Muskingum Valley Presbytery
Weekly Update

September 13, 2012

This week...
Upcoming Events
MVP News & Materials
2 Cents A Meal Grant
Lay Ministry (On Campus)
Employment Opportunities
Summary Bulletin of GA
Message from Dave de Vries
Debbie's Weekly Message
Holy Habit
From the Clerk's Desk....
Dr. Tony Campolo - September 28th and 29th
RMMG at PHOC
The Spirit in Simeon
Planting Time from Barbara Morrison
Mission Projects at Creston
Alban Weekly - Issue 423
Journey Java
Prayer Requests
Join Our Mailing List 
 

Upcoming Events 

Save the date!

 

Friday,

September 28th

 

6:00P - 9:00P

 

MVP Dinner  
with 
Dr. Tony Campolo
and wife, Peggy 

Topic:
Homosexuality 
and  
Living Together  
even amidst differences

 

Location:

Christ Presbyterian Church

530 Tuscarawas Street W.

Canton, OH 44702

 

Limited to 120 guests 

By Reservation Only 

 

You must RSVP

for this event!

 

Click Here to Register! 

 

 

Saturday, September 29th

 

8:30A - 4:30P

 

Dr. Tony Campolo, morning speaker 

 

Topic: 

 Creation of Sustainable Communities  

 

Followed by:

Stated Meeting of the Presbytery

   

 Location: 

Christ Presbyterian Church

 530 Tuscarawas Street W.

Canton, OH 44702

  

You must RSVP for this event!  

 

 

  

Sunday, 

September 30th

  

9:15A - 10:15A

Sunday School

with Tony Campolo

 

10:30A - 11:30A

Worship

with Tony Campolo

 

 Location:

Christ Presbyterian Church

530 Tuscarawas Street W.

Canton, OH 44702

 

 ---------------

 

Questions? 
Comments? 
Corrections? 

 

800.693.1147 
330.339.5515

 
MVP 
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday
8:00A - 4:30P

 

 

MVP News:

   

2012-2013 Presbyterian Planning Calendar 

Only a few left!

$9.00 each 

 

2011-2013
Book of Order
Please contact
Shauna today!
$9.00 each
   
Orders for the NEW 2013
Mission Yearbook will be placed soon!
Be on the lookout for more updates.

   


2 Cents A Meal 

 

Applications for 2012 grants from the MVP 2 Cents A Meal fund will be accepted at the MVP Mission Center through Monday, October 15, 2012.  

 

The application form is available on the MVP web site (see Forms-Miscellaneous).  

 

Please be sure to fully describe the program for which funds are requested (number of people served, involvement of other churches/community organizations...) and the difference a 2 Cents A Meal grant would make (new program start-up, expansion, matching funds...).

 

The application must be signed by the clerk of session and the pastor/moderator of the sponsoring church. Incomplete applications or those received after  

Monday, October 15 cannot be considered.  

Awards will be announced at the MVP stated meeting on Tuesday, November 27 at the College Drive Church in  

New Concord.

 

2 Cents a Meal  

Grant Application  

 

 

 

Certificate in Lay Ministry (On Campus)

Sept. 2012-June 2013
The non-degree Whitworth Certificate in Lay Ministry Program is designed to help train, equip, and support men and women to serve more effectively as commissioned lay pastors, Christian-education directors, lay-ministry coordinators, youth leaders, church administrators, church elders and deacons, and church-office managers, as well as in a variety of other leadership positions in local congregations.
More...

 

Certificate in Lay Ministry (Online)

Oct. 2012-June 2013   

Now offered online, the non-degree Whitworth Certificate in Lay Ministry Program is designed to meet the goals of the on-campus program (above) in a format that allows students both inside and outside the Spokane area to participate fully. Classes are held for nine months, from October to June.
More...

 

 

Employment Opportunities 

 Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church

Youth Minister Description

Send a resume to:

Jack McClelland, Pastor

Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 259

Fredericksburg, OH 44627

E-mail submissions are acceptable.

Send e-mailed resumes to:

[email protected] 

For more information, call the church office at:

(330) 695-2511.

All resumes must be received in the church office by:

Wednesday, September 19th



 

 

Summary Bulletin of GA 2012 from The Presbyterian Outlook:

 

2012 Post - GA to Email 

one side

 

2012 Post - GA for Printing 

two sides 

 

 

Who are we?  This is a question of identity.  We would all say we are Christian-disciples of Christ.  As churches together we are known as the Muskingum Valley Presbytery.  Why do we work together for Christ?  That is a question of purpose, or calling.  We have come to understand we are called and exist 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.

In order to equip, nourish and nurture, we each must continue to be equipped, nourished and nurtured.  Understanding this, six and a half years ago Debbie Rundlett was called to serve as our General Presbyter.  We understand her presence in our life as a gift.  She has led with faith, wisdom, passion and compassion.  We have all experienced this through pastor cohorts, leadership training events, transitional support, conflict support and in her ability to weave us into a strong network of relating churches and individuals.  We know of her deep, deep desire for her own personal growth directed, in the end, to equipping, nourishing and nurturing us.

 

To this end, Debbie has stated her desire to "trade in" her Sabbatical to do post graduate work in positive organizational development at Case Western University.  Case is internationally recognized for their work in community transformation.  The 14-month program educates and develops leaders in the creation of sustainable structures which contribute to both individual and community well-being. 

 

To do this, she needs our support: both participatory and financial.  On the participatory end, she is asking us to prayerfully consider taking part in either hosting an Appreciative Inquiry Summit, participating in a cohort, or "testing" the materials she develops in your congregational setting.  She will provide greater detail on this need at the September meeting.

 

The greatest challenging obstacle to Debbie participating in this program is funding.  The tuition totals $69,000, plus travel and immersion expenses.  Case has provided a tuition grant of $20,000.  Debbie will personally contribute $18,500, as well as her continuing education moneys for 2013 and 2014. The Total Living Center and a presbytery leader, getting a sense that something special is in the making, have already pledged $500.00 each! First United Presbyterian Church in Alliance has pledged $6,000!  Each member of the Presbytery Council has made a personal pledge of support, the total of which is yet tallied.

 

We believe this is a good and worthy direction for Debbie and for the Muskingum Valley Presbytery.  The reality is that we still need to raise approximately $18,500 to fund the venture, and we pray you and your congregation will consider a mission gift to make it all happen.  Some churches will be able to forward $100, others $500, and others $1,000.  Together, we can continue to equip, nourish and nurture, Debbie, one another...and the world in the faith and new life Jesus has to offer each of us.

 

We ask you to take this request to your Session, prayerfully consider the wonder, growth and future that might be born through it, and respond generously.  May the Lord bless you and keep us as, together, we work out the future God has in store for us.

 

In Christ,

  

Dave de Vries

Chair, Council

 

 

Have We Done It All Wrong?

 

Seek the Shalom of the city to which I have sent you in exile. Jeremiah 29:7

 

"Have we done it all wrong, then?" asks the clerk of session of a dying congregation. Her heart-wrenching question speaks to the displacement many of us experience today as we grieve the growing disconnect between our congregations and the communities in which we live and work and serve.  

 

Exile.  This is the context in which we find ourselves today:

 

-          Physical Exile: as beloved neighborhoods change in complexion and socio-economic status. 

-          Emotional Exile: as a generation dies with none to replace it. 

-          Spiritual Exile: as core identity in Christ is replaced by consumerism.

 

We are a church in exile. And we are quickly growing irrelevant. Yet I believe this leader's pain (and our own pain) has the potential to open the door to deep, kenotic change. Kenotic change, the emptying of real and perceived rights and prerogatives that we might embody Christ, requires attentiveness to both the guilt and the yearning that stirs in our souls.

 

Exile, whether we like it or not, is the context in which God has placed us. This is the context in which God calls us to live-that we might bless and be blessed. Exile therefore is the means by which God calls forth in us a paradoxical experience of loss and hope.   Seeking Shalom involves a delicate dance of repentance as we acknowledge our state of brokenness and delight as we heed God's call to sing a new song in a "foreign land".

 

But how? How do we seek the Shalom of the communities to which we have been sent in exile? How do we sing the Lord's song in a "foreign land"? I believe it begins with embracing, rather than resisting, our pain and loss. Until we acknowledge our loss, we will continue-whether consciously or unconsciously-to attempt to "go back" to life as we have known it.

 

We also need to learn new ways of turning our hearts outward. We need to ask our communities how can we partner together, rather than telling them what they need. And, we need to be prepared to not necessarily like the answers we get in response. The problems facing our communities are acute and real. Economic, environmental, and social ills demand a response from those of us who call ourselves Christians. But not in isolation, nor from the "top down."

 

Instead, we must embrace the liminality of our time. We must practice kenosis.

 

 

 

Deborah Rundlett, general presbyter

     

 

 

Holy Habit: Practicing Kenosis

 

I must decrease that he might increase. John the Baptist (John 3:30)

 

John the Baptist is clear. We must decrease that Christ might increase within us. In the words of Paul, "our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus: who, being by very nature God, did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled (he emptied himself) and became obedient unto death-even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:5-8).

 

Kenosis-the emptying of self-is at the heart of Jesus' incarnation and God's call to us as we seek the Shalom of the communities to which we have been sent in exile. Of what is God calling you to empty yourself of that you might seek and bear Shalom?

 

Take some time this next week to ponder this question-with God, with fellow leaders in your congregation, with your community. And then dare to surrender yourself to God in prayer that God might use you. Never forget that emptying is prelude to filling!

 

 

 

From the Clerk's Desk                                                          September 13, 2012

 

ATTENTION: CLERKS OF SESSION AND OTHER RULING ELDERS!  

 

Many of our congregations do something special for their pastor(s) during the month of October, designated (perhaps by Hallmark) as Pastor Appreciation Month. The Presbyterian Pastoral Care Network and the Presbyterian Outlook are joining together to offer a 75-minute live webinar on Tuesday, October 2, at 2PM and 8PM (Eastern time) led by Stephen McCutchan, a retired pastor who specializes in pastoral care of pastors.

 

This live webinar is designed to give session members and other congregational leaders some tools for supporting the pastor(s) serving their congregations. Topics covered will include:

  • how does stress impact the personal and professional lives of pastors?
  • what are some practical resources that are available to support pastors?
  • how can a support plan be set up between pastors and congregational leaders to strengthen the ministry of the church?

The webinar is available to $29.95 for an individual or a group of up to 6 leaders. For groups of 7 or more the charge is $5.00 per participant. A DVD will also be available at a cost of $39.95 for those who are unable to join the live webinar. Reservations can be made or DVD orders placed by contacting [email protected]. Contact the MVP Mission Center for more information.

   

 

 

 

Friday, September 28th

6:00P - 9:00P

MVP Dinner 
with Dr. Tony Campolo and wife, Peggy 

Tony Campolo

Topic:
Homosexuality and Living Together,
even amidst differences

Tony Campolo's website: www.tonycampolo.org

 

Location:

Christ Presbyterian Church

530 Tuscarawas Street W.

Canton, OH 44702

 

Limited to 120 guests 

By Reservation Only 

 

You must RSVP for this event!

 

Click Here to Register! 

 

 

Saturday, September 29th

8:30A - 4:30P

 Dr. Tony Campolo, morning speaker 

 

Topic: 

 Creation of Sustainable Communities  

 

Followed by:

Stated Meeting of the Presbytery

   

Presbytery Docket 

   

 Location: 

Christ Presbyterian Church

 530 Tuscarawas Street W.

Canton, OH 44702

  

You must RSVP for this event!  

 


 

*We hope that each person attending the Presbytery meeting on Saturday, September 29, will bring large jars of peanut butter and jelly to help stock the shelves of the church's community food distribution program that serves ever-increasing numbers of hungry children and adults. 

 

 


A time & place away from the rush...

"Be Not Afraid!"

Wounds & Healings  

As Christians we experience pain in our churches as well as in our own families. The people and events of our lives can leave wounds that influence us the rest of our lives. "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength," (Isaiah 30:15).   

In this beautiful setting, we will explore why Elijah and Jonah felt most alone at key times of their lives and then discover the many sources of healings Jesus offers to us. Each participant is asked to bring a picture, poem, sculpture, sheet music or YouTube video that has been a source of comfort or healing.

 

Our time will be divided among small groups of three; whole group time (including Communion); and time for solitude (by the lake, on the porch, having coffee with another participant, sitting in front of the fireplace or strolling on nearby trails

A one-day retreat - Thursday, October 11. 2012

Pleasant Hills Outdoor Center
Check-in at 9:30 am. Retreat is 10 am-3:00 pm
$15/person with lunch included.
Arranged by the Retreat Ministry Mission Group
of
Muskingum Valley Presbytery


To Register:

 Print out PHOC Retreat Flyer and mail in form with payment  

OR 

Email your contact information of attendees to: [email protected] 

 

Please register by October 3, 2012

 

 

 

The Spirit in Simeon

 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;* this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.* 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon* came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon* took him in his arms and praised God, saying,


29 'Master, now you are dismissing your servant
* in peace,
   according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31   which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
   and for glory to your people Israel.'

 

33And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon* blessed them and said to his mother Mary, 'This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too.'

 

Prayer in the Spirit within Simeon  

 

Pray in the Spirit that held Simeon for many years of hopeful waiting, faithful service, and righteous living.  

 

Pray in the Spirit of the tradition that provides us a structure to be in the position to hold Christ when he came in a new and tender way.

 

Pray in the Spirit that inspires one to be watchful, opens one's eyes to see, and gives the light by which Christ is revealed.

 

Pray in the Spirit that strengthens us to hold together the challenges of faith:

    • The rising and falling of all
    • The piercing of the heart of love & the promise of love revealed
    • Some will choose dark ways over the ways of light. Some will choose light.

Pray in the Spirit that helps us depart in peace; to let go of the challenges of life, knowing we have done our part, the light has come, and the world is in God's hands. Our work is done.  

 

If Simeon's prayer is a guide for us to live daily in the Spirit of hope and courage and not in a spirit of impatience and anxiety, how would our lives as spiritual leaders look?

 
 

  

Planting Time  

 "...Welcome the word planted deep inside you-the very word that is able to save you."
(James 1:21 Common English Bible)

  

This summer I'm enjoying the harvest of Ray's little garden and some of your larger ones- tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini, beans, and peas. This produce deliciously satisfies my taste for a fresh salad along with my hunger. Even before it nourishes my body, it fills me with awe at the miracle of seeds growing and producing fruit.  

  

In a similar way, I witness the growing season of faith among Morgan County Presbyterians. For example, a small Bible verse or song planted in childhood memory sustains you in a crisis. Or, a cultivated habit of daily Bible reading keeps you going when nothing else helps.  

  

If this doesn't sound familiar, don't despair. It's never too late to accept seeds of faith God wants to embed in your souls. Planting time is NOW!

  

Do you long to ask (or hear!) a simple question and find a faith-feast beyond your wildest dreams? Do you wish you could discuss a familiar Bible story and discover a surprising flavor to spice your life? Do you hanker for a conversation about what you heard or thought on Sunday morning? Do you crave a discovery that you're not the only one with the same hunger? 

 

These are on the regular menu in study and fellowship groups, thanks to God's grace and the Spirit's power. Thriving disciples need a steady diet of them, too. You need not dine alone! Here's what's on the adult table this fall. If your discipleship whets your appetite for something you don't see, talk with an elder or me.  

  • Bible study - digests a book of the Bible (currently Genesis) chapter by chapter-Tuesday mornings,10:30 a.m., Gaylord Hall-contact Sherry Marshall
  • This We Believe - chews on "truths Presbyterians affirm" picking up with chapter 5-2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Gaylord Hall-contact Pastor Barbara
  • Men's Fellowship - savors friendship, fun, & food along with enriching programs-3rd Thursdays, 7 p.m., Gaylord Hall-contact Howard Troutner
  • Women's Fellowship - relishes a buffet of programs, creative projects, & service-3rd Wednesdays, 1 p.m., Gaylord Hall-contact Sandy Hall
  • Learning Hour - nibbles from a smorgasbord of scriptural & spiritual topics-Sundays, 10 a.m., Deerfield - contact Ruth Orr
Grace, love, and peace,
Barbara Morrison,
Pastor of the Deerfield and McConnellsville Presbyterian Churches

"The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself... "
(John 6:35 & 51 Message)

 

 

 

MISSION PROJECTS AT CRESTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

As we near the end of summer, Creston Presbyterian Church has been actively involved in community mission projects. During July and the beginning of August, we took part in the 1st Annual "Cram the Cruiser" School Supply Collection. Several churches in Creston worked together along with the community to fill a police cruiser with school supplies for needy children in Norwayne Schools. The cruiser took part in the community parade during the Ox Roast early in August.   In addition to school supplies, monetary donations were also received. The project was a great success.

 

At the end of August, five Creston churches along with some organizations met to begin a CROP Walk for Hunger. Rev. Alice Phillips is coordinating the walk. Alice worked with Church World Service/CROP one summer years ago and started and coordinated a CROP Walk in her previous pastorate as well. The goal for Creston is to raise $2,500.00. The walk will be held on October 7, 2012, at 2:00 P.M. at Creston Park. Should you have questions regarding possibly starting a CROP Walk in your community or other projects sponsored by Church World Service (i.e. Blanket Sundays, School Kits, and Health Kits), Alice would gladly share her experience.

 

In October, Creston Presbyterian will also be beginning their 4th year of ASHAPP. (After School Homework Assistance Program Plus). Each Tuesday, children are transported by school bus to the church. We help children in grades 1-3 with homework, provide a hot meal, and provide a Christian Education hour, in addition to providing a lot of love and encouragement. 

 

The Creston Presbyterian Church is a very mission minded church. The congregation has been involved in mission for years. These are just some of our newest adventures.  

 

 

 

Issue 423 

IS E-MAIL THE NEW PARKING LOT?   

by Susan Nienaber

 

It is more than a little ironic that you are reading an e-mail message that is about to warn you of the dangers of e-mail, but here goes:

 

You may be familiar with--perhaps even have participated in--"parking lot meetings."  Those unofficial conversations (often held in parking lots following official meetings) that tend to undermine decisions, complain about individuals, and stir up discontent.  They are extremely effective forms of communication, but they are not always helpful.  In some important ways, e-mail has become the new "parking lot meeting.  It spreads information (accurate or not) quickly and widely, it is impossible to stop, and it can be very damaging.

 

Many of us could not do our jobs without e-mail, certainly not me.  I depend on e-mail to schedule appointments, share documents and stay connected with various groups. The Internet, with its e-mail and blogging, is an important technological advance that helps us work more effectively and efficiently.  Many churches are making excellent use of these new electronic resources in very creative ways.  Indeed, Alban depends largely on e-mail to communicate with you.

 

However, when a congregation is in the midst of conflict, the Internet, and particularly e-mail, can become a serious problem. Just about every church I consult with these days is dealing with the downside of computer technology as they struggle with conflict.

 

 

Continue reading "Is E-mail the New Parking Lot?"


 

  

Journey Java
 
Contact Jim Spain at [email protected] to order or for more information.

 

Journey Java Varieties:

"Cup of Excellence"

$16 per pound

"Fair Trade Organic" & All Other Regular Coffee

$12 per pound

"Fair Trade Organic" General Presbyter's Dark Roast Blend

$12 per pound

"Natural Process"

$10 per pound

"Decaffeinated"

$14 per pound

Varieties change on a regular basis due to harvesting dates in coffee producing countries!

Please give one weeks notice for roasting.

Fund raiser for churches available.
All proceeds support MVP mission!!

The Journey Java is a way to bring attention to the plight of the oppressed countries that withhold a fair wage to their employees for the sake of a larger profit. "Journeying with Jesus" coffee is to also help the good employers around the world that take an extra effort in the growth of "FINE" coffee with GREAT "cupping" qualities that honor our earth with organic farming while paying employees above poverty levels.

Journey Java also provides an income for mission within and designated by the Muskingum Valley Presbytery. Profits from the sale of this "FINE" coffee go to the mission of the Presbytery. 

 

 
Prayer Requests/Updates 

 

   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

 

 

 Regular Office hours

Monday - Thursday

8:00am to 4:30pm