Now Thank We All Our God! 

Now thank we all our God, 

With heart and hands and voices;

Who, from our mother's arms, 

Hath led us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

 And still is ours today. 

Here was a man who knew thanksgiving comes from love of God, not from outward circumstances.  Just fifteen years earlier the Pilgrims had celebrated the first Thanksgiving. They, also, were acknowledging their gratitude to God for God's "countless gifts of love." 

Whether expressed in the joy of plenty or the agony of desperation, it is a good thing to give thanks to God.  Giving thanks is evidence of faith. Thanksgiving reveals the depth of our fellowship. Clearly God's people have evidenced deep thanksgiving through the centuries, both in times of plenty and want. 

But, are we truly thankful? Do we practice thanksgiving not only in the good times but also in the hard times?  Do we take time to thank God when it is easy? Are we able to thank Him when it is hard? Do we understand what our forebears instinctively knew: that there is no scarcity except in our souls and that gratitude is the heart's memory? 

We who are daily besieged with the insidious disease of scarcity (of not having enough), we who find ourselves and enslaved to the stuff of our lives would do well to remember who and whose we are.  We were created for a purpose. We are not our own.   

Here in MVP, we share a call to journey with Jesus to touch the world: empowered by the Spirit to make disciples, nurture our faith, and serve the needs of the community!  May we embody Christ as we live that call! 

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Recently, the mission office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was contacted by someone who received a mailing from the Pacific Capital Companies, LLC. The mailing contained a credit card issued in the name of the recipient and under her name appeared "Presbyterian Church USA." The recipient does not work for the PC(USA), did not contact Pacific Capital Companies, LLC, and did not request a credit card from Pacific Capital Companies, LLC.

Where are the 2014 Updated forms?

Click on the appropriate links below to be taken to PDFs of the necessary forms:

• 2014 Minimum Compensation Guidelines 
• 2014 Annual Terms of Call
• 2014 CLP/CRE Terms of Call
• 2014 Interim Pastor Terms of Call
• 2014 Temporary Supply Pastor Terms of Call
• 2014 Initial Terms of Call (for first call pastors)

The 2014 Per Capita information has been updated, both on the website and in the sidebar here in the MVP Mission Update.  For your convenience, here it is as well:

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Candice at the Mission Center by calling 330-339-5515 or emailing at Candice@MVPJourney.org.

The Presbytery Gathers for Worshipful Work

December Stated Presbytery Meeting 

From Jerry Norton, Christ Church

1990 Hymnals available

Due to a recent upgrade, the 1990 version of the hymnals previous used at Christ Church are available for churches in need. 

• Regular Hymnals (with music):         470
• Large Print Hymnals (words only):    120

All the hymnals are in good condition, as Christ Church got them in 1999, so they have only been used for 14 years.  They are boxed and available to ship immediately on a first come- first served basis.

From Rev. Ester Wakeman, Ph.D.

A Letter from Thailand 

Dear friends,

Save the Date: May 1, 2014

Re/Entry: Rebuilding Productive Lives, Post-Incarceration

A Policy Coordination and Training Symposium for Professionals

From Alice Phillips, Creston Presbyterian

Deadline Extended!

Order your 2014 Mission Yearbook today!

Due to popular demand, the Mission Center will be coordinating a bulk order for 2014 Mission Yearbooks and 2013-2015 Books of Order. To order, contact Candice at Candice@MVPJourney.org by November 30, 2013. The bulk order will be placed at the end of the month.

The cost of the 2014 Mission Yearbook is $15 each.