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The Weekly E-Newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
| February 21, 2013
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Prayer RequestsFebruary 24, 2013
 We now have a new weekly prayer email that arrives in your inbox on Tuesdays. Click here to find out this week's prayer concerns or go to Presbytery website to get a monthly printable version of the prayer calendar.
If you have a prayer concern you'd like to share with the wider Presbytery, please contact us by email at communications@ptcaweb.org .
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A Second Chance at Ministry and MissionGrace-Trinity Church in Uptown Minneapolis is being reborn-with a little help from Westminster Presbyterian-Minneapolis.
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Paint and new lighting have brought light to a formerly darkened sanctuary. Daniel Vigilante, who heads Grace-Trinity is at left. Photo by Dennis Sanders.
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It wasn't that long ago that Grace-Trinity Community Church in Minneapolis was facing closure. It had a dwindling membership and very little in the way of finances.
But that didn't happen. Instead, Grace-Trinity, located in the hip neighborhood of Uptown, sought out a partnership with Westminster Presbyterian in downtown Minneapolis. Westminster called a Daniel Vigilante, a candidate for ministry in the PTCA, to head up the ministry at Grace-Trinity. Over time, attendance has doubled and the little church in Uptown will start a new evening worship service in March.
In the midst of the change, the congregation sought a loan through the Presbytery to remodel their sanctuary. In the space of five short weeks, the sanctuary has been transformed- new paint, new lights, a remodeled chancel and a new arrangement for the pe
ws that gives the space a more intimate feel. On February 24, the church will host a rededication service for the sanctuary and a community open house. The worship service is from 1-1:30PM with the open house taking place after the worship service until 3PM. Come and see the changes, meet with Daniel and the rest of the Grace-Trinity staff and congregation and see what's going on at the church in Uptown.
Click here to download a flyer of the event.
Grace-Trinity is located at 1430 West 28th Street in Minneapolis.
Launching Pad for Seminary Grads
New Castle Presbytery is looking for recent seminary grads to start new worshipping communities.
A new program in New Castle Presbytery hopes to create space for new worshiping communities while addressing a growing problem - lack of employment opportunities for recent seminary graduates.
 FIRST (Freeing the Imagination of the Recently Seminary Trained) offers part-time, one-year positions to recent seminary graduates who will start new worshipping communities. If the worshipping community is deemed a validated ministry by New Castle Presbytery, the graduate will be eligible for ordination.
"Let us be your launching pad," said the Rev. Nate Phillips, a member of the FIRST Leadership team and pastor of Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Del. "We're going to give you everything you need to succeed."
In addition to a salary and benefits, the program will offer spiritual direction and accountability meetings, as well as possible housing and debt assistance.
Because the positions will only be part-time, pastors will need to find another source of income. Bi-vocational ministry is becoming increasingly common, and FIRST hopes to help its pastors find an additional job.
In its initial year, FIRST hopes to sponsor two organizing pastors, who would begin in August. The program is accepting applicants now.
In addition to a master's of divinity degree, candidates should be able to make connections with a community, engage in social media and reach out to people not already involved in a church.
But the most important quality is passion, Phillips said.
"You've gotta have a heart for this," he said, adding that applicants must feel a need to be involved in this type of ministry.
The term "recently seminary trained" is purposely ambiguous, Phillips said, although he envisions most applicants will have been out of seminary three years or less.
New Castle Presbytery offers a collegial environment that is open to new ideas, making it a great setting for new and innovative leaders. But the presbytery hopes to benefit from the program as well, Phillips said.
"We're hoping to learn from whoever comes," he said. "We're not good at this. If we were, we would just do it ourselves."
To learn more about FIRST and apply for a position, visit the program's website.
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A Call to Reduce Gun Violence
Calls for Common-Sense Federal Legislation
The following is from the Office of Public Witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
During this Lenten Season we are joining other faith groups in prayerful engagement and direct action to reduce our culture of violence and to bring peace to our homes, streets, and public venues. Our role as Christians is to be peacemakers.
This petition, calling for common-sense federal measures to reduce gun violence, is one small piece of a larger strategy to address the culture of violence that pervades our nation.
We will gather signatures for this petition throughout Lent and will deliver the completed petition to Members of Congress in the Easter season.
As you move through your Lenten discipline, make this petition - signing it, circulating it, inviting your friends and congregation-members to sign it - one of your personal commitments.
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Healthy Boundaries Training
April 4 at Church of the Apostles in Burnsville.
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will host a Level One Boundaries Training Event on Thursday, April 4 at Presbyterian Church of the Apostles
in Burnsville from 8:30am to 2pm. Lunch will be provided and the cost for the event is $30 which will cover materials and lunch.
This training is presented two times a year, April and October, by Advocates for Integrity in Ministry (AIM). All clergy are required to take the training. New incoming pastors have a year from their reception to fulfill the requirement. Churches are encouraged to send elders, deacons, all staff, lay and clergy, and any other persons engaged in any form of ministry in or on behalf of the church.
1. All youth leaders who wish to attend Triennium are required to take this training.
2. All participants are required to attend the entire day of training, from opening welcome and worship through closing, or no credit will be given.
You must sign-up for the event online before the close of business on Tuesday, April 2.
If you have any questions, please contact the Sandra Stuart Gray or Peter Soulen, co-chairs of the Advocates for Integrity Committee at aim@ptcaweb.org.
Click here to register for the event.
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Board of Pensions Postpones Recommendation Revised Recommendation Presented to Board in March, voted on in June.
An announcement in "Board Connections," a newsletter of the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), notes, "Voices from throughout the Church have been responding to communications by the Board of Pensions about a potential restructuring of healthcare dues for the Medical Plan Traditional Program for active members. From pastors to mid council staff to churches and other employers, we have heard many voices through many channels. We want you to know that we are listening. The Healthcare Committee has decided to reconsider portions of its proposal to better accommodate the thoughtful and heartfelt concerns you have raised and consider alternatives that seek to better balance the needs of all -- members, dues payers and the plan itself."
The complete announcement can be found by clicking here.
New Lectionary Resource From Minneapolis Area Synod
The Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a resource available to help people study the lectionary text for the upcoming Sunday. Just-A-Minute arrives weekly in your inbox with the highlighted text and questions for discussion.
If you have other family members or friends or neighbors who would like to receive Just-A-Minute, you can sign up here.
You don't have to be Lutheran to get this weekly item. Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, UCC, Catholic--all use the Revised Common Lectionary. Just-A-Minute is part of the Book of Faith Initiative, a campaign by the ELCA to help Lutherans become more engaged with the Bible.
Click here to get a look at this week's email.
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Seminary of the Streets
Learn About Shobi's Table, a New Worshipping Community in St. Paul.
Thursday, March 14, 5:00-8:00 p.m.First Lutheran Church, 463 Maria Ave, St. Paul
Come and learn about a ministry of radical hospitality among the homeless population of St. Paul's East Side. Led by Pastor Margaret Kelly, Shobi's Table is a Word and Sacrament community that has grown out of the Wellness Center ministry at First Lutheran Church. Participants will be invited to mingle with the Wellness Center guests, join in the community meal at 6:00 p.m., and learn more about the ministry from Pastor Kelly and other leaders.Register Here. Visit www.spas-elca.org for information on Seminary of the Streets.
The Economics of Minimum Wage Panel
Should the Minimum Wage Be Raised to $9/Hour?
The Economics of Minimum Wage Panel
Monday, February 25, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Cowles Auditorium, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis
The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009. In last week's State of the Union address President Obama proposed raising the minimum wage to $9, renewing discussion on the topic. Join the University of Minnesota for an expert panel discussion on Minimum Wage and a Sustainable Economic Future. Panelists will include economists Ann Markusen, University of Minnesota, John Schmitt, Center for Economic and Policy Research, and Doug Hall, Economic Policy Institute. There will be ample opportunity for public Q and A. The event will be hosted by JOBS NOW Coalition and the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service. The event is free and open to the public.
Save the Date #1
PTCA Forum on Sex Trafficking in April.
 The Kwanzaa Task Force of the Mission and Witness Committee will host Critical Conversations: the local mission effort to deal with sex trafficking and the prostitution of children in the Twin Cities on Tuesday April 2, 6-8PM at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley. Speakers will include Rev. Alika Galloway of the Northside Women's Project and Dr. Lauren Martin from the University of Minnesota. For more information, please read this article by Teaching Elder Bebe Baldwin.
Save the Date #2
Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering in Rochester. 
The Spring Gathering of the Presbyterian Women of the Greater Twin Cities Area will be held on April 13 in Rochester, MN at the First Presbyterian Church. The event starts at 9:00 a.m. with check-in, coffee and conversation. Registration forms will be available in the next
Connections publication.
The speaker this year will be Linda Hora, a Synod Representative from Boone, IA. She participated in the 2011 Global Exchange to India and will reflect on projects, people and experiences she had while there.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this special event which has been prepared just for you as women of faith. It is a great experience to meet people from other churches in our presbytery and share with them the missions we support, the accomplishments we have made, and the impact we have had on our own community in the name of Jesus Christ.
Save the Date #3
Communication and Technology Workshop on April 13.
 Are you responsible for the church website or run the media and sound for worship? Come to The Wired Church: A Workshop on Technology and Communication which will be held Saturday, April 13 at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis from 9AM-Noon. More information will follow.
Eco-Palms for Sale
Use Sustainable Palms this Palm Sunday.
 Palm Sunday is March 24. Many churches use palm branches for the day. In 2007 the Presbyterian Church (USA) teamed up with Lutheran World Relief, Catholic Relief Services and the University of Minnesota to offer congregations the option of purchasing responsibly harvested Eco-Palm branches for Palm Sunday. The palms come from communities in Mexico and Guatemala where workers are paid fairly and engage in sustainable harvesting in order to protect the local ecosystem. Learn more about the benefits of Eco-Palms. Congregations should consider ordering Eco-Palms right away to make sure your palms arrive on time. Order online or by phone at 612-624-7418. ORDERING DEADLINES FOR PAYMENT BY CHECK: March 1, 2013 FOR PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD: March 8, 2013 Eco-Palms will arrive the week of March 18-22, 2013. Congregations that ordered Eco-Palms You will receive a confirmation email with a FedEx delivery tracking information after placing your order.
Find out what's going on in the larger world of the Presbyterian Church (USA) by reading the latest stories from Presbyterian News Service. Click here to read new and recent articles.
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News of the Kirks
What's Happening in PTCA Churches.
Conference for Mainline Christian Educators Set for October ( more) Plymouth PC to Host Seminar on Congregational Spirituality February 23 ( more)
Lenten Art Exhibit at First-South St. Paul ( more) Kwanzaa Task Force to Host Conference on Sex Trafficking in April ( more) Board of Pensions Postpones Medical Care Dues Recommendation to June ( more)
| Looking for a job or open pulpit? Visit our employment page to see our job listings. | Find out what events are taking place in our presbytery by going to the Presbytery Calendar . |
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 EMerge is a weekly publication from the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (PTCA). Recipients include congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees, and friends. Please send submissions and e-mail corrections to Dennis Sanders, editor, at communications@ptcaweb.org . Usual distribution: Thursdays. You can find out more at the PTCA website: www.presbyterytwincities.org
122 W. Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
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