Together Transforming…Lives. Church. World.

 

Welcome

The Session of Hagerstown PC has voted to hire the Rev. Robert N. Ferguson as their Interim Pastor.

People

 

Presbytery Meeting - Jan 27, 1 pm at Faith PC

 

The Big Event - Finding Jesus - Feb 26, 8:30 am until 3:45 pm, at Woods Memorial PC.

 

Check out Local Church Announcements and the

 

 

Presbytery’s Yearly Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Events
Text Box: Presbytery of Baltimore 5400 Loch Raven Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21239 Office: 410-433-2012 1-800-511-0087 Fax: 410-433-2066 www.baltimorepresbytery.org General email: office@baltimorepresbytery.org Staff Peter Nord Executive Presbyter pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org Bill Millen Associate Executive bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org Julie Helms Administrative Associate jhelms@baltimorepresbytery.org Charles Forbes Stated Clerk cforbes@baltimorepresbytery.org Terry Martin-Minnich Education/Resourcing tmartinmin@baltimorepresbytery.org Judi Forrester Coordinator of Financial Services jforrester@baltimorepresbytery.org Alice McGee Coordinator of Information Services amcgee@baltimorepresbytery.org Dot Sanchez Coordinator of Communications dsanchez@baltimorepresbytery.org Mary Ellen Barrett Resource Librarian mebarrett@baltimorepresbytery.org

January 24, 2005

Birth Pains

 

Tidings is sent weekly on Monday afternoons.

Our primary audience is church professionals in the Presbytery of Baltimore.

 

 
Tidings

 

President Bush has signed legislation allowing taxpayers the option of deducting cash gifts specifically designated for the December 26 Asian tsunami on 2004 tax returns if the gift is made before February 1, 2005. Additional information may be found on the IRS’s website at http:www.irs.ustreas.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id+133273,00.html.

The Board of Pension (P.C.U.S.A.) is offering resources to help you during tax season. Check out the new Tax Guide for Ministers and Churches, Main text: http://www.pensions.org/library/publications/publications/tax-000.pdf, and Tax Tips for Ministers and Churches, forms and examples: http://www.pensions.org/library/publications/publications/tax-100.pdf. To listen to our BenefitsTalk presentation, http://www.pensions.org/library/publications/multimedia/taxtips/index.htm. You can also visit the Board’s web site at: www.pensions.org

The Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies (ICJS) invites you to attend a Public Lecture by Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg on Tuesday, February 8 at 7:30 pm at Chizuk Amuno Congregation, 8100 Stevenson Road, Baltimore 21208. Rabbi Greenburg will be discussing his new book, “For the Sake of Heaven and Earth: The New Encounter between Judaism and Christianity”. The cost is $10 per person, payable at the door. Ample parking is available. For directions or more information contact the ICJS at 410-523-7227 or icjs@icjs.org.

Which state legislative district is your church in? Who are your state senators and delegates? Who do you call to support legislation or encourage public policy advocacy? A complete list of Baltimore Presbytery churches by districts is available on the Presbytery’s website at: www.baltimorepresbytery.org/documents/LegislativeDistricts.pdf. If you would like to receive alerts and news from the Maryland Legislature, use the Subscription List on the Baltimore Presbytery webpage to subscribe. www.baltimorepresbytery.org/subscriptions.html.

An invitation has been received from the EP of the Presbytery of Philadelphia to pastors and lay leaders to attend “Becoming a Missional Church,” a series of Thursday evening sessions held at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Center of Continuing Education beginning on January 27, and continuing on February 3, 10 & 17. Cost $50 for 4 sessions. For more information call 800-622-6767 ext. 7990, or visit www.ptsem.edu/ce/PG05/downloads/Courses_Liaty.pdf

 

Pastoral Theology: a new Doctor of Ministry focus. Courses begin in June 2005 in Pittsburgh, PA, and January 2006 in Phoenix, AZ. Contact 1-800-451-4194 or www.pts.edu to learn more about the programs.

 

Baltimore Presbytery Singles Group, Chili Winter Days at Boordy Vineyards, Sun, Jan 30, 1 pm. Call Janet Short 410-256-5097 for more information.

 

Check out the Job Opportunities posted on the Presbytery website.

Current and past issues of Tidings can be downloaded from the Presbytery of Baltimore’s web site. [link]

 

TakeNote/ActNow

Questions or comments? Email Dot at: dsanchez@baltimorepresbytery.org or call 410-433-2012

To subscribe or unsubscribe please Email Alice at: amcgee@baltimorepresbytery.org or call 410-433-2012
Text Box: The last few months in the life of Baltimore Presbytery have been interesting! There have been times when I have felt like I was on roller coaster, checking my seatbelt to make sure I was strapped in. Perhaps an even better analogy is that it felt like the Presbytery was experiencing birth pains. At such times, parents are filled with hopes, anticipation, and uncertainties. The pain (I am told) is significant, but, more often than not, the results are filled with thanksgiving and joy. While I have my own wishes about the various votes and my own opinions on why we voted the way we did, I want to share with you some of the really positive things that are happening – which I take to be the Holy Spirit bubbling up in our midst. The Council is considering a proposal that would radically change the make-up and nature of Council. The envisioned Council would be smaller and consist of people that would emerge out of seven regions in our Presbytery. They would intentionally concentrate more on vision and how our program grows out of that vision. At the same time, a group of nine theologically diverse Presbyters have started meeting to talk about the issues that have confronted that GA Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. And their conversations will begin to spill over into our Presbytery and its meeting this Spring. Still another Task Force, to be theologically inclusive, will consider how this Presbytery deals with controversial subjects. Tim Stern and Pat Collins are in the process of appointing this Task Force. All of these efforts are likely to give birth to a new Baltimore Presbytery– one which will affirm that we are called “to glorify God and express God’s inclusive grace.” Blessings, Peter Nord

 

First of Annapolis, asks for prayers for:

 

The congregation and leadership of our church as we look at long-range growth for our congregation.

 

 

Highland asks for prayers for:

 

   Our church, a small church facing large expenses for renovations.

   Our hope for new life in the Sunday School and growth of new members.

   Spiritual growth among our members.

Prayers for Sun, Jan 30