And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
I have been pondering the kind of person I am and have concluded that I am a reactive personality rather than a proactive personality. I am light reactive, people reactive, and circumstance reactive. This morning's springtime snow flurries reminded me that I am also weather reactive. But the sunshine will return soon and we will be caught up in the refreshing spring breezes and blooming trees. Spring brings a newness to the earth and revitalizes us to nurture and grow things. As we are stewards of the Earth and God's world, we are also stewards in the service of the Kingdom.
Over the past months we have struggled with a new way of doing things as a Presbytery, taking on new roles and committing ourselves to thinking in a new way. Life without a General Presbyter and life in the Presbytery of Wabash Valley has changed us. On April 9th, the Assembly approved the completion of Rev. Frank Vardeman's call as the General Presbyter. In recent days we have learned that his health status has required additional surgery, and we are left in wonderment of the cascade of events that has taken over his life. Rev. Heidi Vardeman will be completing her service as Transitional Pastor to St. John's United Church in Chesterton on May 31st. We rejoice with her on attaining her Ph. D. from Vanderbilt University. As the paths of Presbytery of Wabash Valley and the Revs. Vardeman now diverge, we continue to lift up our prayers for both Frank and Heidi and fervently ask God to walk with them in these times as plans seem to change for them as new health concerns surface. God calls us each to new things.
Recently an article appeared in the Roanoke, Virginia, newspaper by author Timothy Buchanan. It was entitled "Death by Dishonor," and began as follows:
"The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is now dead. After a long, tedious struggle to remain faithful to the scriptures and great Christian reformers like John Knox, the leadership of the PC(USA) denomination (the liberal branch of Presbyterian Churches) has thrown in the towel. A PC(USA) church near you will soon be conducting the same-sex 'marriages.' The moral high-ground in this conflict has surrendered to Satan."
Pastor Catherine Taylor of the Blacksburg (Virginia) Presbyterian Church submitted a response to the paper. She said, "The piece by Timothy Buchanan ... appeared at a fitting time, in Holy Week, when the Church the world over remembers the seeming triumph of embittered religionists. Buchanan gleefully announced the death of the PC(USA) much as priests and pundits in Jesus' day proclaimed that he was in league with Satan, twisting his words to assure a verdict of death."
She went on to say that Buchanan's death sentence was not original. "The claim was hurled at Presbyterians who fought to abolish slavery before the Civil War, at churches who stood in favor of the ordination of women in the middle of the last century, and at those who pressed for integration in the era of Civil Rights. Each time a formal step was taken by the national church-always after years of study and debate-someone on the losing side declared the church was dead. Yet here the PC(USA) stands, continuing in ministry at home and around the world."
On a cold, rainy day in early March, a 30-something man walked into the sanctuary at the Haywood Street Congregation for the Wednesday midday service with a shaggy mixed-breed dog on a leash. Dark-haired and bearded, dressed in a brown T-shirt and army-green painter's pants, the man looked like a dozen other young guys you might encounter in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
But he wasn't just another guy. He was the pastor, the Rev. Brian Combs, and the dog was Penny, the Haywood Street "church dog." As the two made their rounds, greeting congregants, organist Edward Smith launched into "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen." Moments later, assistant pastor Darryl Dayson -- young, dread locked and wearing jeans -- stepped up onto the chancel and welcomed everyone, inviting them to "join in creating community."
On that day, as on every other Wednesday, the created community at Haywood Street was a rare and stunning mix -- many homeless and some "housed," Christians and Jews, pastors and parishioners from other churches, black and white, young and old, families and single people, gay and straight, sober and ... (for a few) maybe not so much. And Penny wasn't the only dog.
Known as a church of "holy chaos," the Haywood Street Congregation is a United Methodist mission church that was launched in 2009 as a place of welcome and ministry for people who are homeless or otherwise living on the margins in downtown Asheville. In addition to the Wednesday worship service, the church offers a long list of programs, including recovery groups, Bible studies, AA meetings, a clothing closet, a community garden and an eight-bed respite-care unit for homeless people who need a place to recuperate after a hospital stay.
"Pursued by Grace" is the first National 1001 New Worshiping Communities Conference. It will be held August 10 -13 at the Tradewinds Island Grand, St. Pete Beach Florida.
Lord, the resurrection of your son has given us new life and renewed hope. Help us to live as new people. Grant us wisdom to know what we must do, and the strength to complete it.
Please lift those listed below in prayer:
Rev. Ron Elly, Earl Park Presbyterian Church, and family as Ron continues chemotherapy.
Rev. Sally Gilbert, Minister Member at Large, and family as Sally recovers from serious medical concerns.
Rev. Wayne Rhodes, Honorably Retired, as he continues to struggle with serious health issues.
Rev. Frank Vardeman, Minister Member at Large, Frank has experienced complications which required an additional surgery yesterday, with Heidi by his side in Atlanta.
Administrative Professions, secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professional.
We pray for and with First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord since 1840.
In your Holy name we pray. Amen.
Thank you for your ministry and your service...
April 24, 1981 - TE Rudy Gourdine, Honorably Retired
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.
JOIN THE WEBINAR
Preparing Houses of Worship for Emergencies
The Department of Homeland Security's Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and FEMA are pleased to invite you to a webinar to prepare faith-based organizations for disaster.
The webinar will provide faith-based and community organizations with critical local, state and national resources that can help get communities better prepared for disasters and emergencies. Subject matter experts from emergency management, the faith-based and volunteer sectors, and the federal government will answer questions about engaging the faith-based community in disaster preparedness activities.
Title: Preparing Houses of Worship for Emergencies
Join us at Big Tent; a conference that will inspire and equip Presbyterians to live missionally. Experience that deep sense of community one would expect at a national gathering of Presbyterians-a great big family reunion! Join us for worship, bible study, displays of the PC(USA) agencies, and a wide variety of workshops and other activities.
All are welcome!
Discover a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that is more exciting, more diverse, and more faithful than you ever imagined. Big Tent will inspire you and make you proud to be Presbyterian.
Each week leading up to the Big Tent, we will feature in God Calls what workshop offerings are available.
Pre-and Post-Big Tent Conferences and Meetings
Whom Shall I Send? Pastoral Responses to Trauma and Violence: Trauma Crisis Counseling Consultation
Sponsored by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
Begins Tuesday, July 28 with dinner and reception and ends by noon on Thursday.
Open to pastors, leaders, caregivers, and other responders in areas affected by disaster and trauma. Sessions include: the Trajectory of Trauma Response, Being a Less Anxious Presence, Laments and Liturgies, What Do We Tell the Kids, Communities in Trauma and Conflict, the Cost of Caring for Others, and The Importance of Self-Care. For more information, contact Beth Snyder (beth.snyder@pcusa.org).
Several changes are in the works involving how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) communicates with people at the grass roots.
Kathy Francis, the denomination's communications director, outlined some of the changes for the executive committee of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board on April 15. Among them:
Presbyterians Today will move to a bimonthly publication schedule beginning in June.
Mission Yearbook for Prayer will become a digital-only publication starting in 2016. Part of the reason is financial: Orders for the print edition have dropped from 80,000 to 8,000, raising the cost from $6 per copy to $35. Change to a digital format will mean the stories in the yearbook will be more timely, relevant "and most important, free to everyone," Francis said. The print edition "is a beautiful book . . . But it's not sustainable and it's not good stewardship. It's losing too much money."
Website. Work is beginning on a redesign of the Presbyterian Mission Agency website, using the consulting firm DBS Interactive. "Who likes our website? Nobody," Francis said. The new design "has to be simple, it has to be intuitive. Pretty much everything is not right now." The current website has about 100,000 pages. Of those, 54,000 got just one page view last year, she said - or none at all.
Newsletters. When she began working for the denomination early in 2014, Francis said, the PC(USA) put out 101 monthly electronic newsletters. "It seemed like that was the only thing people did." She's streamlined the system - now only 26 newsletters go out. With that change, "our subscribers have skyrocketed."
Gregg Brekke, new editor of the Presbyterian News Service, at work at his first Presbyterian Mission Agency Board meeting.
Presbyterian News Service.Gregg Brekke has begun work as the new editor of Presbyterian News Service, succeeding Jerry Van Marter, who retired in December. Some years ago, a decision was made to create an editorial advisory board for the news service, "but that never happened," Francis said. "I want to put it on your radar," she told the executive committee.
Ministerio Agape came onto the scene when a curious Latino leader knocked on the door of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Pleasant, Texas. Antonio Pichardo is a man full of energy and a contagious laugh, who also happens to have a strong passion for Reformed Theology. As a bilingual pastor who gets excited about cross cultural ministry, I invited Antonio to explore with FPC the possibilities of joint ministry. I had wanted to get a Spanish-speaking service started for our congregation on my own, but had no luck finding interest in the community, though I met a bunch of fun Spanish-speakers playing soccer. By the time I providentially met Antonio, all my contacts and leads had dried up and I had all but given up on the project.
Session applications must be forwarded to the presbytery office by May 1, 2015, to be forwarded to the synod with endorsement, if appropriate, by the presbytery by June 1, 2015.
Click here for the PC (USA) Mission Budget and Financial website. The site includes application instructions, guidelines, and list of unassigned funds.
CLERK'S ANNUAL GATHERINGS & RECORDS REVIEW
The last two scheduled opportunities for clerks and colleagues to gather from the congregations of Wabash Valley are listed below. Please contact the presbytery office at 574-223-5678 or email gladys@ourpresbytery.org to let us know in which session you plan to participate, so that our hosts can prepare our space and your presbytery staff can provide sufficient materials. Thanks to those who have already responded with intent to attend.
Sat. April 25 at 9 am- 11:30 EDT at First Presbyterian Church, 215 E. Lincoln Ave, Goshen, 46528 (map)
One final session for those unable to come in April will be immediately following the Presbytery Assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 19th in Presbytery Office conference room at Geneva Center. (map)
10 am - Clerk's Gathering & Records Review - Goshen First Presbyterian Church (map)
Thursday, April 30 10 am - Transitional Pastors Gathering
Tuesday, May 5 10 am - Geneva Center Ministry Team
Thursday, May 7 10 am - Commission on Ministry 10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry
Wednesday, May 13 1 pm - Northwest Church Professionals Gathering - Michigan City First Presbyterian Church (map) 1 pm - Gracious Dismissal Task Force 2 pm - New Ministry Development Team
Thursday, May 14 10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (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.
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.
Presbytery of Wabash Valley & Geneva Center Contact Information
