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.
- We pray for Elder Jerry McKinney (Westminster-Minneapolis) who is going through treatments for cancer.
- We give thanks new life: Teaching Elder Eily Marlow gave birth to Louise Elsbeth Wallraff on January 13. Please pray for the new family.
- We pray for Elder Ed Cunnington (The House of Hope, St. Paul) who father, Ed Sr. died on January 23 at the age of 100.
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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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Why This? Why Now?
 By Chaz Ruark, Executive Presbyter
At our Presbytery meeting of January 14th, we got a look at the draft of a "Gracious Separation" policy for Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. This document is a work in progress. It was crafted by an excellent Task Force comprising of; the Rev Sheila Gustafson, the Rev. David Lenz; ruling elders; Gordon Dosher, Vince Gin, and Pam Van Gorham; and staffed by Stated Clerk Nancy Grittman and myself.
Over the next 7 weeks we are asking presbyters to assist in the final edition by commenting through our email address graciousseparation@ptcaweb.org, by contacting a Council member directly, see the Gray Directory on the website, or by attending an open forum meeting, currently scheduled for Saturday, February 4th at House of Hope in St. Paul and Saturday, February 11th at First Presbyterian in Rochester from 10 am to noon. A midweek gathering is scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at the Minnesota Church Center (122 W. Franklin) in Minneapolis from 7PM-8:30PM. . I suspect the final draft will look very similar to the current version, but there could be some major points that were overlooked by the Task Force and the Council. Please supply your input so that we have a policy we can all affirm.
One question that comes up is; Why do we even need such a policy?
Keep reading...
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Amy Blumenshine, a nationally recognized speaker and writer on the concerns of returning military personnel and their families, will be the keynote speaker for a morning workshop at Community Presbyterian Church in Rochester on February 25, 2012 from 9:30-Noon. Although daily news stories report on the injuries and trauma experienced by veterans, most Americans are feeling little personal impact of our present wars. Many veterans and their families are paying a high price physically, spiritually, and mentally. For them, war is a "disability machine." Where is the church in this picture? Do we have a role? Are there ways we can reach out? Can we be a force for justice and healing? The workshop is sponsored by the PTCA Disability Concerns Ministry. A $5 donation is suggested. To register, send an email to: disabilityconcerns@ptcaweb.org. A flyer is available for distribution by clicking on the link below.
2012 Veterans Ministry Workshop Flyer |
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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 three public forums where people can discuss the policy draft. Here are the dates and locations: We would also like for you to share your concerns and questions electronically. Send them to graciousseparation@ptcaweb.org, or 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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The staff of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area would like to welcome you to an Open House at the recently remodeled Presbytery office at 122 W. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis on Thursday, February 9 from 4PM-6:30PM. The event is a chance for Presbyterians near and far as well as our ecumenical friends to see our new-old space and to meet the Presbytery staff. Appetizers will be served. Hope to see you then!
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Around the Presbytery
Sister Helen Prejean at House of Hope: Sister Helen Prejean is an anti-death penalty activist, the author of the nonfiction best-seller Dead Man Walking and the inspiration for the Academy Award-winning movie of the same name will be speaking at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul at 2PM. Sister Helen has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on the death penalty. She travels around the world giving talks about her ministry. Keep reading... Save March 31: Six PTCA congregations in the North Metro area are sponsoring the Presbyterian Partnership Workshop, a Saturday morning event focused on Networking, Collaboration and Cost Savings. It will take place Saturday, March 31 from 9AM-Noon at First Presbyterian in White Bear Lake. There will be workshops on church communication, building management, mission and Christian Education. More information will be shared in the very near future. 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 .Common Prayer: As many of you know, the staff of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area gathers daily for prayer and devotions. Join us every Tuesday at 10AM to pray! Called "Common Prayer" we will come together as we discern God's message for us and lift each other and the whole world in prayer. Join us at the Presbytery office for Common Prayer, January 17 at 10AM. We are located at 122 W. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. 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 31: Common Prayer, Presbytery Office, Minneapolis
January 31: Forum on Bullying, St. Luke Presbyterian Church, Minnetonka
Find out about other events taking place in our presbytery by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/events.
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