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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First Council Meeting of 2017 for Wabash Valley
Council was met with outstanding hospitality offer by Valparaiso First members on Tuesday, January 10th for its first meeting
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of 2017 to carry out its responsibility to "propose missional priorities and goals" and "ensure coordination of ...the groups of presbytery..." Highlights of Council actions:
- As celebrated last week, chose a succinct vision statement to remind us all of the essence of our Biblical mission statement:
Serving Christ
Enhancing Congregations
Connecting Communities
- Council invites congregations to identify perceived needs and will focus its discussions to name 1, 3 and 5-year priorities, as well as structure and budget necessary to support those priorities.
- Spent an hour facilitated by Katie Lindberg (TE, validated ministry) to learn from results of personal Birkman Assessments how to be better in teamwork with one another
- Began considering the proposed Directory for Worship with opening Bible study that focused on transformation that happens through worship.
- Received report of CPM on its revised plan of study with newly transferred candidate for ordination
- Received report of The Farm, Inc. mission of La Grange Presbyterian Church, and noted its purchase of land in December and continuing progress with community funding and other administrative work to make The Farm a reality to fulfill its mission to create safe space for children with special family needs.
- Reached consensus in support of proposing all official business requiring Assembly action at its February 25th meeting to be in a consent agenda in order to give most time for workshop on Healthy Relationships, with materials to be provided at no cost to PC(USA) members including guests from other presbyteries.
- Considered impact of continuing trend of congregations to underpay requested contributions to support the connectional work of presbytery.
- Gave assent to partnered leadership for newly elected Personnel Ministry Team and agreed in principle to reduce and update the current personnel manual. Jennifer will provide training for the reorganizing PMT as it begins its work.
- Approved slightly revised position description for search for 2017 Stated Clerk to affirm close working partnership with Visioning & Connecting Leader, and to affirm half-time position with benchmark salary of $30,000 plus benefits.
- Appointed Mark Mueller (TE, Valparaiso), Steve Quinlan (TE, Peru), Scott Coulter (TE, HR) and Elizabeth Monroe (RE, Valparaiso) as starters for Council's Mission Team to begin self-organizing and honing process to envision recommendations for presbytery-wide mission priorities. Other congregational members interested in participating are encourage to contact Jennifer, who will provide initial training and staff support.
- Vicki Dreibelbis, Jennifer and Linda Long reported on need to craft a concrete proposal for new website in order for developers to bid. Staff team will propose recommendations to Council in March for discussion and refining.
- Council agreed to receive six months' financial report for consideration by email after the new Stewardship Ministry Team meets January 17th in order to distribute to February Assembly.
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Leadership Development Survey 2017
A group of interested and dedicated members of Presbytery are interested in leadership development in the 21st Century. True to the presbytery's mission statement, we are committed to awakening, enlivening and enhancing congregations in order that congregations may bear new fruit in the Spirit.
As we identify and develop tools and resources for delivery to congregations, we need to hear from you.
Would you take just a few minutes to complete this survey and offer your personal opinion?
Please share this survey with others who might also wish to respond, no later than February 3.
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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
2017 COUNCIL
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Kokomo Faith PC
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Winamac First PC
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Angola, Chapel of the Lakes PC
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Deer Creek PC
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Peabody Retirement Community
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Lafayette Bethany PC
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Rochester Community PC
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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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 begins an Assembly-wide Week of Prayer for Christian unity.
Gracious God, when you sent us your son Jesus, you sent him to make us one with each other, and to adopt all human believers as your children. Through the centuries, we humans have divided your body the Church, according to our understandings of your scripture, sometimes according to misunderstandings and distrust, and sometimes out of the pursuit of our sinful nature. Thank you for forgiving us, and help us to not only forgive our Christian Brothers and sisters with whom we have disagreed, but lead us to ever seek ways to proclaim Your gospel together. Let the world once more exclaim: "See, how these Christians love one another!" Amen .
January prayers provided by Rev. Louis Sandos, Honorably Retired
Please pray for....
- Lafayette Central Presbyterian Church
- our country and it's leaders
- all who suffer in silence.
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STATED CLERK
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. As Wabash Valley Presbytery lives into its vision to awaken, enliven and enhance our worshipping communities, we are looking for a Stated Clerk who will bring creativity, clarity and integrity to the communication and implementation of our polity. As we cultivate and strengthen healthy congregations focused on discipleship and mission, we seek a Stated Clerk whose passion for people as well as polity builds relationships of support, accountability and trust, in service to our witness to Jesus Christ.
We are seeking either a Teaching or Ruling Elder with demonstrated leadership experience and skills for this 20 hour/wk, exempt position, with Board of Pensions benefits. This is a designated contract for a 3 year time period with a minimum annual salary of 30K. Please see the attached position description for more specific information. Applications will be received through March 3, 2017. Applications consist of a letter detailing your interest in the position, a resume, and 3 references submitted to Chair of the Search Team: pam.camren@gmail.com.
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Wanted:
Does your congregation have an old AV cart you'd like to get rid of? Michiana Youth Ministries is seeking a rolling cart roughly 16" x 24" x 48" for use in our weekend retreat program. Please contact Rev. Terry McBride at 574-274-5990 or terry@michianayouth.org. Thanks!
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Help Connect Your Members to PWV
Encourage members of your congregation to connect with 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 you're done.
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Upcoming Meetings, Events, Workshops and Webinars
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Thursday, January 19
10 am (CT)/11 am (ET) - Coffee Office Hours - 2 & 7 Coffee Bar 9261 E 109th Ave., Winfield ( map) 1:30 pm - Leadership Team (Go-to-meeting)
Monday, January 23 10 am - Stewardship Ministry Team (Go-to-meeting) Tuesday, January 24 10 am - Personnel Ministry Team - Presbytery Office . 707 Main St. Rochester ( map) Wednesday, January 25
10 am - Confirmation Retreat Planning Team - Conference Call
10 am (CT) / 11 am (ET) - Coffee Office Hours - Fluid Coffeebar . 159 W Lincolnway . Valparaiso ( map) Thursday, January 26 11 am -Hammer Support Group - Presbytery Office . 707 Main St . Rochester ( map) Tuesday, January 3110 am - CRE Revitalization Group - Presbytery Office . 707 Main St . Rochester ( map) Thursday, February 210 am - Commission on Ministry - Bethlehem PC . 5588 N SR 25 . Logansport ( map) 10 am - Commission on Preparation for Ministry - Bethlehem PC . 5588 N SR 25 . Logansport ( map) Friday - Sunday, February 3-56 pm - PWV Confirmation Retreat Begins @ Geneva Center . 5282 N Old US Hwy 31 . Rochester ( 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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Serving Christ, Enhancing Congregations, Connecting Communities
Don't miss these opportunities!
February and March offer us two great chances for congregations to learn more about growing and thriving in the 21st century:
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Healthy Pastor-Congregation Relations Workshop
Saturday, February 25th will be our brief assembly meeting followed quickly by Healthy Pastor-Congregation Relations. Except for the usual lunch charge ($10) the entire day is FREE. Whether your congregation has full or part-time pastoral service or is served by a teaching elder, ruling elder or weekly supply, this workshop offers congregations positive ways to foster strong, health relationships, all in service to Jesus Christ.
Attend live at First Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso, or at one of our live streaming sites: First Presbyterian of Elkhart, Bethany Presbyterian Church in Lafayette or First Presbyterian Church of Peru.
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The Art of the Flourishing Congregation
The Art of the Flourishing Congregation is another great opportunity. Council encourages congregations to put together working teams to engage for the day.
The workshop is sponsored by the Center for Congregations on Thursday, March 16, 2017 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Eastern Time) at Morris Inn on the Notre Dame campus in South Bend. Each team of three or more attending the day-long workshop is encouraged to identify a challenge or opportunity in their congregation, then address that opportunity together during breakout times with tools and coaching. Center for Congregations says attendees at this interactive workshop will:
- learn the benefits of positive change;
- explore how to hold and manage the three life-giving capacities that contribute to positive change;
- learn the five practices that promote positive change; discover how to assess the presence of the five practices currently in your congregation;
- experience the resources/processes that facilitate positive change;
- create a concrete and practical plan for affecting change and addressing challenges using positive change resources and practices.
Cost of this gathering is $50 for a congregational team of three or more registering together. For more information, see:
What great resources! We hope to see many of you in attendance at both
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Coffee office hours: 
- 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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Thursday, February 9 ~ 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Central Time)
This free 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. Registration is required.
Community and Digital Ministry in the 21st Century
Thursday, March 23 ~ 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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