Presbytery of Wabash Valley
PWV Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8-12 & 1-5
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March 30, 2016
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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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 God
Calls
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LeadingIdeas
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Lewis Center for Church Leadership
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Cool Church Isn't What It Used to Be
by Carey Nieuwhof
For the last few decades, simply being a cooler church than the church down the road helped churches grow. Trade in the choir for a band. Add some lights, some sound, some haze, and you had a growing church. That time has recently come to a close. I'm not against churches having bands, lights, and creating a great environment. Not at all. In fact, the church I lead has all of the above; if you are going to gather people, gather well. My point is not that you shouldn't, but that it's no longer enough. So what's changing?
Cutting-edge keeps changing...fast. Constant connectivity online has sped up trends. What's novel isn't novel for long anymore. You used to have to hire experts, be in a certain circle, or do some travelling or sleuthing to find cool things. Now you just download an app, watch a video, stream a song, or follow whatever trend you're passionate about in the moment. Trends are shorter, less interesting, and we're all growing oh-so-bored with what's novel. It's harder than ever for churches to be cutting-edge because cutting-edge keeps changing.
Indifference to church has grown. As the percentage of unchurched adults in the U.S. has risen, indifference to the church has grown. Church leaders in places like Canada and other countries have felt the indifference for much longer. As churches changed their worship style and even architecture in recent times, having a cool church got you more traction than it does today. Here's why: if people aren't into church, it doesn't matter how cool, hip, or trendy your church is; people won't be that interested.
Imitation killed innovation. Because we live in a digital age when church leaders easily keep their fingers on the pulse of what other leading churches are doing, we also find ourselves living in an age of imitation. I'm not against borrowing great practices, but when churches imitate each other, we rarely borrow all the best practices. We just borrow the ones that have caught our imagination. We ignore the reality that what's making growing churches grow is significantly deeper than the cool factor. And in the process of all that imitation, something even more important is lost: innovation.
Five Keys to Rebirth (The New Cool) All around us is a rapidly changing culture, and when we ignore that culture, we do so at our peril. It is still a great idea to use the culture to reach the culture, but you definitely go beyond that. Here are five keys I see to a future of greater impact with Millennials. 1. Authentic Leadership and Connection
Sometimes the reason cool doesn't connect is because underneath all that "cool" is an inauthenticity: people who have fallen for the lie that style trumps substance. Unchurched people and younger adults and teens are looking for authentic leadership and authentic connection. And, my goodness, if the church is anything, it should be a place of deep authenticity.
2. An Elevated Sense of Mission
The church has always been about something bigger than itself. At the center of our mission is Christ. While most organizations naturally drift toward an insider focus, church leaders must resist this at all costs. Not only is it antithetical to the true mission of the church, but a self-obsessed community is a turnoff to a young generation that is well aware of the needs in the world the church often ignores. You lose your narcissism when you lose yourself in a bigger mission. And a bigger mission is something Millennials are longing to give their lives to.
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2016 PER CAPITA
$39.38 total
General Assembly - $7.12 Synod of Lincoln Trails - $3.81 Presbytery of Wabash Valley - $28.45
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Save the Dates
2016 COUNCIL Tuesday, April 19 - Peru, 1st PC
Tuesday, June 21 - Rochester, CPC
Tuesday, July 19 - Brookston, Federated
Tuesday, August 16 - Geneva Center
Tuesday, October 18 - Peabody
Tuesday, December 6 - TBA
2016 ASSEMBLY
Tuesday, May 17 - Peru, 1st PC
Saturday, September 17 - Geneva Center
Tuesday, November 15 - Peabody
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Commissioned to Validated Ministry to
Serve Communion
Jill Kitowski (219) 325-0039 jill2536@comcast.net
David Abbott (574) 234-2414
Carrie Munson (574) 721-5225
Michael Shurn (574) 946-3851 judge66@pulaskicounty.in.gov |
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Ministry Quick Links
PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- April 1, 2001 - The Rev. Dr. Justin Schlesinger-Devlin, Dayton Memorial Presbyterian Church
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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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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Creator of us, and then our Savior too, we hate to think that someone had to die before we understood the seriousness of your Holy Spirit. We cannot fathom the depth of that love, your desire to bring us around to living in the light of Christ. In penitence, we look at our superficiality, the taking-for-grantedness of our relationship with you. We marvel at your patience with us and your determination to save us. And then we thank and praise you. Incorporate us into Christ that we may participate in his ministry, to bring the world to your home; your glorious kingdom. May that love particularly embrace the people at the Winamac Pulaski Presbyterian Church. Make manifest your goodness, particularly for the people named above and for whom we pray. May your Word make us alive. Amen.
- From TE Stanley Kessler, Honorably Retired
We hold in prayer....
- Rev. Sue Babovec, Peabody Retirement Community Chaplain, as she and here family celebrate the life of her father Victor Johnson who passed away on Friday. Services will be held at 10:30 am tomorrow at First Presbyterian Church York, NE.
- Rev. Jonathan and Rev. Amy Cornell and family, The Wabash Presbyterian Church, who are healing the hurts and wounds from a very serious accident.
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RETREATS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
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Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering
You're invited to the 44th Annual Spring Gathering of Presbyterian Women of Wabash Valley Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Geneva Center 5282 N. Old US Hwy 31, Rochester, IN 46975, phone: 574-223-6915) at Butler Lodge (Once you turn into Geneva Center go to the fork in the road and veer right - go down the hill. Butler Lodge is on the left. You will see a parking lot and lake.)
Friendship time on Saturday April 16th is 9:30 a.m. and the program begins at 10:00 .am. EDT. The speaker is Carol Winkler, Moderator, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), Inc.
The theme is Educate a Child. Registrations are due Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Registration (including lunch) is $10.00 and anyone who hasn't attended a Gathering, it is $5.00. Bring a friend!!
Please make your check payable to PW of Wabash Valley and send to Linda Gingrich, 210 W. Vine St, Delphi, IN 46923, phone: 765-564-2188, email: grandmag3@frontier.com or Kathie Dymek, phone: 574-753-4837 email: sjksdymek@rocketmail.com. Please come and say "Hi" to the highest position woman in the Presbyterian Church(USA).
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Inclining Ears, Binding Wounds
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A panel discussion on identifying and addressing racism in the Church
Friday, April 1 6:30- 8:30 pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Springfield 533 S Walnut St., Springfield, IL 62704
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Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day
April 15, 2016
in Washington, D.C.
Join us for "Lift Every Voice!", as we explore the issues around systemic oppression both locally and globally. CPJ Day is part of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days Training weekend in D.C. Learn More
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 Certification of Christian Educators benefits the entire church
Read Paula Zavitz story on becoming a Certified Christian Educator and what it means to her and the church she serves.
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2016-17 Presbyterian Planning Calendar
an invaluable resource
Orders are being taken from the Presbytery office - $9.00 each payable:
Presbytery of Wabash Valley PO Box 225 Rochester, IN 46975
Please call 574-223-5678, e-mail Vicki@ourpresbytery.org, or forward payment for the desired number of copies. Orders may be picked up at the May 17 assembly unless specified to be mailed with invoice to include shipping.
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Severe Weather Policy
Please contact the moderator of the team or committee you serve, check
http://www.ourpresbytery.org/calendar.htm for the status of scheduled meetings
and please don't hesitate to call 574-223-5678 or 574-205-2086.
Thursday, April 7
10 am - Commission on Ministry at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church - 5588 N SR 25 - Logansport, IN 46947 (map)
10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church - 5588 N SR 25 - Logansport, IN 46947 (map)
Tuesday, April 12
10 am - Nominating Committee - Presbytery Office 707 Main St. Rochester, IN 46975 (map)
Thursday, April 14
10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-to-Meeting)
Saturday, April 16
Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering at Geneva Center, INC
Sunday, April 17
3 pm - Installation of Rev. Jeff Cover at First Presbyterian Church 220 N Cullen St., Rensselaer 47978 (map)
Tuesday, April 19
10 am - Council - First Presbyterian Church 102 W Main St., Peru 46970 (map)
Thursday, April 21
10 am - Commission on Ministry (Go-to-Meeting)
Saturday, April 23
10 - 4 - Boundaries and Ethics Training - Community Presbyterian Church 530 Jefferson St. Rochester, IN 46975 (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 CHURCH MEMBERS
SEND US YOUR STORIES
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Every week, we publish this eNewsletter to hundreds of Wabash Valley and PC(USA) members and also post online! The Administrative Assistant 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 vicki@ourpresbytery.org, due each Friday.
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Presbytery Office Updated Information
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Don't forget to update your records with our new mailing address.
Visit us at
707 Main St. Rochester
between 8-12 & 1-5 Monday - Thursday
Closed Friday
but our new mailing address is:
Presbytery of Wabash Valley
PO Box 225
Rochester, IN 46975
Not only do we have a new mailing address we also have a new
toll free fax number: 1-888-215-6219
Please do be in contact with Vicki at 574-223-5678 or email vicki@ourpresbytery.org if you find you have questions or need assistance.
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Presbytery of Wabash Valley Officers, Consultant and Staff Contact Information
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