An Irish Prayer
May God give you...For every storm, a rainbow,For every tear, a smile,For every care, a promise,And a blessing in each trial.For every problem life sends,A faithful friend to share,For every sigh, a sweet song,And an answer for each prayer.
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We Lift Up In Prayer...
New:
The Rev. Cathy Chang and family who moved to the Philippines last week to begin their onsite work as Mission Co-Workers.
Ongoing:
The Rev. Ken Hetzel (Pastor of Croswell-First) who is slowly returning to work as he recovers from a heart attack earlier this year. He and his family greatly appreciate all the prayers that have already come their way.
Ben Offrink, son of the Rev. Jim Offrink and Elder Sally Offrink continues to do well in his battle with cancer. It is still a challenging time for the entire family so continued prayers are appreciated. The Offrinks are very grateful for the support and love shown to them.
Michael and Rachel Ludwig, our Mission Co-Workers who are serving in Niger.
For those Teaching Elders (Ministers of Word and Sacrament) and Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs) who are celebrating Ordination or Commissioning Anniversaries in March and April:
The Rev. Kenneth Anderson (4/30) - Honorably Retired
Elder Henry Kubin (3/5) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Alma-Eastminster
Elder Mary Kubin (3/5) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Alma-Eastminster
Elder Liz Long (3/5) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Ithaca-Lafayette
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I have only a few personal items hanging on the walls of my office, among which are a painting by my daughter, a plaque awarded me for service to the General Assembly, a lithograph made by a favorite confirmand, and a cross given me by ruling elder Russ Skinner, a friend and moderator of my former presbytery.
There are aspects to this cross that make it unique and deeply meaningful to me. The picture may be hard to see online, but you might notice that it is an imperfect creation. Russ followed the wood's natural pattern so that it dips and twists. And though it is an empty cross, not a crucifix, the twisted wood reminds me of the twisted form of the One who hung on it, and of our own imperfections which he took upon himself as he suffered and died. Of him Isaiah wrote,
He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering - and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces-
he was despised, and we held him of no account.
Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed. (Isa. 53:3-5)
But there is more to this cross than its unique workmanship. It was fashioned out of "beetle-kill pine" - reclaimed from one of the thousands of lodgepole pine trees in Colorado that succumbed to an infestation of mountain pine beetles. So, even the wood itself is a symbol of resurrection. Russ did for the wood what God does for us: takes what is dead or dying, imperfect or ugly, overlooked or discarded, and turns it into a thing of beauty with meaning and purpose. It's what Russ humbly shares as his own story, a life reclaimed from alcoholism who has helped dozens of others find new hope and a new life.
Without the cross, there is no resurrection. And without Easter, Good Friday is just a cruel joke. But thanks be to God who in Christ freely accepted the worst of human cruelty, and in so doing fully identifies with all who suffer; who in forgiving his executioners, forgives even our worst sins; and by whose resurrection, has conquered even death itself, and invites us all to partake of the new creation he has begun. Alleluia!
Dan Saperstein
Executive Presbyter
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Presbytery Minutes Available
The minutes, feedback responses and the Intergenerational Ministry information from the March 1st stated meeting are now available on the Presbytery Meetings page of our website.
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The Presbytery office has scheduled Shred Experts to do some shredding. Due to the cost, the truck will not be scheduled to sit in the Presbytery parking lot. Shred Experts will drop off 3 large containers on May 4, 2016. They will then come back on May 5, 2016 between 1 pm and 3 pm to pick up those containers and shred the documents on site before they leave. Anyone wishing to have some shredding done is welcome to drop stuff off to the Presbytery on May 4 during normal business hours. Please do not bring stuff ahead of time. We have limited storage space. Any questions please call Stephanie Cervini at 989-799-7481 ext. 3.
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2016-2017 Planning Calendars
The Presbytery Office will place a bulk order for the 2016-2017 Presbyterian Planning Calendar for individuals and churches. If the calendars arrive in time, they will be available for pick-up at the June 7th Presbytery meeting at the First Presbyterian Church, Cass City. Otherwise, they can be picked up at the Presbytery office.
Cost per calendar is $8.75. All orders must be pre-paid. Please click here for the order form. Make checks payable to the Presbytery of Lake Huron.
Orders must be placed with the Presbytery Office by May 12, 2016! No cancellations after May 12, 2016! Mail form and your check to: Presbytery of Lake Huron, P.O. Box 6129, Saginaw, MI 48608-6129.
Contact Rose Onan at [email protected] or 989-799-7481 x6 with any questions.
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Cathy Chang and Juan Lopez
The Chang-Lopez family have arrived in Manila! You can follow their mission work on their blog or on their Mission Connections page on the PC(USA) website.
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Saginaw-Second
Second Presbyterian Church, located at 2665 Midland Road, in Saginaw Township will host a Fish Fry on Friday, March 18, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The dinner includes all you can eat fish (fried pollock), coleslaw, potatoes, bread, beverage, and dessert. Cost is $10.00 adults, $4.00 children 5-11, free for children younger than 5. Take-Outs are available for $9.00.
A Bake Sale also takes place during the event. Come early to find your favorite cookies, breads, brownies, etc!
Questions can be directed to Second Presbyterian Church at (989) 792-1023.
You can visit our event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1701508576792419/ and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spcsaginaw
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Birch Run-Taymouth
Birch Run-Taymouth, located at 12517 Morseville Road, in Birch Run will host a Fish Fry on Friday, March 18, 2016 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The meal includes: fish, coleslaw, potatoes, bread, beverage, and dessert. Cost is $10.00 adults for dine-in or $9.00 for take out; $5.00 children 6-12, free for children younger than 5.
Questions can be directed to Taymouth Presbyterian Church at (989) 624-9473.
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| Continuing Ed Opportunities |
Transitional Ministry Training
When
Monday April 25, 2016 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM EDT
Where
The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood
260 McDougall Ave.
Detroit, MI 48207
What the Trash Collector Knows about Transitional Ministry
We all know that vibrant ministry happens outside the church, as well as inside. We all know we should be involved in our neighborhoods. But how do we make time to get out the door when there's so much to do inside the church? How do we take the pulse of the neighborhood, get to know key leaders and figure out how to serve our neighborhoods?
Scott Lumsden picks up our questions on the church steps, and takes us through our neighborhoods, offering practical tools for connecting with our neighbors. He will help us with the interim task of reaffirming our church's identity, which includes our neighbors as well as our members. Scott will offer hands-on, practical wisdom for anyone in transitional ministry (which is everyone, really...)
The Rev. Scott Lumsden is the Executive Presbyter of Seattle Presbytery. He has served in a number of interim positions and currently leads Transitional Ministry Workshops at Menucha Retreat & Conference Center in Portland, OR. He has also led similar workshops in Seattle and Princeton Theological Seminary. Scott's ministry emphases are in the areas congregational leadership & renewal, transitions, and conflict resolution. Rev. Lumsden has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Literature from Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
The Committee on Ministry requests that all interim and transitional pastors attend this event. This workshop replaces our spring gathering.
Cost: $25. This includes refreshments, lunch, and materials.
Please contact me if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Mary Austin
Presbytery Of Detroit Committee on Ministry
313-341-2697 ext. 302
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White Privilege Conference
Are you a European American Presbyterian committed to intercultural ministries and racial justice? Do you want to learn more about how you can end institutional racism in your lifetime? Are you in a congregation or organization where you can share information and engage in conversations?
Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries in the Presbyterian Mission Agency has limited scholarships on a first-come first-serve basis for the White Privilege Conference, April 14-17, 2016, at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Philadelphia. to cover the registration fee of $375 and hotel accommodations for 3 nights at the rate of $169. Deadline to apply for scholarships is March 15, 2016.
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Presbyterian Women of Lake Huron Presbytery
Presbyterian Women have been giving for more than two hundred years of their time, talent and treasure to needs for which we are called. Presbyterian Women in congregations, presbyteries, synod and churchwide are bound by our purpose:
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves
- to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
- to support the mission of the church worldwide,
- to work for justice and peace, and
- to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.) and witness to the promise of God's kingdom.
The Lake Huron Presbyterian Women continue the tradition of mission in their various congregations and at the presbytery and synod levels. The PW Coordinating Team continues to work to be supportive to all women and men of the Lake Huron Presbytery. At our last meeting on February 18, 2016 we made plans for our yearly Fall Gathering. The Fall Gathering will be held on October 8, 2016. Pastor Shimon Pak graciously agreed to host the gathering at Korean Presbyterian Church of Saginaw. The theme for the occasion is "All God's Children". Everyone (male and female) is welcome.
Upcoming meetings for the PW Coordinating Team in 2016 are April 21, June 16, and August 18. Our meetings will be held at the Presbytery Office at 5560 McCarty Road in Saginaw, Michigan 10:00 AM. Feel free to come to join us.
Dates to Remember
CELEBRATING THE GIFTS OF WOMEN Weekend
March 5 at 10:00-11:30 AM/March 6 Worship Service at 10:00 am
Guest Speaker: Rev. Darcia R.Parham
Trinity United in Flint
- Baby Shower at Beaverton June 2, 2016 at noon
- Synod of the Covenant Presbyterian Women 2016 Gathering
June 10-11, 2016
First Presbyterian Church, 2330 S. Main St. Findlay, Ohio 45840
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Here are links to articles that we hope you will enjoy and perhaps spend some time discussing them with others:
Your church bulletin is one of the most underrated, yet important weapons in your communications arsenal. Used well it can be a weapon for good. Used badly it can be a weapon of mass distraction-a.k.a. the doodle sheet while the preacher speaks (I'm sure that never happens in your church). The church bulletin is like a Swiss army knife-a really useful tool that can do many different things. Here are seven bulletin tips that may help you refocus and relaunch your bulletin to become that effective tool that it once was.
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Picture this with me. You're about to post something new on your ministry's social media channels. Are you picturing it? Great. You frame your image beautifully. You add a sweet filter. You spend ten minutes crafting the perfect caption. You press POST. And then you wait for your first like. If you're like most of us, you know what it's like to have a post on social media totally bomb. Two likes. A total reach of five people. One solitary heart (and it was from your mom).
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New forms of communication are being birthed all the time. No doubt these tools have impacted ministry, and continue to challenge how ministry and communication evolve in our modern world. But it is also true that the more things change the more they stay the same. Often older forms of communication can have a great impact in ministry because people either forget about them or find them to be stirring or more personable than the latest fads or alternatives. Consider, for example, the telephone. Here are three simple ideas using the telephone that can have an enormous impact in a texting and twitter world.
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"I have an idea." These four words may be the most powerful four words in our language. But what makes an idea good instead of crazy? And is a crazy idea a bad idea? I think we have so many descriptors that we place before the word "idea" that we don't even know what is what anymore. As a creative leader, I am on the never-ending hunt for both crazy and awesome ideas. Sometimes both are the same thing. As a rule, however, I think that most of us are afraid of crazy ideas.
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NOTE: The articles listed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of or intended to be an endorsement by the Presbytery of Lake Huron but are shared to encourage discussion of various topics.
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 Connect With Other Churches In The Lake Huron Presbytery
There are so many wonderful things going on in all of our congregations. Several of our churches have set up Facebook pages to help spread the good news not only to their members but to all who may be interested. Liking other church Facebook pages is a great way to connect with others in the presbytery and to share ideas with each other. Here are some of the churches that have Facebook pages:
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 'Like' Us On Facebook
The presbytery has a Facebook page and would like you to join us. Get updates and information faster. Connect with others to share ideas and to post information about events happening in your congregation. Join us today!
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Staci Percy
Communications Manager/Recording Clerk
[email protected]
989-799-7481 x2
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About the
Bi-Weekly Brief
Hundreds of elders, educators, and church leaders read the Presbytery of Lake Huron's email sent out every other week.
You can reissue or modify this content for your own church bulletin or newsletter, without crediting the Bi-Weekly Brief, but please credit any organizations, photographers, etc, that we credited.
NOTE: The Presbytery of Lake Huron retains permission to modify submissions for clarity and length. Inclusion of an item in the Bi-Weekly Brief means that we think it's interesting and/or important, and does not constitute an endorsement of its point of view or its journalistic accuracy.
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Commission on Preparation for Ministry
March 16
10:00 am
Office Closed in Observance of Good Friday March 25
Commission on Ministry - Outreach and Admin Team April 5 10:00 am
Coordinating Team April 6 10:00 am
Nominating Team
April 11
10:00 am
Trustees
April 19
1:00 pm
Commission on Preparation for Ministry April 20 10:00 am
Presbyterian Women April 21 10:00 am
Personnel Team April 25 10:00 am
Commission on Ministry - Full Team April 27 11:00 am
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Details on these meetings can be found on the presbytery's website on the calendar.
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