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| MVP Mission Update
August 28, 2014
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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
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GA
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7.02
| | Synod | 3.25 | | Presbytery | 18.36 | |
Total
| 28.63 |
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The Dip!
I have to admit that I love the illustration above. The first time I saw it pop up on Facebook, I literally laughed out loud. We all know better, yet we're still surprised when we encounter "the dips" in life. We keep expecting a straight, unencumbered path. Instead, God gifts us with challenge and testing.
Ron Walker first introduced me to the concept of the implementation dip when we were teaching together at Ashland Theological Seminary. It was an "A-ha!" moment when I realized that there is no avoiding the dip! Whenever something new is implemented, there will be a period of adjustment. With every change, there will be a dip in performance, confidence, and comfort as we acquire the new skills and understanding to live into God's new.
Try as we might, not one of us can avoid the dips. There is no immunity from the challenge of change. The question is how will we respond? Will we allow the dips to shape and form us into becoming more Christ-like? Or will we hold onto the belief that life should be a straight path, remaining stuck in a place of frustrated immaturity?
In their book The Knowing-Doing Gap, Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton offer the following tips: - "Why" before "how."
- Knowing comes from doing and teaching others how.
- Action counts more than elegant plans and concepts.
- There is no doing without mistakes (repeat: There is no doing without mistakes!).
- Fear fosters knowing-doing gaps, so drive out fear (or, if need be, do it scared).
- Fight the problem, not each other.
- Measure what matters and what can help turn knowledge into action (as opposed to attendance, buildings, and cash on hand).
- What leaders do, how they spend their time, and how they allocate resources matters.
As I look over the list, I know myself to be guilty of violating them all over the course of my ministry. I also know that I'm getting better at learning how to bridge the "knowing-doing gap." I take great comfort in the wisdom that "there is no doing without mistakes."
Leading in times of disruptive change is messy. It requires building a community of trust, collaboration, and innovation. To be sure, there are times when we should quit understanding that each failure offers insight and learning. Likewise, there are other times when we need to stick it out. Seth Godin in his book, The Dip, provides insight into how to discern which is which.
In his words: "It's okay to quit, sometimes. In fact, it's okay to quit often. You should quit if you're on a dead-end path." Innovators long ago learned that lesson. The mantra at Ideo, the top design firm in the world, is "fail early, fail often." However, Godin also suggests several questions by which to evaluate whether to quit or not:
- Is this a dip, a cliff, or a cul-de-sac?
- If it's a cul-de-sac, how can I change it into a dip?
- Is my persistence going to pay off in the long run?
- If I quit this task will it increase my ability to get through the dip on something more important?
We've all been in the dip! It's how we respond to the dip that makes the difference.
With love in Christ,
 Debbie Rundlett General Presbyter
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Holy Habit: Pondering the Dips in Life
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. --Romans 5:3-5
Suffering, endurance, character and hope are all part of life in "the dip." This week, take some time to ponder the dips you have experienced in your life. What words best express your experiences?
For many, an dip initially feels like a failure. Often, there is loss of identity, relationship and security. Initial responses can include anger, fear, and distrust. The challenge (and opportunity) is coming to experience the dip as an opportunity to learn, grow, and change.
Take some time this week to ponder your experiences of "the dip." Select one experience. Stay with that experience and let it become full and concrete in detail. Then "tell the story" of your experience to a trusted friend. What insights might you garner in anticipation of future dips?
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The Mission Center will be CLOSED on Monday, September 1, 2014 in observance of Labor Day.
Normal office hours will resume Tuesday, September 2.
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Muskingum Valley Presbytery Welcomes Three New Pastors -- Upcoming Installation Services
It is with great joy we welcome the following pastors to our Presbytery, and announce their installation services:
Jeff Bergeson will be ordained and installed at Unity Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 4:00 pm. Unity Presbyterian Church is located at 130 N. 7th Street in Cambridge, Ohio.
David Rice will be installed at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 4:00 pm. First Presbyterian Church is located at 621 College Avenue in Wooster, Ohio.
Rich Holmes will be installed at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm.
Northminster Presbyterian Church is located at 237 West Maple Street in North Canton, Ohio.
Each pastor's biography will be featured in the Broadcast the week prior to their installation. All are invited to attend the installation services, and share in our joy in welcoming these pastors and their families to our presbytery.
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Announcing the September 23, 2014 Stated Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery
September 23, 2014 Genesis Conference Center 10265 Wooster Pike (State Route 3) Creston, OH 44217 Registration begins at 9:00 am Meeting begins at 9:30 am
Early RSVP's to the meeting are greatly appreciated to enable accurate planning for catering.
RSVP to Candice via email or by calling 330-339-5515.
Click here for more details, including meeting materials.
Further details on the CROP walk, hosted by the Serving in Mission Commission, are also available on the website. Sponsor envelopes will be mailed out to churches the week after Labor Day. Be sure to bring your walking shoes to the Presbytery meeting!
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Fall Lantern Fellowship Women's Retreat
from Tara Mitchell, Cambridge First
All ladies are invited to attend the 2014 Fall Lantern Women's Retreat in September 19-21, 2014
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Rittman Milton to host the Ugandan Orphan's Choir
September 2014
Milton church is hosting a performance by the Ugandan Orphan's Choir on the evening of Sunday, September 21 at 7:00pm All are invited to attend. Find out more about the choir by clicking on this link. Alex Barnes, Pastor Milton Rittman Presbyterian Church 250 N. Street Rittman, Ohio 44270 http://miltonpreschurch.org/ |
2 Cents a Meal Grant Applications are now being accepted!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2 Cents a Meal grant. You can download and fill out the application form by clicking on this link or from the MVP Website.
Several grants were awarded in 2013, so there is a total of $2,800 available for grants in 2014. Preference will be given to those for whom this is their first time applying for the grant.
Grant applications are due to the Mission Center no later than Monday, October 20, 2014, by fax (330-339-6225), email (Candice@MVPJourney.org) or in person. Awards to be given at the December 2014 presbytery meeting. |
Fall 2014 Opportunities Available
to Host International Peacemaker
The International Peacemaker program of our denomination offers a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of neighbor Christians trying to live out their faith in response to circumstances we learn about largely through the news media. This year, we welcome our visiting International Peacemaker from the South Sudan, Rev. James Ninrew.The Sudan has experienced decades of strife and warfare in which religious affiliation has played a defining role. In just the last year, the largely Christian and animist South Sudan has established an independent nation from the Muslim majority north of the country. Our nation as well as our church has been called upon to offer aid and support throughout the violent conflict and in the wake of the new national entity. The Presbyterian Church of the South Sudan is a significant part of the Christian population of the new nation. Rev. Ninrew has experienced the before, during and after of the conflict and drive for nationhood. What an opportunity to learn about serving Jesus in such circumstances! Rev. Ninrew will be in our presbytery October 7-13, 2014. There are still openings to schedule his participation in events on Friday, Oct. 10, Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday evening Oct. 12. Please call Rev. Lynn Bozich Shetzer at 330-494-2288 or email her callmeinstead330@yahoo.com if your church would like to welcome him. |
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Northminster Presbyterian Church Position Available:
Administrative Assistant
Northminster Presbyterian Church (North Canton, Ohio) is seeking a part-time administrative assistant.
Details can be found in this attachment.Prospective candidates should email a resume, cover letter, salary expectations and three references to info@northminsterlife.org no later than August 31, 2014. Initial screening and interviews will begin when resumes begin arriving.
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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 info@northminsterlife.org. Applications are being accepted through August 29, 2014. |
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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 lawj6@frontier.com. |
Window into World Mission Update
August 2014
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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
- Please pray for a team going into Haiti where we will be working with two schools from August 23 to August 30. With thanks, Kathy Adams
If you or someone you know has a prayer request, please send them to Candice at
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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!
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
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