Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Office Hours: 8 - 4 Monday - Friday
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December 10, 2014
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Community Presbyterian Church Rochester
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Passage to Ponder... Ephesians 3:16-19 (NRSV)I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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Council - All that God has guided
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Council Moderator Jeff Cover (TE, Central, Lafayette) led seventeen Council members in study of the discernment of The Council at Jerusalem as reported in Acts 15, and to draw some conclusions about our own Council's work for 2015. Major actions taken:
- Announced Referral Team of Five appointed to consider of presbytery structure, transitional presbyter and implementation team, with report due to Assembly on February 24, 2015. They are Moderator Sara Dingman (Transitional Executive for Synod of Lincoln Trails); Kevin Bowers (TE Bethany, Lafayette); Jim Dougans (Transitional CRE First, Rensselaer); Sue Babovec (Chaplain, Peabody Retirement Community); Sandy Carlson (RE, First, Michigan City), and General Presbyter Frank Vardeman.
- Invited congregations to join minister members and elder commissioners of presbytery together on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 with General Assembly Vice Moderator Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia and our 221st GA Commissioners for worship, a meal and conversation about the proposed amendments from GA and what it means to be the Presbyterian Church (USA).
- Generated list of presbytery members with range of expertise to serve as Geneva Center Transition team and named GC ministry team moderator John Ritchie (TE, Huntington) as moderator. Team is tasked with coordinating the details of transition including personnel and property matters, development of a business plan for Geneva Center, addressing legal issues of incorporation and transition including but not limited to the specific type of not-for-profit corporation, PILP loans, relationship and its structure of the new Geneva Center to the presbytery and the PC(USA). Regular updates will be provided to the Council and Assembly to allow time and openness for the Presbytery to have input and buy-in to the process, decisions and actions.
- Received reports from commissions for Winona Lake and Calvary, and approved recommendation of the Thorntown AC to transfer the church building by quitclaim deed to a local resident who is creating a not-for-profit organization to maintain the building as a community center.
- Encouraged members of other presbytery congregations to worship with the Thorntown Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 28, 2014, at 2 pm EDT to celebrate its 180 years of ministry and mark its closing.
- Reviewed financial report for presbytery, noting that only 66 congregations are supporting our connectional mission, administrative staff and volunteers working on behalf of 84 congregations, demonstrating again the need for restructuring presbytery costs to reduce continuing deficits currently funded by presbytery reserves. Expenses are below the budgeted amounts, but contributions are even lower than anticipated funding from congregations. Council extended the previously approved 2014 six-month budget through June 2015.
- General Presbyter Frank Vardeman thanked Council, staff and others for the prayers and pastoral care during his recovery from surgery, and encouraged engagement with the new pastors coming to congregations in Wabash Valley to broaden and deeper presbytery leadership.
- Approved proposal from Personnel Committee to close Geneva Center and presbytery office's from Christmas Eve through January 2, 2015.
- Received appointment of task force to reconsider our current dismissal policy, to be moderated by Sally Wicks (TE La Porte), with Jordan Truman (TE, Kendallville), Quincy Worthington (TE, Westminster, Munster), Mike Munson (RE, Deer Creek), and Mary Rasp (RE, First, Elkhart).
- Received resignation of Jill Kitowski (RE, La Porte) as moderator of Council's property committee, pending naming of a new moderator.
- Closed with prayer at 2:45 led by Paul Myhre.
Next Council meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2015, at 10 am EST at Geneva Center.
- Linda Long, Stated Clerk
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Save the Dates
2015 COUNCIL
January 20
March 17
April 14
June 23
2015 ASSEMBLY
February 24
(Revised) May 19
September 18-19
November 17
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- December 14, 2002 - Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick, Mission Co-Worker
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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 Giver of mercy and might, during Advent, do away with any distractions that might hinder us from receiving Christ with joy. We enter this season with great expectancy and child-like anticipation. We ask that you fill us with the joy of your spirit as we celebrate the coming of the king.
Please lift those listed below in prayer:
- Those who suffer especially during the holidays from loneliness, depression and loss
- All of our Mission workers
- Those of unspoken need
We pray for and with Rochester, Community Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord since 1840.
In your holy and precious name we pray. Amen.
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Welcome new pastors serving throughout the Presbytery of Wabash Valley!
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Rev. Sarah Gengler,
Brookston Federated Church
Photo Courtesy of Rev. Chuck Compton
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Rev. Amy Cornell,
Whites Residential & Family Services
Photo Courtesy of Rev. Chuck Compton
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Rev. Will Roberts, Pierceton Presbyterian Church
Photo Courtesy of Rev. Anna Parkinson
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Rev. Sara Sanderson-Doughty, Presbytery Moderator Jill Kitowski, La Porte PC & Rev. Rebecca Kuiken, Elkhart First Presbyterian Church
Photo Courtesy of Rev. Anna Parkinson
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Come experience the Nativity Story with live animals!  Westminster Presbyterian Church Invites the community to it annual Living Nativity, Soup Supper & Marketplace Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Nativity performances are at 5:00, 6:00 & 7:00 pm. Proceeds will benefit missions. located at 8955 Columbia Avenue Munster, IN 46321 for more information call WPC at (219)838-3131 or go to our web site at www.wpcmunster.org |
Two generous donors are offering scholarships for teaching elders and certified ruling elders to attend: White Privilege Conference WPC16 Resistance, Action, Courage, & Equity: The South Leading the Way! |
 HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
December 10, 2014
Minute for Mission
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Some who have worked for human rights are well known. Others are known only to God and to the brothers and sisters for whom they worked. Mitri and Arda seek justice for Palestinians; Gloria and German stand with the displaced in Colombia; and on the list goes. In every country, on every issue, wherever we seek to ensure that our sisters and brothers live the abundant life intended by God, followers of Jesus work for human rights. Read more.
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Committed Living and Giving
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Terri Bates, Senior Director, Funds Development Ministry
Last year I received a phone call from a farmer in the Midwest who said he wanted to donate 500 bushels of corn to the Presbyterian Mission Agency. He and his wife wanted to give of the firstfruits of their labors. He helped us enter into an agreement with the local granary to sell "our" corn, which we promptly did. The gift was designated to support one of our mission coworkers, a cause dear to this couple. This March I received a joyful letter from these friends of mission:
Your soybean crop came in! Two hundred bushels of beans we grew on our farm was delivered in your name to the local grain terminal and, as per your earlier instruction, was sold-at a good price! Enclosed, find the check for the sale of your soybeans. We were blessed with another good year of farming in the Midwest. Passing on the blessings.
I was personally blessed by these gifts, as I saw firsthand a powerful demonstration of the biblical concept of offering our firstfruits to God. I had never expected to see this scriptural teaching literally come to life. I can't help but smile whenever I think of the difference the corn and soybeans are making in Ethiopia, where the mission coworker supported by these gifts serves.
Continue Reading
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Where is your General Presbyter
Rev. Frank Vardeman
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Out of the office December 10-17 for Daughter's wedding
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Thursday, December 11
CANCELLED - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-to-Meeting)
Thursday, December 18
10 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-to-Meeting)
Sunday, December 28
2:00 pm - Closing Worship Service - Thorntown Presbyterian Church (map)
Wednesday, December 24 thru Friday, January 2
PRESBYTERY OFFICE CLOSED
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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