Muskingum Valley Presbytery
Weekly Update

February 16, 2012

This week...
Upcoming Events
MVP Center Closed for Presidents' Day
Order Today!
Welcome Ben Radley, new director of Pleasant Hills Camp
Ready for Summer?
Thank you from Brad and Bonnie Dutton, Doris Turnovsky
Celebration of the Life and Ministry of Rev. Elaine Dutton
Hunger and Thirst Initiative in Action
Northminster Presbytery in Action
Debbie's Weekly Message
Holy Habits
Message from Andy Gerhart
Invitation to Rev. Mary Robin Craig's Installation
Formational Prayer Seminar
A Call for Generous sharing across the PC (USA)
Cutting Edge Psychotherapy Conference
Prayer Requests
Join Our Mailing List 
 

Upcoming Events 

  Save these dates and be on the lookout for details! 

    

3/10/2012

Stated Meeting of Presbytery

 

9:00AM - 5:00PM

Registration begins at 8:30am

 

The Presbyterian Church,

142 N. 4th Street

Coshocton, Ohio

Leadership Summit with Terry Wardle on Formational Prayer

(Business as needed)

 

Click Here to Register for Event!

-------------

 

Questions?

Concerns? Corrections?

 

  Call or Email!

  (800) 693-1147

  (330) 339-5515

 

Email Shauna 

 

  Office Hours:  

Monday - Thursday
8:00am to 4:30pm 


  

 The MVP Mission Center will be closed on Monday, February 20th for the observance of Presidents' Day.
 
We will return on Tuesday, February 21st with our regular business hours.
 
Just a reminder: The Online Session Annual Statistical Report for the Year 2011 is due by
MIDNIGHT, FEBRUARY 22nd!

 


  

MVP Materials:

 

2011-2013
Book of Order
Please contact Shauna to reserve yours today!
 $9.00 each
  
2011-2012
Presbyterian Planning Calendars are still available in the MVP Mission Center.
$7.25 each
 Contact Shauna today to pick up yours!

 

2012 Mission Yearbooks are here!
$12.00 each 
Call or email Shauna today to reserve yours!

 

 

330.339.5515
1.800.693.1147 
Monday - Thursday
8:00am to 4:30pm
 

 


  

Welcome to Ben Radley, the new director of Camp Pleasant Hills Camp.  

 

Ben is the former camp program director and starts his new post next week.  

 

You will have the opportunity to meet Ben at the March 10th MVP gathering in Coshocton and pick up material about this year's camp activities. 

 

www.phoc.org

 


 

Ready for Summer?

  

Rent Camp LiMRod for your church group or family event.

  

It is located on 162 acres near Alliance, Ohio.

 

It is equipped with:

- an inground pool;

- cabins with bunk beds;

- teepees with cots;

- a challenge course;

- climbing wall;

- zip line through the woods;

- kids' mini zip line;

- showerhouse;

- lodge with kitchen;

 - hiking trails;

and

- an archery range.

 

This is a ministry of First United Presbyterian Church of Alliance.

 

Contact the church office at 330-821-5340 to get an application to rent the Camp LiMRod property.

 

Camp LiMRod rentals flyer


  

 

Dear Debbie and Members of Muskingum Valley Presbytery,

 

Thank you for your prayers and expressions of love and sympathy on the loss of Elaine. She truly enjoyed being a part of your fellowship.

 

Thank you for your generous donation to Angels for Animals. Elaine had a compassionate heart and loved the cats we adopted from Angels.

 

In Christ's love,

 

Brad and Bonnie Dutton

Doris Turnovsky

 


  

Celebration of the Life and Ministry
of
Rev. Elaine Dutton
 
Sunday, March 4th
Beginning at 3:00pm
 
New Harrisburg Presbyterian Church
3006 Waynesburg Road NW
Carrollton, 44615

Directions 


  

 

From the MVP Future Story Hunger & Thirst Initiative: 

 

Bread for the World, a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger, is making available a free resource for Lent: Lenten Prayers for Hungry People.  

 This cardstock "table tent" offers scripture readings, prayers and action ideas for each of Lent's five weeks and Holy Week.  

 

Interested? 

Please contact BFW's regional office in Dayton at

1-800-619-9239 or send your email request to BFW's Washington office at: 

www.bread.org

 


  

 

From the Women's Bible Study at Northminster Presbytery...

 

About 3 years ago our small Women's Bible Study decided to put our words into action and began visiting a Medicaid nursing home. 

Typically patients who qualify for Medicaid don't get many visitors and sometimes the family structures are weak.  So we began visiting twice per month. 

Our pianist provides the music to sing old hymns and we add older songs from their era.  We then spend time talking, reading the Bible and praying with the residents individually.

Once per month our minister, Rev. Skolnik, serves communion. Several of them have told us this is the first time they have had communion in a long, long time. 

We knew from the outset that our mission was not a secular one, meaning we were there to show the love and caring of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We have had 3 Christmas parties for them and our entire church donates a wrapped gift for every one of our friends.  We've added to our volunteer numbers from the congregation and occasionally the children will join us for the Christmas Party.  Recently we have learned of another large Rehab/Nursing Home in Canton that would like our services and we are praying for the people (and energy) to be able to serve them also. 

 

Just a couple months ago we were contacted by Sylvan Learning to see if our church classrooms were available to do extra tutoring for disadvantaged kids from the inner city, who otherwise don't have access to this service. 

We, of course, have been praying for more opportunities to open our church to a mission during the week. This was an answer. Twice per week, during the school year, the kids and tutors meet. We have a volunteer plan in place to serve the kids juice, fruit and power bars when they arrive.  We offer the parents who stay comfortable seating and coffee. 

 

Incidentally, adjacent to the waiting area for the parents is a room we call the "Community Closet" meant for clothing that the schools may need. We intend to open that door to better serve these families.  

 

  We know we have only scratched the surface and intend to keep praying and looking for opportunities. If the Lord directs us to a project and, in some cases, drops them in our church lap we want to be prepared in all ways to say "YES".  Send them to us.

 

IHS

Susan Ridgway,

Clerk of Session

Northminster

Prebyterian Church

North Canton, OH 

330.499.4606 

 


  

But Daniel resolved!

 

When I think of a model for leadership in anxious times, I am immediately drawn to the book of Daniel. The narrative provides a glimpse into the life of four highly differentiated men of God. Daniel, especially, models a calm and faithful response to challenge in a time of deep personal and public crisis. Even in exile, the four do not bow to the strong culture pressure to conform.

 

The promise, of course, is success through conformity. After all, Daniel and his friends are the lucky ones chosen for royal service. Go along and get along, Daniel and his friends are advised. Only they did not go along, nor did they conform to a King and culture that demanded blind loyalty, corporate groupthink, and a morality that turns a blind eye to the poverty of many in the face of the affluence of a few.

 

Because of their work on self, because of core faith practices that kept them connected, even in exile, to God, because they refused to conform to external expectations, Daniel and his friends are able to withstand the strong cultural pressure to trade "self" for the false security of Kingly approval.

 

Lest, we think our time and place different, there is much in the book of Daniel that mirrors the culture in which we find ourselves. Both could aptly be described as "cultures of seduction." Babylon, like our current context, would have us believe that the dominate forces at work truly have our best interests in mind: be those forces political, economic, or even spiritual. Like Daniel, we too are invited into false notions of self on a daily basis. Do as the Babylonians do and you will live a very happy and secure life. Consume and you will be satisfied... Live the Babylonian dream and you will be happy... Seek the quick fix and all will be well. But deep down we know it is not so.

 

Daniel and his friends call us to think before unquestioningly conforming to cultural expectations and joining the dominate ideologies that prevail. Daniel, especially, calls us to imagine an alternative world that does not ask people to sacrifice the integrity of self in order to find acceptance and work. It behooves us to remember that Daniel's "success" was not born of technique or using the right tools to convince eunuch or king, rather it was his work on self that provided for his widened range of responses.

 

The pressure to conform and thereby trade self is presented as gift and opportunity... it is most seductive. Do it our way... become one of us... and you will go far. Not a word is spoken about conformity. Here is a program for the "brightest and best" of Israel, a three year Executive Training course to learn proper appetites, develops admiration for the company, prove your loyalty and thereby receive its payoffs. The cost you ask?

 

Only one thing you need to do: forget who and whose you are. So what if you have to give up a little self along the way. It's worth it, isn't it?!

 

The conformity sought by the King is not blatant or coercive. How big of the king to present Daniel and his friends with an opportunity for royal service. The high cost of "losing self" is never named. Daniel and his friends, however, know the game that is being played. On-going work on self provides them with the emotional distance to discern what's really going on. Their grounding in the Word and core practices of their faith provides them with the capacity to discern and take a different path. And so Daniel resolves (verse 8). He and his friends will not allow themselves to be defiled. They know that the imperial food will distort their persons. How peculiar to find gourmet food, the very best, unacceptable. How odd to find the ones marginalized saying no. How foolish to risk it all just for the sake of self...  or does Daniel know something many forget: that those who follow in the Way also know that those who seek to save their souls will always lose them. Daniel's objection is born out of his identity. Contrast here the response of the chief eunuch. While sympathetic, he hesitates out of fear for his personal security, not I would note out any deep commitment to the ideology of the court.

 

The text calls us at the doors of our capitulation to work on self. Daniel invites us to discover our identity in God anew. But such discovery involves disciplined work and commitment. In order to give ourselves, we must first know and control ourselves. Remember conformity happens subtly. We may notice how others have conformed, but the log in our own eyes prevents us from seeking how we have traded self.

 

Yet, Daniel and his friends, even in exile... even outnumbered with all support structures removed... did not succumb to the pressure to conform. They did not buy into the power of group think. Instead, they chose to resist in a creative and courageous way.

 

As the story of Daniel reminds us, exile is often (if not always) the place where we are challenged and must do our work on self. And, as in the King's court, not all conflict is head on. Those who seek to control us often attempt to do so through charm. The story of Daniel and his friends models for us an alternative identity born of a differentiated self that refuses to give away, trade, or borrow self and thereby lose self. Daniel and his friends invite us to work on self that we too might embrace the freedom born of being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

 

One final word. Daniel's life is shaped by doxology from beginning to end. Knowing who he is in God means he knows that he was created for praise. As his story reveals, a life shaped and formed by praise is able to break free of the idolatrous claims of our world. Doxology is always a sign of differentiation. Praise be to God!

 

 

With love in Christ, 

 Debbie Rundlett, General Presbyter 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

Holy Habits for Anxious Times

 

There is a lot of pressure these days to conform, be it to our culture or a particular blend of theology or doctrine. But I wonder is such conforming born out of our differentiation of self? Are we through our actions being conformed to the image of Christ? Below are seven habits of health promoting church leaders developed by James Boyer. I invite you to incorporate them into your Lenten walk.  

 

 

Seven Habits of Health Promoting Church Leaders

 

1. Spiritual Grounding

  • The Spiritual theme(s) I would give to the past year is:
  • My most powerful spiritual experience in the past year was:
  • My most difficult spiritual struggle in the past year was:

 

2. Manage Anxiety

  • When I become anxious I: internally and externally
  • What I do to calm myself:
  • My main anxiety triggers are:
  • Anxiety triggers I have/am overcoming are:

 

3. Take Stands and Stay Connected

  • Three things I know to be true and base my ministry on are:
  • I struggle to stay connected:
  • I feel good about holding the course on:

 

4. Focus on Presence and Functioning

  • Something I learned/clarified about my functioning as a leader this year was:
  • I maintain balance between under and over functioning by:
  • When I lose my objectivity I:

 

5. Focus on Vision and Mission

  • I can get distracted from my/our vision by:
  • I find my way back to my/our vision by:
  • I keep my mission and vision before the congregation by:

 

6. Focus on Strengths

  • I am proud of our congregation's strengths in the area of:
  • I look forward to developing/strengthening this coming year in the areas of:

 

7. Challenges Self and Others

  • I hope to grow in the following areas this coming year:
  • I would predict the greatest resistance to ........... this coming year:
  • I think we need to challenge the congregation to:

 

        (Developed by James Boyer, 1998. Used with permission)

 

 

When Peg and I married I was entering my senior year in seminary. She had a part-time job teaching swimming at the School for the blind. I had studies and worked on weekends at a four church parish about an hour away. Between these factors we never accumulated much money. However, we took seriously the call to be tithers, seeing it as one of the spiritual disciplines of our following Jesus. One Saturday, Peg opened the cupboard and used what we had to cook our evening meal: fish, Grape-nuts, grapes and cream of mushroom casserole. It was truly unique for that has been the only time that we ever ate that meal. The next day not only was I paid, but, people from the parish gave us some extra food and supplies for the following few days, without being told about our plight.

 

We learned, and have seen come true time and time again, that the Lord cares and provides as we follow His Word, His will, and, His ways. Even in lean times the Lord supplies. Now, when I hear from people that 'times are tough' and 'we cannot give' I simply smile, remind them of our experiences with His faithfulness, and, ask them to consider the promises of the Lord for His people - promises that the Lord will fulfill.

 

Let me consider those promises. How are you supporting the work of the Lord through your congregation and this Presbytery? Is it in worry and despair, or, is it from faith and the expectation that the Lord will fulfill His promises? I have found, and know that you will too, that your faith will increase and abound as your trust the Lord's way. Put it to work and watch what God can accomplish.

 

 

Andy Gerhart

Designated Pastor, Linden Road Presbyterian Church

Mansfield, OH

 


 

 

 

 

"I was glad when they said to me,
 

'Let us go to the house of the Lord!'"

Psalm 122:1

  

The Muskingum Valley Presbytery

and

Nankin Federated Church

invite you to the

Installation of The Rev. Mary Robin Craig

as Pastor,

and Service of Holy Communion.

 

Nankin Federated Church

795 State Route 302

Nankin, Ohio

Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

 

The Rev. Clover Reuter Beal,

Associate Pastor and Director of Lay Leadership, Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian, will preach.

 

Please RSVP to [email protected]

for the reception ~ light refreshments ~ afterward.

 

Formational Prayer Seminar Description:

The Institute regularly holds training seminars in Formational Prayer for those men and women engaged in care-giving ministries. This seminar provides the tools for addressing dysfunctional behaviors; teaches steps for dealing with deep wounds; presents information on spirituality and world view as each relates to helping the broken; and demonstrates pathways that help people dismantle destructive false beliefs.

 

Link to June Formational Prayer Seminar:

http://seminary.ashland.edu/documents/IFC/june6-9-2012_broch.pdf

 

Explanation of the Formational Prayer Seminar:

June 6-9, 2012 we are holding a Formational Prayer Seminar.  At this seminar, participants will receive in-depth instruction on Formational Prayer.  The seminar is based on Dr. Terry Wardle's Book Healing Care Healing Pray.  Each participant will receive a copy of the book Healing Care Healing Pray as well as a large three-ring note taking manual. You will also receive hands on experience in a small group setting.  The groups are comprised of three seminar participants and lead by a caregiver.  Caregivers are doctoral students in the Formational Counseling program at ATS.  This seminar runs four full days, a total of 30 hours training.  Wednesday you start at 8:00 with registration and end at 6:30 in the evening. Of course, you will receive a lunch and dinner break along with a few 15-minute stretch breaks throughout the day.  Thursday and Friday the seminar runs from 8:00 to 5:00 and Saturday 8:00 to 4:00 again with lunch and stretch breaks throughout the day.

 

I have attached endorsements written by a few people who have attended the seminar in the past.  They range from a Seminary president, to a professional in the counseling field, doctoral students, pastors, seminar participants, etc.   I think this may give you some clarity as well. The cost for the four-day seminar and materials is $475. However, a group rate of $375 is available to groups of three or more participants who register together.

 

Healing Care Small Group Leaders Training:

Since seminar participants will not be in class on Thursday evening , Dr. Donna Thomas will be presenting an additional training on Dr.

Wardle's "Healing Care Group Material".  Dr. Wardle has designed a 16-week small group experience that is now being widely used by caregivers with very positive results.  The purpose of this small group curriculum is to offer individuals a safe place to heal from deep wounds, false beliefs, damaged emotions, and dysfunctional behaviors in a confidential small group setting.

 

Seminar participants are welcome to be a part of this one evening training session.  While the normal cost for this training is $250, you are able to attend for the cost  of the Small Group Leader's Materials.  Which include a Leaders Guide,  an instructional CD, copies of Dr. Wardle's books "Wounded" and "Draw Close to the Fire" and a copy of Dr. Thomas' book "The Healing Christ In Community"  for $155.00.  This Leaders Guide is a 250 pages color manual that provides everything you would need to do Healing Care groups.

 

If you are interested in registering for the Formational Prayer Seminar and additionally the Healing Care Small Group Leaders Training, please contact me as soon as possible.  We will be glad to have you join us.

 

The Healing Care Leaders training is only available to those who have completed or are in the process of completing the Formational Prayer Seminar.

 

If you have, any further questions feel free to contact me at any time.

 

Lynne Lawson

Assistant Director

The Institute of Formational Counseling

419-207-5547

 

Formational Prayer Seminar Endorsements (.PDF)

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A call for generous sharing across the PC(USA)

One Great Hour of Sharing supports the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the Self Development of People program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Below is information to help you in planning the promotion of the Offering in your congregation:

  • Standing orders for One Great Hour of Sharing have been shipped. If you have not received your order by February 10, please call (800) 524-2612 or send an email to inquire about your order.
  • Access the One Great Hour of Sharing website's Art page to download graphics and fun facts about the Offering for your newsletter. 
  • New this year are alternative ways of giving for congregants. We are now offering the option of text giving. The graphic below will help you introduce this option:

 

Thank you. Your support of One Great Hour of Sharing continues to make a difference in the lives of others!

 

Cutting Edge Psychotherapy Conference
Mercy Medical Center in Canton

Saturday, April 14th 
 
  

8:00    Registration
8:30      Mindful Solutions
           Psychotherapy
           Dr. Nina Kucyk
9:15      Acceptance & Commitment
           Therapy
    
        Dr. James Pontius
10:00    break
10:15     Internal Family Systems
            Model Psychotherapy
            
Dr. Howard Humphress
11:00     Spiritual Formation
            Dr. Terry Wardle
11:45    break
12:00    Panel Discussion
1:00      adjourn

     These are all psychotherapies which have been developed in recent years and hold greater promise than conventional ones. The pioneers who created these psychotherapies include Jack Kornfield, Steven Hayes, Richard Schwartz, and of course Terry Wardle. Among the speakers, Howard Humphress, D. Min. is an ordained United Methodist Elder and member of East Ohio Conference, a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He is the appointed counselor for ministers in his territory in the East Ohio Conference. Dr. James Pontius is a psychologist in private practice who works with the ACT model. Dr. Nina Kucyk is a psychologist who is active in the Akron-Canton Shambhala Meditation Center. As you know, Terry Wardle, D.Min. is Professor of Practical Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary. I expect that some of the pastors in the Muskingum Valley Presbytery may be interested in attending our Conference. The registration fee will be $30.00, with an additional $20.00 if CE credits are desired. A formal invitation and registration form will be sent out later, but I thought some of your pastors may want to know about this Conference and set the date aside. 
 

Prayer Request:  

 

Please hold Joyce and Don Rhamey from the Fredericksburg Church in your prayers.  Joyce has completed loyal service on the MVP Nominating Committee.  Joyce's sister, Lillian Templeton, lives in Washington State and has advanced cancer.  Joyce and Don will be visiting Lillian during the week of the March MVP gathering in Coshocton.  

 

 

If you or someone you know has a prayer request,

please send them to: Shauna at [email protected]

 

Journeying with Jesus to touch the world...
Empowered by the Spirit to:
Make Disciples, Nurture Our Faith, and Serve the Needs of the Community! 
 

Shauna Engeldinger, Administrative Assistant

  

Muskingum Valley Presbytery

109 Stonecreek Road NW

New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663  

330.339.5515

1.800.693.1147

Fax: 330.339.6225

 

 Visit our website: www.MVPJourney.org  

 

Office hours

Monday - Thursday

8:00am to 4:30pm