Presbytery of Wabash Valley

PWV Office Hours:  Monday - Friday 8 - 4 

January 13, 2016   
God
Calls

Chesterton St Johns Church
Chesterton St. John's United Church

How Can We Extend Our Branches Together? 
from: Rev. David Lawrence, Trinity Presbyterian Church West Lebanon
OUR MISSION
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.

Rev. David Lawrence, Trinity Presbyterian West Lebanon
January and the New Year is a traditional time to do an appraisal. The same holds true for our presbytery and constituent churches, especially following a year filled with significant decisions. One of the actions taken by the presbytery this year was to adopt the above mission statement, which can serve as a tool for appraising and looking ahead.

As the Council wrapped up 2015, it occurred to us that the mission can be better highlighted in the larger presbytery. To that end, we would like to ask teaching elders and moderators of sessions to take a little time in the next few months to discuss the mission statement.
  • How do you hear this statement?
  • What does this mean to your session, to the worshiping community you serve?
From that discussion please consider how the presbytery can come along side and help you extend your branches.

By June we (council) would like to have concrete programs and plans built on the mission statement, but we need your participation. As you discuss and discern, please share those conclusions with either [email protected] at the presbytery office or me, David Lawrence at  [email protected]. Together we are the presbytery and through that unity we become a more effective instrument for God.
 
HAVE YOU HEARD?

There are some changes going on at Presbytery of Wabash Valley
and we want you to be a part of them!


WANTED: IDEAS FOR A PRESBYTERY LOGO
 
Inspired by the Revelation 22:1-2 scripture:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (ethnoi).
 
And reflective on our Presbytery Mission Study Statement:
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.
 
We are asking for ideas for a logo, a symbol of who we are and the new way God is leading us.
 
We know there are many creative, inspired people in our Presbytery who may want to submit a sketch or idea which represents who we are as the people of God.
 
An anonymous donor will give $100 to the chosen graphic designer.

The other change we would like you to help with is renaming the weekly eNews "God Call".  No prize is being offered for this but we know there are many of you with some great ideas. We would like to hear them.
 
Just, send your idea or design to  [email protected] between now and April 1, 2016.

After April 1st we will post each suggestion online for your votes. May the best person win.

 
STAY CONNECTED

2016 PER CAPITA 

$39.38 total

General Assembly - $7.12 
Synod of Lincoln Trails - $3.81 
Presbytery of Wabash Valley - $28.45  
In This Issue
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



Ministry Quick Links


PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY

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June 18 - 25, 2016
222nd General Assembly (2016)
Portland, OR

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PDA     

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Congregational Community Events


Community Concert
Wanda Carter
Down-Home Gospel with a Comedy Twist
Sunday, January 17 @ 4 pm (EST)
Community PC
530 Jefferson St
Rochester, IN 46975

PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
God of life, we cry out to you. May we hear your voice, and may we hear the voices of those around us. May God's Spirit guide us to open our hearts wide to the grace of God surrounding us in the midst of our daily life.
 
We hold in prayer...
    • All of those who suffer in silence.
    • Our Presbytery as we find new ways as we serve
We give you thanks and praise to you Lord for Chesterton, St. John's United Church who has faithfully served their community and you since 1972.

In your name we pray. Amen. 
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
  • January 18, 1981 - Rev. Heidi Vardeman, Minister Member at Large
  • January 18, 1970 - Rev. Ben Whitfield, 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].

PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY CHURCH MEMBERS
SEND US YOUR STORIES

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.

 


EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Commissioned Ruling Elder Training
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
offering nine online courses for CLP/CRE lay ministry program, scheduled from February 1 - May 13.



Reach Seekers and Believers - Through Writing
Beyond Walls: Spiritual Writing at Kenyon
You feel confident in writing to those you know in your church or synagogue. Yet clergy of all faiths tell us that there's another conversation that matters, outside their institution's walls, among those who aren't there for services, but are reading, thinking, and caring about living a moral and spiritual life. This is your chance to learn the best ways to join the conversation.  

Take your seat at this remarkable seminar week of writing, inspiration, and spiritual refreshment, led by world-class practitioners on one of the nation's most beautiful college campuses Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. Register today to join us July 10-16, 2016.

FYI
DON'T HAVE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP BUT WANT TO PROVIDE COMMUNION FOR YOUR MEMBERS?

Just a reminder that the Presbytery Assembly commissioned four trained and experienced ruling elders to serve communion at the request of Session for small congregations without pastoral leadership who cannot find a teaching elder to serve them on a Sunday morning.  They are:
COM has corrected its November minutes and report to Assembly to require reimbursement of mileage by congregations for all travel to congregations by ruling elders commissioned to special pastoral service with minimum compensation of $100 for leading worship and preaching, and $50 for just presiding at the communion table. 
 
Why 734 pastors quit (and how their churches could have kept them)

Christianity Today: No sabbatical. No help with counseling. No clear picture of what's expected. Hundreds of former evangelical pastors say these were the crucial elements missing from the final churches they led before quitting the pastorate, according to a recent study by LifeWay Research.

Continue Reading 

Four Strategies for Staying on the Path to Scale

Strategy, capital, and people are essential to scaling an organization's work and impact, but they're not sufficient-to transform those crucial resources into the desired results, nonprofit leaders need to redesign their organizations too.

Continue Reading

Upcoming Events and Meetings
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. 
 

Thursday, January 14
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-To-Meeting)

Monday, January 18
Presidents Day - Presbytery Office Closed

Tuesday, January 19
10 am - Council @ Rossville PC  5434 W. State Rd 26 Rossville, IN 46065 (map)

Wednesday, January 20
10 am - Nominating Committee

Thursday, January 21
10 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-To-Meeting)
3:30 pm - PWV Move Team (Go-To-Meeting)

Friday, January 29
10 am - PWV/GCI Lease 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.
                  

Presbytery of Wabash Valley Contact Information

Stated Clerk ~ RE Linda Long ~ 219-926-7098
Presbytery Moderator ~ TE David Smook ~ 574-343-0568
Presbytery Vice Moderator ~ TE Sarah Sanderson-Doughty ~ 574-264-3109
Council Moderator ~ RE Jill Kitowski ~ 219-325-0039
Financial Consultant ~RE Eric Herzog ~ 574-223-5678 ext 105
Administrative Assistant ~ RE Vicki Dreibelbis ~ 574-223-5678 ext 100

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