Passage to Ponder -  Philippians 3:20

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Forgive the following sports metaphor, but it is part of who I am.) We can sit in the stands and watch our team win the big game and take home the trophy. We can walk the streets wearing our official team jersey and tell everyone 'we won'... But the truth is: We haven't won anything. We were not in the game.

If you want to know what PYT2013 was like, seek out the photos on the various websites and see for yourself the amazing pictures of 5000 teenagers holding a candle. On Thursday night during the worship service on the hill, the crowd was given a lighted candle after receiving communion and they were told to hold it high as we all sang the final song, which they did. However as they were dismissed to return to the dorms, the crowd would not leave. The band had stopped playing and the crowd searched for a song that they all knew and that they could sing together. The song they chose was one that most had learned when they were very young. The 5000 sang, "This Little Light of Mine, I'm Gonna Let it Shine."   I was there and I am sorry if you missed it.

My experience at Triennium took me away from the comforts of home like, a bathroom that isn't a long walk down a hall, sleeping with air conditioning, TV, and Wi-Fi. I now thank God for the experience because away from all that stuff, I was able to meet God in the moment. I have so many things I could tell you, but in this space I can only share one. I have a visual disability. I avoid crowds and dark places because... Truth be told, I may end up doing something that calls attention to myself and EVERYONE will know, I can't see.  PYT2013 was the place where I came to terms with my fear and because life is too short and there is so much that we miss because of our fears.... On Friday night I danced in the dark, in the park with the crowd of 5000, way past this old dude's usual bedtime. My personal big game victory! (Drop me a note if you want an official T-shirt.)

Now what can I tell you about the 5000? They are hungry and ready to feast. They have deep thoughts, big dreams and they want a different world. They are in 'our church', because that is us too. My advice, start making plans to be involved in the next Presbyterian Youth Triennium, gather a group of young people, then come and see, we're not dead, we're clearly alive... and I'll meet you on the dance floor.

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Pastoral Residency Program

Resource Center

In Partnership with PWV

Congregational Resource Center 

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ALBAN WEEKLY

IT'S YOUR CHURCH 

     by Landon Whitsitt      

Thank you for your ministry and your service... 

• July 25, 1993 - Rev. Linda Skaggs, First Presbyterian Church Hammond     
• July 29, 1960 - Rev. Hank Blunk, 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"  

Congress recently reinstated a law that allows individuals 70 1/2 and older to transfer up to $100,000 from an IRA directly to a qualified charity - such as your local congregation - without having to pay income taxes on the money.

Known as the IRA charitable rollover, this law has been extended to the end of 2013.

            Your gift will qualify under this law if:

                * You are 70 1/2 or older at the time of your gift.

                * You transfer up to $100,000 directly from you IRA.  This opportunity  

                   applies only to IRAs and not other types of retirement plans.

                *  You transfer funds outright to one or more qualified charities.  The

                   legislation does not permit direct transfers to charitable trusts,  

                   donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities, or supporting  

                   organizations.

If you took a distribution from your IRA in December 2012 and then made a gift prior to February 1, 2013, the law allows you to treat it as a direct transfer.

Why Consider This Donation Option? The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your tax deductions.

Also, if you have not yet taken your required minimum distribution for the year, your IRA charitable rollover gift can satisfy all or part of that requirement.  Contact your investment advisor for more information.