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 Keeping Up With
Savannah Presbytery
"REACHING BEYOND OURSELVES"
MARCH 15, 2010
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UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINESMontreat Middle School Conference Registration Deadline
Monday, March 15
Presbytery Staff Meeting
Tuesday, March 16, 10:00 AM, Presbytery Office
Clergy Colleague Support Group
Thursday, March 18, Fraser Center, Hinesville
General Assembly Commissioner Training
Saturday, March 20, 10:00 AM, Northminster PC in Macon
Presbytery Staff Meeting
Tuesday, March 23, 10:00 AM, Presbytery Office Presbytery Staff MeetingTuesday, March 30, 10:00 AM, Presbytery Office National Youth Triennium Registration DeadlineWednesday, March 31 M.K. Pentecost Ecology Grant Application DeadlineThursday, April 1 (must be in hand by close of business) Presbytery Office Closed Good Friday, April 2 Presbytery Staff MeetingTuesday, April 6, 10:00 AM, Presbytery Office Education & Training Team MeetingTuesday, April 13, 10:00 AM, Richmond Hill PC Committee on Ministry MeetingTuesday, April 13, 1:00 PM, Presbytery Office Clergy Colleague Support GroupThursday, April 15, Fraser Center, Hinesville Click Here to see the Savannah Presbytery calendar online. |
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GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR PRESBYTERY
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GET CONNECTED TO YOUR DENOMINATION
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WHERE IS THE GP?
Ken's Comings & Goings
Ken McKenzie can usually be found in the office Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. When he's not there, he will be...
March 20
GA Commissioner Training in Macon
April 1
Monthly Pastor Lunch at First PC Savannah
April 19-21
Clergy/Educator Retreat in Little Ocmulgee State Park
April 21-22
Board of Pensions Regional Conference in Tampa, FL
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APRIL MONTREAT SEMINARS & CONFERENCES
Solo to Multi-Staff Pastor, April 11-16
For pastors
considering a move to a congregation with pastoral and program staff
Spring Spiritual Formation,
April 15-18
Retreat For
all who wish to explore the spiritualities of creation
Arts & Sabbath, April 18-23
For anyone seeking
Sabbath time and exposure to an art form - no experience necessary
Healthy Congregations™ Facilitator
Training, April 19-21
For leaders using "Family Systems Theory"
Montreat Conference Registration/Info
Also check out...
North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy
April 14-16, 2010Sheraton Hotel, Downtown, Indianapolis, IN "Faith...Generosity: Connecting the Dots" for pastors and church leaders engaged in stewardship ministry. Registration/Info
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Need to Contact Us? Contact information for the Savannah Presbytery Office & Staff is listed at the bottom of this e-newsletter.
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CAMP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Even the adults have fun at summer camp!
We are currently looking for adult cabin counselors. As a cabin counselor, you will stay with an assigned group of campers in
the cabins and act as the cabin parent. You will get to know your campers, play with them, pray with them, You will be supported by a junior leader counselor, who will assist you during the day and stay in the cabin at night.
Savannah
Presbytery relies on volunteers to staff all of our camps. Our
directors, camp nurse, craft leaders, and cabin parents are
volunteers. Without their dedication to our youth and children,
we could not provide a summer camping program.
This year's camp dates are June 21-26, and are broken up into four different camps according to age, with some being shorter than others. Even if you can't stay the whole week, we can find a place for you. Your lodging and meals will be provided, so other than the gas to drive, there is no cast to you!
If you would like to take this great opportunity to have fun and while impacting young people's lives,
contact Lou Ellen Hartley at 912-264-1997 or by EMAIL.
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EARTH SUNDAY RESOURCES AVAILABLE!
Savannah Presbytery has free online resources!
 The Presbytery Office has created resources for your church to use on Earth Sunday. You can download and print them for free, or if you need or want to, you can order full color version printed on glossy paper at a small cost. To view or download these resources, CLICK HERE.
Churches are encouraged to participate on or around April 18th. We are also asking our churches to take up an optional offering to benefit the new Savannah Presbytery Environmental Justice Fund.
We have more information and resources on our website on the Earth Sunday page. We would love the hear how your church participated and see pictures so we can share with the presbytery the good things that are going on. Send info and pics to Tavia Harrison.
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Interesting facts and information for churches.
GAMBLING AS A FUNDRAISER
Churches often have fund raising events that involve games of chance such as raffles, bingo, card games, etc. Games of chance can also be referred to as gambling, which is illegal in most states. However, some forms of these games are protected as fundraisers for churches and non-profits, though the laws vary for each state.
Georgia law allows charities (i.e. churches) to conduct bingo and
raffles, but casino style gambling, poker tournaments, and sports betting pools are not provided for. There are separate laws concerning raffles and bingo; CLICK HERE to find links with the full text of both laws.
Because gambling fundraisers are so common, many states do not choose to prosecute churches and non-profits who hold these events, as long as all bets collected are distributed, and no cut is taken for the the person or persons conducting the event. However, choosing to use an illegal gambling method always puts the organization at risk if an authority decides to pursue the issue.
When your fund raising event involves gambling, make sure everyone involved is fully aware of the law and its implications before a decision is made to hold the event.
"Did You Know" will now be in each e-newsletter, and will provide helpful information and facts regarding everyday church issues. If your church is looking for information on a specific issue, or has something that might be of use in this column, contact Tavia Harrison.
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PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH TRIENNIUM
Is This Your Time?
by Rachel Miles
Faith PC Youth Member &
PYT Planning Team Member
Do you feel like this is your time to
experience worship in ways you'd never imagined? Maybe it is your time
to fellowship with thousands of other Christians on a beautiful college
campus? Or maybe you just feel like you are ready to experience God in
new ways?
"For Such A Time As This" is the theme
for the 2010 Presbyterian Youth Triennium. Scripture in Ecclesiastes
says there is a time for every purpose under heaven. At the 2010 PYT,
there will be a time to worship with thousands of other Christians and
a time to learn and study with others in small groups. There will be a
time for us to see how the church of ancient times can transcend into
our modern era with the same relevance...
To read the rest of the article, and get more information about the PYT, including the registration brochure, CLICK HERE. Registration deadline is March 31.
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NEWS FROM AROUND SAVANNAH PRESBYTERY
First Darien Holds Kirkin' Event in Tandem with Scottish Heritage Day at Fort King George. All are invited to attend First Darien's Kirkin' o' the Tartans Worship Service on Sunday, March 21 at the 11:00 AM. This event is held in tandem with Fort King George's 2010 Scottish Heritage Day, which is Saturday, March 20. Steve Smith, Site Supervisor at the Fort will give a presentation at FPC's Kirkin' Service. For more information on FPC's service, call 912-437-3006 or EMAIL. For more information on the Fort events the day before, visit their website.
Clergy/Educator Retreat Coming Up! This year's retreat will be April 19-21 at Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae, GA. It will feature a study of Jesus' Parables of Discipleship by James W. Moore, a book that is FREE with your paid registration. Register by March 25th, and you will receive the Early Bird Discount of $10 off the regular registration price. Click the following links for more information:
Brochure Registration Form
Clerks of Session! Fill out this form! In the fall, you received a request to fill out the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire. To date, 6,501 CAQs have been filled out online, and some forms have also been
mailed in, and we are so very thankful for those who have participated so far. However, we need to have every PC(USA)
congregation complete this form, because the results will be most useful to the
denomination if all congregations take part. If you have not participated, you can complete the form online by CLICKING HERE. You will need your church's PIN and Password to begin, which you can get by contacting the presbytery office, where you can also request a paper form if you can't do it online. Thanks for helping out your denomination by filling out the CAQ!
Stated Meeting Minutes. The minutes from the Winter Stated Meeting, which was held February 19, will be available online by Friday, March 19. You can download, save, and/or print them from our website at www.savannahpresbytery.org. If you would like a paper or CD copy of the minutes sent to you, please contact Tavia Harrison.
Prayer Concerns. Please keep the
following people and churches in your prayers:
-- Those in our presbytery experiencing health concerns or loss: Nettie Drew, Executive Director of Swainsboro Presbyterian Apartments; Rev. Don Fehr, Honorably Retired Minister Member
-- Earthquake victims in Haiti, Chile, and Turkey
And Don't Forget -
- Efforts Continue in Haiti. PDA and other organizations are still helping with
recovery efforts for victims of the January 12 earthquake. There is so
much you can still do! For more information, CLICK HERE.
- The Fraser Center is offering a workshop on Grief Training for professionals who may
often feel ill-prepared to provide effective care throughout the grief
process. The registration deadline is April 16. CLICK HERE.
- Help Needed for Building Project at Swainsboro Presbyterian Apartments. The
Men at White Bluff PC building a deck at the SPA. They will work on it Saturdays starting
March 20, 2010. They are looking for additional help, so if you are willing to pitch in,
please contact Karl Branch at
912-925-7441.
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GOINGS ON IN THE DENOMINATION
Heaven on Earth: An Agrarian Road Trip to the U.S. Social Forum, June 13-26, 2010. Heaven on Earth is a road trip to the U.S.
Social Forum organized by the Presbyterian Hunger Program. We will
travel through several states making stops along the way to visit local
food and food justice projects. The trip will celebrate the
decentralized, grassroots sustainable food and agricultural revolution
that is sprouting up everywhere. Presbyterians and non-Presbyterians alike are
encouraged to come. There will be a group of bloggers, photographers,
activists, videographers, song writer/musicians, professionals,
journalists and young adults along for the ride. Get more information or sign up at www.pcusa.org/hunger/roadtrip.
One Great Hour of Sharing. Many churches participate in this offering on Easter or Palm Sundays, or all throughout Lent. The money collected through the OGHS Offering is used to support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance
and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge,
start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities. To find out how your church can participate, visit www.pcusa.org/oghs.
SPDA Working in Haiti, Chile, and in the US. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working in recovery and rebuilding efforts in Haiti and Chile, two countries recently struck by devastating earthquakes. They are also helping in rebuilding efforts following flooding in Iowa, and are searching for volunteers to work in the Hurricane Ike clean up still going on in Texas. Visit the PDA website to see more information on these and other efforts going on nationally and internationally, donate, find resources and more.
Don't forget PNS! The Presbyterian News Service keeps you up to date on the latest news in the denomination and in the nation as it affects the PC(USA), your church, and you. Visit www.pcusa.org/pcnews to see what's happening, and you can also find directions there to add their news feed to your church's website.
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CONTACT US
Savannah Presbytery
3590 Darien Highway, Suite 8, Brunswick, GA 31525
Office: 912-264-1997 Fax: 912-262-6815
home@savannahpresbytery.org
www.savannahpresbytery.org
Ken McKenzie, General Presbyter
kmckenzie@savannahpresbytery.org
Russell Gladding, Stated Clerk/Treasurer
rgladding@savannahpresbytery.org
Lynn Garis, Associate Presbyter for Laity & Coordinator for the M.K. Pentecost Ecology Fund Committee
lgaris@savannahpresbytery.org
Lou Ellen Hartley, Associate Presbyter for Christian Education lehartley@savannahpresbytery.org
Tavia Harrison, Communications & Presbytery Support Coordinator
tharrison@savannahpresbytery.org
Liz Richardson, Business Manager
lrichardson@savannahpresbytery.org
Savannah Presbytery and the Resource Center are open Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 5 PM, and Friday 9 AM - 1 PM.
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