Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Office Hours: 8 - 4 Monday - Friday
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July 8, 2015
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 God Calls
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First Presbyterian Church of Elkhart Celebrating 175 years of Ministry
Saturday, July 18
Workshop & Concert
Featuring: Carrie Newcomer
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Passage to Ponder... Hebrews 10:24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,
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The strength and beauty of small churches
the founding vicar of the Episcopal Church of the Advocate, a 21st-century mission in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, N.C.
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After almost 10 years as vicar of the Church of the Advocate, a small mission church in Chapel Hill, N.C., I know well the insecurities that can plague small churches. Compared with large churches, with their many programs, resources and staff members, small churches can easily feel overshadowed and somehow "less than."
But my life and ministry at the Advocate ha s also taught me the strength and beauty of small churches. At a time of extraordinary transformation, when the whole church is looking for new ways of being for a new generation in a new world, small churches can be an invaluable resource and a gift to the wider church. In many ways, small churches are the ones best-prepared to enter the way of revitalization and renewal, and to report back to those who will follow.
The church certainly has no lack of small congregations. In virtually every denomination, most churches are small, with an average Sunday attendance of less than 100, even less than 50.
Are they -- are we -- ready to hear and to answer the call to lead? If so, we have much to offer the church and the world.
Small churches can be places of extraordinary community, the very thing that people today long for. In a small congregation, an individual can often find a sense of belonging more readily than in a large church. In a small congregation, Paul's metaphor of the church as the body of Christ comes alive, with each individual essential to the whole (Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12).
At the Church of the Advocate, we say every Sunday that the liturgy will be what it will be because of whomever God has called together in that time and place. The liturgy literally would not be the same if each person were not there.
What is true for the liturgy is even truer for the community and its life together. Each person brings her or his particular needs, history, skills and passions. The gadget-adroit teenager, the writer, the prisoner, the singer who can sing the tenor line, the rambunctious child, the chef, the chronically mentally ill adult, the carpenter -- each brings something essential to our life together. Continue Reading
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Save the Dates
2015 COUNCIL
July 21
August 17-18
October 20
December 8
2015 ASSEMBLY
September 18-19
November 17
The Presbyterian Church of Wabash
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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May we be reminded that while we are limited in our capacity, in you all things are possible. So we will fix our eyes on you, on what you say is possible, on your vision for the world, and your perspective on your creation. Give us the courage to hope.
Please lift those listed below in your prayers:
- Ruling Elder Nancy Brinklow, Commission on Preparation for Ministry, as she recovers from surgery for a broken arm.
- Rev. Frank Vardeman, Minister Member at Large, for his continued recovery.
We pray for and with Kendallville First Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord since May 6, 1848.
All in your name and for your glory. Amen.
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- July 11, 1965 - TE Ellis Gasser, Honorably Retired
- July 12, 1959 - TE Ralph Smith, Honorably Retired
- July 13, 2003 - TE Laura Penney Bade, Parish Associate at Lafayette Bethany Presbyterian Church
- July 14, 2002 - TE Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, Elkhart First Presbyterian Church
- July 15, 1990 - TE Catherine Moran, Schererville Immanuel 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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Commissioner or Young Adult Advisory Delegate Application
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Every two years, our Presbytery prayerfully elects commissioners to the General Assembly to discern on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (USA) what it means to be Christ's Church today. The work of the General Assembly comes back to the presbyteries for votes to approve or disapprove its proposed amendments to the PC(USA) Constitution. Typically, our Presbytery is entitled to send two Ruling Elders, two Teaching Elders, and one Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD).
Any PC(USA) Teaching Elder member of this Presbytery may apply to the Nominating Committee for nomination as a Commissioner. Applications from Ruling Elder and Young Adult Advisory Delegate candidates must be endorsed by the Session of his or her particular congregation.
Below are links to forms to apply for nomination as a Commissioner or a YAAD. Email your completed form to presbyterywv@gmail.com or fax 574-223-3545. Completed forms must be received in the Presbytery Office by October 1, 2015, to be distributed to the Nominating Committee for its consideration.
Our Nominating Committee will present its nominees for election at the Stated Assembly on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at Wabash Presbyterian Church in Wabash, IN. The committee will be guided in its selection by provisions of the Standing Rules, record of service to the church, information provided by the applicant and Stated Clerk of Presbytery, and constitutional requirements for inclusiveness, fairness and equal representation.
Applications provided by those nominated by Committee will be distributed to Presbytery prior to voting. Nominations from the floor shall be accompanied by the completed and signed form giving the required information with sufficient copies for those in attendance at Presbytery.
More Information Presbyters are not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek together to find and represent the will of Christ. Book of Order, F-3.0204
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 Be inspired...Become equipped...Get connected! |
Join us in three weeks at the 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. Find a few listed below and follow this link for a full line-up of workshops: http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/big_tent/pdfs/bt_schedule_of_events_0701.pdf
All are welcome! Congregations That Thrive: What Are They Doing Right?
Thriving congregations are not always large congregations. Nor are they always growing congregations. Yet there is something about them that inspires and invites. Through stories of thriving congregations, you'll learn (and possibly share) some of the most prominent characteristics of thriving congregations. Get ready to be inspired! Led by Deb Coe, Coordinator, Research Services, PMA. Encouraging Full Inclusion of People with Disabilities in our Congregations and CouncilsHow do we build a church where all God's people, without any exclusionary clauses, can join together in worship, serve and enjoy God forever? The workshop will equip participants in using the new training materials Better Together: Transformed by God's Variety of Gifts in their congregations and councils. The materials come from extensive Bible studies and the stories and experiences of PC(USA) brothers and sisters confronting attitudes, misunderstanding and other barriers to full inclusion in the church. Led by Bebe Baldwin, Carol Brown and Sue Montgomery, Presbyterians for Disability Concerns. Registration information
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You cannot serve God and wealth. 
Luke 16:13
We wear a scarlet letter A around our neck, but it doesn't stand for the same thing Hester Prynne's scarlet letter represented in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel. The "A" stands for Avarice. Avarice is the love of money and what it can buy, and that, I believe, is what drives the lives of most of us. When you get down to it, most people are fixed on want.
What would our lives and communities look like if we took Jesus seriously when he tells us that we can't serve God and wealth? One need not embrace extreme poverty to serve God. There are many ways to serve God. How would that understanding change the way we live, the way we love, the way we give, and the way we speak the gospel into the world?
Revised reprint from Forward Day by Day
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| Rev. Dennis Bickers, presenter
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Date: Saturday, August 8, 2015
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 p.m.
Place: Geneva Center, 5282 N Old US Hwy 31 Rochester
Cost: $10 individual, $25 church
(lunch provided)
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 23rd.
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The vast majority of churches in our presbytery are small. The problems they face are not unique, but the context in which they face those challenges is. Recognizing the challenge of the small church, the New Ministry Development Team coupled with the Transformation Team has scheduled a workshop on August 8 to speak to the small church. Register all who plan to attend from your congregation on the one form to get the best value of $25.00 per congregation. You must register to attend.
Registration will close on Thursday, July 23
Questions: please call the Presbytery office at 574-223-5678
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Thursday, July 9CANCELLED- Commission on Ministry 10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry 10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting) Friday, July 1010 am - Geneva Center Transition Team Tuesday, July 1410 am - Nominating Committee (Go-To-Meeting) Thursday, July 1610 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-To-Meeting) Tuesday, July 2110 am - Council
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 always 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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