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 Ruling Elder Cindy Hanson (Edgcumbe Presbyterian, St. Paul) as she recovers from surgery and battles cancer.
• We continue to pray for the people of Duluth as they recover from major flooding in the city.  
• We pray for the people of Colorado Springs, as they deal with forest fires.
• We pray for the family of Honorably Retired Teaching Elder Edna Mae Carlson, who died on June 18.
• We pray for those attending the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Pittsburgh, PA June 30-July 7.  Among those attending include GA Commissioners Teaching Elders William Davnie (Stated Clerk), Don Genereaux (First, Belle Plaine), Joann Lee (The House of Hope, St. Paul), Stan Martin (Vice Moderator, Peace-St. Louis Park) and Ruling Elders Jerry Ganfield (Associated, Owatonna), Paul Harkness (Community, Rochester), Barbara Lutter (Moderator, Arlington HIlls, St. Paul), Katherine Martin (Westminster, Minneapolis) and Young Adult Advisory Delegate Rachel Hagen (Plymouth, Plymouth).  Also attending will be Executive Presbyter Chaz Ruark.  We pray for safe travels and for hearts open to discernment.    
• We continue to pray for those who are experiencing illness at this time including Dan Johnson (Teaching Elder, Honorably Retired), Joy Smith (Teaching Elder, Church of the Apostles), Ward Sessing (Ruling Elder, Church of the Way),Larry Patee (Ruling Elder, Buffalo), Mary McNamara (Teaching Elder, Honorably Retired and Tim Held (Teaching Elder, Honorably Retired).  

The Gracious Separation Policy and Guidelines are now available.  You can go to our Policies Page on the PTCA website or download them by clicking the links below .      

Gracious Separation Policy

Gracious Separation Guidelines    

Also, please remember the date of the July Presbytery Meeting has been changed to Tuesday, July 17.  

Finally, the minutes from the June 12 Adjourned Meeting are now online.    

Every year the Self-Development of People Committee of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area gives  grants to organizations that are initiated by and for the  people in the geographic boundaries of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. The Committee for the Self-Development of People is eager to establish partnerships with groups who are oppressed by poverty or social systems and want to take charge and decide what to do to create systemic change. The deadline for applications for 2012 is August 24, 2012.   

You can download an application form either in Microsoft Word or in a PDF and email it to sdop@ptcaweb.org. Questions?  Please call Karen Kennerly at (651) 735-9691 or email the committee at sdop@ptcaweb.org. You can find out more about SDOP and to download the application  by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/sdop .          

Take the Clearwater Forest Survey: Have you been to Clearwater Forest lately?  What did you think of your experience?  The staff of the Presbyterian Camp/Conference facility would like to get your feedback on your stay and how this ministry can be improved.  Please consider taking an online survey and share your opinions.   

Sundaes on Wednesday: Chain of Lakes, the PTCA's New Church Development in Lino Lakes, had a successful launch of its new Wednesday evening service, "Sundaes on Wednesday," June 20.  Read Organizing Pastor Paul Moore's reflection on the first outing.  

Valley's Missional Meanderings in Millwaukee:  Sarah Bigwood, youth director at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley, shares the happenings of the Junior High Youth Mission Trip to Milwaukee on the Presbytery's Facebook Page: "Our Valley Community Presbyterian Church Junior High Missionaries. We traveled to the Presbytery of Milwaukee and worked with The Urban Ecology Center, a spectacular agency committed to introducing a green way of life to the city of Milwaukee. Our host church was wonderful! Thank you Apostle Presbyterian Church!"  

Get Involved in Mission in Uptown: Sarah also adds this about a local mission project youth (and adults) can get involved:  "I just visited Grace-Trinity Community Church, the church re-development going on in Uptown. The pastor, Dan Vigilante, is dynamic and fun! I'm excited to see what the congregation does with that church and their new start.

If you are looking for a great local mission project for your youth group, this church could use help with cleaning and painting. It is a great opportunity to gather your folks together this summer for a good cause and when you finish, Sabastian Joe's is just a few blocks down!"

If you are interested in participating in a local mission project, call Grace-Trinity at 612.872.8266.  

Just. Good. Food.  The Upper Midwest is an abundant source of food, but oftentimes the abundance overshadows the poverty and hunger that exist in this land of bounty.

   The upper Midwest synods of Lakes and Prairies, Lincoln Trails and Mid-America, along with the presbyteries in those synods, are developing a common mission initiative called "Just.Good.Food." that will address the issue of hunger.

   The initiative is an effort to help individual congregations collaborate with local organizations by growing and distributing food to those who do not have enough.  Keep reading... 

Find out about other events taking place in our presbytery by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org/calendar.