707 Main St. - PO Box 225 - Rochester, IN 46975
Phone: 574-223-5678 Fax: 888-215-6219 www.ourpresbytery.org
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8-12 & 1-5 Closed Friday
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Focus of November Assembly
"Holding Space for One Another"
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Gathering around the theme of "Holding Space for One Another" based upon 1 Corinthians 14: 36-40, the Presbytery Assembly focused especially on the encouragement for mutual forbearance found in Foundations 3.0105 while at the same time having responsibility to speak truth in love. Through song, scripture, sermons, difficult conversations and prayer seeking the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Assembly took some important actions as a council of the church:
- Built relationships through welcoming first-time attendees, fellowship and conversations around round tables in the informal worship space generously hosted by First Presbyterian Church in Elkhart. Assembly received the Lord's Supper, sang with an acoustic praise band, and attended to sermons by David Smook and candidate for ordination.
- Considered amendments to the PC(USA) Constitution proposed by the 222nd General Assembly:
- Voted to approve 16-B, restating parity required on committees
- Declined to approve 16-C that would revert to "ministers of Word and Sacrament" in lieu of "teaching elders"
- Declined to approve 16-D that would allow teaching elders who have renounced jurisdiction of the church to avoid disciplinary process to seek restoration by undergoing the disciplinary process at some undefined later time.
- Extended gratitude to outgoing Council moderator Jill Kitowski (RE, La Porte) for her years of leadership. Jill led installation of new presbytery officers:
- Assembly Moderator Sarah Sanderson-Doughty (TE, Elkhart)
- Assembly Vice Moderator Rick Ryan (CRE, Elston)
- Council Moderator David Smook (TE, HR)
- Commissioned two groups of presbyters to special service:
- Carrie Munson (RE, Deer Creek), Dave Abbott (RE, Westminster, SB) and Jill Kitowski as charged for a second one-year term to serve the Lord's Supper to small congregations unable to find pastoral leadership
- Steve Quinlan (TE, Peru), David Lawrence (TE, West Lebanon), Michael Shurn (RE, Pulaski), Rebecca Kuiken (TE, Elkhart) and John Briggs (RE, Rochester) as charged to work with First Presbyterian Church in Plymouth on its future.
- Elected more presbytery leaders:
- Jan Sandos (RE, Rossville) as moderator of Nominating Committee for 2017
- Steve Quinlan as vice moderator of COM
- Aaron Ban (TE, Chesterton) to Committee on Representation
- Jeff Brown (CRE, Kokomo) as Synod Commissioner
- Jim Perkins (RE, Rossville) and Spencer Bower (RE, Bethany, Lafayette) to Personnel Committee
- David Lawrence as moderator for 2017 of New Ministry Development Team
- Kathy Michael (RE, Pleasant Hill, Frankfort) to Stewardship Ministry Team
- Gave thanks to Jennifer Burns Lewis, Visioning and Connecting Leader, for her pastoral letter to congregations following the national elections.
- Received enthusiastic report of Synod Commissioners Ann Bingaman (RE) and Donna Enersen (CRE, Frankfort Pleasant Hill) about Synod matching grants available for mission and new projects, and its study of racial justice and implications for congregations through yearlong conversation and communal book study of Waking Up White.
- Examined candidate for ordination and after extended discussion, prayer and vote, referred her for further consultation with Commission on Preparation for Ministry and the congregation's PNC for consultation with Commission on Ministry to define any possible pastoral relationship.
- Endorsed budget for July 2016-June 2017, based upon renewed Presbytery per capita of $28.45, Synod of $3.81, and increase of OGA per capita by $.38 to $7.50 for total of $39.76. Budget reflects reduction of past operating deficit by $95,190 after reduction in staff and office space. Contributions from churches of their full per capita allocation with current reported membership would balance the presbytery budget
- Toby Mueller (TE, Valparaiso) invited the Assembly to come on Saturday, February 25, 2017, to First Presbyterian Church, Valparaiso, for a combined Assembly meeting and workshop for congregations led by Dr. Richard Blackburn
Moderator Sarah Sanderson-Doughty closed the meeting after 3 pm with prayers of celebration and gratitude as well as petitions for guidance and care.
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Nourished by the living waters of Jesus Christ, we awaken, enliven and enhance worshipping 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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2017 PER CAPITA
$39.76 total
General Assembly - $7.50
Synod of Lincoln Trails - $3.81
Presbytery of Wabash Valley - $28.45
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Save the Dates
2016 COUNCIL
Tuesday, December 6 - Rochester, Community PC
2017 COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 10
Valparaiso First PC
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
TBA
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
TBA
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
TBA
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
TBA
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Peabody Retirement Community
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Lafayette Bethany PC
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
TBA
If your congregation would like to host any one of the dates listed above TBA please contact vicki@ourpresbytery.org or call the PWV Office at 574-223-5678.
2017 ASSEMBLY
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Valparaiso First PC
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Geneva Center
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Peabody Retirement Community
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Lafayette Bethany PC
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Ministry Quick Links
PC(USA) RESOURCES
YAV
Young Adult Volunteer Program Application Dates
December 1, 2016
February 1, 2017
April 1, 2017
June 1, 2017
Learn More
...
New Advent Books
from
Westminster John Knox Press
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Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Pulpit Supply List
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Presbytery of Wabash Valley
2016 Monthly Bible Study
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Grace Give More
by Max Lucado
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Communication in the Church: Creating healthier relationships
Thomas Kirkpatrick
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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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 Today, may we take comfort and find encouragement in this beloved prayer:
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
We are always in need of these things - peace, love, pardon, faith, hope, light, joy, consolation, understanding - but even more so today. May we be the bearers of such things to others, and may we find that they offer them to us in return. Amen.
Prayer provided by Rev. Paige Cantwell, Honorably Retired
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Conner Gray grandson of
Eric Herzog
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Please pray for....
- Lowell, Lake Prairie Presbyterian Church
- The Herzog/Gray families as they welcome Conner into the family
- CRE Anelle McFee, Wolcott Meadow Lake PC, as she recovers from a recent serious auto accident with deep soreness of muscles
- The Rev. Jack Hess, Honorably Retired, as he continues to struggle with health concerns and as he moves to Kokomo
- Peace, grace, and tolerance
AMEN!
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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- November 16, 1980 - The Rev. Marjorie Mason Braden, Minister Member at Large
- November 16, 2014 - The Rev. Tamika Montgomery, Frankfort Geetingsville Presbyterian Church
- November 18, 2014 - CRE Beverly Harkey, Albion First Presbyterian Church
- November 18, 2014 - CRE Dave Hughes, Howe Lima Presbyterian Church
- November 18, 1984 - The Rev. Dr. Adelia Kelso, South Bend First Presbyterian Church
- November 19, 1991 - CRE Anella McFee, Wolcott Meadow Lakes Presbyterian Church
- November 22, 2002 - CRE Donna Enersen, Frankfort Pleasant Hill 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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- Have you felt called to grow in faith and service?
- Have you considered ministry as a vocation?
- Have you wondered about what it might mean to serve a congregation as a worship leader or as a Commissioned Ruling Elder?
If so, you may want to participate in an exciting education opportunity being renewed right now in the Presbytery of Wabash Valley.
Click here to learn more
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RETREATS
WORKSHOPS
WEBINARS
AND EVENTS
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
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Thursday, November 1710 am - 2 pm - Coffee Office Hours with Jennifer at Bind Cafe 108 N Main St., Kokomo, IN 46901 ( map) 7 pm - Carroll County Churches Gathering at Cutler United Presbyterian Church 44 E 500 S & Church St., Cutler, IN 46920 ( map) Friday, November 1811 am - Crown Point Administrative Team (Go-To-Meeting) Tuesday, November 2210 am - 2 pm - Coffee Office Hours with Jennifer at Klien Brot Haus 106 E 3rd St., Brookston, IN 47923 ( map) Monday, November 21 - Friday, November 25
PRESBYTERY OFFICE CLOSED
Thursday, November 24HAPPY THANKSGIVING Wednesday, November 3010 am - 2 pm - Coffee Office Hours with Jennifer at Temple News Agency 816 Jefferson Ave., La Porte, IN 46350 ( map) All meetings & events posted on the PWV Calendar are eastern time (EDT) unless noted otherwise. Please call 574-223-5678 or visit http://www.ourpresbytery.org/calendar.htm for more information regarding meetings and events.
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PWV presents a
Combined assembly meeting/Healthy Pastor-Congregations workshop
with Dr. Richard Blackburn
Saturday, February 25, 2017
8:30 am Central Time Registration 
9am - 4pm Central Time
10am - 5pm Eastern Time
For more information, see lmpeacecenter.orgFour convenient sites: Live at First Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso Streaming at three additional sites: First Presbyterian Church of Elkhart First Presbyterian Church of Peru Bethany Presbyterian Church of Lafayette
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An Exciting Initiative to Link Congregations with Young Adults!
Please take note of an upcoming Major Grant Initiative that the Center for Congregations is offering this spring. This is something YOU should know about!
This initiative offers education, study groups, and an opportunity to apply for up to $30,000 in matching funds.
This is a competitive grant, ideally suited for Presbyterian congregations. 
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November Coffee Office Hours with Jennifer...
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Stop by and connect with Jennifer at convenient coffee shops all over the presbytery.  - Thursday, November 17: 10 am -2 pm - Bind Cafe 108 N. Main St., Kokomo
- Tuesday, November 22: 10 am - 2 pm - Klein Brot Haus Bakery 106 3rd Ave., Brookston
- Wednesday, November 30: 10 am - 2 pm - Temple News Agency 816 Jefferson Ave., La Porte
And know that you can always set another time to get together. Feel free to contact Jennifer at Jennifer@ourpresbytery.org or 574-653-1003.
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Contact Information for Wabash Valley Officers, Staff and Consultant
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