A Primer for Life...

The glory of God is made manifest in a person fully alive! -Irenaeus

I have begun to think of the Journey Remix as a primer for life as lived in community. Author Richard Rohr speaks of "the trajectory of life from innocent beginning, through inevitable brokenness, to putting everything back together, through ripening into union--with self, God, the world, and others." The Journey Remix helps us to make sense of that trajectory that we might serve with greater intentionality, that we might experience what it means to be fully alive!

On a personal level, what I am looking forward to the most about this round is the opportunity to fully participate. I am not leading this pilgrimage of body and soul. Rather, I am living the journey with you. For me, that is an extraordinary gift made possible by the leadership of Mike Parker, Ben George, Candice McMath, Tara Mitchell, Donna Robertson, and Tom Roepke.

How many of you are too busy leading to reflect? As leaders, we have a responsibility to commit to time apart to reflect on the journey-our own and that of the communities we serve. Without such reflection, we risk losing ourselves in mindless activity that leads neither to transformation of self or others.

Transformation can never be forced; it is a gift of God. But, it is a gift that can only be received by those who abide in Christ. This reality presses the question: How many of us are too busy doing the work of the church to abide in Christ? Jesus is clear: "Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5b, NRSV). The hunger to abide is evidenced in the plethora of spiritual formation resources that have emerged in recent years. The challenge is that we cannot be formed in Christ apart from community.   How we live is highly dependent upon our relationships, which is why the Journey Remix is made in community-as a congregation and as a presbytery.

Deep down, we know that we cannot have personal transformation apart from communal transformation. Yet we live in a highly individualized culture that fears loss of identity in community, not understanding that we cannot know ourselves apart from our relationships. Further, there is confusion over how to honor the traditions of others, while fully claiming our relationship with God in Christ. This is compounded by the rapid and discontinuous change that assaults us on every level. Core identity, character, call, community are inextricably bound together; they are God's gift to those who make the journey a primer for life.

I look forward to sharing the Journey Remix with you!

Debbie Rundlett

General Presbyter

Holy Habit: Journey Preparations

God calls us to make journeys for many reasons. Some common ones are: to seek healing; to give thanks; to heed an inner sense of call; or to reclaim a lost or abandoned part of oneself. Below are some questions for reflection to help you prepare for the Journey, Remix. Allow yourself some time to pause and ponder as you prepare for this journey.

1. Take some time to ponder how will you prepare for this journey?
2. Is there anything (activities, attitudes, other) that needs to be set aside in order to both free the time and allow you the space to commit to this journey?
3. What is calling you? Often a sacred journey begins with deep longing. Sometimes it is born out of a wounding. What is prompting you to consider making this journey at this time?
4. How do you need to prepare yourself to meet Jesus on this journey? What ritual actions might give expression to the desires of your heart?
5. Who is God calling you to make this journey with? Ask God to place their names upon your heart. Then, invite them to join you on the Journey, remix!
6. Don't forget to mark your calendar NOW for the year ahead:

• Saturday, February 7: The Five-fold Journey (First Presbyterian Church, Ashland, 9a-4p);
• Saturday, April 25: The Journey Discovery 1, "What is my call?" (Northminster Presbyterian Church, North Canton, 9a-4p);
• Saturday, September 12: The Journey Discovery 2, "What are my strengths?" (First Presbyterian Church, Cambridge);
• Saturday, December 5: Journey Discovery 3, "What is my work?" (College Drive Presbyterian Church, New Concord);
• Saturday, February 2016: Journey Discovery 4, "What is my legacy?"

It's that time of year again! The Session Annual Statistical Report for the denomination and the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire must be completed online for every church. They do not require congregational action nor do the financial figures need to be audited before submitting. Easy to follow instruction booklets are available for download from the OGA, and include how to enter membership and financial stats on-line.  

Use the link below to access the statistics website. From there, you will be able to find the year-end statistics online reporting system, the 2014 instructions booklet, and the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire:

http://oga.pcusa.org/section/churchwide-ministries/stats/

2014 Year-End Statistics Entry Timeline

Is your congregation or a congregation in your presbytery doing innovative ministry? Union Presbyterian Seminary (UPSem) offers eight Congregational Leadership Awards annually.   Since 1991, 110 churches in 29 states have received these awards. Each of the eight awards carries a $1,000 prize to support the congregation in its ministry. For more information and to apply for one of the UPSem Congregational Leadership Awards, you may download the brochure and application at  http://www.upsem.edu/leadership_institute/congregational_leadership_awards/  

You may also request an application by sending an e-mail to April Swofford at aswofford@upsem.edu, or calling 1-800-229-2990, ext 231.

The application and instructions are only available electronically. The deadline for the 2015 awards is February 15, 2015.  

COMING SOON!   

Bringing Good News: 40 Stories of Congregations and the Ministries that Transformed Them, compiled by Henry Simmons, Ph.D. and Rita Boyer, M.A.C.E.   A book that celebrates innovative ministry programs around the country.   To order, please check online at amazon.com on December 10, 2014.