Together Transforming…Lives. Church. World.

 

Rev. Elizabeth Johnson has been called to Dickey Memorial PC, starting on May 1.

St. Andrew PC has raised all the funds necessary to construct a new building which will contain Sunday School rooms, office space, and handicapped restrooms. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on April 3.

People

 

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.

 

 

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 21, 2005

‘FROZEN CHOSEN’ NO LESS SUSCEPTIBLE

 

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: Dear Friends, Who can help but notice the current proliferation of Presbytery-sponsored events and efforts designed to relieve our contentiousness and recalcitrance? We’ve got three Non-Violence Training Retreats; a workshop led by the Fellowship Of Reconciliation; the new Controversial Issues task force; and the Peace, Unity, and Purity team. The so-called “frozen chosen” are no less susceptible to dispute and polarization than the broader culture to which we belong! A typical repertoire of responses suitable for use in disagreeable situations begins to develop in infancy… crying, pouting, holding one’s breath, and full-blown temper tantrums. More sophisticated behaviors follow such as don’t-get-mad-get-even, sabotage, name-calling, and mud-slinging. If we’re really determined to prevail, we file lawsuits and threaten our opponents with other civilized remedies. Of course, being the church and all, we try not to employ these methods, and our peacemaking events certainly don’t advocate them. Personally, I favor an enlightened approach that one of my colleagues occasionally uses to resolve differences of opinion. He simply disengages from the argument by declaring, “I’m not going to fall on my sword over this.” I like that image. Not necessarily him falling on his sword, but recognizing that withdrawing from the fray – at least temporarily – is an option. Within reason, preserving the relationship becomes more important than winning the contest. Gaining trust becomes more important than advancing the agenda. What’s really going on in our power struggles? Is it a crisis of trust in each other? Is it a crisis of trust in God? In the faith, Julie

 

Ashland PC asks for prayers for:

 

· our mission projects with partners in El Centro Presbytery, Cuba; Kaqchikel Presbytery, Guatemala; and the Kasupe Ministry to Orphans and Widows in Malawi.

· any insights available, or dialogue partners who might be interested engaging with us as we begin to wrestle with the complexities of having two worshipping communities.

· our intrepid van, which has ably served to provide transportation to members and worshippers at the Broadmead Retirement Community for more than fifteen years, which needs significant maintenance and/or replacement.

 

 

Woods Memorial PC asks for prayers for:

 

· New Church Development

· our church expansion

Prayers for Sun, Mar 27

 

The Outstanding Older Adult Award nomination form is now available on the Presbytery website.

 

Three Scholarships are currently available from the Presbytery: (1) Robert Turner Scholarship for Youth on Mission Trips; (2) Rosa and Robert Ferguson College Scholarship; and (3) Herbert D. Valentine Millennium Fund for Grants, Scholarships, Mission Endeavors.

 

The Board of Pensions has granted a 3% experience apportionment increase, effective July 1; BenefitsTalk: Board Bulletin.

 

The Presbytery Council has appointed a Task Force to consider how the Presbytery handles controversial subjects. Its first -  and positive  - meeting was held on March 14. Members include Sarah Donnelly, Ronnie Hankins, Ken Ironside, Brett Morgan, Debbie Schmidt, John Schmidt, Betty Schroll, Donna Senft, and Cheryl Thurber.

 

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. 

 

“Transforming Violence Into Wholeness”

April 8-10, 2005 - Towson PC

April 22-24, 2005 - Catonsville PC

 

“The Emergent Church”, Lunch with Brian McLaren, author of “A New Kind of Christian” on May 10 at noon at Woods PC. Brochures and registration forms will be available soon.

 

PCUSA is sponsoring the first National Pastors Retreat, May 27 - 31 at Snowbird Resort just outside Salt Lake City, UT. Registration will close on April 22. To reserve your space go to www.pcusa.org/pastorsabbath.

 

PCUSA Youth Camp and Conference in Czech Republic, July 28 -  August 8. For further information call 410-647-7494 or email cobe@comcast.net.

 

Church Growth, Inc. presents, Welcome to the Family: How to Assimilate Newcomers Into Your Church a one-day seminar in Baltimore on April 20 and Washington on April 21.

View brochure at http://www.churchgrowth.net/seminars/seminar.htm.  To receive a discount of nearly 50%, call 800-844-9286 and specifically request the $50 per person rate.

 

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