The MVP Office will be closed on Monday, April 1st.  

We will return on Tuesday, April 2nd.  

Easter Blessings!  

Ministry Options in the 21st Century

with George Bullard

Saturday, April 20th

9:00AM to 4:00PM

Registration begins at 8:30AM

Unity Presbyterian Church

130 N. Seventh Street

Cambridge, OH 43725

Our focus will be on 21^st century models for congregations.   For some of you, the desire to explore new models is born out of necessity: an aging congregation, dwindling resources, shrinking ministry capacity.  For others, the questions are more tied to missional relevance in the 21^st century. The cost to you would be $10 per person for lunch and materials. 

You must attend as a pastor and leadership team! 

Change does not come by fighting an existing reality.  Rather, God calls us to build the new while allowing the old to fall away. As our Lord reminds us: "Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit" (John 12:24).  How is God calling you to bear fruit in this season?  To what is God calling you to die, that you might rise to new life?

To RSVP for Ministry Options in the 21st Century, contact Shauna at 330-339-5515 or Shauna@MVPJourney.org.

*Last day to RSVP -- Monday, April 15th* 

I participated at the "Seek the Shalom" Presbytery Meeting held on Wednesday March 13 and Thursday March 14 at the Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton.

My original reason for going was because as a Parish Elder, I was to lead in the various worship experiences. I knew participating would require me to miss a day of school which as anyone who knows me knows that I don't do easily. After prayerful consideration, I took a personal day (my first in 23 years). I am so thankful that I took the day.

Each of the worship experiences was moving. At many times throughout the retreat, I was forced to think about my own shalom. It was also uplifting to be in the presence of like-minded people.

As I walked the labyrinth on Wednesday evening surrounded by candlelight, I could feel the heaviness of daily life being lifted from my shoulders. I hope to continue to feel this when I allow myself to slow down and be silent.

If you are ever given the opportunity to participate in a retreat, DO IT. Also if you are ever given the opportunity to visit a labyrinth, take advantage of the experience.

May God's loving arms surround you as you travel through your journey.

Deb Lilley

Parish Elder

Is it I, Lord?!

Holy Habit: Dealing with Betrayal

Take some time this week to ponder the betrayals in your life: those times when you've been betrayed and those times when you have been the betrayer. Be candid with yourself. Then ponder how God is calling you to apologize for those times when you have betrayed another. When pondering the experience of being betrayed, ask yourself how God is calling you to forgive. Jesus modeled this from the cross when he asked God the Father to forgive us (each and everyone of us). Having done this, then spend some time in the Word daring to ponder the ways in which you have betrayed Jesus. Seek God's forgiveness and allow yourself to be emptied of all that holds you apart from God.

A Prayer for Good Friday

Christ our victim,

whose beauty was disfigured

and whose body torn upon the cross:

open wide your arms

to embrace our tortured world,

that we may not turn away our eyes,

but abandon ourselves to your mercy. Amen.

All Desires Known

Week 2:  Empty Power

"And what is this 'emptying out'? 

[First] it is his life in the form of a slave, in the flesh that he assumes, 

...submitting himself to the limitations of humanity."

[Second, it is his death on the cross.]

Since Constantine's baptism the western church has been in need of exile.   When Christianity became the law of the land, the church was instantaneously transformed--not necessarily reformed.

During such historic times, then and now, it is wise to look to the way of Jesus for guidance--in his life and death.

On the cross, evil, sin, death, destruction, and hatred are ultimately defeated from a position of love.  All the more we learn that love requires self-giving from a standpoint of apparent weakness, not power. 

To use one of Debbie's favorite terms, love necessitates kenosis, an emptying (Philippians 2:7).  For Jesus, both in life and death, kenosis was his M.O.  From this perspective, exile is an invitation to be joined with Jesus so that as we experience union with him we also experience his way.

The moment in history when the Church transformed into a political, religious, and economic powerhouse under Constantine the possibility of regular and ardent kenosis became exponentially more difficult to initiate.  As the Church became the "powers at be" we largely exchanged our self-emptying mission to the world for an entirely different set of problems.

While power, influence, and prestige are often perceived as success, the Gospel of Jesus highlights another glory--a transcendent but present Godly glory through kenosis--the way of Jesus, in life and death.

Therefore, exile calls us away from the emptiness of power and towards a powerful emptying of the self for the benefits of others.  This is Paul's line of thought as he refers to his life as a libation being poured out for others (Philippians 2:12-18 and 2 Timothy 4:1-7).

Again we clearly see that exile is not a restful vacation.  Exile is difficult, uncomfortable, and trying.  Yet, exile with all of its struggles and joys is defined by the way of Jesus--kenosis--in life and death.  Welcome to exile.  Welcome to Jesus.

Wrestling with God

-Read Philippians 2:12-18 which follows the great Christ Hymn.

-Here, Paul teaches that God is at work in us, so that we can will and work for God's good pleasure.  In the context of the letter, we will and work for God's good pleasure as we share the mind of Christ--a kenotic mind and life.  

In what ways is kenosis natural for you?  When have you avoided the self-emptying love of Jesus for the benefit of others?  Be specific in both cases.  Examine your days.

Is kenosis easier or more difficult for your congregation as a body or you as an individual?  Why do you think this is so?  What does this tell you?

-Note that according to this passage the people of the Philippian church are Paul's boast, and the libation of his life is being poured out (emptied) over the offering of their active faith.

As a church, who is your boast and whom do you pour your life and resources over as a libation?

As an individual Christian, who is your boast and whom do you pour your life out for? 

Spend some time in prayer: in thanksgiving, repentance, and surrender to God for the boasts God has given you, and for the boasts yet to be.  Write these names or unknown names down as you pray.  Some how, in a way appropriate to you, make these boasts into an ebenezer--a physical representation and reminder of the boasts God has already and will bless you with.

Holy Habits

In "Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God" David Platt writes:

"As Christians today, you and I can easily deceive ourselves into thinking that dedication to church...automatically equals devotion to kingdom purposes.  We can fill our lives and our churches with good things requiring our resources and good activities demanding our attention that are not ultimately best for the enjoyment of the gospel in our churches and the spread of the gospel in our communities.

We must be willing to sacrifice good things in church in order to experience the great things of God.

For this reason I propose that we must put everything on the table."

The joy, of course, is that exile, by its very nature places all things physical on the chopping block--including our sacred cows.

-With a group from your church, take a poster board or two and write down every program, activity, ministry, and physical blessing of your congregation that you can think of.  

-Then, through prayer, discussion, and Bible in hand, condense your list as small as possible to the essentials.  Can you, as leaders, name the essentials needed for the local Body of Christ to thrive?  What is merely a  distraction and a waste of time, energy, and money?  On the other hand, what is the life-blood of the congregation?

-Now, take a post-it note.  Here, record the essentials that you will take with you as you begin to travel deeper into exile.  What did you add to your list?  What did you subtract?  What needs to be mourned?  What needs to be celebrated?  What are your first 3 actions?

-Photocopy your post-it note and mail it to a sister church in your network for prayer and accountability.

Peace, 

PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH TRIENNIUM 2013 

• Preliminary Triennium Information for MVP Youth Leaders and Volunteers

• 2013 Youth Triennium Information

• PYT Participant Information Form - please print and return completed form to Presbytery office

• Participant Medical and Event Release Form - please print and return completed form to Presbytery office

• PYT Participant Packing List

NEED MORE INFORMATION?