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 Hello Presbytery of Chicago,
On December 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Network Empowerment Work Group is hosting Mission 2010: Reaching Beyond. This event , which is also known as the Mission Fair, showcases mission in the Presbytery of Chicago from all three Mission Priority Leadership Teams. Mission 2010 will take place before the Presbytery Assembly at Christ Church of Oakbrook. Plan to come early to the Assembly so you have time to look at the displays, talk to the mission teams, and learn more about the covenant application process that provides support for the mission work through the Shared Mission giving of Presbytery of Chicago churches.
See you at Mission 2010: Reaching Beyond, Adele Hensley, Editor
Presbytery of Chicago 312-243-8300 ext. 1314 |
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The End Hunger and Homelessness Mission Team invites you to join them in a Canned Food Harvest at the December Presbytery Assembly.
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Calling all Clerks and Scribes!
If your congregation has not yet had its 2009 and earlier minutes read, bring them to the December 14, 2010 presbytery meeting. Starting at 10:30 a.m., members of the Constitutional Procedures Work Group will be reviewing minutes and answering questions. Come, get your old minutes read, and begin 2011 with a clean slate! For more information, contact the Stated Clerk, Barbara Bundick, bbundick@chicagopresbytery.org.
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Robert's Rules: Myths and Facts - A Periodic Commentary from your Stated Clerk
Many people associate Robert's Rules with rigid, excessively formal, bureaucratic maneuvering, in part because Robert's is often poorly understood and applied. Which is a pity. The primary purpose of Robert's Rules is to facilitate decision making that upholds the will of the majority while respecting the rights of the minority. If your session or committee is responsibly making good decisions, then there's probably something somewhere in Robert's that supports what you are doing.
For example, decision-making in large groups requires a certain degree of formality. Otherwise business would quickly bog down in confusion. One common error, though, is to assume that small groups have to follow all the same technical procedures as large ones. Not so. Per Roberts, in small groups of about a dozen people or fewer, informal discussion can take place when there is no motion on the floor; motions don't need to be seconded; indeed, if a proposal is sufficiently clear, a motion isn't needed at all! (However, do record the action correctly in your minutes.) Members don't have to be recognized before they speak; they can speak as often as they choose (or the group will tolerate); and the chair can participate as freely in discussion as anyone else. Yes, this is all legal. You can find it in Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 10th Edition, section 49, pages 470-71.
Robert's Rules is your friend. Use it wisely |
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What about that Video License?
Christian Video License, Incorporated (CVLI) has worked with this Presbytery for many years to help churches comply with copyright law when showing video in any form in the church. The CVLI License is not the only way a church can comply with the law, but it is a way that works and is relatively simple.
The Resource Center used to do all the paperwork associated with administering this license within the Presbytery of Chicago but two things have changed that. One is that my Parkinson's Disease is worse and that makes the license renewal process very hard for me. One is that the company has been moving toward working with churches individually for a couple of years. Unfortunately, the person who was pushing for that move died unexpectedly and many records were lost.
What does that mean for your church? Some of you have been contacted directly by CVLI and issued an invoice. If you have not received a letter from them and you wish to use their service, you will need to contact CVLI directly. The License Renewal Manager is Stephanie Maldonado and her phone number is 800-462-8855 ext. 3012.
Adele Hensley, Chicago Presbytery Resource Center |
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The Latin American Center at McCormick Theological  Seminary is co-sponsoring Hispanic Heritage Lecture Series. On December 4, Dr. Edwin Hernandez will give a report from the Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame entitled,
"Manos Sanadoras and Health:
The Health of Latino/a Churchgoers in Chicago and Health Outreach among Latino Congregations in Chicago."
For details, follow this link. |
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McCormick Theological Seminary and the Synod of Lincoln Trails are the co-sponsors of a Belhar Confession Workshop on December 4, 2010.
Designed in support of presbyteries and congregations of the synod and beyond, the workshop will give particular attention to the social and theological implications of the Belhar Confession for the North American church today and the ecclesial implications of its proposed inclusion in the PCUSA Book of Confessions.
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Partners for Sacred Places is sponsoring two workshops this month.
December 7 at 6:00 p.m. "The Bare Necessities of Life: Why Development is Fundamental for Congregations"
December 16 at 6:00 p.m. "No Fiddler on the Roof:
Identifying Typical Roofing Troubles for Sacred Places"
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Tax Tips from the Board of Pensions
The Board of Pensions year end webinar is full. They will make it available to watch after January 12, 2011. Meanwhile, they have compiled a page of helpful year-end resources. To see it, follow this link... . |
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 Hear Ye!! Hear Ye!!
This is the 13th year Community Presbyterian Church has celebrated the season with the Living Christmas Tree program. In addition to the Living Tree the Barrington Children's Choir will be performing. We are adding a Madrigal Dinner prior to the performance.
Both events will take place at Community Presbyterian Church located at 407 N. Main St (Rt 83 @ Gregory St) Mount Prospect on Fri Dec 10th through Sun Dec 12th. The dinner will take place at 5 PM and the performance at 7 PM.
The Madrigal Dinner will be catered by Mrs. P and Me, located in Mt. Prospect, and is
limited to 100 guests each evening. The King's banquet fare will include Turkey, potatoes, corn, carrots, squash, pie, and a beverage. Vouchers for the dinner are $17.00 per person which not only includes the dinner but reserved seating to the Living Christmas Tree performance.
This Yule Tide celebration will be open to families and friends across the land. Seating to the banquet is limited to 100 diners each evening so secure your vouchers soon.
For those that cannot join us for the feast you can still attend the Living Christmas Tree performance without charge.
For questions, please call 847 392-3111. |
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 Adopt-a-Family
The End Hunger and Homelessness Mission Team works closely with Facing Forward to End Homelessness. Facing Forward has a new Adopt-a-Family program. It takes them $12,000 to provide a homeless family a home and the tools they need to become independent for one year. Download this brochure to learn more... |
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Friends of Historic Second Church announce their Fourth Annual Christmas Card
This beautiful card, the fourth in our series featuring the art and architecture of Second Presbyterian Church, features a detail of the Peace Window, designed in 1903 by Tiffany Studios as a memorial to Silas and Maria Cobb.
$20 for a package of 10 cards with envelopes
Available in two styles:
With verse - Peace on Earth Goodwill Toward Men
OR without verse
Cards are available during normal tour times:
Wednesdays (2:00 - 4:00pm)
First and third Saturdays (11:00 - 1:00pm)
Every Sunday after service (12:00 noon)
Cards may also be ordered by mailing a check
made payable to "Friends of Historic Second Church" to:
Friends of Historic Second Church
1936 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
Please include $2.00 per package to cover shipping costs and indicate
if you wish to have cards with or without the verse.
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 Connect with Two Sets of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission Co-Workers on the Presbytery of Chicago Website
The Presbytery of Chicago currently has two sets of people who have been sent by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to serve as mission co-workers in Latin America. They have agreed to share their work with the Presbytery in their blogs:
Called to Colombia
This is the blog of two minister members of the Presbytery of Chicago, Rev. Mamie Broadhurst and Rev. Richard Williams. They serve as Pastoral Accompaniers for Human Rights and Displaced Persons with the Office of Diaconía of the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia. Richard and Mamie became mission co-workers in Colombia in 2009.
Guatemalan Journey
This is the blog of Andrew Berg and Margarita Valbuena. They are moving from Chicago to Guatemala in January of 2011 to be Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission co-workers for three years. They will be working as Intercultural Encounter Facilitators at CEDEPCA, an ecumenical not-for-profit.
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South Asian Presbyterian Church hosts their Annual Christmas Caroling December 11, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Deerfield.
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Presbytery of Chicago Educators
Presbytery of Chicago Educators are meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday December 14 at Clarendon Hills Community Presbyterian Church for an Advent Meditation Service.
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Pine Avenue United Church needs Musical Instruments for their Performing Arts Ministry.
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2011 Assembly Meeting Dates
It's time to look ahead to next year's Presbytery meeting schedule:
- February 15, 2011
4:00 pm at Palatine Presbyterian Church - April 12, 2011
1:00 pm at Chicago, First Presbyterian Church - June 21, 2011
4:00 pm at Chicago Heights, First Presbyterian Church - September 20, 2011
1:00 pm at Evanston, First Presbyterian Church - November 19, 2011
11:00 am at Wheaton, First Presbyterian Church
Please note several important changes ! First, in order to minimize snow days, and reduce the four month summer gap, we're meeting in SEPTEMBER and NOVEMBER rather than October and December. Second, the meetings are scheduled for the THIRD week, rather than the second, in order to avoid a conflict with Labor Day and to give our committees more breathing room around the Christmas/New Year's holidays.
We are aware that many sessions hold their regular meetings on the third Tuesday. If our schedule change creates problems for you, please let me know. We need your feedback so we can start scheduling 2012.
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2011 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. ACTS 2:42
11th Annual Chicagoland Ecumenical Prayer Service
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church
6700 W. Diversey Avenue, Chicago, 60607
Preacher: Bishop Wayne N. Miller - Metropolitan Chicago Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Sponsored by Ecumenism Metro Chicago
(formerly the Ecumenical Millennium Committee)
For more information, see the poster. |
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The Chicago and Blackhawk Middle School Retreat is just nine weeks away!!!
JOIN Key note speaker Rev. Julie Mercer-Kidd and Musician, Rev. John Lee for an outstanding weekend of learning, exploration and fellowship.
Julie joins us from Missouri and John will be coming in from Minnesota! Both are extraordinary leaders in the church!
The theme is: Jesus is Difficult! Registration is due to Beth Freese Dammers, Youth Consultant to the Chicago Presbytery, by Friday Jan 14. Please email her the church registration form. Bring your check and signed covenant and medical forms (one of each for every participant...youth and adult) to Registration on Friday night. Reminder: background checks on all adults must be completed prior to attendance at the retreat. You may download a brochure and registration materials at this link. |
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You are invited to join a Mission Trip to Ghana with First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights and Knox Presbyterian Church of Naperville July 25 - August 5, 2011.
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Applications are now being accepted for the 2011 entering class for ACTs D. Min. in Preaching Program. Final Deadline is January 31, 2011. Contact Marcy Miller, ACTS Doctor of Ministry Program Coordinator (mfmiller@mccormick.edu) or Martha Brown, Director of Doctor of Ministry Recruitment and Admissions (mbrown@mccormick.edu) for more information.
McCormick is also accepting applications for the June 2011 entering Cohort for the Doctor of Ministry Program with concentrations in Building Beloved Community, Parish Revitalization and Pastoral and Spiritual Care. The final deadline for applications is April 1, 2011. See www.mccormick.edu for more information or contact Martha Brown, Director of Doctor of Ministry Recruitment and Admissions (mbrown@mccormick.edu) for more information. |
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Desperate Housewives?: Engaging Tyrannical Texts. Frances Taylor Gench to Present Zenos Lectures, February 21, 2011 at McCormick Theological Seminary
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 March 5, 2011 L.E.A.D. 2011 - "Building on a Firm Foundation" |
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Links
Presbytery of Chicago
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This listing of upcoming events is sponsored by the Communications
Work Group of the
Presbytery of Chicago
Presbytery Council.
If you have submissions
for the Presbytery of
Chicago Preview, please send them to the Preview editor, Adele Hensley
Events in the near future will receive priority for publication. The next Preview will come out
December 13 with the Floor Paper announcement. The deadline for submissions is December 10.
Presbytery of Chicago
100 South Morgan St.
Chicago, Illinois 60607
312-243-8300 |
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2011 Presbytery of Chicago Clergy Retreat presents Dr. Kenneth E. Bailey, noted Presbyterian Middle Eastern New Testament Scholar
