Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Summer Office Hours: 8-4 Monday - Thursday & 8-12 Friday
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June 17, 2015
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 God Calls
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Summer Campers at Geneva Center
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Passage to Ponder... Amos 5:23 (NRSV)Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
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 Be inspired...Become equipped...Get connected! |
'Grace and gratitude' at Big Tent -
Q&A with theologian Martha Moore-Keish
Seminary professor and author to present two workshops at Big Tent 2015
Not only is Martha Moore-Keish an acclaimed theologian, she is also a poet.
As the author of such noted books as "Christian Prayer for Today"and associate professor for Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, she interprets, in language rich with poetic refrain, the Presbyterian emphasis on grace and gratitude. This theme will be lifted up by the Theology, Worship, and Education ministry area in a series of workshops at Big Tent.
"God's action always precedes our own, underlies our own, guides our own," she says, "if we open ourselves up to it. And that action is ultimately benevolent-is good, is loving, is gracious-so that when we begin with an emphasis on God's grace, we proclaim that even when things seem absolutely to the contrary, ultimately the power of the universe tends to our good and that we seek in our lives to align ourselves with that gracious power."
Moore-Keish says, in contrast with other Christian traditions that hold that human action comes first- "that we have to do something in order to earn our salvation" -the unique nature of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition is the principle of "God always claims and loves us first."
"By emphasizing grace as the first word, that means our action is always responsive, is always thankful, and follows what it is that God has first done for us," she says. "It's a way of claiming and proclaiming that God's action is that which is for our good, and that therefore we then seek to mirror that, to reflect that, and to respond in gratitude."
Moore-Keish's two workshops, "Grace and Gratitude in the Worshiping Community" and "Grace and Gratitude: Following Jesus" -designed to address the movement of grace and gratitude in worship and in everyday life-will be held on Friday, July 31, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., and Saturday, August 1, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
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Small congregations and the questions they should be asking
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Presbyterians Today June editorial by Patrick Heery
"I talk with so many congregations that feel like they're failures because they're small. They think they can't accomplish great things because they don't have the
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Patrick Heery Editor of
Presbyterians Today
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money or the membership numbers. They are battered almost daily with doomsday messages of decline and the need to 'grow.' And through it all, one terrifying thought persists: that all their devotion, all their love, is not enough. . . . And I wonder, Was there ever a moment that Jesus thought to himself, 'I've failed'?"
Continue Reading
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Save the Dates
2015 COUNCIL
July 21
August 17-18 Retreat
October 20
December 8
2015 ASSEMBLY
CANCELED-Special Called June 23
September 18-19 Retreat
November 17
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Ministry Quick Links
PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY
Pulpit Supply List
 The Fellowship Community National Gathering First Presbyterian Church, San Diego August 18-20, 2015 More Information  June 28 - July 3
Michindoh Conference Center Hillsdale, MI
Community Events & Workshops
Click for More Information
Church Ethos
by R. Mark King CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS
First Presbyterian Church Celebrating 175 Years of Ministry
200 E Beardsley Ave.
Elkhart, IN 46514
Saturday, July 18
Workshop & Concert
Featuring: Carrie Newcomer
To learn more visit Carries website:
carrienewcomer.com
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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O' God your Son taught us on the cross to open our arms and embrace evil with love. Having learned from the same cross that the path of love is not without hardship and suffering, we pray that you strengthen our faith and resolve to imitate your Son.
Please continue to lift those listed below in your prayers:
- Rev. Jack Hess, Honorably Retired, who continues an uphill battle with an unsuccessful foot surgery.
- Rev. Ellis Gasser, Honorably Retired, who is recovering from carpel tunnel surgery.
- Rev. Frank Vardeman, Minister Member at Large, who had a fourth back surgery in Minneapolis on June 12.
- Wabash Valley Pastors who embrace parishioners and families that seem beyond reach in heartbreaking loss.
- Geneva Center Staff, Summer Staff, Volunteers & Summer Campers.
We pray for and with Kouts, First Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and you O' God.
In your loving name we say, Amen.
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- June 20, 1971 - TE Howard Compton, Honorably Retired
- June 21, 1981 - TE Nancy Becker, Honorably Retired
- June 23, 1985 - TE Jamie Miller, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, South Bend
- June 23, 1984 - TE Michael Pennanen, First Presbyterian Church, Hammond
- June 24, 1984 - TE Scott Coulter, Minister Member at Large
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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Watch The Summit 2015
Today at 5:30 pm Eastern
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by Jim Wallis
Sojourners will be livestreaming from The Summit 2015 tonight through Friday evening, and you won't want to miss the conversation. You'll hear young leaders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement talk about the criminalization of blackness; heads of labor and business discuss a living wage; advocates speak about how men and women can work together for gender justice; faith and volunteer leaders talk about soul care for justice workers; immigration reformers speak on the human impact of a broken immigration system; and both academics and practitioners discuss our approaches to peace in light of ISIS, Syria, Iran, and other threats. You won't see long speeches but, rather, younger, older, and very diverse leaders engaging with each other to find solutions. It's about how to deepen our commitments, take our justice agendas forward, find the sustenance and support we need, and help each other along the way. Tune in HERE beginning today at 5:30 p.m. Eastern and follow along on social media using #summitforchange. Be a part of this important conversation! |
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Survey on Certification of Christian Educators
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The Task Group to Study and Report on the Future of the Certification of Christian Educators (created by the Committee on the General Assembly) is seeking responses to a short survey. The Task Force will be evaluating the certification program and wants to make sure that a number of voices and perspectives are shared and heard.
The task group is now seeking responses to a short survey from several groups of people involved in, or care about, the certification process or Christian education, including:
- mid council leaders (staff and volunteers)
- congregations (perhaps pastors or clerks of session)
- Christian educators serving congregations (employed and volunteer)
We would invite you to both complete the survey, as well as share the link below with those that fit one or more of the groups above. Here is the link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/certifiedCE
The deadline for receipt of responses is July 12, 2015.
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Presbyterian Campus Ministry
Support for Your First Year College Student
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As young people leave home and head off to college for the first time in the fall there will be all kinds of organizations, activities, and opportunities competing for their attention. They will be seeking out activities and events where they can meet people and make new friends. Please make sure that the Presbyterian campus ministries around Indiana and Illinois are able to reach out to the rising first-year students from your congregation and help connect them to other young people from churches like yours to find fellowship, worship, education, and service opportunities in their new home.
Will you share with us the names and contact information for your rising first-years? We would love to have the opportunity to reach out to them and make them feel "spiritually" welcome in their new surroundings. Below you will find contact information for all the ministries in the Synod of Lincoln trails that are registered with the PC(USA) "U-Kirk" network. By clicking here you will find a small 8.5x11 poster which you may use in any way that works for your congregation.
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Getting Youth Involved In Emergency Preparedness
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A Webinar2:00 - 3:00 pm (EDT) - Tuesday, June 23 How to Join the Webinar: -
- Please register for the event. Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.
- The webinar will conclude with a 10-minute Q&A session and offer closed captioning.
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New Ministry Development Team
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Transformation Ministry Team
Invite
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Congregation members, lay leaders & pastors to attend
Saturday, August 8, 2015
at Geneva Center
10:00 - 4:00 Presenter, Rev. Dennis Bickers Registration Deadline July 23, 2015 More Information
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Thursday, June 18
CANCELED - Commission on Ministry (Go-To-Meeting)
2 pm - Commissioned Ruling Elders' Gathering - Bob Evans Lafayette (map)Tuesday, June 23CANCELED - Presbytery Assembly Meeting
Wednesday, June 246 pm - Carroll County Churches Block Party - Flora Presbyterian Church (map)Friday, July 3Presbytery Office Closed Tuesday, July 710 am - Geneva Center Ministry Team Thursday, July 910 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry 10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting) Friday, July 1010 am - Geneva Center Transition Team
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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