Together Transforming…Lives. Church. World.

Installations & Ordinations:   All are welcome to attend

Andrew Foster Connors - Nov. 14, 3 pm Brown Memorial

 Park Avenue PC

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

Prayers are encouraged for:

Mary Louise Ellenberger, who fell and broke her leg

John Barrett, husband of Resource Librarian Mary Ellen, who had heart bypass

 

 

 

 

Clergy Women Gathering - Nov 9, noon, Maryland PC

 

Educators Round Table - Nov 11, noon, Presbytery office

 

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

 

 

Check out Local Church Announcements and the

 

 

Presbytery’s Yearly Calendar

November 9, 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.)

 

Insurance for Middle Governing Bodies and Churches

 

Comprehensive, affordable insurance coverage for churches, presbyteries and synods is critically important to the life of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The General Assembly Council has appointed the Insurance Advisory Subcommittee (IAS) to review the property and liability insurance needs of churches and middle governing bodies. Their goal is to recommend appropriate ways to make insurance available to all church governing bodies. The IAS has developed two main resources for the insurance needs of churches and middle governing bodies: (1) recommended minimum standards of property and liability insurance, and (2) a profile of 3 national insurance companies or programs that provide insurance for churches. Please visit www.pcusa.org/risk/minimum.htm to access these resources.

 

Opportunity for Interim Ministry Training

 

Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education will offer courses for interim ministry training on Nov 15-19. Each intense 30-hr course is for those who feel called to interim ministry or those seeking certification in the PCUSA. Phases I & II will be offered. Phase I offers the basics for understanding interim ministry. Phase II is for pastors who have completed at least six months of interim experience and focuses on additional interim ministry skills. Led by Tom Green, George Hardy, and Virginia Martin, experienced interim pastors and trainers, tuition for either course is $395. Participants may earn three CEU’s. To register or for information, call 1-800-229-2990 x 301 or visit www.union-psce.edu and click on leadership development.

 

Form an educated opinion about the Middle East …

KNOW THE FACTS.

 

If you can gather a minimum of 15-20 individuals, we will provide you with a unique educational briefing on the Middle East. Dr. Arthur C. Abramson, Exec. Dir., and Lynn B. Katzen, Dir. Of Israel and Middle Eastern Affairs of the Baltimore Jewish Council are available for speaking engagements. Talks include: What Went Wrong? A Review of the History of the Middle East Conflict (1947-Present), and Israel, the Presidency and the American Political Process: Past Perspectives and Current Dilemmas. Each briefing runs approx. 1 hr., and we are happy to customize the location and time. There is no Fee. To schedule a speaking engagement, call Lynn Katzen at the Baltimore Jewish Council at 410-542-4850 or email lkatzen@baltjc.org. 

 

It’s A Crying Shame

A Multidisciplinary Conference on Elder Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation

 

Presented by the Baltimore County Consortium for Professional Education in the Field of Aging, held on December 2, 2004 from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm at the Sheppard Pratt Conference Center, 6501 N. Charles Street. For more information call 410-887-4200.

 

Global Mission Speaker

 

Malawi minister Fletcher Padoko will be in Baltimore Presbytery this month and would like to talk to as many church groups as possible. Call the host church, Ashland, to make arrangements: 410-527-1844.

 

Presbyterian Pastor Familiarization Tours to Jordan

 

There will be two Presbyterian Pastor Familiarization tours to Jordan scheduled for May 3-14, 2005 and September 30 - October 9, 2005 .  (The two April tours are filled.) The cost of the 10-day tour is only $750 ($1,500 for spouses).  The price includes airfare to and from Amman from New York's JFK airport via Royal Jordanian Airlines, all food, local transportation, tour guides, entrance fees, and lodging in 5 star hotels.   The tours are sponsored by Friends of Jordan - a volunteer group composed of Presbyterian pastors of the National Capital Presbytery, and are underwritten by the non-governmental Jordan Tourism Board. We have traveled the length of Jordan to view ancient sites and discuss the issues of the day with Jordanian religious and community leaders, and governmental representatives. We have found the Jordanians to be a peace loving and progressive people who desperately want peace in the Middle East. They also are the stewards of some incredible ancient and biblical sites. 

 

Please complete the Clergy Registration form if you have an interest.  Call me, Arthur W. Murphy, Tour Organizer, at 410-464-6161 (Baltimore) if you have any concerns or questions. To get a feel for one of our recent Presbyterian pastor tours, go to www.arthurmurphy.com/presby.

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

A year ago, an associate professor of worship and liturgy published an article in Reformed Worship asking, “Why Not ‘Move’ Advent to November?”  Dr. Lester Ruth, Asbury Theological Seminary, began, “What are we to do with Advent?  The lectionary says, ‘repent and prepare,’ but the rhythms of many congregations say, ‘children’s Christmas program.’  The calendar says, ‘fast and pray,’ but Sunday schools schedule Christmas parties with cake and cookies.  Advent says, ‘not yet, not yet,’ but church-goers clamor to sing their favorite Christmas carols.”

 

While Dr. Ruth gives a sound rationale stating pros and cons for making this change, it is certainly not for every congregation!  The benefits to his congregation included “ears to hear in a new way,” greater harmony between music and worship context, and between “common practices like drama and decorations and an incarnation-centered December.”  Dr. Ruth warns against this change in congregations that have “deeply held self-conscious Advent rhythms.” This may also not be a good change for congregations who keep “a classic Advent to maintain a clear countercultural witness to all-too-common December overindulgence.” *

 

Advent, what are we to do?  It is a season of challenge and comfort, consistency and change, an opportunity for new beginnings and centuries of deeply cherished traditions.  As educators, clergy and congregational leaders, we are called to lead and equip our congregations into preparation for the incarnation. It’s at times like these when I remember the words of my older son, “Mom, chill!”  So, take a step back, a deep breath and hear God’s voice in your heart, in your Session, in your teachers, in your congregation.

 

                                                                             Terry Martin-Minnich

 

 

Mary Ellen Barrett and I are here to assist you with a wide variety of Advent resources.  * [Reformed Worship: Resources for Planning and Leading Worship. September, 2003. #69, pages 8-10. 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. Baltimore Presbytery Resource Center #891.037.69. www.reformedworship.org]