SYNOD MEETING SET OCT. 3-5: The next stated meeting of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies runs Sunday through Tuesday, Oct. 3-5, at the Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center, Farmington, Minn. The proposed agenda, which accompanied the notice and call to meeting distributed Aug. 23, noted that Mark Sundby, executive director of the North Central Ministry Development Center, New Brighton, Minn., will lead an educational session on pastor health issues Oct. 4. Sundby is a licensed psychologist and an ordained pastor in the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church. He holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota. Also at the meeting, the presbyteries of Central Nebraska, Des Moines and Minnesota Valleys are on the schedule for "Presbytery Show and Tell." 
 
NORTHERN PLAINS, SOUTH DAKOTA PARTICIPATE IN PASTORAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM: Six recent seminary graduates have received their first calls to ministry of the Word and Sacrament in the inaugural year of "For Such a Time as This,"an innovative Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastoral residency program designed to serve small, under-served congregations and develop missional pastors. Four presbyteries - Heartland, St. Andrew, Northern Plains and South Dakota - will provide the initial group of ministry settings. Within the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, the pastoral residents - listed with their calling congregations and partner presbyteries - are: Lois Aroian, United Presbyterian Church, Willow Lake, S.D.; Trudy Dumont, Presbyterian Church of Rolla, N.D., and St. John (N.D.) Presbyterian Church; and Mark Terayama, First Presbyterian Church, Sisseton, S.D., and Presbyterian Church of Veblen, S.D. The complete press release can be found at "First Class."
 
RUPE, JOHNSON HONORED BY COLLEAGUES: The Rev. Lucy Rupe, top right, executive presbyter in the Presbytery of Winnebago, and the Rev. Sharon Johnson, lower right, executive presbyter in the Presbytery of Northern Waters, were honored by their colleagues when presbytery leaders in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies gathered recently in Willmar, Minn. Rupe, who has served 13 years in Winnebago, announced in July that she intended to resign at the end of December and Johnson, who has served 18 years in Northern Waters, announced last month that she would retire at the end of December. The executive leadership of the synod's presbyteries acknowledged the service of the two executives and presented gifts to each of the women. (Photos by the Rev. Chaz Ruark, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Twin Cities Area.)
 

 
HILLCREST STUDENTS WORK WITH BEES, MAKE NEWS: A story in the Telegraph-Herald of Dubuque, Iowa, noted: "A new buzz around town is taking a sweet toll on area youth. As part of Hillcrest Family Services' education program, a group of teens has taken on the responsibility of caring for bees. 'The science behind it is fascinating. It's not something you see every day,' said program manager Paul Goldstein. 'It's been a real learning experience for the kids. They've been really involved.' Hillcrest is in covenant with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The complete story can be found at "Bees."
 
WINNEBAGO WOMAN PARTICIPATES IN WORK ON NEW HYMNAL: The Aug. 27 edition of News & Notes, the newsletter of Winnebago Presbytery, noted the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song has appointed Ann Strome Gold to participate in the activities surrounding the creation of the new Hymnal for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).  Publication of the new hymnal is anticipated in fall 2013. Gold, an ordained elder, is a member of First Church, Manitowoc, Wis., and serves as organist and hand bell director.  She will receive test batches of the new hymns for field testing among the churches of the presbytery. She will also share progress reports on the new hymnal.