Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Office Hours: 8 - 4 Monday - Friday
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October 1, 2014
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Passage to Ponder... Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
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Have you thanked your pastor lately?
If not, this month is the perfect time to do it.
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Dear friends,
I am not one who likes special days. My cynic side believes that they are made up by the greeting card industry and the merchants of the world to entice us to buy a card or a gift. But today, I am giving my cynical side a rest.
October has been designated by someone as Pastor Appreciation Month, and I want to encourage you to celebrate the ministry of your pastor(s), as well as their families. We are all in ministry together in this Church of Jesus Christ and pastors and their families play a special role in this common ministry.
Pastors have answered the call of God to serve the church and you know of their commitment to walk alongside their congregations in ministry and mission. Also, families of pastors share these commitments and often have their lives interrupted by the calls of ministry. I am hoping that during this month of October, you will find ways to show your appreciation in a special way.
While you know best how to thank your pastor, I share a couple of ways that you might consider during this month.
- Plan a special Sunday to say thanks out loud to your pastor (and their family).
- Make sure your pastor takes their time away for vacation and Continuing Education.
- Be open to their new ideas.
- Give them the freedom to lead.
- Participate with them in the shared ministry of the church.
- Support your pastor with regular prayer and encouragement.
I personally give thanks to God for the wonderful ministries of the congregations that make up our Presbytery of Wabash Valley. And today and this month, I give special thanks and celebration for the leaders of these congregations as they walk in ministry and mission. I urge you to join me in praying for your pastor, for their families if applicable, by offering words of encouragement and support. During this month of October, let's make a special effort to let them know we are appreciative of their love and care for us.
Blessings of peace,
Frank Vardeman
General Presbyter
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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Almighty God, we pray for our brothers and sisters in the world who are pursuing peace. Give them courage, strength, creativity, and perseverance. Protect them in their work and help them touch the hearts of those in power.
Please lift those listed below in prayer for God's healing power and for God's guidance:
- For Ann Haworth - Smock Senior Ministry's Director Bill Haworth's wife as she deals with health issues.
- CRE Ray Fulbright, South Bend Memorial Presbyterian Church, for continued recovery.
- All of our mission co-workers
We pray for and with Thorntown Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you O' Lord since 1833.
Amen.
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- October 3, 1983 - Rev. David Comstock, Lafayette Central Presbyterian Church
- October 5, 1980 - Rev. Diane Karay Myers, Honorably Retired
- October 5, 1986 - Rev. Sally Wicks, The Presbyterian Church La Porte
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.
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Save the Dates
2014 COUNCIL
October 14
December 9
2014 ASSEMBLY
November 18
Boundaries and Ethics Training
10 am to 3 pm - Thursday, October 2, 2014
10 am to 3 pm - Saturday, October 4, 2014
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Ministry Quick Links
PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY
Updated
Pulpit Supply List
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Presbytery Pastoral Care Network
Rediscovering the Beloved Community: Overcoming Isolation
Monday October 27, 2014
-to-
Thursday October 30, 2014 First Presbyterian Church
1000 Penn Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102Click Here to Get More Info ****** 2014 APT/NASSAM Tentmaking Conference
Ministry in a Changing Church Friday, October 31, 2014 -
Sunday, November 2, 2014
3:00 PM - 12:00 PM Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, Texas 78705 Click Here for More Information****** Interested in getting updates from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Ciaro that track what is going on in the life of the Seminary, click here to subscribe Updates are sent monthly through MailChimp and ETSC does not share e-mail addresses with other institutions. The next issue goes out in mid October.
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Forget finding one clergy to do it all
By Tom Ehrich
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Synod Of Lincoln Trails
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Helping Indiana Congregations find and use resources
Upcoming Workshops
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Game Theory & How to Navigate Conflict by Ken Evers-Hood |
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CONGREGATIONAL
EVENTS & OFFERINGS
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AUTUMN RECITAL
To the Glory of God
Sunday, October 12
3:00 pm
With Organist Kevin Ramer and our 101 year old Hinners pipe organ & Vocalists Tom Potter of the Chicago Lyric Opera, and Cassandra Petrie, fourth year music performance major at
Olivet University.
First Presbyterian Church
200 W Michigan St
LaGrange, IN, 46761
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GLAPCE FALL CONFERENCE
(Great Lakes Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators)
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Our regional event is right around the corner!
GOD IN A DIGITAL AGE
GLAPCE/GLAUCE Fall Event
October 14-16, 2014
Techny Towers, Techny, IL
This is a wonderful time to meet other educators, share ideas and glean some best practices for ministry with children, youth and adults.
Keynote speaker this year is Bruce Reyes-Chow, author of The Definitive-ish Guide for Using Social Media in the Church, and But I Don't See You As Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. If you are not familiar with Bruce, you can learn more about him on his website.
EVENT REGISTRATION
Questions? Call Martha McDonald, registrar at 317-357-5123.
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The Confirmation Project seeks to learn the extent to which confirmation and equivalent practices (CEP) in five Protestant denominations in the United States are effective for strengthening discipleship in youth. Strengthening discipleship includes nurturing faith in Jesus Christ and facilitating youth encounters with Christian traditions (Scripture, creeds, confessions, and practices) to support lifelong Christian vocation.
The five denominations in this project include: the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church. This project is funded by the Lilly Foundation, Inc. and seeks to provide ministry leaders within the Christian church examples of strategies and practices that are effective in helping young Christians grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Churches in the PC(USA) will receive an e-mail link to our confirmation survey on October 1, 2014. By taking the time to fill out the survey, you can help us better understand the depth, breadth, and effectiveness of confirmation and equivalent practices in the PC(USA). We look forward to learning from you and your ministry!
To learn more, visit our website at www.theconfirmationproject.com.
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Worshipping in Advent: From Darkness to Light
A 90-minute webinar
Tuesday, October 21 at
2 pm ET (11 a.m. PT)
In this webinar we will look at the theological arc of the season and consider how the biblical texts for Advent shape worship. Special attention will be given to new hymns and songs in the new Presbyterian hymnal Glory to God.
Participants will come away with:
- An understanding of the theological arc of the Advent season;
- Knowledge of new hymns and songs for advent and ways of using them;
- Awareness of new liturgical resources;
- Ideas for visual and ritual engagement in worship.
The live broadcast will include a Q&A segment so you can ask your questions!
Click here to learn more, register for the live event or on-demand replay ($29.95), or pre-order a DVD ($43.95).
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2014 Presbyterian Giving Opportunities
Your gift makes a difference.
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Lafayette Bethany Presbyterian Church along with
Pastor Raise Over $3000 to Help Fight Hunger
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Bethany's Pastor Kevin Bowers took a bucket of ice water to help fight hunger following worship 9/28/2014. Pastor  Kevin challenged the congregation to give to the Greater Lafayette Hunger Hike and promised that he would allow the person contributing the most to his fund-raising effort the privilege of dumping a bucket of ice water on his head. The Mauck family (Clyde, Jenny and Paul) were the lucky winners.
The Hunger Hike helps fight food insecurity via Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders and St. Thomas Aquinas' Haiti mission. Team Bethany raised slightly over $3,000 and came in 3rd place for the highest contributing organization.
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Presbyterian World Mission Encourages Congregations to Host an Event and Discussion About the Movie "The Good Lie."
The movie, which opens in theaters October 3rd starring Reese Witherspoon, focuses on the "Lost Boys," who were orphaned by the brutal civil war in Sudan, beginning in 1983. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3600 lost boys, as well as girls, to America.
Mamere and Theo are sons of the chief in their village in Southern Sudan. When an attack by Northern militia destroys their home and kills their parents, eldest son Theo is forced to lead a group of young survivors, including his sister Abital, on the difficult trek to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Thirteen years later, the now young adults are given the opportunity to leave the camp and resettle in America. Upon arriving in Kansas, they are met by Carrie Davis (Witherspoon), an employment agency counselor who has been enlisted to help find them jobs-no easy task, when things like light switches and telephones are brand new to them.
For movie resources, click on: thegoodlieresources.com.
For a summary of the project click here.
If you decide to host a discussion group to talk about the movie, World Mission will supply mission co-workers, who have lived in Sudan, to speak to your audience.
The goal is to help the country gain its educational footing while helping to foster a sustainable culture of peace. Follow this link for those who are interested in supporting it. http://www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/E052172-1/
For more information, contact Kathy Melvin in World Mission, (502) 569-5415 or email her at Kathy.Melvin@pcusa.org.
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"Your Guide to Making Medical Coverage-Level Changes"
Look for more details in next week's issue of God Calls.
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Where is your General Presbyter
Rev. Frank Vardeman
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Thursday, October 2
- Presbytery Office
- Commission on Ministry
Friday, October 3
- Pastoral Visit
Tuesday, October 7
- Presbytery Office
- Geneva Center Ministry Team
Wednesday, October 8
- Visiting several churches
To inquire or invite Rev. Frank Vardeman, General Presbyter, to visit your church, please feel free to contact Gladys - 574-223-5678 or gladys@ourpresbytery.org.
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Thursday, October 2
10 am - Commission on Ministry
10 am - Boundaries and Ethics Training
Friday, October 3
1 pm - 7:30 pm Transforming Church Finances Workshop - Registration - Fort Wayne First PC (map)
Saturday, October 4
10 am - Boundaries and Ethics Training
Tuesday, October 7
10 am - Geneva Center Ministry Team
Wednesday, October 8
NOON (Central Time) - Northwest Church Professionals Gathering - Valparaiso First PC (map)
Thursday, October 9
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting)
Saturday, October 11
10 am - 4:30 pm - Transforming Church Finances Workshop - Registration - Indianapolis Faith PC (map)
Tuesday, October 14
10 am - Council
Thursday, October 16
10 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-To-Meeting)
Friday, October 17
1 - 7:30 pm - Transforming Church Finances Workshop - Registration - Seymour First PC (map)
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.
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Presbytery of Wabash Valley & Geneva Center Contact InformationFinancial Consultant ~ Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105 Geneva Center Manager ~ Cathy Adley ~ 574-223-6915 ext 200 Geneva Center Maintenance Director ~ Jeff Winegardener ~ 574-223-6915 ext 204
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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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