February 25, 2008

Peace. The continuing war in Iraq. Violence in our cities. Peace. Still so elusive. A political and social “hot potato”. A topic about which some disagree. A problem with no easy solution. As Augustine, Luther and Wesley renewed their spirits with the writings of Paul to the Romans – we, too, are inspired by Paul’s message to what was the legal, financial and cultural center of the world at that time. Chapter 12 of Romans is clear, not only in its celebration of the different members of the body, but in its call to live peaceably. Even today, it is the yearning for peace that unites us. On Friday, March 7^th, join your brothers and sisters from all faiths as a Witness for Peace in Washington DC. Last year, more than 3,000 faithful ventured out into inclement weather to the National Cathedral to stand up for peace, even though many differed in their belief about the path to achieve it. We expect thousands more to attend this year’s event, which will feature a variety of worship services offered by many different denominations at noon in downtown Washington, DC. For a complete list of speakers and participating communities, visit www.christianpeacewitness.org. Travel with members of the Presbytery on March 7^th as we depart from Baltimore’s Penn Station on the 9:50am MARC train to Washington, DC. We will gather at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church at noon to hear peace talks by Brian McLaren as well as Gilda Carbonaro, the mother of a U.S. American soldier killed in Iraq. Afterward, we will proceed to the Upper Senate Park for the Inter-faith Witness to Peace gathering from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Guest-speakers will include Rabbi David Saperstein, Rev. James Forbes, Fr. Louie Vatale and several others. March 7th is also the beginning of Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Learn how to be an effective advocate in local and national political arenas. Join Ted Heun, Julie Erickson and myself, along with other advocacy-minded brothers and sisters (over 1,000 are expected in Washington, DC March 7^th -10^th) to further our voice in making policies that reflect our beliefs as Presbyterian Christians. Please visit www.advocacydays.org for more information on te Presbytery’s activities during this weekend event. Scholarships are available through the Peace and Justice Committee. Contact me for more information. There are many different paths and roads to Washington from all parts of our Presbytery. My friends, I look forward to you joining your brothers and sisters in Christ for this weekend event to Advocate and Witness for Peace. Find your way and join us! “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.” (Acts 9:1-5) Deb Milcarek, Associate for Mission and Justice		Inside this Issue Take Note/Act Now § Annual Statistical Reporting Deadline March 5^th § Mission Partnership Grant-Writing Workshop § Host June Presbytery Meeting § Overture Advocate at GA § Holy Week Services and Activities § Towson Presbytery Lent Events § Spaghetti Dinner § Lenten Art Exhibit § Developmental Disabilities Day § Ferguson Scholarship § Clergy Get-Away § 2008 Hau Kola Learning Camps § Diploma in Lay Ministry
		People Rev. John Thomas will be installed as pastor of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church on Palm Sunday, March 16th at 4pm. At the same time, Susan Quass, a candidate for ministry, will be ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament at Light Street Presbyterian Church.
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 The deadline for submitting your church’s Statistical Reporting for 2007 to the Presbytery Office is noon on March 5^th. Please submit your reports to the Presbytery’s Coordinator of Information, Roger Evans at revans@baltimorepresbytery.org. For filing information, contact vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org Sign up now for Mission Partnership Grant Writing Workshops Mar. 6^th. Click Mission. Opportunity for your church to Host the June Presbytery Meeting. This is a rare opportunity to bring the whole presbytery to your church without having to wait a year or more for an open slot. If your congregation and facility can comfortably serve dinner to 135 or more and accommodate a meeting of that size in your sanctuary or fellowship hall, and you’d like to be considered for hosting the Stated Meeting, Thursday, June 19at 4pm, please contact vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org stating your commitment no later than March 10. Opportunity to be an Overture Advocate at the General Assembly in San Jose, CA, June 2008 If you would like to be considered for selection as Advocate for one of the overtures submitted by the Presbytery of Baltimore, please contact vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org stating your interest and qualifications by March 10. Note: if you are not part of the delegation already slated to represent Baltimore, you will be responsible for your own expenses. Holy Week Services and Activities. Please submit your church’s Holy Week services and activities for March 20^th to 23^rd in e-mail to dgreene@baltimorepresbytery.org, so that they may be posted on a special website page for visitors. The deadline for submissions is March 12^th. Church Notices Inspirational Programs for Lent at Towson Presbyterian Church. Join us for our Friday evening Human Rights Film Festival from 7pm-9pm on February 29^th and March 7^thand 14^th. All are welcomed 12:10pm-12:45pm on Wednesdays during Lent for Music and Meditation programs. Click Towson. Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church will sponsor a Spaghetti Dinner on March 15^th. Contact the church at 410.679.3322 for further details. Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church is featuring the Lenten art exhibit, “Seeing The Savior: Images From The Life Of Christ.” The exhibit will be displayed until Easter Sunday, Mar. 23^rd.  For gallery hours and more information, click Exhibit. Synod and General Assembly Items Join the Presbytery in supporting Developmental Disabilities Day in Annapolis on February 26^th. The agenda includes a legislative reception and briefing as well as several hours of constituent meetings with legislators. For more information, click: http://www.md-council.org/resources/PDF/DDDay_Flyer08.pdf Other Items and Events Applications are now being accepted for the Robert F. and Rosa M. Ferguson Student Scholarship Fund. The fund provides $5,000 to a high school student who plans to attend an accredited college or university. The deadline is May 15th.  For more information, click Ferguson. Clergy Get-Away: Theological Reflection on the New Form of Government facilitated by Cynthia Bolbach of the GA Form of Government Task Force. May 7^th thru 8^th. For details, click, Get-Away. Pack your gear and join us this summer for the 2008 HAU KOLA Learning Camp Season. For more information, click Hau Kola. The Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith & Learning at Whitworth University offers a Diploma in Lay Pastoral Ministry for men and women seeking non-ordained positions of pastoral leadership. For more information, contact Michelle Seefried at 509.777.3275 or mseefried@whitworth.edu.
Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org	Bill Millen, Associate Executive bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org	Vaughn L. Brown Jr., Stated Clerk vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org
Deb Milcarek Associate of Mission and Justice dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org	Jane Johnson Associate for Leadership Development, Education and Youth jjohnson@baltimorepresbytery.org	Robert Turberville Interim Director of Development rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org
Julie Erickson Director of Public Policy jerickson@baltimorepresbytery.org	Judi Forrester Coordinator of Financial Services jforrester@baltimorepresbytery.org	Roger Evans Coordinator of Information Services revans@baltimorepresbytery.org
Wanda Morgan Coordinator of Resources wmorgan@baltimorepresbytery.org	Deborah I. Greene Coordinator of Communications dgreene@baltimorepresbytery.org	Questions? Comments? E-mail office@baltimorepresbytery.org