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Weekly Update
January 31, 2013
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Save the Dates!
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
Click Here to Register for the Lenten Retreat*Please call the McKinley Hotel, 1-877-454-5008 to book your reservations. To receive discount, state that you are attending the MVP Lenten Retreat. You must call to ahead to reserve room(s).
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Saturday,
April 20th
9:00A-4:00P
Registration
begins at 8:30A
Ministry Options in the 21st Century
with George Bullard
Unity Presbyterian Church
130 N. 7th Street
Cambridge, OH 43725
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Questions?
Comments?
Corrections?
800.693.1147
330.339.5515
MVP
Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday
8:00A - 4:30P
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MVP News:
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates will be:
56.5 cents
per mile for business miles driven.
2011-2013
Book of Order
$9.00 each
*NEW* 2013 Mission Yearbooks are now on sale at the Presbytery office. $15.00 each Per Capita 2013 |
GA
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6.87
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Synod
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3.25
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Presbytery
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18.36
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Consider
Detroit as a
Location
for your next
Youth or Adult Mission Trip
Detroit Presbytery Service Initiative is a program run by the Hands-On Mission Work Group of the Presbytery of Detroit, 17575 Hubbell, and Detroit, MI 48235.
Nature of Work:
A variety of service opportunities in partnership with area congregations, community agencies and social service organizations.
Work projects include and are not limited to demolition, construction, human services, Vacation Bible Schools, Habitat builds, nature conservancy and many others.
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From the Clerk's Desk February 1, 2013
Recent tragedies communities across our country, most recently in Newtown, Connecticut, have brought the issue of gun violence to the forefront. I listened to a radio broadcast yesterday covering a public meeting in Lake Placid, NY, where information was presented about the state's newly-adopted laws governing sale and ownership of certain guns and ammunition cartridges. Many of those present vowed to resist these laws, citing the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Others spoke in support of "reasonable" limits on gun sales, possession and use.
I am sure that members of our congregations shared divergent opinions on the relationship between violence and guns. There are no doubt some who feel that airing these opinions will only divide people of faith. However, I suggest that, as Jesus' disciples, we are called to address the many difficult and often polarizing issues of our day in an atmosphere of mutual love and respect, recognizing that none of us has "the answer."
In 2010, the 219th PCUSA General Assembly approved the report "Gun Violence, Gospel Values: Mobilizing in Response to God's Call." The report was recommended "...for consideration and study by sessions, presbyteries, and synods, and commended to the free Christian conscience of all congregations and members for prayerful study, dialogue, and action." Copies are available from Presbyterian Distribution Service (1-800-524-2612; document #24-052-11-002; $3 each; $2 each for orders of 10 or more).
It is my hope that this resource will be used by those congregations in our presbytery that seek guidance in studying the issue of gun violence through the lens of gospel values as they discern ways God is calling them to respond.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church in New Concord is cleaning out closets! We have over 100 copies of the 1933/1949 Presbyterian Hymnal (dark green cover), free for the asking. Please email pastor Ellen Thomas at ellenthomas22@gmail.com if interested. Thank you.
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January 4, 2013
Dear Presbytery Staff Members,
Grace and peace to you all.
We write with concern about proposed benefits and dues plan changes announced by the Board of Pensions after their October 2012 meeting, and to urge reconsideration. We ask that you share this letter with the pastoral leaders and clerks of session of your Presbytery, to encourage congregational conversations toward the hope that more faithful and constructive options might be explored as all of us consider how to respond to the funding crisis for the health care benefits of the Plan.
The reasons for our concern begin with our sense that the proposed changes are counter to the values of the Presbyterian Church (USA), including those of the Board of Pensions. Among our concerns are the following:
1. No suggestion was made in written reports by the Board of Pensions to the 220th General Assembly (2012) that a
significant change in the structure of medical benefits was contemplated, nor was any suggestion offered that perhaps
the plan was facing a deficit situation. A deficit of the level the Board has announced seems unlikely to have emerged
between July and October 2012. Although there was a small hint of a change in the financial outlook for the medical
plan in the report to the 2012 General Assembly, the concern was not clearly stated.
2. The proposed turn away from the historic communal nature and the call neutrality aspects of the plan are troubling. These two aspects have been central in the Board's reports and interpretive pieces, which does not surprise, as both are highly valued by Plan members and congregations. Indeed, the communal nature of the Plan was emphasized in the Board's Agency Summary to the 220th General Assembly. These aspects are understood and lived as spiritual values by Presbyterians across the church. Changing the essential nature of the Plan would damage the church and render faithful ministry more difficult in many places.
3. Further, the proposed changes may well exacerbate existing divisions in the church. Increasing costs for Plan
members with dependents puts Plan members on opposing sides. It places members with dependents, a group that
includes many of the younger members of the Plan, out of parity with members without dependents, a group that
includes the majority of older and/or retired members. It also could result in increasing division between Plan members
who serve smaller, less-resourced congregations and those who serve larger, wealthier congregations. In many cases,
members who are financially better off will get a break, while members who are already experiencing financial stress will be under increased burdens if the proposed changes are enacted.
Finally, the Board's report to the 220th General Assembly on Amendments to the Plan notes that amendments "that are
in the nature of a benefit reduction...are only effective upon approval of the General Assembly". We suggest that a
benefit reduction is part of the proposed change, and thus, we believe that the Board must submit these proposed
changes to the 221st General Assembly (2014), which would allow the church time for a full conversation about the
potential benefits and costs of the proposed changed to the medical benefits of the Plan.
We urge the Board of Directors to reconsider these changes and offer the church the opportunity to consider all the
implications of the proposed changes at the 221st General Assembly.
John Fife, Moderator Deborah Fortel, Moderator
204th General Assembly, PC(USA) (1992) GA Task Force on Theology of Compensation, 2008-2010
NOTE: The Presbyterian News Service press release on proposed changes is one place to find more information.
http://www.pcusa.org/news/2012/11/2/board-pensions-unveils-new-2014-healthcare-dues-st/
A summary and FAQ about the changes. These changes especially affect small churches and pastors with families.
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"Introduction to Glory to God, the new Presbyterian Hymnal" is being held April 20, 2013 at Pittsburgh Seminary.
You can download, print and use however you want:
An introduction to...GLORY TO GOD (.PDF)
The designer of the brochure gives the following instructions:
"This brochure was designed to be printed on both sides of a legal sized sheet of paper. Please adjust your printer to legal and landscape so that the PDF will print as designed. If you don't have a printer that can do that, you will have a reduced size one which is usable that prints on letter paper."
Feel free to download the brochure and the PDF. They are meant to be distributed to as many as possible.
Thank you for all you can do to support and publicize this regional event for our denomination. We appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Barbara McKelway, President
Pittsburgh Chapter, PAM (Presbyterian Association of Musicians)
352 Hawthorn Court
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237
412-366-4513
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Prayer Requests/Updates
Update on Merlin Wentworth, lay pastor of Antrim and Old Washington churches He had surgery on Thursday of last week. and is now at home and healing nicely. Please keep him, his family and churches in your thoughts and prayers during his recovery process.
Please keep Barb from the Hanoverton church in your prayers. Pray that the Good Lord will help her get back in the swing of things.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for the prayer support prior, during and after my recent surgery. Your thoughts, prayers and well wishes will always be cherished by me as proof we are never alone. The doctor has released me for "common sense" activity and believes I will make a full recovery.
Thank you so very much.
Blessings in Christ, Bob Meyer
If you or someone you know has a prayer request
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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
Regular Office hours
Monday - Thursday
8:00A to 4:30P
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