SYNOD ADOPTS TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, HEARS OF PRESBYTER CONCERNS: The Synod of Lakes and Prairies, meeting Oct. 2-4 at the Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center, Farmington, Minn., accepted the report of its Administrative Review Task Force on the Future of the Synod and adopted nearly all recommendations presented by its Steering Committee in response to the report. The synod also heard recommendations from the synod's Presbyter Forum. These items and more, including the announcement of the 2012 retirement of Synod Executive Phil Brown, can be found in the unofficial Synod Summary. The complete report of the task force, an addendum to its report and the complete recommendations of the Presbyter Forum can be found at "Looking Ahead."

MID COUNCIL COMMISSION PICKS MODEL, WOULD ELIMINATE SYNODS: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Mid Council Commission (formerly Middle Governing Body Commission) has voted unanimously to eliminate synods and vest their ecclesiastical functions in five regional administrative commissions of the General Assembly. Under the proposal, which would require a number of constitutional amendments that would have to be ratified by presbyteries, the PC(USA) would move to a three-tiered governance system of sessions, presbyteries and the General Assembly. The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Synods."

SYNOD'S WEBSITE INCLUDES NARRATIVE BUDGET, SERVICE: For a better grasp of the ministry and mission of the synod, the synod's narrative budget - in the form of a letter - can be found at "Narrative Budget." Synod staff work in a variety of ways and current services can be found at "Services."

PRES HOMES, SERVICES BREAKS GROUND FOR 'VALLEY RIDGE:' Dan Lindh, president of Presbyterian Homes & Services of Roseville, Minn., spoke of tearing down and building up when he and several civic leaders turned the soil Sept. 28 for a new senior living facility in Burnsville, Minn. The new facility, "Valley Ridge," will be built on the site of what had been a decaying 1960s strip mall. "We are appreciative of this unique partnership," Lindh said. "Repositioning this first shopping center south of the [Minnesota] river and built in the '60s for a new use within a strategic alliance is very important." Pres Homes is in covenant with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The new facility, slated for completion in 2012, will include 140 apartments, including 80 independent living units, 40 assisted living units and 20 memory care units. (In the photo at right, Lindh, on the far right, leads the groundbreaking for the new facility with civic leaders from Burnsville and Dakota County.)

SOUTH DAKOTA CONGREGATION RALLIES FROM VANDALISM: At 6:45 on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 1, Charlie Richardson, building and grounds supervisor of First Presbyterian Church in Madison, S.D., was awakened by a phone call from local police. The church building had been broken into overnight. The vandals stole nothing, but left a swath of destruction in their wake. ... It's a morning members of the congregation will never forget - but not necessarily because of the damage. What stands out most is what happened afterward. "The response was truly awesome," says the Rev. Sandra Larson, right, First Church's pastor. "A rallying cry went out, and people were here as early as seven in the morning. As soon as we were cleared by the insurance company, the clean-up process began." (Photo by Lori Walsh.) The complete Presbyterian News Service story is at "Responding."

DES MOINES FOOD PANTRY SERVES RECORD NUMBER OF FAMILIES: An article in the Oct. 11 edition of The Wider Circle, the newsletter of the Presbytery of Des Moines, noted the Des Moines Area Religious Council food pantry warehouse is being filled and emptied to the walls about twice each week, as the council strives to meet growing needs for short-term food assistance in Polk County. Even as record numbers of Iowans are receiving public food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, DMARC is finding it a challenge to keep its Food Pantry Network warehouse stocked with enough food, the article stated. The complete story can be found in "The Wider Circle."

PDA RESPONDS TO 2 DISASTERS IN DES MOINES PRESBYTERY: The Presbytery of Des Moines received word Sept. 30 from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance that it would receive $20,000 to respond to disasters that struckchurches in that presbytery in 2010 and 2011. One $10,000 grant from PDA will assist eight churches in the presbytery that experienced flood damage in 2010. A second grant of $10,000 will support recovery from a tornado that struck Lenox, Iowa, in May 2011.

MINOT'S FIRST PRESBYTERIAN OFFERS THANKS FOR GIFT: Last summer, when the Souris River - also known as the Mouse River - overflowed its banks around Minot, N.D., the city's First Presbyterian Church stepped up and began using its mobile kitchen to provide meals to residents who had been forced from their homes. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies supported the local church in its flood relief efforts with a $5,000 gift. The synod recently received a thank-you letter from Mark Frueh, a commissioned lay pastor at First Presbyterian. He stated, "We are so thankful for your recent donation. The devastation ... has been beyond comprehension. As if the damage of 4,000 homes (nearly 1,000 a total loss) isn't enough, we also have extensive damage to businesses, a majority of our lift stations, roads, and for over a month had to boil all of our drinking water." Since the flood, First Presbyterian has served 32,300 meals and now houses a grade school of about 130 kids with 35 staff. Frueh noted, "Together with many other volunteers we are making a difference and will continue to do everything we can to help our community." Details of the Minot flood and recovery can be found at "Minot."

'SOWER' STORIES RECOUNT VISIT TO DAKOTA PRESBYTERY: Presbyterian Women of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies visited their sisters in Dakota Presbytery this year and two of the stories from the trip are recounted in the September issue of "The Sower," the organization's newsletter. Karen Bartel wrote, "I discovered a wonderful sense of humor, an abiding sense of family and community, and a rich connection to history. I wished I could bottle the system that turns MP3-bearing teen-agers into respectful young people. Babies and tots were singing and dancing as a matter of course. The creative eye for art design was incredible." The complete newsletter can be found at "Sower."

SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTHERN PLAINS PLAN TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE OCT. 20-21: The presbyteries of South Dakota and Northern Plains are offering a conference that will transform the way congregations minister to one another, and reach out in mission to the community around them. Designed to stimulate and equip congregational leadership for transformational ministry, presenters are the Rev. Boots, who has experience in congregational transformation from the local congregation to the General Assembly level, and the Rev. Samuel Hobson, who is currently the interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Fargo, N.D., where the conference takes place. Details are at "Transformation." 

UDTS PLANS DISCERNMENT CONFERENCE: The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is offering a discernment conference Oct. 19-21 for individuals who are considering a call to ministry. The conference begins with dinner Wednesday and ends with lunch Friday. For only $25, the seminary provides two-nights' lodging and all meals. Participants have the opportunity to be in a discernment group setting while on campus to worship, attend class, talk one-on-one with a professor, meet other students and much more. Additional information and registration details can be found at "Discernment."

RESOURCE CENTER FOR CHURCHES OFFERS MULTIPLE WAYS TO ACCESS RESOURCES: The Resource Center for Churches, 122 W. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, is a an ecumenical resource center supported in part by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. It offers a library that encompasses thousands of items located at its physical location and through its online searchable catalog system. It's located at "Resources for the Journey."
 

APCE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PLANNED FEB. 1-4: Registration is open for the 2012 Association of Presbyterian Church Educators event Feb. 1-4 in Grand Rapids, Mich. With the theme, "God's Surprising Wonders," the conference will include seminars and certification courses. Conference details and registration can be found at "APCE."

NEW DEVOTIONALS BASED ON 'FEASTING ON WORD' SERIES SET FOR PUBLICATION: A new series of daily devotionals based on the award-winning Feasting on the Word lectionary commentary series will soon be available from Westminster John Knox Press. The series is edited by Presbyterians Kathleen Long Bostrom and Elizabeth F. Caldwell and features contributions by several respected authors. The complete news releases from Westminster John Knox Press can be found at "Feasting."