Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Office Hours: 8 - 4 Monday - Friday
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December 3, 2014
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Passage to Ponder... Ephesians 3:14-15 (NRSV)For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
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from Rev. Ericka Kilbourne, Michigan City First Presbyterian Church
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and
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Rev. Ericka Kilbourne, Michigan City First Presbyterian Church
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spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
About a month ago, I became concerned that I would be able to teach the twins all that I had taught Hannah when she was their age. Hannah was an only child for almost four years of her life and, being my first, I read many books about what to teach at what age, what the appropriate milestones are at each stage, and what to feed the child for proper brain development. These days, with three kids, I'm lucky if I tie my shoes and brush my teeth before I leave the house, much less keep up with lessons for two one-year-olds!
So, I started to teach them sign language because I vaguely remembered Hannah blending the sign with blowing kisses. They didn't catch on. Oh, they were learning other things from others who spend time with them (thank you church ladies!), but I seemed to be failing at teaching them anything!
The other night, Mike and I were leading our family in our table grace before dinner. In the midst of the chaos flying napkins, reminding Hannah to sit on her bottom, and making sure everyone waited to eat until AFTER the prayer, I noticed Annie touching her hand to her chin as we sang the verse, "we would like to thank you, we would like to thank you. Amen, Amen!" Jerry excitedly screamed his version of the word thank you "Di! Di!"
Far better than telling our children to say thank you, is to model gratitude. Mike and I were singing our prayer to God, thanking God for our food, and the children joined in harmony. Here in the church, we model gratitude to our young generation in many ways. We serve God, each other, our community, and our congregation in so many ways: from teaching Sunday school, to serving in the soup kitchen and men's shelter, to volunteering to serve coffee, greet, and usher on Sunday mornings, to assisting with the landscaping and upkeep of our building and grounds, to answering the phones in the office during the week.
Significantly, a large number of congregation members chose to respond in gratitude by devoting their means to the renovation of our windows on the Christian Education building. Significantly, this building is where so much of our gratitude is lived out: in serving those who are impoverished, in teaching and welcoming children and youth, and in welcoming the stranger and visitor during the week in the office. The office is also where I do much of my most sacred work in pastoral care and in the study of scriptures and the formation of sermons.
This gratitude has been coupled with hope. It is significant that these windows are estimated to endure for more than fifty years; those who contributed to this project are living in to the hope that our congregation is called to live in to God's ministry in to the future.
I am thankful that gratitude and hope have contributed to God's mission here at First Presbyterian in Michigan City.
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Save the Dates
2014 COUNCIL
December 9
2015 ASSEMBLY
February 24
May 15
September 18-19
November 17
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Ministry Quick Links
Helping Indiana Congregations find and use resources
Upcoming Workshops
Congregations and Community Engagement: Finding the Right Fit
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- December 8, 1991 - Rev. John Lersch, Ligonier Presbyterian Church
If you have been omitted or your information is incorrect please accept my apology. Help to update our records by sending your current information to vicki@ourpresbytery.org.
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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 God, we pray for those who are earnestly seeking to know you. Help them in their journey and through their struggles. And when we see them, may we help shine your light on their path.
Please lift those listed below in prayer:
- Those who suffer from loneliness, depression and loss
- All of our Mission workers
- Those of unspoken need
We pray for and with Rockfield Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord.
In your precious name we pray. Amen.
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The Presbytery of Wabash Valley
and
First Presbyterian Church
Cordially Invites You to the
Installation Service
of
Rev. Rebecca Kuiken
&
Rev. Sarah Sanderson-Doughty
Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 4:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church
200 E Beardsley Ave.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(map)
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Loving Accountability
by David Keck
We might think of accountability in one of three ways.
A politician speaks before ravenous reporters and promises that "going forward there will be greater accountability." We like the idea, and our community's anger may be somewhat mollified, but deep down we're really not sure if anything will come of it.
A church member, incredibly frustrated at the repeated failure of the pastor and budget chair to provide information, enters the committee meeting with dread. She knows that accountability is needed, but these are people she cherishes, and holding them accountable is painfully regrettable, to be done only in the most extreme circumstances.
Augustine writes in chapter 10 of his Confessions, "A brotherly person rejoices on my account when he approves me, but when he disapproves [i.e. holds me accountable], he is loving me." Here, accountability is an integral, indeed necessary part of the Christian life for communities and individuals.
Churches often think about accountability in one of the first two ways - either as a word to be thrown around to appease immediate sentiments, or as an anguished last resort, deployed only when there are no other options. Augustine's recognition of a love that underlies accountability seems rarely shared.
Churches may have a hard time with accountability for a number of different reasons:
- church members feel it's not their responsibility or within their competency to question what the pastor does
- holding a committee chair accountable might mean needing to find another chair (or losing him and his stewardship pledge to a neighboring church
- to speak up is to risk losing friends or starting a conflict, and Christians don't get into conflicts
- Christians believe Jesus wants us to forgive, not judge
- a pastor's ego may be so fragile that no one wants to risk saying anything negative
- a pastor's ego may be so colossal that no one believes raising any questions would do any good
In contrast with these attitudes stand biblical views of accountability, discipline, and Christian flourishing. Proverbs 15:10 declares that, "He who hates correction will die" (NKJV). Listening to the wisdom and guidance of others is a life-and-death matter!
Continue reading... |
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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
Meditation Skills Training Institute 2015 and Clergy Clinic In Family Emotional Process Offerings
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Sing Glory to God This Christmas!
The Advent and Christmas seasons are both times of increased congregational song. People come to worship specifically to hear the choir sing special music, and to add their voices on much-beloved hymns. It is, thus, a perfect time to introduce a few new pieces amidst the feast of favorites. The Christmas section in Glory to God expanded from previous hymnals.
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Where is your General Presbyter
Rev. Frank Vardeman
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Thursday, December 4
- Presbytery Office
- Commission on Ministry
Friday & Saturday, December 5 & 6
- Synod Collegium Chicago
Tuesday, December 9
- Presbytery Office
- Council
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Thursday, December 4
10 am - Commission on Ministry
Sunday, December 7
4 pm - Sarah Sanderson-Doughty & Rebecca Kuiken Installation at Elkhart First Presbyterian Church (map)
Tuesday, December 9
10 am - Council
Thursday, December 11
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-to-Meeting)
Thursday, December 18
10 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-to-Meeting)
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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Every week, we publish this eNewsletter to hundreds of Wabash Valley and PC(USA) members and also post 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, mission trips and other special ministries that are occurring in your congregation and community. Please forward your stories and photos to vicki@ourpresbytery.org, due each Friday. |
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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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