December 14, 2007

A Partnership of the Spirit

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

~Matthew 25:40 (NRSV)

It was quite fitting that the 828th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Baltimore was held at Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church last Saturday. It was this congregation that made the very first donation to the Presbytery’s 5¢ A Meal campaign; and, its members, Kathleen Boytim and Janice Yant, continue to lead the way in our mission to combat hunger in our communities.

We are grateful to all who have responded so generously since the 5¢ A Meal campaign began months ago. No sooner had the Hunger Program received funds, it answered a call for help from Trinity Presbyterian Church in West Baltimore. For 21 years, a dedicated group of volunteers – now, under the leadership of Nancy Bennett and Camilla Martin – has operated a food pantry twice a month in the community of Walbrook. However, their endurance and amazing commitment to serve those in need were, most recently, strained by the growing number of families coming to their door for assistance.

In order to open the doors of the food pantry one more day per month, Trinity needed additional funds to purchase food. The Hunger Program was able to immediately respond to the church’s request only because of the contributions made by Mt. Hebron.

This story is a microcosm of what we hope the 5¢ A Meal will become: neighbors partnering with neighbors in response to the call of the Holy Spirit. Please encourage your congregations to pray and worship in constant remembrance of those in need – so that all may be united to work more effectively to end hunger.

Ted Heun

Hunger Action Enabler

Inside this Issue

Take Note/Act Now

§ Stewardship Training

§ Final Meetings for Clerks of Session

§ Youth & Children’s Ministry Workshop

§ Brown Memorial Theater

§ Youth Video Vote

§ Casa del Sol

§ Baltimore Green Week

§ Czech Partnership

§ Mission Director Wanted

§ Youth Director Wanted

Presbytery Meetings

§ Stated Clerks – May 3

§ Council – June 10

§ Vision - May 13/June 2

§ Stated – June 19

§ Stewardship – May 10

People

Rev. Wm. L. Pinches, pastor of the First Presby-terian Church of Frostburg, has accepted a call as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, Mich. Rev. Pinches will offer his final sermon as a member of the Presbytery on May 4^th. In departing, Rev. Pinches remarked that he is “grateful for all that I have learned here and the opportunity to serve.” He departs for Michigan in early May with his expectant wife, Katharine, and their three children.

Prayer & Praise

Please pray for the wellbeing of Joanne Sharp, the wife of Rev. Jack Sharp of Springfield Presbyterian Church; and, Louise Dillon, the wife of Rev. John Dillon of First Presbyterian Church of Cumberland.

Contact Information

The Presbytery of Baltimore:

Phone: 410-433-2012

or 800-511-0087

Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

To Unsubscribe:

Call or email Roger Evans

Also on the Presbytery of Baltimore website

Find past issues of Tidings at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html. See new Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery. org/announcements.html

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items

Don’t Miss This! Sign up now for Stewardship Training on May 10^th . For registration click Stewardship .

Final Dates – REGISTER NOW! Clerks of Session meetings from 10am to noon on Saturday, May 3^rdat Frederick Presbyterian church and Saturday, May 10^th at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air. Please bring your church’s Minutes Book and rolls. Individual records sent by mail will not be reviewed by the Stated Clerk. For details, click Clerks or email vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org.

Save the Date! How do we manage the moral and spiritual development of our children? Get the answers at a Youth & Children’s Ministry Workshop: From Urgency to Action, scheduled for 11:30am to 1:30pm May 10^th at Second Presbyterian Church on St. Paul Street in Baltimore. For details, contact jjohnson@baltimorepresbytery.org.

Church Notices

Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church presents its spring production: "The Sublime, the Absurd, the Ridiculous" on Friday May 2^nd and Saturday, May 2^nd at 8 PM; and, Sunday, May 4^th at 3 PM. Scenes and one-acts by Thurber, Albee, Welty and Wilder. Includes a dessert buffet. Tickets: Adult $10; Student $5; Children under 5 Free. Call 410-377-7232 for more information.

Synod and General Assembly Items

Vote for the Brown Memorial Park Avenue Youth Video: “Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Click here to view video and vote!

Casa del Sol is the new Spirituality and Retreat Center at Ghost Ranch, a PC(USA) education, retreat and conference center in Abiquiu, New Mexico. To view exciting program of 2008 retreats, click Casa del Sol.

Other Items and Events

Religious leaders of Baltimore will come together Wednesday, Apr. 30^th to discuss the environment during Baltimore Green Week. For details, click Green.

Share in ministry and faith with a Czech Parish and attend the Czech Partnership Conference in Prague & Janské Lázně, Czech Republic October 14^th thru 24^th. First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis will cohost Czech partnership conference, which has garnered wide interest throughout PC(USA). For details about the conference click Czech Partnership or visit www.czechpartner.org

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church seeks a Director of Local and World Mission to provide staff leadership and support for the church’s programs, events and partnerships. Competitive salary and benefit package offered. For details click Woods Job.

Northminster Presbyterian Church in Reisterstown seeks a Youth Director to work 12-15 hours per week. For more details, e-mail bsitterley@mynorthminster.org or write Northminster Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 306, Reisterstown, MD 21136