"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."

We ask prayers and support of Pam Jones, Geneva Center staff and her family who had a tree land in their home during the Sunday, November 17 tornado's creating loss of power and significant damage to their home and other structures.

Prayers are needed for Rev. Nancy Becker, Honorably Retired and family as she cares for her weakening mother Peg Deming.

Prayers for all those who have suffered storm damage and loss and for those who are able to provide help and support. 

May your loving presence be with First Presbyterian Church, Hammond as they have faithfully served their community and you since 1891. 

If you were at the right place, at the right time, in Wabash Valley Presbytery (WVP) the week-end before last you may have seen your offerings to One Great Hour of Sharing at work. That is because three members of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) National Response Team, (NRT) namely: Lynette Williams, Raleigh, NC, Jim Garrett, Louisville, KY, and Greg Smith, Johnson City, IA were in town. They were here at the request of our General Presbyter, Frank Vardeman to help us assess the damage in our Presbytery and let us know some of the ways that PDA can help. Frank also asked Jeff Brown, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Kokomo to host the group and for Honorable Retired Minister John E. "Jack" Hess, Peru, IN to be the point person for WVP.

What an educational and inspirational time it was as we sat down with pastors and/or elders from six (6) WVP churches;  

• Faith PC, Kokomo
• Bethany PC, Lafayette  
• First PC, Delphi
• Memorial PC, Dayton
• Central PC, Lafayette  
• Elston PC, Lafayette

to share some of the possibilities and opportunities for mission and ministry.

At this point I probably should assure you that none of our church buildings were damaged by the winds and storms, but there were some members of our church that do indeed have damage. The first report from Howard County EMA on damage estimates looks like this:

• Single dwelling homes  - 443 effected 
• Multiple dwelling homes - 207 effected
• Dwelling destroyed - 39 effected   
• Businesses - 64 effected - 9 destroyed   

These types of figures were not yet available in the southwest part of the Presbytery but we did learn that:  

• Two Lafayette schools where very heavily damaged, one possibly being totally destroyed. Watch for information on how you can help teachers replenish lost supplies.
• There was also a small town that was hit quiet hard with at least 10 to 15 homes being involved.

We will do our best to keep you informed as quickly as we can. If you have questions please contact me, Jack Hess at 765.469.2285.  

Thank you for your prayers as the needs are many, prayers for those directly affected, and the mission workers involved in this tornado recovery ministry.

Have a positive day, take care, and God bless,

Rev. John E. "Jack" Hess, Honorably Retired 

WVP Point Person for the November 17, 2013 Tornados                               

2014 APCE Event  

Association of Presbyterian Church Educators

 Wednesday, January 29 - Saturday, February 1

San Jose, California
Keynote Speaker: Brian McLaren  

Ten Things to be Thankful For!

Sometimes the situation can seem dismal with hunger on the rise, food deserts, pesticide corporations buying up seed companies, and diet-related disease. But at the same time, people all over the country and world are working together to build food economies that are fair and more sustainable -- while supporting nearby farmers!

1. Neighborhood leaders and groups are bringing fresh, local food to their communities. One Great Hour of Sharing gifts help fund a program in Oregon to train immigrant families in farming skills at Huerto de la Familia. In Louisville, one initiative has turned teens into ambassadors of fresh produce and another holds food justice classes and brings in local produce for Fresh Stop markets in their lower-income neighborhoods.
2. Students are demanding better and fairer food in their cafeterias.
3. The first nonprofit supermarket just opened in Pennsylvania and is providing an oasis in a food desert. Watch the video.
4. While much of the advertising promotes unhealthy foods, efforts are afoot to expose how our children are being misled. Take a look at Anna Lappé's new Food Mythbuster video, "The Myth of Choice: How Junk-Food Marketers Target Our Kids"?
5. Presbyterian camps and conference centers are growing food!  Ghost Ranch has revived its farm, Stony Point is producing veggies all over their campus and is putting in a greenhouse as we speak. Joseph Badger Meadows Camp and Eastminster Presbytery in Ohio are establishing a working farm and training program on their land!
6. A new movement among Native Americans is bringing back traditional foods and changing lives.
7. To ensure we don't lose ground globally, Presbyterians can advocate to halt Fast Track and call for transparency and fairness in the Trans-Pacific Partnership to protect farmers overseas.
8. Fortunately, policy makers are beginning to admit that export-oriented cash crop farming is not the answer to ending poverty. In fact, research shows that it is small farms that are the key to creating global food security! 
9. Globally, La Via Campesina and food sovereignty movements around the world-such as the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and the US Food Sovereignty Alliance-are building strong coalitions to resist injustice and build just and sustainable food economies everywhere!
10. Presbyterians can support great agricultural development by giving to the Presbyterian Hunger Fund and by funding great projects through the Food Resources Bank in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 Don't Miss Out on This Tax-Smart Opportunity!

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 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.