Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to earthquake disaster in Nepal

Thousands are dead or injured from the massive earthquake and aftershocks that shook Nepal and neighboring countries on April 25. The quake, the worst in more than 80 years, struck just west of the capital of Kathmandu and destroyed towns and mountainous villages. The government of Nepal has officially requested international assistance and declared a state of emergency.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas with our partner, ACT Alliance, and its members who are already on the ground. PDA will remain active through the long term recovery, accompanying our partners in the area as they determine long-term program needs and providing financial support for rebuilding and resilience.

Click here to read the full article.  

The needs for the response will be great. God's people are once again called on to stand in the "GAP" - Give. Act. Pray.

A Message to Proclaim

Jesus became who we are that we might become what he is.

Irenaeus

Soon after his testing in the wilderness, Jesus preached in his home synagogue: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19).

At the heart of these words is the call to extend the radical hospitality of God. Jesus both taught and modeled with his life that it is in the space between the stranger and the self that the divine is encountered.

As he told his disciples: "When I was thirsty, you gave me water [...] as you did to the least of these..." (Matthew 25:45). Quoting the prophet Isaiah, Jesus proclaims the radical hospitality of God, which beckons all the excluded, disabled and powerless with the promise of healing and wholeness: Shalom.

At first the words seem to welcome Jesus' neighbors and the synagogue warms with pleasure. But, with sickening rapidity, it grows cold as Jesus makes clear that he knows that they do not really understand or truly welcome him. In no time at all, the congregation turns into a lynch mob and Jesus narrowly escapes with his life.

Henri Nouwen talks about the challenges of practicing radical hospitality, born of the acceptable time of the Lord: "Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines."

Our unity, then, is found in Christ. But there is danger here: there will be change. Part of the spiritual practice of radical hospitality is to learn to recognize our internal reactions to people whom we consider "strangers." It is to name our fear of change and make a conscious decision to "let go." To whom do we find it hardest to extend hospitality? What of our past will be the hardest to "let go" of that there might be space for "the new" born of God's call? The answers for each of us are probably different. Yet, we do well to remember that Jesus became who we are that we might become what he is.

Radical hospitality is more than welcoming the stranger in our midst. It is an ongoing spiritual practice that challenges each one of us to look beneath superficial differences to engage the holiness that is the foundation of every person. Like every spiritual practice, it is meant to change us until we come to bear the image of Christ.

With blessing,

Debbie Rundlett, General Presbyter

Journey Practice: Hospitality

"I was a stranger and you invited me in."  

Jesus, Matthew 25:35b.

How is God calling you to practice radical hospitality? Often, hospitality is understood to be synonymous with "friendliness." While not mutually exclusive, hospitality calls us to a deeper investment of self than simple friendliness demands. Hospitality calls us to share our stories, with both laughter and tears. Hospitality pulls us into a deeper relationship with God and one another. Jesus makes clear that offering hospitality is a moral imperative (Matthew 25), and that our fears do not excuse us from welcoming the stranger in our midst. It is interesting to note that the word for "stranger" in Greek (xenos) also means "guest" and "host." In fact, the New Testament word for "hospitality" (philoxenia) literally translates as "a love of guests or strangers." How might our lives change if we dared to greet each person we meet as Christ in the stranger's guise?

News from the Stated Meeting: April 25, 2015

The Rules of Engagement for Approving the Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of the PC(USA) were reviewed with those gathered. It was announced that all of the amendments up for approval has already received enough votes for approval from the rest of the denomination.

There was a request to remove Amendments 14-A, 14-E and 14-F from the omnibus. The omnibus motion passed by voice vote, excluding Amendments 14-A, 14-E, and 14-F.

Per the Rules of Engagement, the Rules of Engagement were followed as Teaching Elder Mike Parker appointed Vice-Moderator Burnetta Armour as timekeeper, and Teaching Elder Virginia Birks and Commissioned Ruling Elder Tim Pollock (Bloomfield) as ballot counters. Votes were recorded by paper ballot by those registered and eligible to vote. Throughout the voting process and counting of ballots, Teaching Elder Mike Parker led those gathered through a guided meditation on Psalm 46:10.

• Concerning Amendment 14-A: Pro and con arguments were presented. The vote was taken and the Amendment 14-A carried with 55 yes, 4 no, and 1 abstain.
• Concerning Amendment 14-E: Pro and con arguments were presented. The vote was taken, and the Amendment 14-E carried with 43 yes, 21 no, and 4 abstain.
• Concerning Amendment 14-F: Pro and con arguments were presented. The vote was taken and the Amendment 14-F carried with 39 yes, 26 no, and 1 abstain.

Moderator Mike Parker closed the voting portion of the meeting with prayer. We transitioned back into the order of worship with the Hymn of Response and the Celebration of the Lord's Supper.

  

An Open Invitation to Shared Worship Service at Wooster Westminster 

From Pastor Dries Coetzee, Wooster Westminster 

Press Release - The Wooster Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and Westminster Presbyterian Church highlight issue of family detention with Wooster native and immigration attorney Brian Hoffman as Guest Speaker.

The Wooster Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and Westminster Presbyterian Church will be holding a joint worship service on Sunday, May 17 at 10:45 am in Westminster's Mackey Hall, 353 East Pine Street, Wooster, Ohio focusing on the US/Mexico border crisis, family detention, and how people of faith can respond.  The guest speaker will be Wooster native and immigration attorney Brian Hoffman. Hoffman, who graduated from Wooster High School in 2001, practices immigration law in Columbus with the firm of Muchnicki & Bittner, LLP. He has represented immigrants from a variety of countries in asylum proceedings here in the U.S. and has traveled to family detention centers in New Mexico and Texas to help detained immigrant families fight their asylum cases. Hoffman is taking a leave of absence from his firm to spend six months in Texas coordinating a project that provides free legal services to women and children at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas. The families, many of whom are fleeing horrific violence in Central America and parts of Mexico, are applying for asylum in the United States, but often cannot afford legal representation to help them present their cases. Teams of volunteer attorneys have traveled from all over the United States to take cases at the detention center, which can house up to 2,500 people. Hoffman, who earned his law degree from The Ohio State University in 2009, will serve as the full-time coordinator for future teams of volunteers.

The service will begin at 10:45 and will include a shared meal. Donations will be used to help support the pro-bono project at the Dilley Family Detention Center and information will be provided on how to volunteer. While the service takes its inspiration from the Quaker and Presbyterian traditions, this event is open to all as we work together for a more just world.

Andries J. Coetzee, Pastor

Westminster Presbyterian Church

353 East Pine Street

Wooster, OH 44691

www.wpcwooster.org

https://www.facebook.com/wpcwooster 

PC(USA) Announces Registration for Big Tent 2015

July 30 - August 1, 2015, University of Tennessee Conference Center, Knoxville, TN

Big Tent 2015 registration is up and running and everyone is excited about what it will bring!

Please consider including the Big Tent video (https://youtu.be/xShTbAESJj8 ) and the Big Tent web site link (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/big-tent/ ) on your presbytery web site or in other promotional opportunities.   The video is just 1 minute long and gives a quick overview of what makes this Big Tent unique and would be a great minute for mission at a presbytery meeting!

Thanks so much!

Tom

Thomas D Hay

Director of Assembly Operations

Associate Stated Clerk

Office of the General Assembly

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Loudonville First Presbyterian Church Farmer's Market Changes

The First Presbyterian Church in Loudonville has held a Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, for the past seven years.

In the spring of 2008, the church leaders had a vision of how the church could contribute to our community. We had the land to plant a summer garden and a parking lot where we could sell the produce, so the Farmer's Market began.

Space was offered to anyone wanting to participate with the request that they return 10% of their earnings to the Church. 100% of this money, plus all the money the church members earned was given to local community needs. Many vendors were involved over the years and helped to make the Farmer's Market a success. Several vendors remained with us every summer; brought us good ideas, and helped us so many ways.  To every one of you we offer a sincere "thank you".

The blessings we were given were more than we ever imagined. Over the past seven years, we have received and returned to the community $68, 819.00.

A complete list of recipients is available at the church; our goals were to help the hungry (Meals-on-Wheels, Helping Hand); those in need (Community Help Mission, Agape Fund); children (Loudonville Schools, Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center, Royal Family Kid's Camp); other local causes, as well as national and world missions.

We thank all the faithful people who came week after week to support our cause. Our sincere appreciation goes out to each and every one of you. Much joy, many laughs, and friendships were shared over these seven years. We could not have done it without your support.

The church members want to bring attention to the Farmer's Market committee consisting of: Carl and Janet Ayers, Jon and Paula Cooperrider, Tom and Karen Dilgard, and John and Kari Krabill. Their hard work, long hours, dedication, and strong belief in helping others are inspirational. To them we also say "thank you".

In 2015, our circumstances have changed and the Farmer's Market will change as well. First Presbyterian Church will no longer participate on a weekly basis. We have offered the space to any vendor who wants to sell on Saturday mornings.

As in the past, 10% of their earnings will go to the church and 100 % of these funds will be then be given to agencies helping local people. Our current plan is to participate in the July 4th celebration, selling ice cream and other products at our Main Street parking lot.

In the meantime, we will stay alert and watch for God to open another door. Who know what tomorrow will bring?  

God's Blessings,

The First Presbyterian Church, Loudonville, Ohio