Muskingum Valley Presbytery
Weekly Update

November 29, 2012

This week...
Save the Date!
MVP News & Materials
The Brighton Bombers
Per Capita 2013
Debbie's Weekly Message
Holy Habit: Covenant of Expectations
Formational Prayer Seminar
Journey Java
Prayer Requests/Updates
Join Our Mailing List 

Save the Date!

 

Wednesday March 13th, 5P

until  

Thursday,  

March 14th, 5P

   

Registration  

begins at 4:30P

 

Lenten Retreat/

Inner Shalom 

 

Christ Presbyterian Church

530 Tuscarawas Street West 

Canton, OH 44702

     

  

  ------------- 

  

Questions? 
Comments? 
Corrections? 

  

800.693.1147 
330.339.5515

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

MVP News:

  

2011-2013
Book of Order
Please contact
Shauna today!
$9.00 each

*NEW*
2013 Mission Yearbooks
are now on sale at the
Presbytery office.
Pick up  
yours today! 
$15.00 each 



The Brighton Bombers from Brighton Presbyterian Church went out last week to knit bomb downtown Zanesville.

They wrapped a number of local landmarks in warm scarves and hats that are tagged with notes like "Made for someone special - like you"  and "Warm wishes from Brighton knitters". 

It was awesome fun and they have discovered that 85 scarves and sundry hats weren't near enough so they're on for next year!



 

Per Capita 2013

GA
 6.87
Synod 3.25
Presbytery18.36
Total 28.48



The Big Question...

 

Enough of you have asked about my work at Case Western that I thought it might be helpful to put in writing my intent.   The purpose of my work at Case Western is not to prepare me for a new call. I have not in any way felt released by God from my present call. But, I have felt a deep need in this season of rapid and discontinuous change to reclaim and hone some gifts that I set aside in 1985.

 

Some of you are aware that when I left Madison Avenue to attend Yale, I had initially intended to do a dual degree at the Divinity School and the School of Organization and Management. After one semester, I moved full time to the Divinity School.   My fear, at the time, was that if I completed a degree organizational development, I would be pulled back into the very world I had just left.

 

My call is still to serve as your General Presbyter. My passion and desire is to continue to equip you as pastors and leaders for the work of ministry to which God calls you in your communities. Over the last decade, God has been gathering an extraordinary group of leaders from both within and beyond the presbytery. How could I possibly leave just as the real work of transformation is beginning? Remember, it takes the first five to seven years to lay the foundation. For such a time as this, God has called us to build the new, even as we allow the old to fall away.

 

But if we are to fully heed God's call, we must learn how to claim the positive core of our DNA, while at the same time engaging in new ways of being the church in the 21st century.   The faculty of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western University is noted as being one of the best in the world in the area of organizational development.   With their help, I believe we have the capacity to make a significant kingdom difference. But to do so, we need to be re-formed... literally!

 

For those who question turning to a business school for lessons in "re-forming", I must share my deep joy in working with a faculty who take seriously the living out of their faith in their professional lives. Perhaps, one of the greatest failures of the institutional church has been our failure to fully celebrate the God-given capacities of those who sit in our pews. As a result, many of those God-given gifts get "checked at the door", never fully realized for their kingdom potential.

 

One of the joys of my time at Case is that I get to engage in deep theological reflection as it relates positive organizational development and the creation of the new. It will not surprise you to learn that I recommending to the faculty as many reading assignments as are being assigned to me. It is a mutual learning journey in which I am not only "allowed" but encouraged to bring my faith questions into the conversations that shape our class time and work together.

 

The whole Jesus calls the whole person! In this season, I am seeking to integrate my whole person that I might more fully serve you. Given this, I have asked Council if we might shape a mutual covenant of expectations as we prepare for the next five years of ministry together.   Below are some of my hopes and dreams for us as we begin this conversation. What are yours?


    

 

Debbie Rundlett,  

General Presbyter 

 

 

Holy Habit: Covenant of Expectations

 

cov�e�nant [kuhv-uh-nuhnt] noun

1. an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.

2. Law . an incidental clause in such an agreement.

3. Ecclesiastical . a solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel.

 

ex�pec�ta�tion [ek-spek-tey-shuhn] noun

1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation.

2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating.

3. an expectant  mental attitude: a high pitch of expectation.

4. something expected;  a thing looked forward to.

5. Often, expectations. a prospect of future good or profit: to have great expectations.

 

My covenant to you...

  1. I will daily spend time in the word and the prayer as I seek to grow up into maturity in Christ, engaging in an intentional rule that shapes and forms me according to God's purpose (Ephesians 4).
  2. I will commit to lifelong learning that I might continue to grow as a disciple and leader (see Romans 12:1-3).
  3. I will give of my best self as together we seek the Shalom of the communities to which we have been sent (see Jeremiah 29:1-11; Revelation 21-22).

 

My expectations of you...

  1. You will commit to an intentional faith journey in which you seek to grow up into maturity in Christ.
  2. Through that journey, you will use your gifts in kingdom service not only to your local congregation, but your community, and as called to the presbytery and beyond.
  3. You will give of your best self as together we seek the Shalom of the communities to which we have been sent.

Spend some time this next week in pray and reflection.   Share with your parish elder and members of presbytery council your covenant expectations for yourself, your congregation, and this presbytery.

 

 

 

 

Formational Prayer Seminar...How we Can Change!

  

The Formational Prayer Seminar may appear to be a hefty title, but indeed it is four days of life changing experiences, learning to walk with Jesus and seek and obtain the glory, guidance, and reassurance of the Holy Spirit. In our first seminar, the very necessary process of forgiveness and putting wounds in perspective takes place with self-forgiveness, healing of old wounds, and short and long term hurts begin with one's self and extends to others. It is the beginning of a process and a journey!

Guided, led, and taught by Dr. Terry Wardle of Ashland Theological Seminary, who has a no holds barred, reveal all attitude about his own and shared experiences, we were guided to begin our own search and realities in a program of learning, combined with daily, meaningful worship. There could never be a kinder, more empathetic way through the hand of God!

 

Attending the second seminar proved to be an even stronger, more involved, self-reflective journey, led by Dr. Wardle, but further enriched by other leaders in their fields of expertise in different learning sessions. We were enriched in our journey, as we walked with Jesus daily, were led by the Holy Spirit, encouraged in daily study, daily prayer, and the use of many recommended resources. A further gift was the connections made with others making the journey, and coming from many different fields of work and areas of the country. We have been encouraged to "tell our story," and to "continue the journey." For those of us in this Presbytery with our theme of "Journeying with Jesus," these experiences are life changing helping us to make changes in our own lives to better help and encourage others to change theirs and continue the walk to enhance our own lives, other lives and the world. I believe for me, these seminars have been not only a large blessing, but a permanent life change in my personal and religious life, providing great direction and joy!

 

Kathy Adams,   

Ruling Elder Commissioner,  

East Hills Presbyterian Church, Mansfield, Ohio.

 


 

Formational Prayer Seminar 

January 16-19, 2013. Registration begins at 8 a.m. 

Wednesday and seminar concludes at 4 p.m. Saturday.

 

Link to Formational Prayer Seminar at Ashland Seminary

 

**Please note the $100 discount when registering as an MVP leader for Formational Prayer Seminar. 

 

 

  

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

8:00A to 4:30P