2012 Presbytery Meetings
January 14- Arlington Hills PC, St. Paul
March 10- Oak Grove PC , Bloomington
May 8-First Presbyterian, Rochester
July 10- First Presbyterian, Hudson, WI
September 11- First Presbyterian, Shakopee
November 13-tba
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Prayer Requests
Each week we pray for a ministry or ministers in the PTCA. Click on the button below to find who we are praying for this week.
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If you have a prayer concern you'd like to share with the wider Presbytery, please contact us by email at communications@ptcaweb.org .
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January 2012 Presbytery Meeting Highlights
 The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area met in regular stated meeting on Saturday, January 14, 2012, in the sanctuary of Arlington Hills Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. The theme for the first meeting of the new year was, "Consistently acknowledge, confess, lament and celebrate" one several guidelines outlined in the PTCA Strategic Plan. The Presbytery had a number of major issues to contend with, including the election of Commissioners to the 220th General Assembly in Pittsburgh, approval of an Overture to the PC(USA) General Assembly, and the release of the Gracious Separation Policy Draft.
Keep reading...
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Does your congregation have an idea for a mission or ministry, but can't do it for lack of money?
The 2012 Mission and Witness Grants are now available to help congregations in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area engage in ministries of justice and care. You can find out more about this year's grants or fill out the grant application by going to the Grants Page at the Mission and Witness website. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2012. Any questions should be directed to committee chair, Rev. Teresa Roberts at mission@ptcaweb.org.
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A draft version of the Presbytery's Gracious Separation policy was presented at the January 2012 Stated Meeting on January 14.
A version is available for download at the end of this note. A final version of the document will come before the Presbytery at the March 2012 meeting.
Between now and March, the Presbytery Council would like to get opinions from the wider Presbytery. There will be at least two and possibly three public forums where people can discuss the policy draft. The first forum will take place February 4 at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul with the second happening on February 11 at First Presbyterian in Rochester. (A third, midweek event is being planned at this time. We will share that location when it becomes available.) We would also like for you to share your concerns and questions electronically. Send them to graciousseparation@ptcaweb.org. You can also share your views at the Presbytery website by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/gracious-separation. Please remember to keep your comments civil and respectful. We look forward to hearing from you!
Gracious Separation Policy Draft |
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J. Herbert Nelson, the Director of the Office of Public Witness in the Presbyterian Church (USA) will be in Minnesota the weekend of January 20-22 to talk about the work of the Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC and how Presbyterians and the wider Church must live out its public calling.
The first event is a discussion at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville on January 20 from 1-3PM. On January 21 he will take part in the Annual Martin Lutheran King Celebration sponsored by Kwanzaa Community Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis. The event will be held at Kwanzaa Presbyterian, 3700 Bryant Avenue North in Minneapolis starting at 10AM. Finally, Nelson will preach at Westminster Presbyterian on Sunday, January 22 Nelson will take part in the 8:30 and 10:30 worship services at Westminster and preach at Kwanzaa. Below are the links to the January 20 and 21 events. |
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Around the Presbytery
Comfort Quilts Needed at HCMC: The Spiritual Care Department at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis is seeking churches to partner with us in providing "Comfort Quilts" to patients who are in the process of dying at the hospital. Because HCMC is a Level One Trauma Center as well as Minnesota's "safety net" hospital, often serving a very vulnerable population, the Chaplains encounter many situations in which a comfort quilt can humanize and bless the dying process for the more than 400 patients who die at HCMC each year. Providing the quilts is a tangible sign of the love and hospitality of God which knows no boundaries. Our need is for twin bed-sized quilts, especially of the "tie-quilt" variety. We are looking for ones designed tastefully; neutral colors are always good. Should your church be able to assist us in this ministry of compassionate care, please contact Chaplain David Hottinger at 612-873-9159 or david.hottinger@hcmed.org.
Interested in a Conference or Workshop, but don't have the money? The Mission and Witness Committee of the PTCA is ready to help! A new streamlined 2012 Application for Scholarships to Conferences in the areas of Peace and Justice, Missions, Education, Disability Ministry and Leadership Development, is available online throughout the year. You can fill out the application online by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/presbyteryforms. Don't Forget to File a Report! It's the end of the year, which means it's time to fill out congregational reports. The following forms are due January 31, 2012: the Necrology Form, Members of Session Form, Presbytery Commissioners Form, Current Clerk of Session Form and Terms of Call Form. All the forms can be filled out online and are available at the Presbytery's Form page .Read Dr. Margaret Aymer's Sermon: If you weren't able to attend the January Presbytery Meeting and hear Dr. Margaret Aymer, you can read the text the sermon by going to Dr. Aymer's Posterous page. Read on...
Alika Galloway Keynote at Day on the Hill: "And What Does the Lord Require?" is the theme of the 2012 Day on the Hill, sponsored by the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, March 20, 2012 in St. Paul. Join Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims at the State Capitol to publicly speak together to the legislature about key issues before our state. JRLC Day on the Hill is one of the largest lobby days at the Capitol each year - don't miss it. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Alika Galloway, co-pastor of Kwanzaa Community Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Register online at www.jrlc.org. Read on...Forum on Bullying: St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka will host a discussion on bullying - how to recognize it and how to help prevent it - on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. The discussion will include a video by renowned author Jonathan Odell, who has worked with staff and students in the Anoka-Hennepin school system to stop bullying; and a panel, including a Hopkins student representing the Gay/Straight Alliance, a teacher from the Anoka school district; a St. Luke mother of a gay activist, and Pastor Brad Froslee of Calvary Lutheran Church. Read on... Discount on Alban Institute Books and Courses: Are you interested in purchasing a book or taking a class sponsored by the Alban Institute? The Presbytery has a membership which can offer a discount if the order is placed by the PTCA. For more information, please contact Stated Clerk Nancy Grittman at statedclerk@ptcaweb.org. Forum on Sex Trafficking @ Church of the Apostles: Monday, February 27, 2012 at 6:30PM. Panel Discussion on Human Trafficking in Minnesota hosted by iCAN and The Center for Wholeness at Presbyterian Church of the Apostles. Experts on the issue in Minnesota will discuss recent data on human trafficking in our community, legislation that has already been passed, and what needs to be done to end trafficking in our state. Read on... Congregational Ministry Seminar Scheduled for April: April 28, 2012; location to be determined. Please save the date for the one-day Our Ministry in a Changing World seminar for pastors and church leaders of all churches in the presbytery - an opportunity to help your church leadership recognize and realize your church's potential for ministry. More information to follow. Sponsored by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area.
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PTCA Event Calendar
January 24: Common Prayer, Presbytery Office, Minneapolis
January 25: Faith and Film, First Presbyterian Church, Hastings
Find out about other events taking place in our presbytery by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/events.
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