Final Reminder and Invitation

The Presbytery Gathers for The Journey Remix

Stated Meeting of Muskingum Valley Presbytery

Saturday, February 7, 2015

320 Church St., Ashland, Ohio 44805

The church is located on the corner of Church and Third Streets in downtown Ashland.

From Presbyter Moderator Mike Parker

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I want to personally invite you and a leadership team from you congregation to participate in the Journey Remix, which we be the primary focus of our State Muskingum Valley Presbytery Meetings for 2015 and part of 2016. What is the Journey Remix? It is more than a curriculum, more than training and equipping, even more than an opportunity for self-reflection and spiritual growth. It is all these things, but it is mostly an experience with our living God that in the powerful name of Christ and through the work of the Holy Spirit can bring Kingdom Transformation to the individual, congregation, Church, and our communities. The Journey Remix helps us to become more like Christ, so we can live and serve like Christ, attracting others to the love of Christ in us all as we work together in our communities to make them a reflection of Christ. I'm excited about the Journey Remix because it inspires, encourages, and equips us to be the church we are called in our baptisms to be.

While I am serving in my first ordained call as a teaching elder at First Presbyterian in Ashland, I've been in ministry within the PC (USA) for over 15 years now. In that time, I attended presbytery meetings on several occasions in three different presbyteries. They came as advertised: the majority of the time was spent hearing committee reports, attending to business, and arguing/voting over various issues respective to the presbytery and denomination. The majority of folks in attendance made it very clear from their attitude that they would like to be anywhere else than where they were, and the conversations over the meals seemed forced and often were extensions over the arguments and votes that had just taken place. I left each one uninspired, disappointed, and frustrated; I actually struggled with the decision to pursue ordination within the PC (USA) in part because of what I witnessed at these meetings.

Praise be to God that what we share together in MVP is so far removed from those experiences! It is why I accepted the nomination to serve as Moderator and to continue to help provide leadership with others who have a desire to serve Christ and Kingdom, and help equip others to do the same. As a father of four who admittedly has to fight daily to find healthy balance in my life, the last thing I need (like all of you!) is to participate in anything that wastes my time. Participation in Muskingum Valley Presbytery is a blessing, one that I hope you and a handful of leaders in your congregation will choose to experience in the year to come. Should you have any questions or comments about the upcoming meetings, please feel free to contact me directly. I look forward to hosting you in Ashland on February 7^th and to serving you in the year to come!                    

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Mike Parker

Registration begins at 9:00 am

Meeting begins at 9:30 am

Cost: $25*

The cost of the stated meetings in 2015 is increased due to the cost of lunch, the assessments, and the supplemental materials included with The Journey Remix. We do not want the cost of attending the meeting to preclude anyone from participating. Scholarships are available. Contact Mike Parker for further information.  

Loose!

Our yellow lab Luke got loose... again!

I had left the front door unlocked for Elizabeth and a strong wind blew it open. Out went Luke for a run around the neighborhood. Of course, it was on a morning when we had a very tight schedule.

The drill when Luke gets loose is for one of us to track him, while another gets in the car to intercept him. The tracker directs the driver as to what road he took. Usually, by the time he is found, he is winded and ready for a ride home.

Such was the case last Friday. All I had to do was open the passenger door and ask if he wanted a ride home and he was ready to hop in. Quite pleased with himself, he sat at attention all the way home with a big, happy grin on his face.

I must admit that I thought briefly about cutting back on his glucosamine. He will be nine this spring and there is no question that he moves slower without his daily dosage. But then, I thought of someone taking my Vitamin D away and nixed that idea. Another friend suggested that Luke's runs were a metaphor for living in the present moment.

I must admit that she got me thinking. How many times do I shut (and lock) the door on the gift of the present moment? It is so easy to get distracted by what is on the "to do" list that I fail to appreciate the gift of the present moment. When tracking Luke, there is no time to think about past or future. We are fully present to the hunt for the yellow Labrador. Indeed, even our neighbors have joined in the hunt from time to time. On one chase, our vet picked him up, as well as Elizabeth who was trailing behind him, returning them both safely home.

Luke's exuberant joy is a reminder to me that each day is a gift to be treasured. I can't help but delight in the beauty of Luke cantering across snow covered yards with abandon. In a very real sense, his runs center me in the here and now. It is sobering to think of how many days I put a well-planned schedule ahead of spontaneity. Am I leaving enough room for play? Luke's spontaneous runs beckon me to delight in the gift of now.

With blessing,

Debbie Rundlett, General Presbyter

Holy Habit: Finding God in the Now

The Apostle Paul reminds us: "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Yet how often are we truly aware of God in the present moment? How often are we even present to ourselves? Missionary Frank Laubach devoted his life to finding God in the now. His life experiment was to answer the question he posed: "Can I bring the Lord back into my mind-flow every few seconds so that God shall always be in my mind?"

Greg Boyd advises that we should not try to feel God's presence, but rather be mindful of the fact that God is indeed present. A first step in being present to God is being present to ourselves and to our environment. This next week, take some time to be aware. Receive each moment as a revelation of God. Allow your senses to experience your environment. As Boyd likes to say, "Now is where God lives."

A Prayer:  

Ever-present Abba, you uphold all things by the power of your Word and your love surrounds us every moment of every day. Help us to remember you in this moment and in every moment. Amen. 

"WHEREVER YOU GO... Helpful Prayers for the Journey (Dealing with cancer - when it's difficult and you don't know what to pray)

Prayer Booklet by Alice Phillips (Creston)

I wrote this prayer booklet for those dealing with cancer.  As many of you know, I had breast cancer and had mastectomy surgery one year ago on January 22, 2014. I felt a deep desire in my heart from the Lord to write this prayer booklet to help individuals experiencing cancer. 

When I found out I had cancer, my mind was in a whirlwind, and often I found it difficult to know what to pray. Yet I was extremely grateful to be sustained by the prayers of many, many individuals. The booklet is divided into five sections:  The Waiting Game (waiting for test results), The Dreaded Diagnosis (when you hear you have cancer); Treament Time (dealing with treatments); Hope and Healing (healing after treatment and hope for better days); and Rejoicing in God's Goodness (moving beyond cancer into the future)

It contains 35 scripture readings with accompanying prayers. The Romich Foundation is graciously handling printing costs.  Copies are free; however, if you would like to make a donation to the Romich Foundation in memory/honor of someone or to just donate to help the booklets be given to others, it would be greatly appreciated. (Suggested donation is $4.00/copy to cover printing and mailing.) You can contact me at revalp@neo.rr.com for more information or to order copies.

Blessings in Jesus!
Alice

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

2014 Year-End Statistics Entry Timeline

Dear Friends,

            Stewardship Kaleidoscope is a national gathering of Presbyterians to explore issues related to generosity, financial discipleship, mission funding, funds development and other stewardship topics. This year's event is in Kansas, Missouri at the Airport Hilton, March 9-11, 2015. In effort to help our newest pastors develop skills and knowledge in these issues, the Stewardship Kaleidoscope planning team is offering thirty five scholarships for candidates and first call pastors who have not attended the event in past. More information on the event is available at www.stewardshipkaleidoscope.org  and a brochure is attached.

            We are offering 10 scholarships for candidates. The candidates' scholarships are for a full registration and two nights lodging. Registration includes most meals during the event, so the candidates' primary expense to participate would be for travel to Kansas City.

            We are offering 15 scholarships for first call pastors, who have not previously attended the event. The first call pastors' scholarships are for full registration only. The pastor would be responsible for travel to Kansas City and lodging during the event.

            We are offering 10 scholarships for pastors in the For Such a Time As This residency program. These scholarships will be coordinated through the residency program staff in Louisville. 

Presbyteries wishing to nominate a first call or candidate for scholarship should apply to the Stewardship Kaleidoscope planning team by having the executive presbyter, COM moderator or CPM moderator or equivalent, email  execpres@heartlandpby.org with the candidate or first call pastor's name, email address and presbytery of care or membership. The scholarships will be awarded based on date of application and availability. Before submitting a name, please confirm that your nominee will attend if the scholarship is awarded. Presbyteries will ordinarily be eligible for only one first time pastor and one candidate scholarship. The candidate or first time pastor will be notified and the executive presbytery, COM or CPM moderator or equivalent copied with the details for registering for the event as a scholarship recipient. Please submit names by February 10, 2015.

            Thank you for helping us to offer this opportunity.

In Christ,

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.