SYNOD SCHOOL 2012 FEATURES CAROL HOWARD MERRITT, CHRIS LEVAN: Synod School 2012 - "Singing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land" - features Carol Howard Merritt, left, author of "Tribal Church" and "Reframing Hope," and pastor of Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., as convocation speaker and Chris Levan, pastor of Eglinton St. George's United Church, Toronto, Ontario, as worship leader. Synod School is an annual week-long, fun-filled education event for the whole family that takes place on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Synod School 2012 runs Sunday through Friday, July 22-27. More than 600 people participated in Synod School in 2011.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY RECEIVES OFFER OF GIFT FROM IOWA CONGREGATION: The Oct. 25 edition of The Homesteader, a newsletter of Homestead Presbytery, contained a letter from the Presbyterian Men of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. The letter offered a gift to help the relief efforts of the presbytery. Writing for the Presbyterian Men, Graham Dameron noted that the members of the group "have been greatly concerned about the people who live ... along the Missouri River. We know that they have been greatly impacted by the flood this summer and are in need of some relief. Now that the water has or will soon recede from your area, we think this would be the time where you all would want to start piecing back their lives. We want to help this process and therefore would like to send you a check for $5,000." The complete letter can be found at "Flood Relief Gift."  

NORTHERN PLAINS INVITES PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING PROCESS: The Presbytery of Northern Plains is embarking on a strategic planning process to "navigate the changing culture and environment" and inviting presbytery members to participate. In an announcement released Oct. 19, Cheryl Biller, moderator of the presbytery's council, wrote, "We live in changing times, but I don't need to tell you that. Like you in your immediate family, you in your work place, each of us in our congregations; like the larger church in the form of structure task force, the Presbytery is trying to navigate the changing culture and environment in which we live and work and carry out God's mission. ... Presbytery leadership, your council, is bringing you a strategic planning process that includes an opportunity for you to influence the next steps we take as Presbyterians here in our region. November 18-19. This is your chance to have your say, to send your ideas, to provide input into the kind of staff we will hire to help us in our ministry and the way we structure ourselves to operate as faithful Presbyterian Christians." The complete announcement can be found at "Changing Times."

EAST IOWA APPROVES OVERTURES TO UPHOLD SESSION, PASTORAL DISCRETION: During its Oct. 11 meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Iowa, the Presbytery of East Iowa approved two overtures to the 220th General Assembly designed to uphold session and pastoral discretion in their responsibility for the covenant of marriage. Both overtures were proposed by the session of First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City. One overture, which passed 54-35, would change marriage language in the Book of Order in several instances from "a woman and a man" to "two people." The second, which presbyters approved 57-32 with one abstention, seeks an authoritative interpretation from the General Assembly to allow teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders to refuse to conduct certain services of Christian marriage. Under the proposal, sessions may also refuse to permit the use of church property for those services. The complete story, in the Oct. 19 issue of Out & About, the newsletter of the Presbytery of East Iowa, can be found at "Overtures."

PRESBYTERY SUPPORT STAFF RETREAT INCLUDES CLASSES, CONNECTIONS: Karen Lange, writing in the Oct. 18 issue of The Valley Bridge, the newsletter of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, noted the benefits of the annual presbytery support staff retreat conducted earlier this month at the ARC Retreat Center in Stanchfield, Minn. She wrote, "If you ever feel the need to get away from it all, I highly recommend heading over to the ARC Retreat Center. I've done so for the past three years with other administrative assistant/office manager types from presbyteries across the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. We take classes, connect, relax and have fun." Don Karsky led a drum circle, Lange noted, adding, "It was so much fun, I bought a drum and already have banged away at home (my dog wonders about the noise)." Lange's complete story can be found at "The Valley Bridge."

FORMER SYNOD MODERATOR, MORRIS MARUSKA, DIES: Morris George Maruska, 93, of Angus, Minn., died Sunday, Oct. 16, in Roseville, Minn. Maruska was a longtime member of the Angus Tabor Presbyterian Church and over the years was very active in a number of elected positions in the church, including being the first moderator of the Presbytery of the Northern Plains, and vice-moderator and moderator of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The complete story can be found at "Maruska."

RESOURCE CENTER FOR CHURCHES SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR PART-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION: The Resource Center for Churches, located in Minneapolis, is seeking a part-time executive director to provide administrative oversight, program management, site management and personnel supervision. The Resources Center for Churches is an ecumenical resource library supported in part by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The complete job listing is at "Resource Center."

'DEBORAH'S DAUGHTERS' WOMEN'S RETREAT SLATED AT CALVIN CREST: The Quad Consortium, made up of Central Nebraska, Homestead, Missouri River Valley and Prospect Hill presbyteries, and the Office of Women's Leadership Development in the Racial Ethnic and Women's Ministries area of the General Assembly Mission Council are sponsoring a "Deborah's Daughters" Women's Retreat Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, at Calvin Crest Conference and Retreat Center, Fremont, Neb. The retreat is designed to provide opportunities for women leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to discuss issues related to women in ministry. Details are available at "Daughters."

2ND IN FALL 'FIRST TUESDAY DIALOGUE' SERIES ADDRESSES POLARIZATION, CIVILITY: Introducing the fall "First Tuesday Dialogue" series at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska, Minn., the story in the Sept. 22 edition of the Chaska Herald quoted the Rev. Gordon Stewart, "There is no more important issue on the table both locally and nationally than the function of representative democracy." The second installment in the series, slated at the church Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. addresses "Polarization and Civility: A Pollster Looks at Recent Trends." The discussion will be led by professional pollster Bill Morris of Decision Resources, and David Minge, former 2nd District U.S. Congressman and Minnesota Court of Appeals judge. Shepherd of the Hill is located at 145 Engler Blvd. in Chaska. Details about the program can be found at "First Tuesday Dialogues."

DIANA BUTLER BASS SLATED TO PRESENT LECTURE IN OMAHA: Diana Butler Bass, left, a prolific writer, speaker and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture, will explore contemporary religious trends and questions of faith, practice and community when she speaks Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. at Countryside Community Church, 8787 Pacific Street, Omaha, Neb. Her presentation is titled, "The Great Religious Recession or a Great Spiritual Awakening?" and based on her upcoming book, "Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Beginning of a New Spiritual Awakening." Details are available at "Center for Faith Studies."

UNITED OFFERS ONLINE CLASS ABOUT LEADING IN SOCIAL MEDIA: An online class titled "Leading Effectively in the Changing Landscape of Social Media" will be offered on Tuesdays, Nov. 8 and 15, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., by United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, Minn. Students will learn about the latest online resources available to religious leaders, including Google Plus. The class will also explore how religious leaders are using social media as an effective and important skill for ministry. Details are available at "Social Media."

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL AVAILABLE FROM PRESBYTERIANS TODAY:The 2011 Advent Calendar published by Presbyterians Today is available for purchase from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Church Store. Titled "The Unfolding Journey," the calendar invites all to "explore the abundant promise of Christ's birth." The calendar features daily meditations and activities. Details are available at "Calendar."

CURRENT EDITION OF BOP'S EDUCATION TALK IS AVAILABLE ONLINE: The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) publishes an online newsletter, Education Talk, every quarter to encourage stewardship of self. Article subjects in the current edition include the employee assistance program, news for church treasurers and business administrators, Benefits Connect, and the annual open enrollment period for dental and supplemental death benefits programs. The newsletter is available at "Education Talk."

BOP EXPRESS SCRIPTS DROPS WALGREENS FROM PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES: In a letter to Board of Pensions members who have been using Walgreens pharmacies, Express Scripts, BOP's provider of prescription drug services, stated that Walgreens would no longer be a participating provider in its pharmacy networks effective Jan. 1. Express Scripts noted that it is "committed to keeping your prescription drugs affordable and accessible." And added, "That's why we negotiate cost-competitive agreements with all of our participating retail pharmacies. Unfortunately, Walgreens' proposed 2012 prices are much higher than the other pharmacies within our network. If we accepted Walgreens' rate, their higher costs may affect your future premiums." Additional information about the change, including information about changing pharmacies, is available at "Express Scripts."