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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Ode to Indiana 55
Last week, coffee office hours took me to the Dan Patch Café in Oxford, Indiana. To a person, each of the seven folks who stopped by to visit asked how I had arrived at the Dan Patch Café as my gathering place that day, some with incredulity. The answer to that question is varied.
In 2016, I chose a different place to meet for coffee office hours every week, one per region of the presbytery. I live in the northwest area of our presbytery, so I head out to the farthest places from my home on the first week of the month (Crawfordsville, North Manchester, Angola so far), head to the midsection of the presbytery on the second and third weeks (Goshen, Plymouth, Logansport, Lafayette, Kokomo, Brookston, Elkhart, Oxford to date ) and land somewhere north and west-ish on the last week of the month ( Crown Point, Merrillville, La Porte, Michigan City, Hobart). I find interesting places like Bind in Kokomo and Sip in Crown Point and the Electric Brew of Goshen and Elkhart via Yelp and your recommendations. I try to frequent locally owned businesses. As for the Dan Patch, it received a 5 star review on Yelp. "Great breakfast," the review read.
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Photo provided by Jennifer Burns Lewis
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Indeed.
That's the method behind coffee shop selection. I'm asked frequently if coffee office hours will continue. Indeed, they will. They're a really great way to take "the presbytery" to you. They're not perfectly timed; some folks can't get to a meet-up between the hours of 10a and 2 p.m; others don't drink coffee, but here's what happens every single time I host a get-together somewhere in PWV: without fail, people arrive who haven't seen each other in a long time, and a mini-reunion takes place. I get to learn a little bit more about each person and I witness parts of the body of Christ becoming reacquainted. I love the serendipitous, providential, Holy Spiritedness of those meetings. Sometimes folks I see at presbyteryassembly meetings or commissions stop by. Sometimes I meet people for the first time. I almost always pair my visits with a little tour around the area, seeing all of the Presbyterian landmarks I can, and trying, whenever possible, to visit with honorably retired pastors or specialized clergy in their settings. I hope these are important and meaningful connections.
I told Presbytery's Council not long ago that I hope folks know that I do more than sit around and drink coffee. I spend about 3/5 of my time with committees, Sessions, pastors, and church members, helping to provide vision and a sense of God's leading in the congregations of our presbytery. I spend some time helping with emergencies or when folks feel stuck. Some of the work can be celebrated and some of it has to remain confidential. I also choose to worship with a different congregation in the presbytery each week. When people ask what my favorite part of the work is, it's worshipping with the congregations of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, because it's here when I get a real feel for who you are to one another, how you welcome friend and stranger, how you are perceived in your communities, and how wonderfully faithful you are in worship and service to Jesus Christ. It's where I meet the Presbytery of Wabash Valley---you!
Wherever your travels take you, I hope you'll find fellow sojourners all along the way. And I hope our paths will cross in 2017.
Traveling mercies,
PS: Here's a tip: travel on IN-55 between Percy Junction and Goodland when it's snowing, and be sure to have Leslie Odum, Jr's Christmas cd playing called Simply Christmas. It makes one wax poetic about the beauty of God's wondrous creation, I promise. It's another way in which I arrived at the Dan Patch Café... in a really good mood, and really thankful to God.
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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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Help Your Members Stay Informed
Encourage members of your congregation to become more knowledgeable and engage in their Presbytery by signing up for the weekly enews God Calls.
It is easy to sign-up!
enter email address in
"Join Our eNewsletter List" box
follow the instructions and your done.
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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
2017 COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Valparaiso First PC
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
TBA
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Winamac First PC
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
Small Church Residency Program
a YouTube webinar
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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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Hunger program temporarily shut down to sustain it.
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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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Thank you for your ministry and your service...
- December 18, 1994 ~ The Reverend Bobbi Tobin, 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 vicki@ourpresbytery.org.
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PRAYERS of the PRESBYTERY
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"Christ, eternal Sun of justice,
Christ the rose of wisdom's seed,
Come to bless with fire and fragrance
hours of yearning, hurt, and need.
In the lonely, in the stranger,
in the out cast, his from view:
Child who comes to grace the manger,
teach our hearts to welcome you."
(#94, stanza 3 - Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal)
We pray this day, great God, for all those for whom this season is difficult. Bless those who yearn for love and meaning and worth. Surround those who hurt from illness and grief and pain. Support those who need comfort and assurance and care. In this season of busyness, help each of us to recognize those who are lonely ... to greet those who are unfamiliar ... to welcome those we often overlook. Remind us that, as we show your love and grace to all we meet, we are welcoming you into our hearts and lives. Amen.
December prayers provided by Rev. Carol McDonald, Honorably Retired
Please pray for....
- La Porte The Presbyterian Church
- Jan Sandos, Nominating Committee Chair & member at Rossville PC for a complete recovery from surgery on Monday.
- the people of Aleppo, Syria as people are struggling and dying there.
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FREE TO LOVING HOME
150ish nearly new Presbyterian Hymnals at Mishawaka FPC, would like a new home since we have been replaced by "Glory to God" hymnals. Will anyone take us in?....no charge....just for the asking. If you have a place for us, call Pam Camren at 574-303-9343 to arrange transportation for us.
May our music fill the air!
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MICHIRU CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian )
 in the city of Blantyre ( Blantyre Synod) MALAWI, Africa
The MICHIRU CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian ) in the city of Blantyre ( Blantyre Synod) MALAWI, Africa are seeking second hand choir robes. If you have robes you are no longer using and are willing to donate please contact Rev. Jamie Miller, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church at jamie@sunnysidechurch.org or call 574-287-1524.
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2017 Standard Mileage Rates for Business, Medical and Moving Announced
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2017 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
- 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 54 cents for 2016
- 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down from 19 cents for 2016
- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The business mileage rate decreased half a cent per mile and the medical and moving expense rates each dropped 2 cents per mile from 2016. The charitable rate is set by statute and remains unchanged. The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.
Peace, Eric
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Mission Team forming in PWV
Presbytery's Council is looking for a few good folks to serve on the newly forming/reforming Mission Team for the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, in answer to a request from the Session of one of our congregations. What can we do better together as we seek to reach out in the name of Jesus Christ to local, national and global neighbors? Where might mission take us? Do you know a teaching elder or a ruling elder with a heart for mission who would be willing to spend some time in shaping the goals and vision for a presbytery mission team? Please contact PWV Council moderator David Smook at davidsmook@rtcol.com for more information or to volunteer or nominate someone!
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Knowing your community, defining your mission
Getting to know the community that your congregation will focus on is a critical step in defining your mission. To start, work on getting answers to several key questions: What are the primary issues in your community? How do the people in the community want the church to respond to those issues? And probably most important: do the people in your community actually want the ministry you are proposing? Your congregation will be most successful if you can answer yes to this question.
Read more from Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church »
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Upcoming Meetings, Events, Workshops and Webinars
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Thursday, December 15 POSTPONED - PWV Search Team - Valparaiso First ~ 3401 Valparaiso St ~ Valparaiso ( map) Tuesday, December 20
10 am - PWV Confirmation Retreat Planning Team (Go-to-meeting)
Wednesday, December 2110 am - 2 pm (CT) / 11 am - 3 pm (ET) - Coffee Office hours - Cafe 339 ~ 339 Main St ~ Hobart ( 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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Coffee office hours: 
- Wednesday, December 21: Café 339 339 Main Street, Hobart (map)
- Tuesday, January 2: Grindhouse Cafe 146 N Broad St, Griffith 10-2 (central) (map)
- Thursday, January 12: Sip 2815 Jewitt St., Highland 10-2 (central) (map)
- Thursday, January 19: 2 and 7 Coffee Bar 9261 109th Street, Winfield 10-2 (central) (map)
- Wednesday, January 25: Fluid Coffee Bar 159 Lincolnway, Valparaiso 10-2 (central) (map)
All coffee hours are 10 am-2 pm in the time zone in which the coffee house/restaurant is located.
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Learn from a nationally-recognized expert in lay leadership development how your church can develop persons within congregations for leadership roles and ministry functions. Issues of vocational Christian calling, spiritual gifts, the mission of the church, and the role of laypersons in ministry will be examined. Learn More
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How Indiana Congregations are Engaging Young Adults
Live Online ~ January 18, 2017
This interactive live online workshop shares learnings from the Center for Congregations recent investigation of successful young adult ministries in Indiana congregations across the geographical and theological spectrum. In this event, you will explore the common characteristics of those congregations as well as themes that emerged from these different ministries.
Center staffer Wendy McCormick led the investigation and presents the findings. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to consider how these characteristics and themes apply to your congregation and to strategize for next steps to better engage young adults.
Community and Digital Ministry in the 21st Century
Thursday, March 23, 2017 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Central Time)
Join Pastor and author Keith Anderson facilitates this workshop to lead you through a look at our changing religious and cultural landscape, particularly in regards to rising religious un-affiliation among young adults and advances in digital social media.
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Contact Information for Wabash Valley Officers, Staff and Consultant
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