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Weekly Update
June 14, 2012 |
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Upcoming Events | |
Save the date!
Incarnational Leadership: Seeking the Mind of Christ
Thursday,
August 23rd
9:30AM-3:30PM
Location:
MVP Mission Center
Renew yourself and
connect with others as we reflect on what it means to lead through the cultivation of
emotional and
social intelligence.
This day
apart will
introduce leaders to practices that can help them
overcome the
cycles of stress,
sacrifice and
dissonance so
prevalent in ministry today.
Cost:
$15 per person
(includes
lunch/materials)
To register:
Please send check, with name, address, phone and email contact information to:
Shauna Engeldinger
Muskingum Valley Presbytery
109 Stonecreek Road, NW
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
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Questions?
Concerns? Corrections?
Call or Email!
(800) 693-1147
(330) 339-5515
Email Shauna
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:00AM - 4:30PM
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MVP News:
Orders for the
NEW
2012-2013 Presbyterian Planning Calendar have arrived!
If you have placed an order, please contact me to pick up
your Planning
Calendar(s), during our office hours: Monday
through Thursday,
8AM to 4:30PM.
Thank you for your orders!
2011-2013
Book of Order
Please contact
Shauna today!
$9.00 each
2012 Mission Yearbooks are here!
Only a few left!
$12.00 each | |
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Pleasant Hill Outdoor Camp is a traditional Christian summer camp.
Comprised of 250 wooded acres and an 850 acre lake, days are filled with traditional camp activities led by counselors committed to helping your child grow socially, spiritually and physically. PHOC, one great camp where kids are want to be.
For more information, visit their website:
www.phoc.org
PHOC Camp Brochure | |
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Camp Wakonda Invites your Child to the Best Week of the Summer!
Camp Wakonda, owned by Christ Presbyterian Church, offers camping opportunities for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade.
We feature a Christian curriculum, spectacular arts program, and outdoor adventure.
Our counselors are responsible, caring, talented, and well-trained.
Find our summer schedule, counselor bios,
and more at
www.wakondacamp.com | | |
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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 | | |
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Free: Bentley & Simon black pulpit robe. Approximately 54" from mid-shoulder to hem, possibly a men's size large. Black velvet trim around the neck and down the front. Carrying case included. A generous gift to me years ago by a Methodist minister's widow, so it brings an ecumenical history! Contact Joanne Cox,
330-806-7617. | |
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Open Position at
John Knox Presbyterian Church | |
The Director of Communication & Ministry Coordination will provide dynamic leadership in communicating and equipping church teams to communicate the mission and vision of the church and will serve as the point person for managing the
day--to--day ministry of the church.
This self--starter will serve on the Pastoral Staff where they will participate in shaping our vision and then they will be the primary person
responsible to lead our efforts to communicate it most effectively. It is expected that half of the position will be the creation of communication message and media and half the position will involve the management of the ministry of our church.
This is a full-time position. If you know any exceptional communication people who would be interested in part-time employment, we are open to talking about this and segregating the ministry coordination responsibilities into a separate part-time position.
Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.
We hope to begin interviewing in early July.
Director of Communication & Ministry Coordination Position Description (.PDF)
Visit
www.jkpc.org
for more information. | |
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Empowered Concert 2012
Date:
Saturday,
July 14, 2012
Time:
12pm-9pm
Place:
McFarland Stadium, Clairmont Ave. Cambridge, OH
FREE!
FREE!
FREE!
SIX BANDS!!
Including:
Satellites
&
Sirens
Also...
Inspirational Speakers, Vendors and
A Whole Lot More!!
FREE!
FREE!
FREE!
For more information, contact Unity Presbyterian Church at: 740.432.7308 | | |
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Lessons from Donnie...
Donnie went on her first sleepover in Kindergarten. I didn't think that five year-olds were old enough for sleepovers, but she assured me she was and that furthermore, it would be the only way for her to experience what a "real" family with multiple kids was truly like.
That first night, I stayed up until midnight sure that a call would come to pick her up. I called the next morning at 11am to say that I was coming to get her. She was not ready for me when I arrived. She has since gone on many such "family immersions" and even attempted to expand her own small nuclear family through the adoption of a Korean sister several years ago. Her parents have failed her in this area; I expect multiple grandchildren.
Now on June 27th Donnie leaves to do service projects in six European countries over a three-week period. Once again, I am thinking that thirteen year-olds do not travel to other countries without their parents (although she has had her passport since she was two months old). She assures me that she is more than ready to travel abroad without us. I sense that the orientation meetings have been more for the parents, than the kids.
She begins ninth grade this fall. I realize that these overnights and mission trips are God's way of helping us let go. Four more years and she will be gone. Stanford is the top choice at the moment, although she is also drawn to Pt. Loma Nazarene University for both their writer's program and to be back in San Diego. Dick has promised that if she goes to the College of Wooster there will be no surprise visits. I'm thinking California is at least in the Continental United States.
Letting go isn't easy, but it is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. The same is true of ministry. As pastors and leaders, our job is to help people grow up in Christ and then to "let go"; that is, release them to God's call wherever it might take them. A key aspect of "letting go" is helping others to become the men and women God has created and called them to be through intentional formational experiences that will lead to transformation. It's one of the key reasons that we do mission trips. To be sure, we go to serve. But, if we're honest, we're the ones who are most richly blessed.
The word for transform in Greek is "morphoo" and it means the inward and real formation of the essential nature of a person. Paul uses the word in a number of places in the Epistles, including Galatians where he writes: "I labor until Christ is formed-morphoo-in you" (4:19). "I labor," Paul exhorts until your core identity, character, call, and competencies are formed in and through the power of the Holy Spirit in service to God in Christ.
Paul, in likening our formation to the growth of an embryo, reflects the reality that we are pregnant with more possibility than most of us can imagine.In Romans, Paul calls us to be "conformed to the image of the Son." The word, "summorphizo," means to have the same form as another, to shape a thing into a durable likeness. Spiritual growth is a molding process born of not just (or even primarily) learning about God, but rather coming to live in and through Christ. We are to be to Christ as an image is to its original. And so, Dick and I send Donnie to be Christ for those she will serve.
Letting go. It is a key part of the formational journey.How is God calling you to let go? More to the point, how is God calling you to be Christ in your life and ministry?
Debbie Rundlett, General Presbyter
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Holy Habit: Conforming to the Image of Christ
Write a resume of your core identity, character, and call (not your competencies or expertise). What does this reveal about who you are becoming? Are you following in the way of Christ? Are you on the path to humility (see Philippians 2:1-11)? Of what do you need to "let go" in order to more fully live in Christ.
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June 5, 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we live beyond Easter and on into the season beyond Pentecost we hold fast to the words of the Apostle Peter: "His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." Christ remains our glory and goodness.
We write to you as preparations are being made for the 220th General Assembly. This year GA meets from June 30th through July 7th in Pittsburgh, PA. As the delegates gather and do their work, there will be moments of joy and celebration. We also know there will be moments of conflict and sorrow. Delegates have much work to do and the issues at hand are complex and controversial. Both wisdom and charity call us to be in prayer through out these eight days.
At this time, we also believe that it is important for us, as members of the Muskingum Valley Presbytery, to be mindful of our own calling. This Presbytery is doing great and wonderful things and we must not lose that fact in all the stirrings of GA. Even as we pray for GA, we rejoice over our calling to:
- Equip and encourage leaders and churches in living their call,
- Nourish and build spiritually and emotionally healthy congregations,
- Nurture, challenge and support disciples to be Christ in the world.
We are working to:
- Be faithful in our use of resources,
- Live the example of what the future will be like,
- Return to theology and mission over polity and structure.
In short, we are "striving to excel in building up the church..." (Paul, I Corinthians14:12). We have reason to celebrate!
God has indeed given us everything we need for life and godliness. We look forward to the journey ahead.
In Christ,
David de Vries
Chair, Council
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Greetings,
I hope this email finds you well and in great spirits. The General Assembly Committee on Representation is asking for all hands on deck. Volunteers are needed for process observation during the General Assembly 220 in Pittsburgh, PA June 30-July 7, 2012. If you are attending GA 220 , interested in process observation, and have time to commit please contact Flora Daniel.
Email: flora.daniel@pcusa.org
Office: 502-569-5030
Peace and Blessings,
Flora Daniel
Flora Daniel
Administrative Assistant, Representation and Inclusiveness Services
flora.daniel@pcusa.org l www.pcusa.org/cor
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) l Office of the General Assembly
100 Witherspoon Street, Room 4417A l Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396
Direct 502-569-5030 l toll free 888-728-7228, ext 5030 l fax 502-569-8614
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Face to Face Event
Church Leadership Connection will be hosting a
Face to Face event at GA,
June 29 to July 3, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA.
We invite you to consider attending.
Face-to-Face is an opportunity to move beyond the written word of PIFs and CIFs to meet and talk directly with one another about the possibility of ministry together. It is an opportunity to connect with a number of folks in one place over a few days time. It is an opportunity to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit leading you to places and people you may have never imagined.
In order to register you must have an active PIF or CIF in Church Leadership Connection.
To get more information and to register for Face to Face go to the CLC website at:
http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/clc | | |
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"Men of the Church"
Creston Presbyterian Church will be celebrating "Men of the Church" this Sunday, June 10th.
Messianic Rabbi Eric Lakatos will bring the message. Rabbi Lakatos is the Messianic Rabbi at Tikvat Yisrael in Cleveland, OH.
He was originally scheduled to do a Passover meal with us at Creston but was ill at the time - thanks for your prayers for him as he has received a complete healing since his surgery in April! His sermon text will be Romans 15:8-9, and his sermon title is "Avot". Men of the Creston Church will lead the worship service.
We invite you to worship with us at 10:15 a.m.
13070 Cleveland Rd. Creston, OH.
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Dear friends,
I have a couple of folks that are searching for answers on how to run a successful Sunday School ministry. If your church is in the process of hosting a successful Sunday School ministry, I ask that you take a few moments to respond to these questions:
1. How are you running a successful Sunday School?
2. What is the model of your successful Sunday School?
3. How do you get parents to commit to the program?
Please send your responses to:
Nancy Umberger, ncu@netscape.com or
Cindy Krause, wkrause2@roadrunner.com
Thank you!
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Issue 411
PUTTING HOW BEFORE WHAT
by Stephen Chapin Garner with Jerry Thornell
Before my arrival as pastor at the United Church of Christ in Norwell, Massachusetts, the congregation had plans underway to revamp its organizational structure. Their experience was one that is true for so many Christian communities today: Too few people are doing too much work in the church. Church leaders, both lay and ordained, grow older and grayer and they eventually burn out. That had become the situation at UCC Norwell toward the end of the twentieth century. The church was only a few decades old, but the organizational structure had become a burden that fewer and fewer people were willing to bear. The church had significant lay participation, but the boards and committees that oversaw the day-to-day operations of the church were slowly breaking down. The nominating committee had to call people up and beg them to join church boards. The sales pitch was nearly desperate: "Will you please, please, please join the trustee board? No one else wants to do it." Needless to say, that is not an effective means of drawing in new members.
The truth was that the different boards and committees were so overburdened with tasks that any sense of fellowship and passionate mission was drained out of them. The deacons, for example, were responsible for worship--and all of the minute tasks that that entails--as well as for following up on absent church members, collecting information from visitors, running new member classes, and making sure that coffee was available for fellowship hour. The tasks lacked a central focus, and the board members lacked passion for their work. In fact, it felt as if any miscellaneous task the church needed done but didn't have a proper home for fell to the deacons
Continue reading "Putting How Before What" |
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Transforming 2012: Pathways to Vital Ministry
Tuesday and Wednesday, June 19-20, 2012
(beginning at 12:00 p.m. CDT on the Tuesday and
ending at 12:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday.)
Register at: https://www.wepay.com/events/transforming-2012
Cost:
- Individual Registration: $49 per person
- Church Team Registration: $200 for pastor plus four or more people
Focus: Transforming 2012: Pathways to Vital Ministry is a series of virtual exp eriences during a 24-hour period from Noon June 19th through Noon June 20th for congregational leaders around the themes of Discipleship, Growth, Missional Leadership Development, and Community Context.
Goal: To provide learning experiences for pastors, staff persons, congregational leaders that will inspire and empower their congregations for increased vitality and vibrancy as they seek to continually transform in response to the opportunities and challenges of 21st century ministry.
Format: Each topic will be presented as a 45 minute webinar by the presenter, then following a 15 minute break, a telephone dialogue will be available for the next 45 minutes where you can ask questions and interact with the presenter. For example, the first webinar will be presented by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday for 45 minutes. Following a 15 minute break, at 1:00 p.m. participants can dialogue for up to 45 minutes with the presenter. Also, at 1:00 p.m. a new webinar will start so participants can choose to have dialogue or to connect with the next webinar.
Confirmed Speakers: Cynthia Woolever, Dick Hamm, Eddie Hammett, Gene Wilkes, George Bullard, Greg Hunt, James Bowers, Ken Kessler, Mark Wingfield, Peter Wernett, Rick Morse, and Philip Lotspeich
Confirmed Topics:
- Leadership That Fits Your Church: Finding a Mission and a Match led by Cynthia Woolever
- Seven Steps to Leading Adaptive Change led by Dick Hamm
- Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60 led by Eddie Hammett
- Community Based Servant Evangelism led by Gene Wilkes
- Creating a FaithSoaring Church led by George Bullard
- Leading Congregations Through Crisis: Pursuing God's Purpose Through Perilous Times led by Greg Hunt
- Making Covenant Together: Why Didn't We Do This 25 Years Ago? led by James Bowers
- Moving from Attractional to Missional: Creating a Missional Congregation led by Peter Wernett
- Moving from the Program of Discipleship to the Process of Disciplemaking led by Ken Kessler
- Staying Alive: Why the Conventional Wisdom About Traditional Churches is Wrong led by Mark Wingfield
- From Our Doorsteps: Developing a Ministry Plan That Makes Sense led by Rick Morse and Philip Lotspeich
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Dear church friends,
Just in case you know a young person of quality looking for a way to contribute in the world ---
I'm writing mostly to ask you to think about and pray about whether you know any young people who might be interested in and do a good job as a residential life/ English teacher volunteer at Payap University for our upcoming volunteer term (August 2012 through September 2013). I'm attaching a poster and brief job description that you may use for promotion as appropriate. Please let folks know of this opportunity. I'd like to be interviewing and making selections in May. Volunteers should arrive in Chiang Mai in late August and be here for a minimum 13 month commitment. They receive just over $300 per month plus a free room in one of our dorms. They will receive training in TESOL and basic Thai language. They'll learn a lot about Thailand, themselves, and hopefully more about God's love and calling in their lives.
Thanks for any help you can give in promoting this opportunity.
Rev. Esther Wakeman, Ph.D.
Vice-President, Spiritual & Community Life
Director, Mae Khao Dormitories
Payap University
Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand
office 665-385-1475
home 665-324-3645
cell 6689-835-0786
2011 CVP Residental Life Assistant Job Description (.PDF)
CVP Poster (.PDF) | | |
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Volunteers Needed for
2012 Upcoming Wings
Prison Parties - OH
(Prison parties are generally from 12:30 - 3:30 on Saturday afternoons. The only exception is the Cleveland, OH Women's facility - North East Pre-Release Center Party, and it will be Thursday night from 5:00 - 8:00 PM.)
Southeastern Correctional Institution-
Lancaster, OH
Men's prison
Dec. 1, 2012 - Saturday
Volunteer deadline: Nov. 1
Please go to the following secure link and enter the data I need from you to get clearance from the prison. Be sure to list the prison party you'd like to volunteer for on the form. THANKS!
http://wingsministry.org/PDFfiles/VolunteerApplication.pdf
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Prayer Requests:
If you or someone you know has a prayer request,
please send them to: Shauna at Shauna@MVPJourney.org
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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
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