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Together Transforming…Lives. Church. World.

Rev. Iris Tucker’s daughter and niece are doing well following a kidney transplant.

Rev. Carl Lammers, former interim at Hamilton PC, left on March 28 to become Chief of Staff for the Civilian Police Advisory Training Team, based in Baghdad. It is a one-year deployment.

People

Peace & Justice Middle East Task Group: March 31, 10 am at Catonsville PC.

“Transforming Violence Into Wholeness”, April 8-10, at Towson PC and April 22-24 at Catonsville PC.

Presbytery-wide Consultation, “Beyond Project Support”, Sat, April 9, 9:30-2:00 at Faith PC.

Youth Rally, April 16, 9-2 at Towson PC.

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

Presbytery Meeting, April 28 1pm at First, Frostburg PC.

“Get On The Bus!” Call the Presbytery office to reserve your seat on the bus to Frostburg. Free for Pastors, Elder Commissioners, and other voting members.

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 28, 2005

La Semana Santa

Tidings is sent weekly on Monday afternoons.

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

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: This past year my daughter volunteered at the Casa de la Mujer, a program for indigenous women of Oaxaca, Mexico. A benefit is that parents are “obligated” to make an on-sight visit. Given the flow of work at the Presbytery office, it seemed best to do this during la Semana Santa, Holy Week. In addition to taking a week of language school, we participated in the religious cadence of the los actos católicos de esta semana. Let me share three observations. First, many Oaxacans wondered what Protestants believed. Do we believe in the Virgin Mary, the Pope, the Bible, and Jesus? This Catholic culture understands us in terms of what they think we don’t believe. Second, Good Friday appears to be more important than Easter. Yes, there were extra services and we attended the earliest in the Cathedral. But the Archbishop did not attend and there were empty seats. Most did not commune. There were flowers in abundance, but no special excitement about Easter or the Resurrection. What was important? Good Friday and the Processión de Silencio. Each church had a float festooned with flowers and statues of Mary and Jesus and carried by members – most of whom wore purple, blood red, or white robes with pointed hoods over the faces. Thousands gathered along the roads for the two hour procession. The death of our Savior captured this peoples’ hearts more than the new life of Easter. Third, for most people these were truly feast days – not days of fasting. As Holy Week Services went on – there were all manner of street vendors and entertainment – from free orchestral and dance performances to beggars playing their violins and accordions. It seemed that this city paused to celebrate – in both meanings of the word – Holy Week. The religious story shapes this society. In many ways it was a delight and a privilege to be embraced by it. Thanks be to God! Blessings, Peter

Trinity PC asks for prayers for:

· their congregation during this season of great change and new beginnings

· medical concerns for Trinity members

Hunting Ridge PC asks for special prayers:

· as they begin a comprehensive Evangelism Initiative, they ask God to strengthen them for this mission and build their congregation.

The Presbytery of Baltimore asks for prayers for:

· guidance for our Pastors as they cope with difficult situations in their lives and as they minister to members of their congregations.

Prayers for Sun, April 3

Middle-school Conference sponsored by Massanetta Springs Conference Center, July 7-10, $250 due by April 15. http://www/massanettasprings.org/programs/middleschoolconference.

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.

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

“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.

Read about the Presbyterian Men Development Fund 2005 Birthday Offering.

To check responses on the various Presbyterian Disaster Assistance requests, go to: http://www.pcusa.org/pda/.

Job Opportunities Current and past issues of Tidings