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MVP Mission Update
June 27, 2013
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Save the Dates!
Wednesday,
July 10th 10a - 3pDiscover Your Place in MinistryHave the chance to develop your leadership portrait and learn about yourself through the lens of MBTI, Gallup Strengths, and Change Style Indicator. MVP Mission Center 109 Stonecreek Rd NW New Philadelphia Lunch included: $10 donation suggested Please RSVP to Shauna by July 8th for a lunch head count.
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Wednesday, MVP Check - in &
Dinner
(More details to follow)
Check -in location: MVP Mission Center 109 Stonecreek Rd NW New Philadelphia
Followed by dinner at Debbie's Spouses and children are welcome.
In fact, we encourage spouses with kids to join Lifeguard Donnie poolside at 3:30p for a swim while their pastor spouses/parents check in.
Tuesday,
September 17th
4-8p
Ordinary Time-
Taking
Care of Business
(Budget & Overtures)
Stated
Presbytery Meeting
JIM's Place
228 W High Ave.
New Philadelphia
Dinner included: $10 donation suggested
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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:
 The MVP Office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th for the observance of Independence Day! There are still plenty of 2013 - 2014 Presbyterian Planning Calendars available in the MVP Mission Center! $9.00 each Contact Shauna to place your order or visit the MVP Mission Center to pick yours up today!
If you have placed an order, please pick up your order at the Mission Center. 2013 Mission Yearbooks are now on sale $12.00 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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Total
| 28.48 |
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Job Opportunities
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Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster, a progressive community of faith, is looking for an innovative and creative part-time music director who is willing to rethink the role of the choir in a small church. If you would like more information please see the job description and/or contact Pastor Dries Coetzee. To apply for the position, please send your letter of interest with your resume to Pastor Dries.
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster, a progressive community of faith, is looking for a part-time custodian who is a self-starter and can work independently. For more information, please see the job description and/or contact Carly Jones in the Church Office.
Applications should include a letter of interest, resume, and 3 references. Applications will be reviewed immediately with the goal of having a custodian in place by mid to late July.
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SUMMER MISSION
GATHERING
The College Drive Presbyterian Church
in
New Concord, Ohio
invites PWP & friends to their church on
Saturday, August 24
Schedule will be:
Registration 9:30am
Business, Program & Worship 10:00-12:15
Lunch 12:30 (cost $7.00)
Kathy Adams from Mansfield will speak
about "Life as a Mission", the small church & Haiti.
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The MVP Office will be closed on
Thursday, July 4th
for the observance of Independence Day!
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A Message to Proclaim Jesus became who we are that we might become what he is. Irenaeus Soon after his testing in the wilderness, Jesus preached in his home synagogue: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:18-19). At the heart of these words is the call to extend the radical hospitality of God. Jesus both taught and modeled with his life that it is in the space between the stranger and the self that the divine is encountered. As he told his disciples: When I was thirsty, you gave me water... as you did to the least of these... (Matthew 25:45). Quoting the prophet Isaiah, Jesus proclaims the radical hospitality of God which beckons all the excluded and disabled and powerless with the promise of healing and wholeness: Shalom. At first the words seem to welcome Jesus' neighbors and the synagogue warms with pleasure. But, with sickening rapidity, it grows cold, as Jesus makes clear that he knows that they do not really understand or truly welcome him. In no time at all, the congregation turns into a lynch mob and Jesus narrowly escapes with his life. Henri Nouwen talks about the challenges of practicing radical hospitality born of the acceptable time of the Lord: "Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines." Our unity then is found in Christ. But there is danger here: there will be change. Part of the spiritual practice of radical hospitality is to learn to recognize our internal reactions to people whom we consider "strangers." It is to name our fears of change and make a conscious decision to "let go."To whom do we find it hardest to extend hospitality? What of our past will be the hardest to "let go" of that there might be space for "the new" born of God's call? The answers for each of us are probably different. Yet, we do well to remember that Jesus became who we are that we might become what he is. Radical hospitality is more than welcoming the stranger in our midst. It is an ongoing spiritual practice that challenges each one of us to look beneath surface differences to engage the holiness that is the foundation of every person. Like every spiritual practice, it is meant to change us, until we come to bear the image of Christ. 
Deborah Rundlett, general presbyter
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Food for the Journey Isaiah 61, The Year of the Lord's Favor Acts 2:14-41, Peter's first sermon Luke 4:14-30, Jesus is rejected at Nazareth Journey Question - How is God calling you to "proclaim the year of the Lord's favor"?
- To whom do you find it hardest to extend hospitality?
- One form of hospitality is to receive those whom God sends to us. Think of a time when you have received Christ in the stranger's guise and of another time when you have "closed the door"?
- How is hospitality understood in the church today? How does this differ from the biblical accounts? Reflect on the significance of these differences.
- Who are the strangers or enemies in our lives today? What would offering them hospitality look like? What would make it possible to do so?
Journey Practice: Hospitality "I was a stranger and your invited me in." - Jesus
(Matthew 25:35b)
The Paradox... of hospitality is that it wants to create an emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness, where strangers can enter and discover themselves created free, free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations. Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the life style of the host, but the gift of a change for the guest to find his or her own. -Henri Nouwen Xenos - One word incorporates a profound truth: xenos , the word that means "stranger" in Greek, also means "guest" and "host." This one word signals the essential mutuality that is at the heart of hospitality. - Practicing Our Faith, p. 33 Philoxenia - hospitality, a love of guest or stranger. Xenophobia - fear of the stranger - Everyday there are opportunities for us to bear and receive Christ in the stranger's guise. Name three to five ways in which we can more intentionally practice hospitality.
- Reflect on the Nouwen quotation above. How does the practice of emptying relate to the practice of hospitality? Why is this important?
- Reflect on the study of the root word "xenos". What might we learn about "the essential mutuality that is at the heart of hospitality"?
Prayer for the Journey Fearful God, you require of our love appalling sacrifice; and your lasting promise is contained in contradiction. May we so lay on your altar our dearest desires that we may receive them back from you as unaccountable gift, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Janet Morley, All Desires Known |
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Pastor Rick Hastings will be taking a group of helpers to Shawnee, Oklahoma,
June 30th - July 6th.
If you or your church would like to be part of this effort either physically or financially please contact Rick at 740-336-0111 for more information.
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What difference does the
Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study make?
The Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, the denomination's award-winning mission devotional, features stories from around the corner and around the globe. Thousands of Presbyterians use it every day to learn about other ministries, to be encouraged by the witness of others, and to connect with and pray for them as they serve.
What makes the Mission Yearbook such an essential part of ministry? It is:
A way to be "in the know" about mission:
o Provides examples of ways Presbyterians are meeting the needs of a hurting world.
o Provides inspiring field-tested mission ideas
An aid in spiritual development
o Provides an inspiring story about the work of the church for each day.
o Provides daily lectionary listings to facilitate Bible study.
o Provides an outline for daily prayer to guide devotions.
An effective way to support the mission of the church
o Provides a list of PC(USA) mission partners to pray for daily
o Provides a prayer for each day to guide devotions
A way to connect with the larger church:
o Connect with mission partners to find out how to replicate their mission
o Connect with the people you pray for to let them know you prayed for them.
A tool that will save you time as a pastor
o Provides Sunday lectionary and hymn suggestions
o Provides sermon illustrations
o Provides instant devotionals for opening meetings
Discover how this wonderful resource can re-energize your members and draw them into the heart of Presbyterian mission and ministry! Order today! Call 800-524-2612 and request ISBN 978-0-98589-641-6, or visit pcusa.org/store/9780985896416.
Flyer for 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook_PDF
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Prayer Requests/Updates
On Tuesday, June 18th, Richard Scherpenisse had his gallbladder removed at 8:00 a.m. and was home by 2:30 p.m. Every day he's get better and better. The surgeon said he is now clear to do anything he wants. Thanks for all your concern and prayers.
Joanne Cox had a heart ablation scheduled for Tuesday, June 25th but they found the problem was on the right side of her heart so they didn't do the ablation. She needs our prayers as to what to do next.
Stuart Barr was taken to Union hospital last Thursday. Pneumonia and an infection is going to his blood. This week, he is doing much better and moved to Park Village. He needs our prayers through this time of healing.
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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