Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Office Hours: 8 - 4 Monday - Friday 

May 27, 2015   
God Calls
Elston PC Celebration
Lafayette Elston Presbyterian Church

Passage to Ponder... Ezekiel 37:9-10

9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

(from the Presbytery of Wabash Valley  2015 Monthly Bible Study  Reading and Reflection)

Faith &
Leadership

A learning resource for Christian leaders and their institutions from Leadership Education at Duke Divinity

Everything is possible

 by Katie Clementson

  

The Rev. David McNitzky hired a young man 15 years ago to launch a contemporary service in the church gym -- a new option for worship at his large and historic United Methodist congregation in San Antonio.

 

The new pastor shadowed him on hospital visits and pre-wedding talks with couples. McNitzky went over the young man's sermons and narrowed his seemingly endless ideas to one or two practical ones.

 

A seasoned veteran and an enthusiastic upstart, the two pastors saw their friendship deepen into a father-son bond that both regard as a rabbinical model for mentoring.

 

A few years ago, the prot�g�, the Rev. Scott Heare, challenged his spiritual father with a proposal: What if together they molded a handful of laypeople, building the same kind of close, honest relationships within a larger group? They'd teach practical ministry, biblical theology and Christianity's Jewish heritage in an organic, group setting.

 

The idea would be to empower laypeople with clergy-level vision and skills, incubating their sense of calling prior to seminary training -- or possibly instead of it. 

The two leaders view the training program as worth their time because they believe that bi-vocational lay ministry is the future of the church.
Three years ago, the idea took off.

 

Called the "Quarry," it started with 16 people and grew without formal advertising to more than 50. They gather for Thursday-night sessions at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, where McNitzky is the senior pastor. Some come from as far as an hour's drive away. And some are on staff at one of Alamo Heights UMC's three campuses -- a mix of contemporary, traditional and recovery-based congregations.

 

At the meetings, they listen to McNitzky and Heare's classroom instruction and participate in contemporary worship and soul-searching question-and-answer sessions. Throughout the week, McNitzky and Heare meet in coffee shops and restaurants with Quarry members for regular one-on-one visits. The members have also bonded with one another, creating their own community of support in ministry.

 

The name Quarry arose partly because the main campus stands on a former rock mine. But it's also a nod to the lineage Christians may claim in Isaiah 51:1-2: "Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you, for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many" (NRSV).

 

"We are of the same stuff as Abraham and Sarah," McNitzky said. "God can use us, too. They were not superhuman."

 

'This is the best time to be a part of the church'

 

Church consultants and executive pastors come to observe the Quarry, struck by the rare scenario of a senior pastor from a large church investing in such a broad-based group, including non-church members.

 

The Quarry demands no pledge cards or fees. Instead, the two leaders view the training program as worth their time because they believe that bi-vocational lay ministry is the future of the church.

 

Continue Reading

 

 


STAY CONNECTED


In This Issue
Save the Dates

2015 COUNCIL
Reschedule for June 9
July 21
August 18
October 20
December 8

2015 ASSEMBLY
Special Called June 23
September 18-19
November 17


Ministry Quick Links


PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY

 Pulpit Supply List 

    

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The Fellowship Community
National Gathering
First Presbyterian Church
 San Diego
August 18-20, 2016
 

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Glory to God Hymnal

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Wee Kirk Conference

Discerning what is Best 

October 6-8, 2015

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Community Events & Workshops

Click for More Information 

 

 

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 Forming Laity for Life and Ministry
by Christine A. Scheller

 

 

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Information 

 

 

PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
God of all peoples, remind us of your overwhelming love. Help us hear your call to us, your children. May we have faith like little children, so that we might enter your Kingdom.

Please lift those listed below in your prayers:
  • Bruce McVay brother of CRE Jene McVay, Crawfordsville Milligan Memorial Presbyterian Church, as he receives cancer treatments.
  • Rev. Frank Vardeman, Minister Member at Large & Rev. Heidi Vardeman, St. John's United Church Chesterton, as they move to Minneapolis and Frank continues physical therapy.
  • For those who have been impacted by the recent severe storms.
  • For our mission co-workers.
We pray for and with Lafayette Elston Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and followed you Lord since 1912.

Amen.
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
  • May 29, 1983 - TE Paul Anderson, Dyer Presbyterian Church and Merrillville First Presbyterian Church
  • May 30, 1955 - TE Don Nead, 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 [email protected].

 
Every week, we publish this eNewsletter "God Calls" 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 [email protected], due each Friday.

 


Get with it, boards

by Tom Ehrich

  • Transparency is critically important at all times in a community's life, and especially so when change, challenge, conflict and/or uncertainties are afoot.
  • As important as information is, engagement is even more important. If you want people to care about what you are doing, give them vehicles for caring.

Continue Reading 

JOB OFFERING
Director of Children and Youth Ministry

The First Presbyterian Church of Peru, IN is seeking an enthusiastic part-time Director of Children and Youth Ministry. 20-25 hours/ wk. $15-$20/hr based on training and experience. Email cover letter and resume to [email protected].

 

Author Phyllis Tickle faces death just as she enjoyed life: 'The dying is my next career'

by Religion News Service

 

Over the past generation, no one has written more deeply and spoken more widely about the contours of American faith and spirituality than Phyllis Tickle.

 

And now, at 81, she's working on her final chapter: her own.

 

Continue Reading

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SUMMER CAMP

We are SO excited to be gearing up for another season of summer camp at Geneva Center Camp and Conference Center in Rochester, Indiana.  We've created a short (three and a half minutes) promotional video to get you and your congregation excited as well!  Please consider sharing this video with your congregation and youth group, and encourage them to try out one of our camps.

  

More information on camp programs can be found in our brochure (online at  http://www.genevacenter.org/SummerCamp.html).  Campers can register online or by mail (registration information in is the brochure).  If you (or congregation members) have any questions or would like to apply for a "campership," please contact our office at 574-223-6915 or by email at [email protected].

 

We hope to see your campers this summer!

 

Rachel Osborn

Assistant Director, Geneva Center Summer Camps

 

 


Be inspired...Become equipped...Get connected!
Each week leading up to the Big Tent, you will find here in God Calls featured workshops and this link to registration information.

Big Tent is focusing on three areas of missional living: Advocacy, Poverty, and Discipleship. The featured workshops in Sessions A and B on Friday morning offer opportunities of encouragement and insight from three church leaders engaged passionately in these ministries.

Working While White: Working for Racial Justice as White People with White People

When the spaces you occupy are all white or nearly all white, they are racialized spaces. Noticing and speaking up are important skills to working for justice in the world. Silence is complicity. We promise to sit with Holy discomfort. Led by Molly Casteel, Assistant Stated Clerk and Manager for Representation, Inclusiveness, and Ruling Elder Training, OGA.

 

Grace and Gratitude-Part I

Christine Pohl introduces us to the theme of grace and gratitude as a way to articulate our faith as Reformed Christians. Explore our Presbyterian identity through this lens that compels us to practice Christian community, proclaim the gospel, and work for justice. (Part II offered Friday at 3:00 p.m.) Led by Dr. Christine Pohl, Associate Provost and Professor of Church and Society/Christian Ethics, Asbury Theological Seminary.

 

Using Human Rights Based Approach to Address Human Trafficking

Human trafficking-modern-day slavery-is a multidimensional threat, one that deprives men, women, and children of the most basic of their human rights. From sex trafficking to debt bondage, from the tomato fields to the mining industry, it is a complex phenomenon-lucrative, widespread, and growing. Explore how the PC(USA) is partnering with others to address human trafficking through human rights, a victim-centered approach that puts the rights of trafficked persons at the center of all advocacy and assistance efforts. Find out what works, what doesn't work, and how you can be part of a movement for justice for trafficked persons. Presented by members of the PC(USA) Human Trafficking Roundtable.


Upcoming Events and Meetings


Tuesday, June 2 
CANCELED - Geneva Center Ministry Team

Thursday, June 4 
10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry 
10 am - Commission on Ministry

Friday, June 5 
10 am - Geneva Center Transition Team

Tuesday, June 9 
10 am - Council

Thursday, June 11 
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting)

Friday, June 12 
2 pm - Commissioned Ruling Elders' Gathering - Bob Evans, Plymouth (map)

Thursday, June 18
2 pm - Commissioned Ruling Elders' Gathering - Bob Evans Lafayette (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.
                  

Presbytery of Wabash Valley & Geneva Center Contact Information

Stated Clerk ~ Elder Linda Long ~ 219-926-7098
Office Manager ~ Gladys Sargent ~ 574-223-5678 ext 102
Financial Consultant ~ Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105
Church Relations Coordinator ~ Elder Vicki Dreibelbis ~ 574-223-5678 ext 100
Geneva Center Manager ~ Cathy Adley ~ 574-223-6915 ext 200
Geneva Center Maintenance Director ~ Jeff Winegardener ~ 574-223-6915 ext 204
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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