Passage to Ponder -  Philippians 3:17-18

"Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears."    

Hunger in NW Indiana is a growing problem.  

Approximately 50% of the NW Indiana Food Bank's clients last year reported making choices between paying for utility bills and buying food.  

Additionally, in our county (Lake) there were 47,521 children receiving free or reduced cost lunches in 2011.  Understanding that our neighbors' hunger is our problem, too, Immanuel Presbyterian Church's committees and Session decided that we needed to do more to help.  

In 2012 a couple who recently had joined IPC and had home gardening experience coordinated the planting of a small garden. Church youth grew all of the plants from seeds donated by congregation members, another friend of the congregation helped the children grow herbs from seed, children and adults helped with the weeding and watering, and garden produce went to support hunger programs in the area.

This year, the same couple volunteered to coordinate the building, planting, maintenance and harvesting of an expanded garden with help from youth and adults in the congregation to support area hunger and food pantry programs.  Using two unrestricted memorial donations totaling $620, a 15'x30' garden was built by church volunteers and approximately 500 vegetable plants grown from seeds by our youth were added to the garden.  Two rain barrels to collect water that will flow to the garden through an underground hose to feed soaker hoses will be added later this summer.  

Members of area presbyterian churches have provided us with canning jars and lids, which we will use to teach church youth how to can some  of the produce from the youth garden.  The canned and fresh produce will be given to area hunger and feeding programs for donation to guests and clients.   

We also hope to sell homemade pickles to provide funding for the continued support of the youth garden project.

"Christianity is being concerned about your fellow man, not building a million-dollar church while people are starving right around the corner. Christ was a revolutionary person, out there where it was happening. That's what God is all about, and that's where I get my strength."

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Synod of Lincoln Trails

 Leadership Update  

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Resource Center

In Partnership with PWV

Congregational Resource Center 

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ALBAN WEEKLY

BEING THE CHURCH TODAY

by Steve Willis

Thank you for your ministry and your service... 

• July 11, 1965 - Rev. Ellis Gasser, Honorably Retired    
• July 12, 1959 - Rev. Ralph Smith, Honorably Retired
• July 13, 2003 - Rev. Laura Penney Bade, Pastor Thorntown Presbyterian Church
• July 15, 1990 - Rev. Catherine Moran, Minister Member at Large
• July 17, 1983 - Rev. Mark Morrison, Honorably Retired 

If you have been omitted or your information is incorrect please accept my apology. Help to update your records by sending your current information to vicki@ourpresbytery.org.   

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - Monday, August 12, 2013

Please use this guide to accompany the Malawi Matters teaching team volunteers in prayer during this journey:

• Deb Coe, Educator/Researcher (Crown Point, IN/Louisville, KY)
• Judy Friend, Teacher (Peru/Rochester, IN) 
• Toya Richards, Communications Specialist/Minister (Louisville, KY)
• Liz Rosencrantz, Business Manager (New Carlisle, IN)  
• Phyllis Wezeman, Author/Educator (Mishawaka, IN) 
• Dru Wrasse, Teacher (Buchanan, MI)

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE - As packing is completed, ask for God's blessings on the preparations that have been made in the United States as well as in Malawi and ask for God's guidance on the journey.

Malawi Matters Inc. is an organization dedicated to providing  

"Creative Methods of HIV and AIDS Education"  

One simple thing you can do to be a good steward for God of the earth during the dry months of summer is to use water conservatively by thinking creatively:  

1. Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. Use it to water your indoor plants or garden.
2. Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water to water plants/garden.
3. Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don't run tap water waiting for it to cool.
4. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator, or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
5. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternative way to dispose of food.
6. Don't let water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving.
7. Install water softening systems only when needed. Turn off softeners while vacationing.
8. If you have a well, check your pump periodically. If the pump kicks on and off while water is not being used, you have a leak.
9. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
10. Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches, or to its highest level. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture.
11. Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours. Use a bell timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off.
12. Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass and use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
13. Conserve water because it is the right thing to do - even when someone else is footing the bill, such as when you are staying at a hotel.

Small steps add up to big changes. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink. God made the earth and proclaimed it good. Take steps to act with God to preserve and further bless that goodness.                         From 50 Ways to Be Water Smart  

By Erin Dunigan

CAIRO

On a recent solidarity visit to the Synod of the Nile, the PC(USA)'s partner church in Egypt, a delegation including Moderator Neal Presa, had the opportunity to meet with Egyptian brothers and sisters and to hear their stories. This is one story in an ongoing series.

"Yesterday was like a sports crowd after a momentous, come-from-behind victory; the throng in Tahrir Square, Itehadeya Palace and all over Egypt seemed unable to stop celebrating its success at having overthrown the Egyptian president Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood." This news came in from Rev. Andrea Zaki, director of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), within hours of the news.

Transitions in ministry are part of what we share as church!  New forms for those seeking new pastoral leadership, as well as for those seeking a call, are coming.  As of August 1, only the new forms will be part of the "CLC" - Church Leadership Connection - matching system.  CLC connects congregations, presbyteries, synods, educational institutions and other Presbyterian entities seeking leaders for ministry positions with pastors, Christian educators, administrators, executives and other church professionals seeking a call to service within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).   Our presbytery does not allow matching within the presbytery through CLC; those relationships are introduced directly through contact with COM or the General Presbyter.

So if you are on a PNC or serve as a Transitional Care Consultant to a congregation, or are a teaching elder open to considering a new call, here is a to-do list:

• Check out the tutorials at http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/clc/ 
• Teaching elders in good standing who wish to maintain a PIF - Personal Information Form on-line are advised to review the Call Seekers Tutorial, and to prepare on-line the revised PIF.
• PNCs and our Transitional Care Consultants are encouraged to review the Calling Organizations Tutorial, and to prepare on-line the revised MIF- Ministry Information Form(formedly called the "CIF - Church Information Form)
• According to CLC staff, after July 31, the "old" forms will no longer be available and matching will only be done using the new forms in the system. We encourage you to beat the rush and enter your new form now.
• For personal assistance with the new forms, please call the CLC consultants at (888) 728-7228, ext. 8550.
• When a new PIF or MIF form is submitted, your presbytery team is notified and confirms its entry, usually within 24 hours, to allow matching to proceed.

- Linda L. Long, Stated Clerk