|
|
|
|
| Lake Michigan Newsletter | October 30, 2010 |
|
|
Quick Links | 
|
|
|
First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, MI
On November 7, at 3 PM, First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, MI, will dedicate our new church facility. At this service we will give God thanks for the blessings that we've received and pray that this building and grounds will be used to further God's glory in the world.
The Reverend Thomas Taylor, PhD, Presi dent of the Presbyterian Foundation will be our afternoon preacher. Tom has been both an attorney and a pastor, beginning his ministry doing both at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake Utah. He later served churches in Southern California, and worked in the denominational headquarters in Louisville as the Deputy Executive Director for Missions for the General Assembly. Recently, Tom was recruited to his present position with the foundation, which allows him to draw upon his pastoral and legal backgrounds. Tom is an excellent preacher. There will be tours of the new church before and after the service.
First Presbyterian Church is located at 405 N. M-37 Highway. For more information, call the church at (269) 804-9793.
|
|
This email newsletter is produced by the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.
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.Sincerely,
|
Theological Discussion - by Laura Smit
"On the Incarnation" by Athanasius
At the next meeting of presbytery there will be a lunch gathering for theological discussion, led by Laura Smit. This has been cleared with John Best and Seth Weeldreyer, and arrangements have been made with Westminster for a room. People wishing to participate should get their lunch on a tray (Westminster will provide trays for this purpose) and go to the assigned
room. Laura will send-out information about this gathering.
Read more...
|
|
| A Note from John Best
Dear Colleagues,
We like to share and hear good news. But good news requires truth telling and sometimes that is hard news! You may have received a communication from Linda Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council and Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission, concerning the investigation into sexual abuse by some Presbyterian missionaries from 1950 through the 1980's. This is a sad story, so I share this information with a heavy heart. You can read about this at the following links: from the GA News service ; the report of the investigating committee which was made last week to the GAMC; and the Presbyterian Outlook news coverage.
If shock and anger are your response, may prayers of lament and supplication soon follow! May we be moved to gratitude and praise for the grace and redemptive power we know in Jesus. For we all fall short of what God intends for us. We are all in the need of grace. AND may we be motivated in our truth telling, in our boundary keeping, and in our efforts to create safe places for people to be. Since the 1990's the church has been much more vigilant of the misuse of position and power. Lake Michigan Presbytery's Sexual Misconduct Policy requires training of all minister members serving. The General Assembly is calling for each Session to have such policies. The next training will be offered at our next Presbytery Meeting on November 13th. This training is for all who serve in and through the church. Be there! This is important! Let us do this not with grumbling and complaining, but for the glory of God and for the health of the church we love!
|
Ghana Partnership Committee Announcement
Rev. Alphonse Kwadzo-Kuma, Chairman of the Ho-East Presbytery, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghanawill arrive in Michigan late in the day, Tuesday, 19 October, remain in our presbytery for almost five full weeks, and return to Ghana on Monday, 22 November. Highlights of his visit are
Sunday, 31 October, Benton Harbor First
Sunday, 7 November, Schoolcraft First and Hastings First celebration
Saturday, 13 November, Presbytery meeting, Grand Rapids Westminster
Sunday, 14 November, Kalamazoo First
Sunday, 21 November, East Lansing Eastminster
For more information about Rev. Kwadzo-Kuma and his full schedule of activities during his visit to Michigan, click here lakemichiganpresbytery.org/ghana. Times are available on this schedule for him to make additional visits to congregations in the presbytery. In particular, he would be pleased to meet with small groups of individuals interested in our presbytery's partnership with the Ho-East Presbytery and in our planned trip to Ghana in June 2011.
For more information about Rev. Kwadzo-Kuma visit to our presbytery, please contact John Petro, (269-342-6817), john.petro@wmich.edu . |
| Annual Statistics Report by Janet Magennis, Stated Clerk
FYI - Annual Statistical Reports will be downloadable from the website on Thursday, November 4, 2010. All churces received their user name and password in last week's letter.
|
|
Jazz Worship Service Concerts!!!
Benefit Concert Series - Allegan First Presbyterian
Come and enjoy our Jazz Worship Service Concerts!!! Free will offering will be given to local non profits in the community. Concerts start at 5pm and are held at the church 200 Cutler St., Allegan - 5:00 p.m.
November 14th, 2010 Shari Kane and Big Dave Steele
December 12th, Keith Hall Trio
January 9th - Root Doctor
February 13 - Tad Robinson
To download promotional poster, click here
|
Registration Open for APCE
The online registration for the Annual Event of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) is now open. Go to www.apcenet.org. The conference, "Walking in Balance" will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 2 to 5, 2011. Rick Ufford-Chase is the keynote speaker and there are 120 workshops choices. The Presbyterian Youth Workers Association is meeting jointly with APCE so there are many workshops on youth ministry. An optional overnight at Ghost Ranch after the event is available.
In February of 2012, the conference will be held in Grand Rapids. Information is also on the website about applying to lead workshops for this conference. The theme is "Surprising Wonders" and leaders are needed for workshops on many topics. Workshop leaders have their registration costs paid for the conference. Contact Eileen Best (ebest@lakemichiganpresbytery.org) for more information. |
Being Reformed
Being Reformed is the new adult curriculum from "We Beleive." This series of six session mini-courses is written by well-known scholars of the reformed faith and can be adapted to many sitiuations. Four new studies have just been published--
Wisdom from the Early Church
Stewardship of Creation
A Brief Statement of Faith
Recognizing God's Grace
Each study has a leader and participant guide. Five additional studies are also available. Copies are available to preview from the Resource Center.
|
Youth Events -
- SnowFest - February 18-20, 2011; First Presbyterian Church, Cadillac; Contact: Don Phillips (presbyeducator@sbcglobal.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
- Alma Youth Mix - March 11-13, 2011. Visit the Youth Mix website (http://www.almayouthmix.com) for more information.
- Junior High SERVE Week - June 19 - 24, 2011. Camp Greenwood. The speaker will be Jonathan Kraker, Youth Pastor at Centerpointe Church in Kalamazoo with music provided by Bryan Kelly, Youth Pastor at 3rd CRC in Kalamazoo. Check out the early bird price of $225 by January 1. For further information check us out at Camp Greenwood
- Senior High SERVE Week - July 11 - 16, 2011. Camp Greenwood. The speaker will be Jonathan Kraker, Youth Pastor at Centerpointe Church in Kalamazoo with music provided by Bryan Kelly, Youth Pastor at 3rd CRC in Kalamazoo. Check out the early bird price of $225 by January 1. For further information check us out at Camp Greenwood
For more information or to download a flyer click here - www.lakemichiganpresbytery.org/youth
|
Educator Fellowship Schedule - 2010-2011
An exciting year of Educator Fellowship gatherings is planned and I hope that you will put all of these dates on your calendar. Anyone who is involved in educational ministry in the church is welcome to attend. Making reservation or more information can always be found on the Presbytery of Lake Michigan website under the Shepherding Team - Educator Fellowship.
Tuesday, November 9, we will gather with the PALMS group (Presbyterian Association of Lake Michigan Secretaries) at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson (743 W. Michigan Ave.).
Thursday, January 13, 2011, we will meet from 10:00 to 2:00 pm at the presbytery office (1511 Helen Ave., Portage). Jane McGookey, the Communications Coordinator for the presbytery, will show us what is new in communications and technology and talk about the ethical implications for young people and families.
A Spring Retreat is being planned for May 5 to 6, 2011 at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. |
Communication Corner - Social Networks
The old has gone and the new is here - Social Networks! While the development of the first commercial website in 1996 really doesn't seem all that long ago but it pales in comparison with the websites of today. The latest innovation on the Internet is "social networking"; it has increased personal connectivity exponentially.
In a nutshell, an online social network includes any website that enables you to interact and share with others. These websites allow users to contribute content such as comments, photos, calendars, files, etc. The most popular platforms for social networking are Facebook.com, Twitter.com and Ning.com. Many social networks also allow the user to create a profile that contains information about the user (this is where privacy becomes a concern).
Simpler forms of social networking are discussion areas, forums, blogs and the nearly obsolete "bulletin board". These formats allowed for limited communication between users.
As you may know, the Presbytery of Lake Michigan provides a free basic website to any church in the presbytery. An example of this website can be found at samplechurchsite.wordpress.com . The United Presbyterian Church of Cassopolis took this basic site and has taken it to the next step. Visit cassopolis.wordpress.com to see how this congregation has taken a simple site and created a place where members can and do comment on all aspects of the church.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" -2 Corinthians 5:17
|
|
Opportunities
There are several ministry opportunities in Lake Michigan Presbytery which are NOT posted on the Congregational Leadership Connection site:
- Interim Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Coldwater
Please contact John Best, General Presbyter ASAP if you are interested or know of someone interested in knowing more about these positions.
Click here to see all opportunities available in the Presbytery.
Adult Choral Director
Pennfield Presbyterian Church, located at 7979 St Mary's Lk Rd / M-66, has
an immediate need for an organist/pianist and Adult Choral Director. The
church is a mature congregation that enjoys a balance of traditional hymns
and contemporary Praise and Worship choruses. The job would be 10 hours a
week to include a weekly choir rehearsal and 10:00AM Sunday AM services each
week. Any interested musicians may contact Pastor Doug Nettleton at the
church 269.965.8018.
Choir Robes -  The choir at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven, MI recently purchased new robes.
Our original robes are for sale....$100 for 47 of them, all laundered and packed in boxes. Please contact Barb Reed, choir member 616-502-7551 bobbie48@charter.net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
