Presbytery of Wabash Valley

www.ourpresbytery.org
Joshua Journey Website

Summer Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday 8:00 - NOON

June 24, 2015

God Calls

Faith Presbyterian Church, Kokomo

Passage to Ponder... Amos 5:24 (NRSV)

But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

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

Rethink Church

The church is not dying. It's failing. There's a Difference.

blog by Maggie Nancarrow, an Episcopalian working for a Methodist church as the youth director

I have never noticed or perceived that people were not interested in God anymore. People are incredibly hungry for God. It isn't that people don't want to experience God. It is that The Church of the 1950s is failing to be a place where that happens.

In my life, I have met countless of these "nones" and these Millennials who don't like church. They are profoundly hungry to talk about God. Profoundly in need of spiritual guidance. Profoundly hungry for acceptance, trust, love.

And very rarely are these conversations mature, thoughtful faith dialogues. These things come up at drunken college parties, on awkward first dates, as soon as something about gay people is in the vicinity, or as soon as a fight can be picked. These people did not have religious communities that taught them how to be an adult in faith, never taught them how to go beyond petty religious behavior, never taught them how to safely discuss serious issues. Many of them never had churches who took their childhood religiosity seriously, and then viewed them as dangerous and broken when they went through their (very normal) stage of questioning as a teenager.

Many of them never had churches that did the hard work of serving the poor that they believed the church was about. Many felt excluded by the inappropriate and unloving stances on GLBT issues, or women's issues, or society as a whole. Many are deeply scared by the sex abuse scandals and the abuse of authority in the church. Many just got tired of the petty squabbles between the various old timers in the congregation, or the obsession with "the way it used to be", or the way there always seemed to be insiders and outsiders.

Many never saw any point in going to church, because it was not a place that enriched their lives. For some, the concept of God is so tainted by problems that they could not imagine the love of that God-or even did not want the love of that God.

And that's our problem, not theirs. We've failed to be mature and sincere in our faith, not the other way around. If we can't give people a space to meet the God that wants to meet them, than we have failed in our mission.

So before you get all bent out of shape by the fact that I'm using the word "failing", I will point out one thing: Even the ministry of Jesus was perceived as a failure until a few crazies began to retell the story.

New Ministry Development Team

&

Transformation Ministry Team

Invite

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

An unhealthy organism will not grow-and so it is with the church. Furthermore, if an organization or congregation is focused on growth to the exclusion of everything else, it becomes unhealthy. The upcoming workshop on small congregations is designed to provide a different perspective on the small church. This workshop will provide tools to better diagnose our churches and suggest steps to improve the health of those congregations.

It is untrue that a small church has the same problems as a larger congregation. That being the case, leadership in the small church is faced with a different set of concerns. Also, the resolution of those problems looks different in a smaller congregation compared to a larger church. Context is truly important when a church moves to function more healthily.

A common theme in smaller congregations is low self-esteem. This poor self-esteem has a negative impact on the ministry of the church, which seems to verify the self-concept and create a vicious downward spiral. The August workshop will provide leadership with a means to combat that low self-esteem and, more than that, help the church to develop a different self-image.

Please plan to be a part of Growing Together the small church workshop scheduled for August 8 from 10-4 at Geneva Center. Registration is $10 for an individual and $25 for a church. Dennis Bickers book The Healthy Small Church will be available for $5. Registration is required to be done on-line using the Constant Contact system and all attendees must be registered by July 23rd in order to plan meals and to have enough seating. If you need help with registration please contact vicki@ourpresbytery.org or call 574-223-5678.

More Information

STAY CONNECTED

Join us on Facebook

Newsletter Archive

More About Us

Join Our Mailing List

In This Issue

The Church is not dying!

Small Church Workshop - Growing Together in Christ A Small Church Workshop

Save the Dates

Prayers of the Presbytery

Celebration of Ordinations

Red Cross & First PC Rensselaer help flood victims

Follow Jesus into the chaos

Bread for the World

Survey on Certification of Christian Educators

Pastoral Excellence Network

Big Tent Events

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORIES

Save the Dates

2015 COUNCIL
July 21
August 17-18 Retreat
October 20
December 8

2015 ASSEMBLY
September 18-19 Retreat
November 17

Ministry Quick Links

PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY

Pulpit Supply List

Would you like to attend the

222nd General Assembly? Click for Applications

Learn More

"What GA is and What does it do"

Presbyterian Campus Ministry

Support for Your First Year
Purdue University
College Student
Contact:
Allen Bol bolallen@gmail.com
or
Dave Comstock 317-506-8184 pastordaveip@gmail.com

The Fellowship Community

National Gathering

First Presbyterian Church, San Diego

August 18-20, 2015

More Information

Presbyterian Youth Triennium

July 19-July 23, 2016

Learn More

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Community Events & Workshops

Click for More Information

Buildings for a New Tomorrow
A Faith & Leadership interview with Julia Groom

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

Get the Flyer listing other opportunities to celebrate with Elkhart First!

PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY

Lord, we know that you will come again in glory to raise the living and the dead. Resurrect us now from the death of comfort, complacency, sloth, and shallowness that we might witness to your love in life and death. -From Common Prayer

Please lift those listed below in your prayers:

The Malawi Matters Team, as they travel to Malawi, Africa (Prayer Guide).
For those who have been impacted by the recent storms and flooding.
Rev. Jack Hess, Honorably Retired, who continues an uphill battle with an unsuccessful foot surgery.
Jennifer Smith, wife of CRE James Dougans, First Presbyterian Church Rensselaer, on the loss of her father Rev. Carl R. Smith, Jr., June 4, 2015, Philadelphia, PA. Rev. Smith served as Synod of Lincoln Trails Executive - 1976-1987 and was a minister member of Presbytery of Wabash Valley during that time.
Rev. Frank Vardeman, Minister Member at Large, who continues therapy at: Courage Center 3915 Golden Valley Road, #107 Minneapolis, MN 55422.
Geneva Center Staff, Summer Staff, Volunteers & Summer Campers.

We pray for and with Kokomo, Faith Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and you O' God since 1952.

In your loving name we say, Amen.

Thank you for your ministry and your service...

June 25, 1965 - TE Walter Davis, Honorably Retired
June 27, 1976 - TE Stuart Robertson, Honorably Retired
June 29, 1975 - TE John Everett, Honorably Retired
June 30, 1961 - TE Don Neely, Honorably Retired
June 30, 2013 - TE Patty Jones, First Presbyterian Church Fowler

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.

Rensselaer First Provides Help for Flood Victims

Residents in Rensselaer continue to keep a close eye on the floodwaters. The water is receding for now, which means the cleanup process is underway.

A trailer full of belongings sits in Kayla Longstreth's driveway. As News 18 reported Wednesday, her family's basement nearly filled to the ceiling with water during last week's flooding in Rensselaer.

"Red Cross dropped off a cleaning kit for us, and then we went yesterday to help clean. [With] bleach and stuff like that to help clean, because the smell is just horrifying up there," said Longstreth.

Other families have been using the Red Cross cleaning kits as well. A disaster trailer is parked at the First Presbyterian Church in town, the same site that served as the Red Cross emergency shelter last week.

Transitional pastor Jim Dougans said almost 10 families picked up cleaning kits Monday.

This is the week to set aside our Presbyterian sensibilities and follow Jesus into the chaos.

by Jill Duffield, The Presbyterian Outlook Editor

I recently attended a non-Presbyterian wedding. It was in another mainline Protestant church but it felt worlds away from my tradition. It wasn't the service itself that was different. The words, the Scripture passages, the music... it all resonated. I could recite a lot of it. What was different was the ethos of the gathering before the service. It was lively. It was, at times, LOUD.

The closer it got to the appointed hour, the more anxious I got. Every fiber of my Presbyterian being wanted to "shhh" the people around me. I comforted myself with the knowledge that surely soon everyone would settle down because the music had just shifted to the tune designated for the seating of the mothers. I relaxed, but only for a second. You see, others had also noticed the change in music and, it appeared, had simultaneously noticed that a number of the pews toward the front of the church were unoccupied. And so they got up and moved. Some beckoned others forward. There was more chatting, laughter.

There was still some shifting as the mothers entered the sanctuary and the place only became quiet when the first bridesmaid was one-fourth down the aisle. I felt undone. I also realized that I may be the most uptight worship goer on the planet and thanked God for the obliviousness that comes with being in the vestibule or chancel.

It is this discomfort with even a hint of disorder and chaos that makes reading Mark's Gospel for Sunday anxiety provoking. What with people falling at Jesus' feet and begging, with words like tumult (also translated riot) and scourge, with pulsating crowds and weeping and wailing mourners, I just want everyone to settle down, get themselves together, form a line, something!

Reflecting on Lobby Day 2015

By Shalom Khokbar

I wasn't sure what to expect as I walked into Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church last week. Lobby Day 2015 was in full swing, evident by the dozens of name-tags and orange lanyards at the registration table, the suitcases and bags piled up in the back of the room, and the lingering smell of a delicious breakfast coming from the annex.

I saw people scurrying up the stairs with coffee cups in hand, eager to get to the sanctuary. The legislative briefing was being broadcast throughout the entire facility. I made my way upstairs, sitting just outside the main doors. I peeked inside; the room was packed full with attentive eyes and ears.

Survey on Certification of Christian Educators

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.

Pastoral Excellence Network

Dedicated to strengthening and sustaining excellent pastoral leaders for a lifetime of creative and effective service to the church.

Pastoral Excellence Network

Be inspired...Become equipped...Get connected!

Focus on faith formation: From following the light to being the light

Big Tent 2015 leader to explore apostleship in breakout session

For the past 15 years, Rodger Nishioka has worked at developing hearts and minds for discipleship in the church. As the Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary he's particularly interested in faith formation for youth and young adults-this generation's leaders.

Nishioka is one of the leaders for Big Tent's featured breakout sessions. He spoke with Presbyterian News Service from his offices in Decatur, Ga., where he was preparing to lead a youth conference for Mo Ranch.

"Before I went to seminary I taught in middle school," he says. "I always thought they were a reflection of God's energetic, creative best. They were on the cusp between childhood and adulthood from moment to moment. It was so much fun."

In some ways that metaphor fits with what Nishioka will talk about at Big Tent 2015, as he ventures into how we are formed spiritually as followers of Jesus.

"It's really about us moving from discipleship to evangelism," he says. "Which is really about us being apostles."

So is that going to be the focus of your breakout session Ministries Equipping Leaders for Discipleship and Evangelism?

My work as a teacher in Christian Education is to help pastors and teachers shape discipleship and faith formation in the church. So the natural question for me over the years has been, "How do we best do this? How do we form people of faith-men and women-who seek to live as Jesus did?" Continue Reading

Registration information

Upcoming Events and Meetings

Summer PWV Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday 8:00 am - NOON

Wednesday, June 24
6 pm - Carroll County Churches Block Party - Flora Presbyterian Church (map)

Friday, July 3
Presbytery Office Closed

Tuesday, July 7
10 am - Geneva Center Ministry Team

Thursday, July 9
10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting)

Friday, July 10
10 am - Geneva Center Transition Team

Tuesday, July 14
10 am - Nominating Committee (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

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.