Together Transforming…Lives. Church. World.

 

Rev. Donald J. Johnson has been called to Lochearn PC, starting on May 15.

Rev. Carl Lammers has been assigned the billet, “Chief of Staff, Multi-National Security Training Command” and has been deployed to Iraq, probably before Easter, for about a year.

People

 

Special Called Meeting of Presbytery on March 14, 7:00 pm  at Mt. Hebron PC to act upon the call of Dickey Memorial PC to Elizabeth Johnson, Candidate for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, and to examine her on her Statement of Faith.

 

Council Meeting, March 14, 6:30 at Mt. Hebron PC.

 

Discussing Controversial Issues on Wed, March 16, 9-12 in the Woodmont Room of Faith PC.

 

Peace & Justice Middle East Task Group: Next meeting Thurs, March 31, 10 am at Catonsville PC. Call chairperson Joan Berry at 410-672-5237 or Berry962@verizon.net.

 

Presbytery-wide Consultation, “Beyond Project Support”, Sat, April 9, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm at Faith PC, all minister and church mission representatives are invited.

 

Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering, April 16, 9-2 at Catonsville PC.

 

Local Church Announcements / Presbytery 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

March 14, 2005

Easter Wanderings

 

Tidings is sent weekly on Monday afternoons.

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

 

 
Tidings

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: Easter is almost upon us and I am not prepared. Yes, worship services, egg dyeing workshops, education programs are planned; even Mel Gibson has re-cut his epic “Passion of the Christ” but I am not ready. Easter has come too fast, too soon, too early for me. Yet, according to the calendar Easter can arrive any time from March 22 through April 25 because Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the spring equinox. The word and placement of Easter is an amalgamation of traditions. Venerable Bede wrote in the eighth century that the word came from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess whose holiday was on the spring equinox. The word for Easter that isn’t as popular is pascha from the Hebrew word for Passover. Our Greek and Russian Orthodox brothers and sisters have their celebration of Pascha on May 1 – more in line with the Hebrew Passover from April 24 through May 1. Even many of our symbols for Easter/Pascha came from other traditions. The Easter Bunny, not to be confused with Peter Rabbit, is rooted in ancient Egypt. The hare was a symbol of the full moon; many baby rabbits are born in the spring symbolizing new life. The tradition of the Easter Bunny bringing colored eggs to children on Easter morning began in Germany. In some Christian traditions where eating eggs was forbidden during Lent, many welcomed this treat on Easter morning. In 1290, King Edward I of England had 450 eggs dyed and gave one to each of his servants. Pysanki eggs from Poland and the Ukraine are decorated with elaborate designs. Dolly Madison began the Easter egg rolling on the Capitol Hill lawn in 1809. The event was moved to the White House lawn in 1987 by Rutherford B. Hayes. The mystery of a chicken coming out of a lifeless-looking egg shell is used by many parents and educators to suggest Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb. Easter bonnets, still popular when the date of Easter falls more into spring, are a sign of new life in Christ at Easter. The lily -- growth from a bulb that seems lifeless, the peacock – shedding and re-growing of tail feathers, the butterfly – transformed caterpillar from a seemingly lifeless cocoon, and the phoenix – the mythical bird rising from ashes all are symbols of this Holy Day. Why all the symbols? Why all the mixing of traditions and customs? Probably because we cannot explain what happened that first Pascha morning when the women went to the tomb of Jesus. Yet, we confess it with one accord and proclaim, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” Thanks be to God. Maybe I am ready! Happy Pascha/Easter. – Terry Martin-Minnich (reference source: Come to Easter: The Customs of the Lenten and Easter Seasons, compiled by Pat Floyd, Abingdon Press.)

 

The Synod of the Mid-Atlantic asks for prayers for:

 

· ears and hearts to hear God’s call to a renewed zeal for ministry in the region

· wisdom to make the new mission design a function of God’s will

· the staff lead by Synod executive-stated clerk Roger Harp

 

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) asks for prayers for:

 

· the 71 countries around the world - where we have 463 mission workers

· the first two-year moderator, Rick Ufford-Chase

· the council and director, John Dettereick, executive director

· the 11,097 churches, 173 presbyteries and the 16 synods

Prayers for Sun, Mar 20

 

Pastors:  Watch for your letter from Louisville regarding GA Restricted Funds Grants.

 

Cuba Partnership Summer Workshop, an International conference/workshop for all young adults at the Presbyterian Camp in Santa Clara, Cuba, July 9-21, 2005. 

 

PASTORS AND ASSOCIATE PASTORS RESPITE AT MASSANETTA SPRINGS - Be our guest!  Starting Easter evening (Mar. 27) and continuing through Fri. morning (Apr. 1). Pastors and associate pastors in the Synod are invited to come for a time of respite and renewal at Massanetta Springs.  You are welcome to bring your family as well.  Your lodging is free for the week or any number of days you can stay with us during that week.  A free breakfast buffet will be enjoyed by our guests on Tues. at 8:30 am.  All others meals can be taken in town (3 miles away). Please contact Chris Mitchell, 888-627-7774 or (chrism@massanettasprings.org) by MARCH 21 if you are interested. 

 

The National Presbyterian Men’s Newsletter “Presbyterian Men In Action” is back online on the PC(USA) Men’s Ministry Web Page: http://www.pcusa.org/men/pdf/pmia0205.pdf. A registration form for the 2005 National Conference in Charlotte is available on the web page.

 

“Transforming Violence Into Wholeness”

April 8-10, 2005 - Towson PC

April 22-24, 2005 - Catonsville PC

 

Living With Grief: Ethical Dilemmas at the End of Life, a free live teleconference via satellite featuring expert educators and ethicists, moderated by ABC News Correspondent, Cokie Roberts. Wed, April 20, 1-4:30 EDT, to be held at 3 locations on the Johns Hopkins East Baltimore Campus. Registration is required. For additional information & registration contact Kim Bell at bellki@jhmi.edu or 410-614-1308.

 

Presbyterian Historical Society Announces 2005 Local Church History Seminar, April 25-29 in Montreat, NC.

 

 

“The Emergent Church”, Lunch with Brian McLaren, author of “A New Kind of Christian” on May 10 at noon at Woods PC. Registration information will be announced soon.

 

Attention: North Baltimore City/County churches—$600,000 has been allocated by Baltimore County to put 35-40 homeless families into permanent housing throughout the County. Participating churches would mentor families & provide stability and contact with faith communities. Contact Rev. Fred Weimert if you are interested: 410-825-3360 or fweimert@hotmail.com.

 

 

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