April 17, 2006

Forgiveness

This past week, my son was a bit under the weather but one of his best buddies even more so. My son, Chandler, and his friend car pool home from school together. His friend, too, became ill, leading him to miss an all important weekend activity-a baseball game-and in the life of a ten year old baseball is an important rite of passage. Needless to say, I felt awful. If only I had gotten meds to Chandler earlier, if only they hadn’t car pooled together during Chandler’s illness... and the list went on. And while this child and family placed no blame, indeed, they extended the hand of grace-inquiring about Chandler and his health; I still felt the need to be forgiven. The act of forgiveness is sacred, forgiving ourselves, forgiving others; it too is a rite of passage.

“And they crucified him, dividing his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.” The Gospel according to Mark. Jesus forgave them; they knew not what they did. Rejoice, it’s Easter morning, the stone has been rolled away and Jesus has conquered the grave. We too are forgiven. Now when this dusty march is over and we see the master’s face, can we say that we have forgiven ourselves but more importantly, have we forgiven others? When we are forgiven, we experience freedom and gratitude. When we forgive others it has physical (improves cardiovascular health) as well as spiritual benefits; Give the gift of forgiveness.

Blessings,

Rita Walters

Mom, Wife, Friend, Director of Development

Inside this issue

Event of the Week

Clerks of Session meeting for reading

of minutes, “south” group:

April 22nd 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Harundale PC 410.766.4338

Take Note/Act Now

§ Sexual Misconduct Policies

§ Worship for African Int’l Persons

§ Non-violence Training Retreat

§ Rescheduled Katrina Workshop

§ Dinner for GA Participants

§ Frederick PC on Frederick Mag.

§ Synod Bulletin Insert

§ Annual Assoc. of Retired Ministers

§ Synod Men’s Conference

§ Family Emotional Process Seminar

§ Ministry Evaluation Tools

Prayer Concerns

Bethel PC

People

Prayer Concerns

Bethel PC

asks for prayers:

· for their potential partnership with Harford Co. and their new building

· for their new outreach worship, “The Gathering”

· for their youth mission trip this summer

· for the worship committee as they seek input to strengthen worship

· for the spiritual growth of the congregation

· that their many visitors will connect permanently with them

· that God’s will for Bethel’s future will be made clear

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items

Do you have a program you use to prevent sexual misconduct or harassment or have you written a Sexual Misconduct Policy in the past year? If so, the Presbytery would like to make use of your experience - please share what you have created - email pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org

Hunting Ridge PC invites you to a worship service with the New Children of the New Covenant Fellowship Group, a ministry of evangelism and outreach to African Internationals and other persons in the Baltimore area, Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 3:00pm. A time of refreshment and fellowship will follow the service.

Register now for the Baltimore Presbytery Nonviolence Training Retreat on May 5-7, 2006, titled “Transforming Violence Into Wholeness”. Registration and information forms are available off of the calendar on the Presbytery home page. Deadline: Friday, April 28.

Hurricane Katrina work trips & training: A rescheduled workgroup for those who want to organize such workgroups will be held Saturday, May 20^that First PC of Howard County. RSVP by May 12^th. (New Flyer).

Cuban friends Margarita Cedalia Lorenzo Gonzalez (Aya) and Loida Pastora Lorenzo Blanco will be visiting Baltimore May 8-16, 2006. Ashland and Light Street Presbyterian Churches will be hosting activities and celebrations. More information to come (Aya and Loida).

The Presbytery will host a dinner for everyone attending General Assembly from Baltimore on Saturday, June 17, at 6:00 PM at the Cobb Lane Restaurant http://www.cobblane.com/.

The cost will be $10 and reservations must be made in advance. Contact Wanda Morgan at the Presbytery Office and also indicate if you prefer chicken roulade or herb encrusted pork tenderloin.

The April issue of Frederick magazine features Frederick PC on the cover: http://www.fredmag.com/

Synod and GA items

The May issue of the Mid-Atlantic Presbyterian Bulletin Insert and the updated Military Prayer list are available from the Synod at http://www.synatlantic.org/bulletin

Retired folk are invited to the Annual Association of Retired Ministers, Their Spouses or Survivors Convention June 8-11 in Pittsburgh. Contact Ginny Nyhuis for more information at (888) 728-7228 ext. 5472.

The 2006 Annual Mid-Atlantic Synod Men’s Conference will be held at Massanetta Springs from July 14 – 16. (Brochure) Or learn more at www.midatlanticmen.org.

Other Resources and Articles

A Post Graduate Seminar in Family Emotional Process will be offered in Bethesda in the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007 at a cost of $1450. For additional information

http://www.centerforfamilyprocess.com/programs_2006.html

Follow this link http://www.alban.org/weekly/2006/060410_EffectiveMinistry.asp to Jill Hudson's 12 characteristics for successful ministry in the 21st Century. Jill has created tools for self-evaluation tool and a personnel committee's assessment based on these characteristics. If you would like these tools, please request such from pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org.

Also on our website

Don’t miss all the new Local Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/announcements.html Presbytery Yearly Calendar

Past Issues of Tidings are available at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html.

Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter

pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org

Bill Millen, Associate Executive

bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org

Deb Milcarek

Associate of Mission and Justice

dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org

Charles Forbes, Stated Clerk

cforbes@baltimorepresbytery.org