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February 15, 2010
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Presbytery E-Bulletin
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General Presbyter's Comments
Let it be remembered that on
February 9, 2010 Presbyterians braved snowy weather and accident filled
highways to meet at the First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo. Such
whether is not new to us in Michigan, yet we never grow fond of such
white knuckle travel! Elder Kathleen Goodrich was in an accident on
her way. Thank God, she had no injuries, only shaken. Her car,
however, was demolished. The Leadership Team will be reviewing our
policy on meeting postponements at their upcoming meeting. Volunteers
from Kalamazoo First were out early to host us. The many brave souls
who ventured out were blessed with a meaningful meeting, which focused
on the world. We welcomed and learned from guests from Palestine,
Ghana and Haiti, who put our economic struggles into perspective. The
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Holder-Rich, our preacher for the day, challenged us
with the uncomfortable truth of the great debt incurred on Haiti by
France and world banks for its freedom. Patricia Locke was examined
and approved for ordination and installation as associate pastor at
First Presbyterian Church, Grand Haven. I reviewed our life together
on the second anniversary of my time with you. Read and comment on my
report at http://jbestblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/report-to-lake-michigan-presbytery.html. God bless you all.
John
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Offerings
During worship at our February Presbytery meeting a total of $1454 was
collected in offerings for The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for
Haitian Relief.
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Presbytery Project
Church World Service has put out
an urgent request for Hygiene and Baby Care Kits. Many are needed in
Haiti, of course, but they are also still needed in many other parts of
the world. The Church World Service office in Lansing is hoping to send
a truck load of kits to the warehouse in Maryland in April. Please
organize a kit making project in your church and bring completed kits
to the Presbytery Meeting on April 24 at First Presbyterian Church in
Lansing. Click here for more information . Instructions for
making and packing the kits is at the CWS website, www.churchworldservice.org.
Funds are needed to help with shipping costs. Please note that $3.00
for each box of kits can be sent with the kits to Lansing and $2.00 per
kit can be sent separately to the CWS office in Indiana (instructions
of the website). Checks can be made payable to Church World Service.
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Evangelism & Church Growth: Download a new study guide
In partnership with Educational Ministries, Evangelism & Church Growth has produced a brand new resource for educators, entitled, "Grow Christ's Church Deep and Wide: A Call to Action Study Guide."
Unveiled at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators
(APCE) annual gathering in Nashville, this six-week study guide uses
four dynamic stories of Presbyterian congregations called to grow "Deep and Wide" in new ways in evangelism, discipleship, servanthood and diversity. A related DVD illustrates the four stories.
Download these new resources or order them through Presbyterian Distribution Service. The PDS numbers are: Study Guide #13102-010-1, DVD #13102-010-2. Get a free trial subscription to The Presbyterian Leader
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Reformed Mission in an Age of
World Christianity
On June 15-17, 2010, Calvin College Centers and Institutes in
partnership with the International Association for the Promotion of
Christian Higher Education are hosting, "Reformed Mission in an Age of
World Christianity", in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This conference will
explore the intersection of global Christian faith and Christian higher
education, considering the emphases of the Reformed Christian
theological tradition. Faith in Jesus Christ is celebrated today in
more languages and in more lands than any other living faith; churches
are growing; many good works and the institutions to drive them are
rising. But this requires Christians to value cultural engagement,
think theologically about discipleship in this world and create
principled, sustainable approaches to contemporary living.
The conference is designed to strengthen Reformed Christian faith
expressions and global movements for world Christianity as well
as Christian teaching, learning and scholarship. Through both plenary
and breakout sessions on a host of specific topics, theological
frameworks and Christian practices will be discussed and deepened. For
details about the conference schedule, topics and an outstanding array
of global sectional leaders, see: http://www.calvin.edu/scs/2010/conferences/rcc/ .
To date registrations have been received from more than twenty
countries across six continents. Until April 1, the conference
registration fee, including meals, is $150 for North American
registrants. Join us for three days of global Christian learning. |
Board of Pensions seminars: April 12-16, Lansing
The
Presbytery of Lake Michigan is sponsoring four Board of Pensions
education seminars on April 12-16, 2010 at First Presbyterian
Church in Lansing, Michigan. Each member education seminar
offering has the potential to be of great assistance to Plan members,
churches, and employing organizations in your area.
The
seminars we will offer in Lansing are:
April 12-13 Growing into tomorrow...today seminar: Retirement and
financial planning for mid- to late career clergy and lay
Benefits Plan members
April
14 Render
unto Caesar seminar: Clergy taxes and Terms of Call
for active clergy and spouses, treasurers, business administrators,
session leaders, and presbytery staff and committee members
April
15 Getting
in Shape Fiscally seminar: Financial and
retirement planning for early to mid-career clergy and lay Benefits Plan
members
April
16 Post-Retirement seminar: Retirement
and financial planning for clergy and lay Benefits Plan retirees, their
spouses, and survivor spouses
All four
seminars are open for registration on Pensions.org. Registration
closes after March 12, 2010. Download seminar descriptions.
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CONNECTIONAL and CONNECTED!
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.
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About Us
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
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Planning CalendarThe 2010-2011 planning calendars can now be ordered. Bulk pricing is available if your order through the Presbytery Office by March 31. Non-bulk price for the calendar is $10.50. There are two ways to order your calendar(s)
1. Cost per calendar $6.30, printout and complete the form and return with payment to the presbytery office.
2. Cost per calendar $6.50, use PayPal to order and pay for your calendars. MARCH 31, 2010 IS THE DEADLINE!
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Moderator's Blog
Moderator Seth Weeldryer has moved his blog to wordpress so you can sign up and receive email notification when a new posting has occur. Sign up now at lakemichiganmoderator.word
press.com
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Mission Interpretation: Order "One Great Hour of Sharing" Lenten devotionals
A
new One Great Hour of Sharing Lenten devotional, "Do you love me? Feed
my sheep," is now available. This free tabletop tent folds in different
ways to display a series of seven devotions. The devotions are for Ash
Wednesday and each successive week of Lent through Holy Week and
Easter. Each focuses on a different scripture and includes a
reflection, a prayer, and thoughts on ways to translate faith into
action. Order online, call Presbyterian Distribution Services, 800-524-2612 and order #12138-10-120, or download an order form. |
Communication Corner:
Join us Thurs, Feb 18 12-1 at the Presbytery Office for a hands-on learning opportunity. We will focusing on FREE internet collaboration tools
(Skype, Web Conferencing, Onine Groups and Google Docs). Bring your
laptop or come and observe. Please download and install Skype prior to
this training (www.skype.com/download)
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Please tell us how you communicate to your members (community) when church worship/events are cancelled.
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Write an online review for your congregation!
1. Browse to www.google.com
2. Enter in your church name and town and press 'search'.
3. Locate the map showing churches in the area.
4. Find your church in the list. If your church is not listed, try a different search string.
5. If your church is in the list, click on 'More" .
6. Click on the link under "Reviews" and fill out the form!
Click here to see screen shots along with instructions.
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 Are you on Facebook?
Join our Group!
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Haiti Response
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| In the aftermath
of the terrible earthquake in Haiti, your prayers, gifts and actions
are making a difference. In a time when so many symbols of safety and
security have been destroyed your support of the One Great Hour of Sharing and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) have been a tangible witness of God's presence and hope.
Working
in concert with Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance and Church
World Service, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has provided assistance
toward:
- Food, water and 35,000 hygiene kits and baby kits at 15 distribution sites.
- Temporary shelters for the many people left homeless.
- Supplies
and vital infrastructure support including electrical, water,
sanitation and security at Hôpital Sainte Croix (Holy Cross Hospital)
in Leogane, one of the few operating medical facilities in the region,
and the Faculty of Nursing Science of the Episcopal University of Haiti
(FSIL).
- Initial assessments and ground work for community psycho-social recovery.
Download a power-point presentation with photos of these efforts.
We
cannot thank you enough for your compassion and generosity. We have
been inspired by so many stories of children, youth groups, and
congregations each doing their part in support of the earthquake
response. The damage has been devastating, but as Presbyterian mission
co-worker and PDA staff member, Carlos Cardenas, reports, despite the
devastation, "Hope is alive." Thank you for bringing hope to the people
of Haiti. You can find situation updates and information on how you can
get involved by visiting the PDA Web site.
Yes. Our God is
up to the task. Pray that we will all be up to the task.
As
God's people we are called to stand in the
"GAP" - GIVE. ACT. PRAY.
Give - Financial
support for relief efforts can be made online and designated
to DR000064. Gifts can also be made by phone at (800) 872-3283, and
checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box
643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Act - Prepare for a
special worship service in your congregation using the hymn, bulletin
inserts and other worship resources available from
PDA. Congregations and individuals can also put together hygiene kits and baby kits to be distributed
through Church World Service.
Pray - Join with
others in lifting up the people of Haiti and those seeking to provide
aid in this critical time. As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti,
let us join our hearts in
prayer.
Thank you, your gifts and prayers make a difference!
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