Link2Lead Brown Bag, Wed Dec 16, 12:30!

Pack your lunch and head over to the presbytery office to learn about Link2Lead, a FREE online tool for all Presbytery of Lake Michigan churches!
Some features of Link2Lead are:

• Would you like to see who your 200 closest neighboring churches are? ChurchLink presents them to you online as a sortable list or on an interactive map, with location markers color-coded by denomination. Simply hover over a marker to see the church name or click for more information.
• Would you like to know how the programs your church offers match up to the interests of people living in your community? We compare your program list to the likely church program preferences in your community and produce a complimentary MinistryMatch report
  
• Add to your MinistryMatch knowledge for your area. What changes are projected to take place during the next five years? What are some faith facts I can learn about people in the area? The answers to these questions and dozens of others are located in the 10 Facts Series. Worksheet.

We have limited seating in the conference room at the presbytery office, please click here to register for this learning opportunity.

Click here to learn about even more features offered by Link2Lead.

Questions? Contact news@lakemichiganpresbytery.org

Printed Directories available in January!

To have accurate information in our printed directory we need you to update your contact information on our website by Dec 10! Click here to login or visit our website, www.lakemichiganpresbytery.org and click on "Members".

Can't remember your login information? No problem, click on the "Forgot Login?" link under the Login button. You can retrieve your username and password by entering your email address. If your email address is not in the system, then you will need to create an account. Information under the 'Contact Info' tab must by entered and/or reviewed by Dec 10. Thank you for your help!

Questions? Contact news@lakemichiganpresbytery.org

Clerks Corner

Stated Clerk Janet Magennis is now recovering from knee surgery at her home, where she will be found through December.  She particularly gives thanks this week for the support and care of her family, and indicates that the meal bringers from Holland First are outstanding.  "Of course my family can shop and cook, but it is one less thing in our busy days as they focus on someone who cannot do much for myself.  Two or three meals a week for a couple weeks are so welcome right now.  How do people without a church relationship cope during difficult times?  We are very blessed to be part of this church family."

All congregations should have received their Annual Statistical Report packages.  Please call if you have any questions, and don't wait to begin work on them.  Plan to present the report at your January Session meeting, so it can be filed online with the denomination by mid-February.  Questions?  Call my cell - 616.490.4989.

Snow-Fest is Coming!!!

January 15-17, 2010
First Presbyterian Church, Cadillac
Download flyer

• Skiing (cross-country & downhill)
• Snowboarding
• Swimming

All Presbytery of Lake Michigan youth and adult leaders are invited to come for a week-end of fellowship, FUN and growing in the faith.
Contact Don Phillips ( presbyeducator@sbcglobal.net )

Click here to learn about Presbyterian Eco Justice! Subscribe

Basic Preparation for Parish Nursing

Based on the Curriculum developed by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center

WINTER 2010 SESSION:
Feb 5-6/Mar 19-20/Apr 16-17

SUMMER 2010 SESSION:
Jun  18-19/Jul  16-17/Aug 13-14

Transformations Spirituality Center Kalamazoo MI. Click here for more information. Cost $450. Deadline for the winter session is January 22nd. Scholarships may be available from Discipleship and/or Shepherding Ministry Teams.

One in the Spirit - 

Highlights General Assembly Mission Council newsletter :

Hundreds have already joined Mission Crossroads, a new Web-based wisdom community for Presbyterians passionate about mission. The Web site offers opportunities to share and discover mission stories, discuss best mission practices, find resources that support mission participation and join with others in the journey toward faithful and effective mission involvement. View website

An upcoming evangelism webinar with presenter Gene Wilkes will provide step-by-step methods on how to equip and encourage members of Christ's Church to do this. Save the date Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 2 p.m. EDT and register today.

The Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) is seeking nominations for five awards recognizing effective justice outreach ministries.  Honorees will be celebrated on July 5, 2010, during the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis, Minn. More info...

Lives Transformed - The Rev. Andrew Foster Connors
Standing together for decency, justice and life Baltimore, Md. (November 19, 2009) - When 10 members of his congregation were confronted in El Salvador with the disappearance and subsequent death of a Salvadoran mission colleague, the Rev. Andrew Foster Connors had a new appreciation of what the Church - "with a capital 'c'" - was all about. Marcelo Rivera, a Salvadoran community leader and environmental activist, disappeared near his hometown of San Isidro, El Salvador, on June 19, while a visiting delegation including members from the Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Md., was expecting to meet with him. Across the miles that separated them, the delegation sent a fervent plea to their pastor as they sought to cope with the shocking impact and the broader implications of Rivera's disappearance. [Read more]

Thanks to technology we have the ability to not only be a connectional denomination, but also to be connected!  The staff of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan wants to ensure that members in every congregation are included when we send out news about the things you need to know.  We especially want to reach out to the leaders in the congregations -- pastors, elders and deacons, key office personnel, Christian Educators, Clerks of Session and Treasurers often need to receive directed communications. Please say "YES" when invited to be on our "Constant Contact" lists!  Our lists are private, never shared, and you will notice with "Constant Contact" that there is no lengthy list of other email addresses when you receive something from the presbytery. 

Presbytery of Lake Michigan is a middle governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA) serving over 70 churches . If you wish to have something included in the newsletter, please read our Electronic Communication Policy then use our online form.  Deadline for this newsletter is the 12th and 27th of each month.

 

Presbytery of Lake Michigan
1511 Helen Avenue
Portage, Michigan 49002
888.271.6567

 

View Presbytery Calendar

Dec 16 - Percept Brown Bag Jan 27-30, ACPE Conference
Jan 14, Educator Fellowship
Jan 15-17, Snow-Fest
Jan 27-30, APCE
Feb 5 & 6 Reframing Presbyteries
March 19-21, Alma Youth Mix
Jun 18-28, WCRC
July 20-24, Youth Triennium. Read letter sent to pastors

Click here for Event Registration Forms

Christmas Tea is Tues., Dec. 1 from 2-4 p.m.  Their theme is "Joy to the World" and the program will be presented by their music dept.

Wasail/Cookie Exchange is Tues., Dec. 8 at 6:30 pm in the Dining Room.