Presbytery of Wabash Valley
PWV Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 - 4
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December 9, 2015
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God Calls
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2016 PER CAPITA
$39.38 total
General Assembly - $7.12 Syond of Lincoln Trails - $3.81 Presbytery of Wabash Valley - $28.45
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Passage to Ponder... Psalm 8:3-4 (CEB)
3 When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made--the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place--4 what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them?
from the 2015 Monthly Bible Study of Presbytery of Wabash Valley
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Summary of Counsel & Assembly
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from RE Linda L. Long, Stated Clerk
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Both Presbytery Council and the Presbytery Assembly met yesterday and made significant decisions about ministry using our mission statement as foundation:
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.
- Council launched Geneva Center, Inc. (GCI) as an independent entity to manage the operations of the camp and conference center. Council elected GCI's recommended board of directors: Mary Rasp (RE, Elkhart), Pam Camren (RE, Mishawaka), Jim Hubbard (RE, Valparaiso), Kim John Karlen (RE, Munster), John Ritchie (TE, Huntington), Dave Fincher (RE, Rochester), Kathleen O'Connell (TE, Whitewater Valley), and Carrie Munson (RE, Deer Creek). During the next few days, GCI will elect its officers and proceed with fundraising and other critical organizational tasks as it moves to operational and financial independence on January 1, 2016. Council has invited GCI to name a liaison to Council with voice.
- Council named a four-person team to negotiate terms of a formal lease between PWV and GCI for property essential for camp and conference ministry. Much is yet to be defined, but one provision is that beginning January 1, 2016, GCI will make monthly payments to PWV in the amount of presbytery's monthly PILP loan payments plus $1/year. Use and shared costs of space for presbytery work groups will be negotiated, knowing that there will be some presbytery events hosted by GCI and others by congregations, and that there is no decision yet about possible relocation of the presbytery office. There is an informal agreement reviewed by Council and GCI in place for the first three months of 2016 as Council's "lease team" and GCI work to allocate insurance and liabilities, payment of mission support, technology, program development, and other details for a formal lease. Summer camp will be a program of GCI.
- Expressed gratitude to Council members completing service TE John Ritchie, Huntington First PC and TE Ruby Kleymann, Rossville PC for their years of service to presbytery through Council and ministry teams.
- Council named a team to propose revisions to bylaws and standing rules to eliminate the Geneva Center Ministry Team.
- Council approved listing with a new broker two churches where congregations have closed, the sale of some church property no longer needed for ministry, and remediation of mold in one building, with thanks to RE Steve Eldridge, Elkhart First PC for serving as property committee moderator and coordinating this work.
- Council celebrated the mission gift of $1500 from Synod in support of the presbytery's confirmation retreat.
- Council approved hiring of RE Vicki Dreibelbis as Administrative Assistant with 10% increase in annual pay to $35,000 plus benefits, effective January 1, 2016, and extension of payment of severance package with benefits to Gladys Sargent to June 2016, at cost of $28,951.
- After extended discussion about the intent of Wabash Valley to continue to move toward new ways of being that were articulated during the Joshua Journey process, Council agreed to a process for each congregation and its session to give its point of view on the current mission statement and name concretely what it means to that congregation-what ways can presbytery "awaken, enliven, and enhance" the congregation's growing edges, and how can each congregation "awaken, enliven and enhance" the growth and new fruit of one another through our presbytery connections? After stimulating those discussions in congregations, ideas will come back to Presbytery Assembly for conversation and action in mid 2016. By mid-year, Council intends to have sustainable presbytery structure and staffing built upon our shared sense of mission with and for our worshiping communities, i.e. for fiscal year 2016-17.
- Council charged TE Alan Griffin, Goshen First PC with initiative to plan an educational event for 2016 focused on congregational leadership and ministry collaboration and training.
- Finally, convened at 3 pm with approximately 40 present including several guests from Calvary and joined in prayer, Presbytery Assembly approved without dissent the recommendation of its Administrative Commission and Calvary Presbyterian Church that the congregation be dismissed to the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO), and that the settlement agreement be approved upon completion of its terms and implemented, most likely before the end of this year. Prayers of celebration and gratitude were spoken for the gifts of Calvary and its people and decades of presbytery relationships as we move forward united in Christ with separate ministries.
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Save the Dates
2016 COUNCIL Tuesday, January 19 - Rossville PC Tuesday, March 15 - La Porte PC Tuesday, April 19 - TBA Tuesday, June 21 - TBA Tuesday, July 19 - TBA Tuesday, August 16 - TBA Tuesday, October 18 - TBA Tuesday, December 6 - TBA
2016 ASSEMBLY Saturday, February 20 - Rossville PC Tuesday, May 17 - TBA Saturday, September 17 - TBA Tuesday, November 15 - TBA
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Ministry Quick Links
PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY UPDATED
Helping Indiana Congregations find and use resources
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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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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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Lord, we do not always rush to do your will. Often we tiptoe our way into obedience, dragging old habits and mindsets with us. Help us to be open to your spirit to trust that your calling is always good news. - Adapted from Common Prayer We hold in prayer...
- Rev. Jack Hess, Honorably Retired, who is in need of prayers, as the treatment to help his vision has to be stopped, that his vision loss diminishes.
- Rev. Ellis Gasser, Honorably Retired, as he continues his recovery at home and would welcome cards and letters at 912 Terrace Ln., Delphi, IN 46923.
- CRE Jene McVay, Milligan Memorial Presbyterian Church Crawfordsville, for continued care and concern for his brother, Bruce, with his decision not to continue chemo and placing himself in God's hands.
We thank you Lord for Crown Point First Presbyterian Church who has faithfully served their community and you since 1844.
Amen.
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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 photos 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.
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The families in this town have welcomed the mentally ill into their homes - for the last 700 years.
At first glance, Geel seems like any other quaint farming village in the Belgian countryside.
There's a cute market square with plazas and cafes that feels fresh out of 1627, and plenty of delightfully eccentric townsfolk strolling through the streets. Geel (pronounced like "Hyale," kind of) could be just about any town in the province of Antwerp - at least, on the surface.
But the casual visitor might not realize how many of these inhabitants are struggling with mental health.
That might sound like the start of a horror movie, but it's the reality that the residents of Geel live with every day - and there's absolutely nothing scary about it (nor should there be; we'll get to that).
That's the other thing: No one actually uses the phrase "mentally ill."
Continue Reading
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2016 Confirmation Retreat
Friday evening January 8 through Sunday noon January 10, 2016 at Geneva Center
Registration Deadline Monday, December 21st
The retreat can serve as an "all in one" confirmation event for your confirmands or as an anchor experience for a longer confirmation process. - For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Justin Schlesinger Devlin at [email protected]- Click here to check out the retreat schedule of events - Confirmation Retreat scholarships are available. Please contact Justin.
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February 29 - March 2, 2016
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featuring Frank Summerville
December 10 at 2:30 p.m. EST
As hearts and minds turn to holiday parties, church leaders' thoughts will turn to year-end giving. Understanding the laws and reporting requirements for contributions are a critical task of church finance.
- Learn about a new proposed regulation (REG-138344-13) regarding a new voluntary IRS form that churches may file to confirm contributions.
- Verify your compliance with reporting requirements and appropriate timing.
- Give the proper response to those postdated checks.
- Learn how online giving is affected by timing.
- Review non-cash contribution reporting.
- Hear the latest on year-end stock and IRA gifts.
- Consider whether BITCOIN might be in your contribution future.
- Ask your specific questions about all things contributions.
Uncertainty about reporting requirements is enough to spoil a good punch bowl of eggnog... but clear understanding can bring added holiday joy.
Learn more and register
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Severe Weather Policy
The PWV office follows the Rochester Community School Corporation's weather delay and/or cancellation decision. Voice mail at the office will include the status of meetings scheduled. To confirm meeting status don't hesitate to call 574-223-5678 or 574-205-2086.
Wednesday, December 9 Noon - Northwest Church Professionals Gathering at First Presbyterian Church Crown Point (map) 3:30 pm - PWV Move Team (Go-To-Meeting)
Thursday, December 10
CANCELLED - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting)
Thursday, December 17CANCELLED - Commission on Ministry (Go-To-Meeting)
Thursday, December 24 through Friday, January 1Presbytery Office Closed for Christmas and New Year Holidays Tuesday, January 510 am - Confirmation Retreat Planning Team (Conference Call) Thursday, January 710 am - Commission on Ministry (Bethlehem Presbyterian Church Logansport) (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.
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Presbytery of Wabash Valley Contact InformationFinancial Consultant ~RE Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105
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