, "Peg put a question to the full sanctuary at Westminster Church of Minneapolis that I have been pondering ever since. When are we Christians going to realize that our unity is not based on our ability to agree with each other but rather on our common reliance on the grace of God in Jesus Christ which none of us deserves?" Minnema's complete article can be found at " Beyond Agreeing to Disagree."  WINNEBAGO PRESBYTERY PLANS MISSION STUDY TRIP TO COLOMBIA: The Global Partnership Task Group of Winnebago Presbytery is planning a trip Nov. 15-22 to Medellin, Colombia. According to a recent edition of News and Notes, the presbytery's newsletter, the task group has "already identified four persons to travel and wants to invite five to six additional people who would be interested." The delegation will meet with church leaders from the Presbyterian Church in Colombia. The funds subsidizing the trip, including travel,housing and lodging for both delegations, come from the presbytery operating budget, the Presbytery International Partnership Fund and a generous grant from the John N. Bergstrom Fund of First Presbyterian Church, Neenah, Wis. The mission trip brochure is at " Colombia." |
| Responding to disaster | |  ALL IOWA PRESBYTERIES AFFECTED BY FLOODING: According to the Aug. 16 map released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, all six presbyteries with all or portions of their geography in Iowa have a county with a federal disaster assistance designation for either public or individual assistance. In total, 19 of the 25 counties in the Presbytery of Des Moines received disaster assistance designation, 11 of 19 in Prospect Hill, 11 of 24 in North Central Iowa, six of 16 in East Iowa, four of six in John Knox, and three of seven in Missouri River Valley. A total of 32 counties in Iowa are now eligible for individual federal assistance to help communities recover from recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, according to an Aug. 17 FEMA announcement. Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties may register for assistance anytime at the FEMA Web site.
 OIL SPILL IMPACT MORE THAN ENVIRONMENTAL: The environmental and economic impacts of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico have been well documented. But what hasn't been discussed as much are the psychological wounds it is inflicting on residents in the Gulf states. People in the community have their entire lives invested in fishing, and being forced to leave or change careers brings up issues of loss - loss of vocation, loss of identity, loss of family tradition, said the Rev. George Bendall, pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, Miss. He was one of several area pastors who met with a General Assembly Mission Council delegation earlier this summer. Local pastors could use more help in dealing with these emotional setbacks, which affect clergy as well as members. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Oil Spill." Additional resources and information about helping out with the disaster's effects can be found at "Oil Spill Assistance." |
| Conferences, camps and other resources | | 2010 TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE SET IN TEXAS: The 2010 Transformation Conference, Oct. 18-22, is an event that will bring together pastors, elders and other church leaders to talk, dream and learn about congregational transformation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The conference will take place at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth, Texas. The conference brochure can be found at "Transformation Conference."
 FREE STEWARDSHIP MAGAZINE AVAILABLE FROM PC(USA): A free copy of the 2010 Giving magazine is available through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by contacting Presbyterian Distribution Services. The magazine contains articles by Elaine Barnette, Kevin Park and Rodger Nishioka as well as planning resources for the 2010 stewardship season. The theme for this year's magazine is "More than Enough." Giving magazine is produced in partnership with the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. Information can be found at " Giving."  PRESBYTERIAN TENTMAKERS SET MEETING IN ILLINOIS: The Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers will conduct its annual conference Nov. 12-14, at the University of St. Mary's of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein, Ill. Phyllis Tickle, author of "The Great Emergence," will be the principal speaker. Conference information and registration materials can be found at " Tentmakers."
 'THE NINES,' FREE ONLINE CONFERENCE FOR CHURCH LEADERS, SET SEPT. 9: |
| News around the PC(USA) | |
10-YEAR TREND REPORTS AVAILABLE FROM RESEARCH SERVICES: In a note to presbytery and synod executives and stated clerks, Jack Marcum, coordinator of research services for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), pointed out that 10-Year Trend Reports for presbyteries have been updated to include data through 2009, the most recent year available. Presbytery reports can be found at "10-Year Trends." Additional research services for congregations and presbyteries can also be arranged through Research Services.
 BOOK PUBLISHED AS RESOURCE FOR VOTING ON FOG REVISION: A new e-book, written by the Rev. Neal Lloyd of Cambria, Wis., provides an overview of the process that led to the revised Form of Government that the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sent to the presbyteries for ratification. The book, "The Road to Revision: How the Proposed Revision of the Form of Government Came To Be," is available through the Kindle Shop at Amazon.com for $4.99. Lloyd, former stated clerk for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and an interim presbytery executive in three presbyteries, has been directly involved in the writing of the current draft since 1996, and served on the General Assembly's Form of Government Task Force. Lloyd wrote, "In addition to reviewing the early efforts, the book provides a commentary on polity concerns that came to the forefront after the 1983 reunion and the way in which the current proposed revision evolved as well as the way in which it seeks to fulfill the mandates of the several General Assemblies that have directed that such a document be produced."
SDOP COMMEMORATES 40 YEARS, SPONSORS SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST: Self-Development of People, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is celebrating its 40th anniversary by acting on its mission of "People Investing in People." SDOP is sponsoring a T-shirt design contest that will provide college scholarship money to the winner. Presbyterian youth and young adults in ninth grade through their fourth year of college are invited to enter the contest, which will award a $2,000 scholarship for the college or higher educational institution of the winner's choice. SDOP is a ministry that demonstrates God's justice and wholeness, especially among the economically poor and oppressed, by partnering with them for projects that seek to improve their lives and communities. The complete story can be found at "SDOP."
PC(USA) OFFERS TIPS FOR CELEBRATING NATIVE AMERICAN DAY: Native American Day is Sept. 23 and the Web site of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) includes several suggestions for congregations to celebrate the day. According to the PC(USA), there are 110 Native American congregations and chapels located in eight synods and 22 presbyteries of the denomination. Suggestions for celebrating Native American Day can be found at "Native American Day." The Presbytery of Dakota, a non-geographic presbytery of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, includes Native American congregations in Minnesota, Montana, and North and South Dakota.
EVANGELISM SUNDAY IS SEPT. 26: Evangelism Sunday is on the calendar Sept. 26 and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is calling congregations to action. "Good News is the essence of the New Testament's word for evangelism," according to the PC(USA), but "for many the word evangelism is associated with ideas and images of insensitivity, intrusiveness, judgment, legalism or guilt. ... We need a new paradigm, a reclaiming of what evangelism is: God's people joyfully and authentically telling and showing others that in and through Jesus Christ we are forgiven, we are redeemed, we are transformed, we have purpose and meaning in life, we are sent to authentically love and heal, to serve and work for justice, to be reconciled and reconcilers, [and] to be stewards of God's creation." Evangelism Sunday resources can be found at "Evangelism Sunday."
 PEACEMAKING OFFERING, WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY ON HORIZON: The Peacemaking Offering was created in 1980 to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of faithfulness to God. It is one of four special offerings designated by the denomination's General Assembly. Most churches receive the Offering on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October, which this year is Oct. 3. The PC(USA) encourages congregations to use whatever Sunday works best. Each congregation is encouraged to retain 25 percent of the offering for local ministries of peacemaking within the congregation and its community. Twenty-five percent is used by presbyteries and synods, and 50 percent is used by General Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.
PASTOR HEALTH IS TOPIC OF NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE: For pastors, taking care of one's own spiritual, emotional and physical needs is essential, but it's a responsibility that's often pushed aside. The Rev. Shawn Lovejoy urged leaders at the National New Church Development Conference to take time for themselves. "We bring life to everyone else at the expense of our own physical, emotional and spiritual vitality and health," he said. "If the pastor is not healthy, the church will not be healthy." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Pastor Health."
NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT SPEAKER: JESUS IS 'MORE THAN ENOUGH:' After spending a few days at the National New Church Development Conference, the Rev. Edwin Andrade said he was leaving excited for the church of Jesus Christ. "God is really doing amazing things and moving in powerful ways," he said. "And friends, there is more than just hope. In Jesus, there is victory." And although Andrade was energized, he acknowledged that this feeling isn't always present. Fear can paralyze us, cautioned Andrade, an organizing pastor of Nueva Rivera Presbyterian Church in Sterling, Va. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "More Than Enough."
PRESBYTERIANS TODAY LOOKS FOR 'UNSUNG SERVANTS:' Every church has them - dedicated members or staff who don't seek praise or recognition, but whose work is essential to the life of the congregation. Presbyterians Today magazine is planning a special feature on those "unsung servants" who enrich the lives of their congregations in ways that are usually not recognized. The magazine is seeking submissions and the deadline is Sept. 1. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Unsung Servants." |
| And just one more | | | HUMOR ONLINE: 'AND THE PASTOR SAID:' A few months ago Keeping in Touch included a link to a Web site that offered humorous stories of children in church, but there are also several Web sites with short, funny stories of pastors and preaching. One of those can be found at "Sermon Humor." |
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