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Comments?
Corrections?
800.693.1147
330.339.5515
Mission Center Office Hours:
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
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2014 Mission Yearbooks
are available for
$15.00 each
Per Capita 2014
GA
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7.02
| Synod | 3.25 | Presbytery | 18.36 |
Total
| 28.63 |
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Milestones
We've had a number of milestones in our household this past week. First and foremost, Elizabeth received her driver's permit. The second-grader who arrived in the state of Ohio nine years ago is now old enough to learn how to drive! How did that happen?
I am ever thankful for sleepy country roads on which to learn, and even more for buggies and tractors that slow us down. Aside from unintentionally accelerating down a hill (thereby placing my heart in my throat!), she has done amazingly well. Still, I remain firm in my conviction that there are some things that family should not teach family--at least in this household. Driving is one of those things, which is why a thirty-something police officer from Taekwondo will be her primary instructor.
A second milestone is that Elizabeth has now has launched her first website in preparation to seek a gallery to exhibit her photography. Check it out: www.ElizabethGreenwood.net. (Just please don't tell her that I shared the link, as she is mortified when I "brag" about her.) Again, how did she become so grown up?
Our third milestone is that she begins flight lessons in August. Like her Grandma B, she wants to be able to pilot a plane. Her hope is that AmeriCares will let her deliver relief and medical aid around the world. In theory, I find this very exciting. It allows her a possible way to serve out of her passions and gifts--world travel (passion) and gifts (compassion and hard work)--as they intersect with the needs of others. I will, however be seeking prayers from all of you when she is certified to take her first solo flight which she hopes to do on her birthday in November. I'm not going to even think about her flying a plane to Haiti, the Philippines, or Honduras.
There are, of course, more milestones to come: college visits to begin in the fall, ACTs, college applications... and ultimately, college. Already it has me pondering how to manage the transitions. William Bridges in Managing Transitions defines transitions as "the process of letting go of the way things used to be, in order to take hold of the way things can be." As Bridges' reminds us, "Most people do not resist change, they resist transition." For the most part, I celebrate the milestones and the transitions they represent. Still, if I'm honest, there are moments when I miss the little girl who used to come in and cuddle in the morning.
As I ponder the transitions in our household, I also find myself pondering transitions in Muskingum Valley Presbytery. We too, as a presbytery, have experienced a number of milestones over the last several years:
- the elimination of the Committee on Ministry as we moved from regulatory to relational with the emergent ministries of the Parish Elders and the Equipping commission;
- the elimination of the Committee for Preparation and the transition to the work of the Calling commission, that we might more fully acknowledge and live out of God's call received at baptism;
- the move from a centralized to a distributive system as we learn, with the help of the Mission commission, how to more intentionally serve the needs of the community on a local, national and international level.
It feels like we have let go of so much, but we have also taken hold of amazing new life. It is important to remember that in taking hold, we are not rejecting or denying the importance of the past: We are simply letting go that we might live into the shape of things to come.
Bridges asks three questions of those called to transitions:
- What inner relinquishments will you need to make?
- What needs will you have to find other ways to meet?
- Because of your change, what part of yourself is out of date?
Good questions for parents of teenagers. Good questions for disciple-making leaders!
With blessings, Debbie Rundlett General Presbyter
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Holy Habit: Managing Transitions
Behold -- I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:19
Take some time apart this week to ponder:
- What inner relinquishments will you need to make?
- What needs will you have to find other ways to meet?
- Because of your change, what part of yourself is out of date?
Then offer your answers to God in prayer.
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Warsaw First Presbyterian Church Seeking Pastor
We are seeking to fulfill our pulpit by a part-time pastor, either half-time or three quarter-time. Our pulpit is now vacant due to resignation.
We are an 80+ member church serving God through our mission to community, country and world. Our church is a "Confessing Church" and holds faithfully to "Reformed Doctrine." Our purpose exists to bring the bread of life to all of God's people.
Interested persons should contact, Jim Lawrence, Elder, Worship Committee Chairperson at 1-740-3890 or [email protected].
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Northminster Presbyterian Church Seeking Student Ministries Coordinator
Interested persons should email a cover letter and resume to the church office at [email protected]. Applications are being accepted through August 29, 2014.
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Fresno Presbyterian Church to host Family Picnic
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Fresno Presbyterian Church (Main Street, Fresno, OH) will be hosting a homecoming and family picnic, Sunday, Aug. 3, 11:00 am in celebration of a month-long school supplies drive for under-privileged children in one of the poorest parts of West Virginia. The church has received about $2,000 in school supplies from friends and members of the church. Everyone is cordially invited to the celebration Aug. 3 at the Fresno Church at 11:00 am.
The give-away of supplies will be hosted by Rural American Mission, Aug. 2, in Jennies Creek, WV (50 miles south of Huntington, WV). There will be food cooked on the grill and people to talk and share with parents. There will be fun activities for the kids and the gospel presented through puppets before they receive their supplies.
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Announcing SingFest! - August 10, 2014 from Marc Van Bulck, Seville Presbyterian Church
Seville Presbyterian Church will be hosting a SingFest - a concert of hymns with organ and trumpet at Seville Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 10th at 4:00 P.M.
Admission is free. There will be a goodwill offering and refreshments afterward, but we are inviting everyone in the community to stop by for fellowship and music!
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Fall 2014 Opportunities Available to Host International Peacemaker
Muskingum Valley Presbytery will welcome an International Peacemaker from South Sudan from Tuesday, October 7 until Monday, October 13, 2014. He/she will be available to preach on Sunday, speak to church groups of all shapes and sizes, times and places in the presbytery.
For anyone interested in hosting, please contact Lynn Shetzer (email: [email protected]) and home phone number (330-494-2288). |
Quarterly Report from the Presbyterian Mission Agency
The attached report contains the records of receipts from Muskingum Valley Presbytery to the Presbyterian Mission Agency through June 30, 2014 for Shared Mission, Directed Mission, Special Offerings and Other Giving. (Other Giving includes: Extra Commitment Opportunities, Disaster Relief, Hunger, Mission Initiative, and Theological Education.) I invite you to review the report and compare it with your records for mutual accountability.
If you have any questions about the report, please email [email protected]. We are blessed by our partnership and work with you. Thank you again for all you do in service for Christ's church. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Thank you for your mission and ministry. Terri Bate Senior Director, Funds Development Ministry Presbyterian Mission Agency 5623 Birmingham RD NE Canton, OH 44721 Office: 330.497.8683 Mobile: 502.718.1912 Presbyterian Mission Agency Office 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202-1396 1-800-728-7228, ext. 5628
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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.
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Prayer Requests/Updates
- Prayers are requested for Mike and Mandy Parker (First Ashland) and their family, as they become foster parents to a 10-month old baby girl (in addition to having a young family of their own): "We'd appreciate the prayers of the Presbytery. On Friday morning we became a licensed foster family. On Friday afternoon we received a call because an emergency removal was taking place and they needed a home for a 10 month old baby girl. We were in Michigan, but got home Saturday at 3:15 and the baby girl came to us at 4:15. She is one month older than our youngest daughter, so for the last two days we've been given a small glimpse of what it might be like to have twins. We asking for prayers for this girl, Kali - we can't imagine what's going through her little mind. She's actually adjusted really well, but struggles when we're not around and especially when we try to get her to sleep. Her cry sounds scared and we sense she's been left alone too many times. It breaks our hearts - pray for peace for her. We're also praying for her mom. Without knowing many details, we simply can't imagine the anguish of having a child removed from your home. Pray that she received the help she needs. And pray for our family - for the adjustments that we are making, especially if she is still with us when Mandy starts the school year in a few very short weeks!! Thank you all!!" --- Mike Parker
If you or someone you know has a prayer request, please send them to Candice at
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