Together Transforming…Lives. Church. World.

Installations & Ordinations:  

All are welcome to attend

                    Thomas Morgan - Dec. 5, 5 pm 1st PC of Lonaconing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clergy Party  - Nov 15 (postponed)

 

Presbyterian/Jewish Luncheon -  Nov. 16, noon, Brown Mem’l. Woodbrook PC

 

 

Pre-Presbytery Meeting, Transforming Violence Into Wholeness, sponsored by P&J, Nov 18, First of Annapolis PC, 11 am -12:15

 

Presbytery Meeting  - Nov 18, 1 pm First of Annapolis PC

White Book download

 

 

Check out Local Church Announcements and the

 

 

Presbytery’s Yearly Calendar

November 15, 2004

Tidings* will be sent weekly on Monday afternoons.

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

 

Members of the Presbytery staff will write on a rotating basis:

 

Week 1  - Bill Millen

Week 2  - Terry Martin-Minnich

Week 3  - Julie Helms

Week 4  - Peter Nord

Week 5  - Tim Stern, Moderator

 

* Have a better name than Tidings? Name suggestions due by 11/23. The winner gets a Cruise. (We aren’t divulging in advance where the cruise will be.)

 

The Presbytery of Baltimore Resource Center Advent Resources list is now available.

Presbytery/Jewish Relations update  - check the following links:

Divestment Policy Plans: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2004/04497.htm

Fallout from Hezbollah meeting: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2004/04507.htm

Arson Threats against Presbyterian Churches: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2004/04508.htm

Post Hurricane Ivan Update

Rev. Joe Crawford, a member of this Presbytery now serving on Grand Cayman Island in the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, reports significant devastation in the area due to the recent hurricanes-including the loss of Joe's home and personal possessions.  Joe has asked the Presbytery to assist the United Church's relief efforts. The Council authorized a special offering at the November Presbytery meeting to support relief efforts by the United Church, and the Council encouraged individual churches to take such special offerings as well. We are asking the churches to take a second offering and forward that giving to the Presbytery of Baltimore. The offering will be immediately forwarded to the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

 

Baltimore Presbytery Singles’ Group, contact Janet Short for a list of upcoming events. 410-256-5097 or janetlee@bcpl.net

Update on PCUSA Organizational License Plates.  We still have not obtained the 25 names necessary for the initial registration with the State of Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles.

Check out  the Job Opportunities posted on the Presbytery website.

 

 

 

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

 

When the COGOS* report was published in 1999, certain aspects of the Presbytery program were identified as needing attention…youth ministry, clergy support, congregational resourcing, evangelism, and inclusivity. Other aspects were identified as strengths not needing immediate attention…for example, mission.

 

That was then. This is now. We have crossed the threshold into a new century and a new millennium. Our collective consciousness has been raised that we are not living in the modern age, but the post-modern age. Both personally and institutionally, we have experienced the so-called paradigm shift in our culture, indeed in our world.

 

In that context, should we continue a business-as-usual approach to mission? No way! The form and function of mission in Baltimore Presbytery is under intense scrutiny by a special task force and the three related committees: Mission, Self-Development Of People, and Global Mission.

 

The conversation has already begun in the Committee on Mission. Chairperson Jan Trammell-Savin has encouraged members to dream with no holds barred, avoiding, for the moment, questions of practicality, affordability, and acceptability. Instead of perennially supporting the same list of community ministries, should the Presbytery focus on one large-scale, Presbytery-wide project for which it would be known? Should hands-on volunteer opportunities be emphasized? Do Presbyterians have expertise to share with self-help groups for gaining access to “the system” – business and banking? Should endpoints be established instead of continuing financial support indefinitely? Should Baltimore Presbytery learn more about the Hispanic population within our bounds and discover new mission opportunities? How can the Presbytery mission program partner with local church mission programs and/or with large non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity?

 

You get the picture. It’s all up for grabs. For the immediate future, no sweeping changes are recommended. But changes are coming. Because that was then, and this is now!

Julie Helms

 

* Committee On Goals, Objective, Strategies.