Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Summer Office Hours:
8 - 4 Monday - Thursday
8 - 12 Friday 
July 16, 2014 

God
Calls 

 
Passage to Ponder... Leviticus 19:13-14

You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

(from the Presbytery of Wabash Valley 2014 Monthly Bible Study  Reading and Reflection)
 
SUMMARY OF JULY 15 COUNCIL WORK
Council moderator-for-the-day Jeff Cover, Central Presbyterian Church, Lafayette, opened with silent prayer, welcomed newly elected Personnel Ministry Team Moderator Sandy Carlson, First Presbyterian Church, Michigan City, and led Council's reading and discussion of Lev. 19:9-18.  Conversation connecting the Scripture to today ranged from noting congregations have neighbors, too; the time it takes to invest in relationships; a paradigm shift from "me" and "mine" to seeing the needs of others and sharing to meet those needs, punctuated five times by "I am the Lord;" and linking to the parable of the Sower who generously scatters seed wherever it may land, without knowing where it will take hold and root.

Twelve elected members of Council plus ex officio members at the table spent an hour reviewing the recommendations of the Joshua Journey 2 team with input from Geneva Center team, and asked for additional details at its August meeting.

Actions of Council acting as a commission:
  • Received information that Transformation Grant of $100,000 is available from the Synod (as a result of the sale of University Church property) upon letter of application for the funds.   Congregations are invited to craft proposals to presbytery's New Ministry Development Team or Transformation Ministry Team for these funds.  Creative ideas might include new ministry with young adults, campus ministry, or a "1001 Worshiping Community" (see http://www.onethousandone.org).
  • Approved recommendations from Property Committee to provide quitclaim deed to transfer small Anderson Cemetery to Greenfield Township, Whitley County for maintenance; permission to The Presbyterian Church, La Porte to accept gift of land donation to congregation and to sell property; and for committee to engage with Indiana Landmarks, Inc. to sell the building of the former Columbia City church.
  • Approved preliminary draft of 2012 Financial Review, pending request for addendum of property; established minimum unrestricted financial reserve of $300,000 (roughly 5-6 months of average operating/mission expenses of the presbytery); coordination with Ministerial Excellence Fund to provide funded workshops on church finances for congregations in September and October.
  • Received preliminary 2013-14 fiscal year report for presbytery and six-months report for Geneva Center, both showing deficits that are likely to be modified during the next few weeks.  Presbytery is currently showing unrestricted reserves of $487,308 plus additional $69,546 that could be redirected by Council to reserves or mission projects.
  • Approved recommendations of its taskforce to nominate Jan Sandos (RE, Rossville); Kristi Slaby (RE, Rensselaer); and Hank Cox (RE, Christ, Winfield) for election by assembly to the Nominating Committee.
  • Changed date of October Council meeting to October 14.
  • Heard reports from 221st GA Commissioners Bill McLean and Jill Kitowski concerning their experiences and agreed that presbytery votes to consider six Book of Order amendments and addition of the Confession of Belhar to Book of Confessions will be held at the February 2015 assembly.
  • Received for information the written reports of action by COM and CPM. 

- Linda Long, Stated Clerk

 

PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
Creator of all people, help us to see your image in every person we meet, to see the value that you have placed in each individual. Remind us that every man, woman, or child whom we encounter is someone for whom Christ died. And let us see them through your eyes.

  

Please continue to hold in your prayers those who are engaged in Mission Trips this month:

  • Members of Auburn Presbyterian Church to Mexico - July 10-17  
  • Sr Hi of First Presbyterian Churches Valparaiso and Highland to the Dominican Republic - July 12-19
  • Members of Range Line Community Presbyterian Church, Hebron - Benton Harbor, Michigan - July 14 - 19 
  • First Presbyterian Church, Crown Point Youth to St Louis - July 20 -26 

Please also hold in prayer:

  • All those who are in our hearts this day for whatever they might be encountering...illness, loss of job, starting a new job, loss of a loved one. 
  • All of the presbytery congregations who are discerning how God is calling them to serve.  
We pray for and with Christ Presbyterian Church, Winfield who has faithfully served the community and followed you O' Lord since 1990. 

 

We give all thanks and praise to you O' God. Amen!

Mission Bucket BrigadeCool Ties Mission Project                                  
MISSION AT WORK THROUGH PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY
CONGREGATIONS!

STAY CONNECTED


In This Issue
Council Summary
Ordination Celebration
New Office Training Resources
Lombard Menonite Peace Center Meditation Skills Training
Enough for Everyone
Ruling Elders: Equipped for Ministry
GA Commissioners Available to Speak
Cancellation Notice
Please submit your ministry stories
Save the Dates

2014 COUNCIL
August 19
October 14
December 9

2014 ASSEMBLY
September 12-13 Retreat
November 18

2014 RECORDS REVIEW
Saturday, August 23 - Ligonier PC
Saturday, September 6 - Lafayette Elston PC
Friday, September 12- Geneva Center

Boundaries and Ethics Training
10 am to 3 pm - Thursday, October 2, 2014
10 am to 3 pm - Saturday, October 4, 2014


Ministry Quick Links

 

PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY

Pulpit Supply List

 

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 July 31-August 3 

National Multicultural Church Conference

Location: Historic Hilton Fort Worth, TX
"Journeying and Awakening into God's Diverse World."   
Learn more  

 

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August 11-14, 2014
Evangelism and Church Growth Conference (ECG2014)

Go. Disciple. Live. 

St. Pete Beach, Florida
Learn more

 

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  Synod Of Lincoln Trails

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Engage: Mission

Third part of Engage curriculum
helps people see their neighborhood
 as a mission field
.


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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
continues to work with affected mid-councils to assess needs

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Center for Congregations 

Helping Indiana Congregations find and use resources

 

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Alban Weekly Logo

 

 

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CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS

Redbud Day Camp

July 21-25

Call First Presbyterian Church South Bend for details at 574-234-4159

or check out their website at

 http://fpcsouthbend.org/redbud/

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Carillon Concert
Performer Mark Lee
Sunday, July 27, 4:00 pm (CT)
La Porte Presbyteian Church
307 Kingsbury Ave
219-362-6219

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Children and Worship Training Event

Friday, August 15 - Sunday, August 17

Click Here for more information  

First Presbyterian Church

333 W Colfax Ave

South Bend, IN 46601

Registration Information 

Questions: Contact 

Rev. Sarah Bishop

[email protected] 

574-234-4159  

 


colored-fabric-banner.jpg
Thank you for your ministry and your service...
  • July 17, 1983 - Rev. Mark Morrison, Honorably Retired   
  • July 19, 1987 - Rev. Alan Griffin, First Presbyterian Church, Goshen 
  • July 20, 1986 - Rev. Thomas Smith, The Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes, Angola 
  • July 21, 1985 - Rev. Terry McBride, Minister Member at Large
  • July 21, 1963 - Rev. Dick Rogers, Honorably Retired
  • July 22, 1984 - Rev. Katie Lindberg, Minister Member at Large 

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 [email protected].   

 


Inspire transformational leaders for your church!

 

New Officer Training Resources are now available. Ruling Elders: Formation (680836) guides newly appointed leaders through the discernment process and helps readers come to terms with the process.
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center

There is still time to save $100 - 
The pre-registration deadline for 
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders 
August 4-8, 2014 
in Glen Ellyn, IL 
has been extended to July 25, 2014.
Learn More 

Earth Care Congregations Celebrating 5 Years!

This summer marks the 5th year anniversary of the Earth Care Congregation program, with 13 churches who became certified in 2010 for the work they had been doing in the prior year(s). At now almost 140 certified congregations, PCUSA Earth Care Congregations continues to celebrate the wonderful ministry and unique witness of each other churches.

Read church earth care stories.

Learn about Earth Care congregations


Office of the General Assembly 
Frank S. James

 

People have various reasons, not always spiritual, for agreeing to serve as ruling elders, and I cannot say definitively that I said yes for the right reason. In fact, it may not have been a considered decision. With my training and experience as an Army officer, I usually make fast decisions. I was married three months after I met my wife, if we don't count the one-year gap in the relationship caused by a tour of duty in Vietnam.

 

If becoming a ruling elder was a snap decision for me, it has turned out to be one of the most important decisions of my life. My service as a ruling elder has repeatedly blessed me. For example, I have learned more about our historic principles and government than I would otherwise have learned. And my decision-making has been informed by Presbyterian interpretation and use of Scripture. This is true of decisions I make in my professional life, in my family life, in my church work and in civic matters. For example, in deciding how to vote in political elections, I rely on Presbyterian interpretation and use of Scripture.    

 

 

 

Mr. Frank S. James, a ruling elder of Southminster Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL, is a distinguished attorney, decorated Army veteran and Healthcare Committee chair of the Board of Pensions.  This is an excerpt of his address given at the Ruling Elder Luncheon as a part of the 221st General Assembly in Detroit, MI on June 18, 2014.

Situation Report - Unaccompanied Children

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of unaccompanied children crossing into the United States, with more than 52,000 arriving so far this year. The majority of the children are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

PDA will be working with congregations and mid councils along the border that are especially impacted by this situation in addressing needs. We are also collaborating 
with our ecumenical and interfaith partners who have experience in working with refugees and immigrants and who are also responding to the growing crisis along the southern U.S. border.
 

Would you like to hear more about General Assembly?
Invite a GA Commissioners to Speak at your next gathering!   
(right to left)
TE Bill McLean, Delphi First; RE Jill Kitowski, La Porte The PC; TE Tom Albaum
, Monticello First;
& RE Judy Friend, Peru First



If your congregation would like to hear more about the 221st General Assembly please contact the presbytery office at 574-223-5678 or [email protected] to arrange a visit from one of your four GA Commissioners.

CANCELLATION NOTICE
In the June 18th issue of God Calls an announcement was made to "SAVE THE DATE".

The lecture series The Good Shepherd: A Biblical Journey of a Thousand Years that was announced earlier by La Porte Presbyterian Church for September 5 - 7 has regretfully been cancelled. Author, lecturer Kenneth E. Bailey notified the church and expressed regrets that he would be unable to travel and present the weekend of lectures.

 

Submitted by Sue Lawrence

LaPorte Presbyterian Church

210-362-6219

[email protected] 

 

Frank Vardeman

Where is your General Presbyter

 Rev. Frank Vardeman

                    Wednesday, July 16
- Pastoral Visit
Thursday, July 17
- Pastoral Visit
Sunday, July 20
- Congregational Visit
Tuesday, July 22
- Presbytery Office

To inquire or invite Rev. Frank Vardeman, General Presbyter, to visit your church, please feel free to contact Gladys - 574-223-5678 or [email protected].

 

Upcoming Events and Meetings

Thursday, July 17
POSTPONED - Commission on Ministry (Go-to-Meeting)

Tuesday, July 22
9 am - Training of AC for Thorntown at Dayton Memorial Presbyterian Church (map)
10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry

Thursday, July 24
9 am - Training of AC for Winona Lake at First Presbyterian Church, Goshen (map)
10 am - Commission on Ministry

Wednesday, July 30
NOON - Lafayette Pastor's Gathering - Lafayette Brewing Company (map)

Sunday, August 3
3 pm - Harry Roselle Ordination &  Installation Service - Deer Creek Presbyterian Church (map)

Tuesday, August 5
CANCELLED -  Geneva Center Ministry Team

Thursday, August 7
10 am - Commission on Ministry

All meetings & events posted on the PWV Calendar are eastern time (ET) unless noted otherwise. Please visit http://www.ourpresbytery.org/calendar.htm for more information regarding meetings and events or call 574-223-5678.

Presbytery Office would like to lift up your ministry stories...


Every week, we publish this eNewsletter...also available online!  The Church Relations Coordinator  accepts articles for entry and is actively seeking new and original content sharing how your congregation is engaged in ministry. We would especially like to share photo's and stories of your confirmands, new members, VBS, and other special ministries that are occurring in your congregation and community. Please forward your stories and photos, due each Friday.



Presbytery of Wabash Valley & Geneva Center Contact Information

Board of Pensions Liaison ~ Rev. John Ritchie ~ 260-356-8680
General Presbyter ~ Rev. Frank Vardeman ~ 574-223-5678 ext 101
Stated Clerk ~ Elder Linda Long ~ 219-926-7098
Office Manager ~ Gladys Sargent ~ 574-223-5678 ext 102
Financial Consultant ~ Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105
Church Relations Coordinator ~ Elder Vicki Dreibelbis ~ 574-223-5678 ext 100
IT Consultant ~ Bonnie Kern ~ 574-223-5678 ext 109
Geneva Center Manager ~ Cathy Adley ~ 574-223-6915 ext 200
Geneva Center Maintenance Director ~ Jeff Winegardener ~ 574-223-6915 ext 204
Nourished by the living waters of Jesus Christ,

we awaken, enliven and enhance worshiping communities

to courageously extend their branches  

and bear new fruit in the Spirit.

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