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Presbytery of Wabash Valley
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June 15, 2016
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707 Main St. - PO Box 225 - Rochester, IN 46975
Phone: 574-223-5678 Fax: 1-888-215-6219
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8-12 & 1-5
Closed Friday
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God Calls
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.
-The Mission Statement of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley
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General Assembly Information
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As many of you are probably aware, the 222nd General Assembly begins this Saturday, June 18. With the marvel of technology EVERYONE is invited to the opening worship service on Saturday.
It will be streaming live at
Saturday, June 18, 11 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time!
More information about the happenings at this year's GA can be found here:
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Check http://www.facebook.com/WabashValley to follow your Wabash Valley GA Commissioners.
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follow Julia at: http://chasingchinook.blogspot.com
Julia Thorn, the daughter of Rob Thorn and Rev. Terri Thorn, Lebanon First PC, grew up in the Presbyterian
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Julia Thorn,
PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer
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Church as a PK (pastor's kid). While living in Zionsville Julia was baptized as an infant at Zionsville Presbyterian Church. She mainly worshipped in whatever church mom was a pastor of at the time. Currently, First Presbyterian of Lebanon, IN is her home church of five years, which she became a member of on April 24, 2016.
On May 7th Julia graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a Bachelors of Social Work as well as a minor in Religion and a concentration in Christian Vocation. Theology has always been an interest of Julia's and she recently became active in interfaith dialogue. During her sophomore year, she served as the Chapel Steward of Interfaith. While in college Julia served a junior internship at ICAN (Irvington Churches Advocacy Network); and her senior internship was at Southeast Community Services in Fountain Square. In Julia's spare time she enjoys art, writing, and chilling with her furry babies.
In late August, Julia will pack her bags for a week long orientation in New York before heading off to Chinook, Montana to serve as a YAV working with elementary, youth, and senior citizens. The main reason Chinook was Julia's choice is that she felt like it was one of the sites that focused more on her interests of spiritual discernment and direction compared to other national sites. Julia believes she has gifts for empathizing with others, and listening to the people that society often forgets about. "I believe God will use my experience in Chinook to give me what I need in order to help heal this world one broken soul at a time."
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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
CANCELLED-Tuesday, June 21
Tuesday, July 19 -
Brookston, Federated
Tuesday, August 16 -
Rochester, Geneva Center
Thursday & Friday, October 6-7
Council Retreat - Geneva Center
Tuesday, December 6 - Rochester, Community PC
2016 ASSEMBLY
Saturday, September 17 -
Rochester, Geneva Center
Tuesday, November 15 -
North Manchester, Peabody
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Commissioned to Validated Ministry Available 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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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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God of the rainbow...in this vibrant symbol we are ever mindful of the constants of our faith journey. We pause to ponder the mystery of the cross, but are lead forward by "the women" telling the good news of the empty grave. We say "Grace" and "Thanks" as this prayer is offered.
submitted by Lucille (Lucy) K. Rupe, Honorably Retired
Please pray for....
- Our hurting world...
- TE Sarah Gengler, The Federated Church of Brookston, as she undergoes treatment today for pinched nerves in her neck.
- TE Ralph Smith, Honorably Retired, who will have a pacemaker tune-up on Wednesday, June 29th
- TE Phil Smith, Honorably Retired, who's sister has terminal cancer
- GA Delagate TE Sarah Bishop, First Presbyterian Church South Bend, as she prepares to attend the 222nd General Assembly.
- GA Delegate RE Sandy Carlson, First Presbyterian Church Michigan City, as she prepares to attend the 222nd General Assembly.
- GA Delegate RE Mike Munson, Deer Creek Presbyterian Church, as he prepares to attend the 222nd General Assembly.
- GA Delegate TE Sarah Sanderson-Doughty, First Presbyterian Church Elkhart, as she prepares to attend the 222nd General Assembly.
- Those who suffer in silence
- Westminster Presbyterian Church South Bend
AMEN!
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Thank you for your ministry and your service... - June 16, 1959 - Rev. Richard M. Craig, Honorably Retired
- June 20, 1971 - Rev. Howard Compton, Honorably Retired
- June 21, 1981 - Rev. Nancy Becker, H.R., Parish Associate Valparaiso First Presbyterian Church, & Pastor Emeritus/Emerita Ogden Dunes Community 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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The Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRC) members have completed a successful third year of New Worshiping Community & Presbytery-Level Transformation Grants.
Available grants through the Mission office -
- New Worshiping Communities Seed Grant
- Investment Grant
- Growth Grant &
- Health Insurance Grants
- the Sam & Helen R. Walton Awards.
Dates are also included for the three remaining Grant Proposal Review dates of 2016.
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Do you have a PC(USA) Mission Giving Opportunities catalog? 
Read about literacy ministry in a majority Muslim country in Africa, efforts to halt human trafficking in Asia, expanding opportunities for mission in Cuba, and reconciliation ministry in the Middle East. Organized by regions of the world, the catalog lets you meet our mission co-workers serving around the world and invites you to contribute to their sending and support.
Download the catalog
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NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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PC(USA) leaders mourn victims of Orlando tragedy, recommit to advocating for a just society
We join our heavy hearts with the great multitude of those who mourn the killing and maiming of so many of our brothers and sisters at the Pulse club in Orlando, Florida.
Continue Reading
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We write you in hopes of changing the tone and even content of the debate over how peace can be achieved between Israelis and Palestinians. If this General Assembly deepens the divisions created by the last three Assemblies, we will not have served God well, nor will we have advanced the cause of peace. We must find a better way.
We believe that the reconciling message of Jesus Christ is a far more powerful tool in the pursuit of peace between Israelis and Palestinians than boycotts and divestment. How can we put it to work in getting the two peoples together at peace talks? In the New Testament, we read how Jesus and Paul sought to humanize, not demonize "the other." The divisions between Gentile and Jew in the first century were as extreme as the divisions between Palestinians and Israelis in the twenty-first century. Might we not learn something from Jesus and Paul?
Jesus taught us to love our enemies, not divest of our relationships with them. Paul refused to accept the fact that Jews and Gentiles would be forever pitted against one another. In his gorgeous third chapter of Galatians, he reminds us that we are neither Jew nor Gentile, for we are all one in God's eyes. Can we not find peacemaking strategies that bring people together rather than push people further into the trenches they have built to protect themselves?
Both sides in this debate are motivated by their faith. We confess that our organization has not always been explicit enough about the reasons our faith moves us to challenge boycotts, divestment and sanctions. Our opposition to these strategies is rooted in our understanding of the lives and ministries of Jesus of Nazareth, Paul, Dr. King, and other people who used faith to overcome seemingly insurmountable conflicts.
These theological commitments and others like them lead us to pray that the upcoming General Assembly can be a time of reflection on how the PCUSA might bring our theological beliefs to the peacemaking process in the Middle East and make a genuine difference.
May God be with us all in the weeks ahead.
Yours in Christ,
John Wimberly and Bill Harter
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RETREATS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
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New Wilmington Mission Conference
July 23-30
Don't delay, register today! The New Wilmington Mission Conference has offered a week long gathering of inter-generational worship, teaching and fellowship for more than a century. Bring the whole family to conference and be refreshed! There's a program for everyone, babes in arms through older adults.
LEARN MORE
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- August 27, 2016 - From Maintenance to Mission - Leadership Rev. Dennis Bickers
- September 10, 2016 - Healthy Relations with Pastors and Congregations - Leadership Richard Blackburn at First Presbyterian Church Valparaiso with live streaming to Bethany Presbyterian Church, Lafayette; First Presbyterian Church, Elkhart; and First Presbyterian Church, Peru.
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Saturday, June 18 - Saturday, June 25
General Assembly - Portland, Oregon
Wednesday, June 22
3 pm - AC Crown Point - Go-To-Meeting
Monday, July 4
Presbytery Office Closed
Thursday, July 7
10 am - Commission on Ministry - Bethlehem Presbyterian Church - 5588 Indiana 25 - Logansport, IN 46947 (map)
10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry - Bethlehem Presbyterian Church - 5588 Indiana 25 - Logansport, IN 46947 (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. And encourage your congregation's members to join our email list to keep up with news and events across our presbytery. Have you considering printing a few copies and leaving them on your church's resource table for people to pick up?
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Wabash Valley Officers, Consultant and Staff Contact Information
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