|
|
| MVP Mission Update
May 15, 2014
|
|
|
Comments?
Corrections?
800.693.1147
330.339.5515
8:00A - 4:30P
|
|
2014 Mission Yearbooks
are available for
$15.00 each
2014-2015 Planning Calendars
are now on sale
$9.00 each
(Bulk order through Mission Center
due May 16, 2014)
Per Capita 2014
|
GA
|
7.02
| | Synod | 3.25 | | Presbytery | 18.36 | |
Total
| 28.63 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Love the Lord Your God!
You shall love the Lord
with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.
--Deuteronomy 6:4-5, The Shema
When asked by a scribe which part of the Torah matters most, Jesus, without hesitating, quotes the Shema: This is what matters most! Love God with your all: all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Hold nothing back! Before anything else worship God. For only as we love God with our all will we come to understand what it means to be created in the image of God and experience a foretaste of the kingdom. But how do we love God with our all?
Sometimes it is helpful to look at the original languages for intent. For example, the Hebrew word for heart is lebab, which means enclosed; in Greek the word is kardia, referring to the center of a person. So, when Jesus calls us to love with all of our heart, he is calling us to love God from the very center of our being.
Likewise, the Greek word for soul is psuche meaning "to breathe." To love with all our soul is to love God with every breath that we take. With heart and soul, we add the mind (or dianoia) so that our love would always be born out of our thoughts as well as our feelings. To heart, soul and mind, we add strength (in Greek, ischus) that we might love with the very force of our being. God does not want us to love him with only part of ourselves.
God yearns for us to bring our whole self into relationship with him. Yes, far too often, we hold back. We shy away from such depth of commitment. We pull away from the surrender involved in loving with our all.
The paradox of loving God with our all is that until we do so, we will not learn how to love ourselves. Further, until we have learned how to love ourselves, we cannot love our neighbor. Ultimately, to love our neighbor as ourselves means that we hold our possessions loosely, we suffer with one another, and we share our burdens. Scripture tells us that we can sell everything we have and give it to the poor, but if we do not love, our actions are empty. Faith, hope, love abide; but the greatest of these is love.
Are you ready to love God with your all? And love your neighbor as yourself?
With joy,
Debbie Rundlett
General Presbyter
|
|
Holy Habit: First love!
Read I Corinthians 13 aloud.
Ponder which aspects of love described here are evident in your life:
- Which aspects are most likely to be extended to others? Least likely?
- What are the biggest barriers to the flow of love in your relationship with God and neighbor?
- What are the biggest enablers?
Spend time in prayer with God offering your all.
|
|
Announcing the May Stated Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery
May 19-21, 2014
The May Stated Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery will take place during the Mission Immersion, May 19-21, at The Weber Center in Adrian, Michigan.
The docket and other materials for the meeting are available on the presbytery website,
|
|
Adjusted Mission Center Office Hours
The Mission Center will be CLOSED Monday, May 19 - Wednesday, May 21 for the staff to attend the Mission Immersion in Adrian, MI.
Regular office hours (8:00 am - 4:30 pm) will be observed on Thursday, May 22.
Monday, May 26: the Mission Center will be CLOSED in observance of Memorial Day.
Reduced office hours (call before arriving) will be observed Tuesday, May 27 - Thursday, May 29, as the staff attend the ACS Technologies Ideas to Impact Conference in Nashville, TN.
Normal office hours (Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm) will resume Monday, June 2.
|
|
LAST CHANCE FOR BULK ORDERS / Discounted Pricing on 2014-2015 Planning Calendars!
|
Anyone wishing to order a planning calendar for the reduced price of $9/ea. must email Candice no later than Friday, May 16.
The bulk order will be placed the following week, and should arrive at the Mission Center by the beginning of June.
All orders must be prepaid to be included in the Presbytery's bulk order. Please make checks payable to "Muskingum Valley Presbytery"
If you have any questions, contact Candice at
330.339.5515 or Candice@MVPJourney.org
|
|
The Synod Announces the Annual Multicultural Youth Conference
|
Announcing: "Through the Beautiful Gate - A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land"
|
|
Announcing Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training - Summer 2014!
Information is now available for the summer 2014 offering of Healthy Congregations Facilitator training:
- When: June 17-19, 2014
- Where: MVP Mission Center.
-
|
|
Announcing the 2014 Fall Cohort for Commissioned Ruling Elder Training!
We will be launching another cohort of Commissioned Ruling Elder training beginning September 2014. More information (including the CRE application packet and other necessary forms) are found on the MVP website. Questions regarding the training can be directed to Ron Walker or Candice McMath.
Click here for more information!
|
|
Tax-Advantaged Plans Can Save Employees Money
Be sure to view Board University's latest Web module, Tax-Advantaged Plans, to learn how employing organizations can offer plans that help employees save money on healthcare and dependent care expenses.
These tax savings are possible under Sections 125, 105 of the Internal Revenue Code. The four types of tax-advantaged plans reviewed in the module are
- Healthcare Dues-Only Plan (Section 125 plan);
- Health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) (Section 125 plans);
- Dependent care flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) (Section 125 plans);
- Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) (Section 105 plans); and
- Wrap Plans.
Along with a general overview of each type of plan, the module covers how the plans can work together, how employers can implement the plans, and Board-provided resources.
|
|
Presbyterian Hymnals Available!
From Carly Jones
Wooster Westminster Presbyterian Church has Presbyterian Hymnals that they no longer need. They are now using the Glory to God Hymnals and are looking to recycle or redistribute the old hymnals. They are in good shape if there is another congregation that can use them.
For further information, contact Carly Jones at the church (info below) or via email.
353 E. Pine Street
Wooster, Ohio 44691
Phone: (330) 263-2398
|
|
Updated RMMG Calendar is now available on the MVP Website!
for the Retreat Ministry Mission Group.
|
|
Used Paraments Available!
First Presbyterian in Plymouth has a set of used paraments available. They are in good condition. If interested, contact Linda Kaufman at
|
|
Seeking an Organist/Pianist
New Concord Westminster Presbyterian Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church is looking for a new organist or pianist for Sunday morning worship, beginning in June. We would like to have someone who is willing to play each Sunday (10:30 worship), lead a small choir (we are extremely compliant and pleasant!) and do occasional extra services as needed. Our starting pay is $35 per worship service, with evaluation and raise to $50 as per performance. It would be ideal for a college student or a resident of New Concord.
|
|
2014 PW Gathering: "Radical Hospitality"
From the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant
The PW in the Synod of the Covenant wish to announce their 2014 Gathering, "Radical Hospitality."
- Date: July 18-19, 2014
- Location: Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 5151 W Lennon Rd, Flint Township, MI 48507
Details on breakout sessions, cost, and speakers can be found in this brochure.
|
We are happy to post news and requests from your church in this section of the MVP Update. Just email Candice or call 330-339-5515 to relay your news. Please also let us know the "expiration date" on the news item so that we can keep this section current.
|
| | |
Prayer Requests/Updates
- Prayers and congratulations to Jen Baer (New Harrisburg), who gave birth to Calvin Andrew Baer ("Cal") yesterday afternoon. Mother are child are doing well, but Cal is currently staying in the hospital nursery to stabilize his breathing and blood sugar. Blessings to the new family, with father John and sister Natalie!
- If you or someone you know has a prayer request, please send them to Candice at
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Journeying with Jesus to touch the world...
Empowered by the Spirit to:
Make Disciples, Nurture Our Faith, and Serve the Needs of the Community!
Candice McMath, Mission Coordinator
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
|
|
|
