January 17, 2006

Transform Transform, according to Webster’s, means “to change in composition or structure.” Many times we speak of “transformation”. In my own home, daily, I transform from mother to professional and in the evening back again to both wife and mother (pick up your shoes, don’t leave your coat on the floor-and then there’s the directives I give my kids-do your homework, eat your vegetables). Transformations occur many times in the workplace, whether self-directed or management encouraged. We transform ourselves when we are faced with health issues. We undergo our ultimate transformation when we decide to live for Christ; Jesus Christ, our personal savior, who did not think it robbery to pay a debt he didn’t owe because we had a debt we couldn’t pay. I imagine him sitting on the right hand of the Father, saying, “I know what they’ve done, but I’ve already paid the price, charge their sins to my account.” How joyous it is to be transformed! Stewardship, too, creates a culture of transformation, a culture of philanthropy of which everyone can be part and to which everyone is invited. Stewardship aims to express vision with urgency and passion. It defines goals and objectives and it focuses on opportunities, not needs. Great Stewardship both markets and delivers on a promise. I invite you to join me by becoming Stewardship Ambassadors as we embark on a stewardship journey that fulfills the promise: your gifts make an impact, and here’s how. Join me as we boldly show our members: giving has impact on mission within the Presbytery, and here’s how. Giving is making an impact on New Church Development, and here’s how. Giving is making an impact on peace and justice, and here’s how. In His Service, Rita Walters Director of Development

Inside this issue Transform Take Note/Act Now § Peace in Middle East Overture § Presbytery Meeting § Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday § Presbyterian Women § Big Event § Katrina Work Trips Prayer Concerns Faith PC First and Franklin Street PC

People Prayers of thanksgiving for Christa Burns and her father-in-law who is recovering well from illness.

Prayer Concerns Faith PC asks for prayers: As they host the first families as a part of an interfaith coalition of congregations providing hospitality for homeless families As they undertake a capital campaign As they witness to God’s love on the corner of Woodbourne and Loch Raven Blvds. First and Franklin Street PC asks for prayers for: Their various missions: the Patrick Allison House for Men, the Jane Egenton Home for girls, the partnership with the local school, and others Upgrading the building Increasing membership Creating small groups Exploring worship alternatives Increasing service opportunities	Take Note/Act Now In preparation for our January vote on an Overture regarding Peace in the Middle East, there will be a Study Session at 2:00 PM on January 18, 2006 at Faith Presbyterian Church.  Participating will be representatives of Palestinian and Jewish communities (read more). The next Presbytery meeting will be on January 26, 2006 at First and Franklin Street PC starting at 1:00p.m. Sunday, February 26^th is Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday, celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women as Deacons, 1906-2006, and the 50^th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women to the Office of Word and Sacrament, 1956-2006. Resources are available at www.pcusa.org/women. February 18, 2006 Clusters IV and VI of Presbyterian Women will meet for a Prayer Breakfast. The Big Event will be held at Woods Memorial PC on Saturday, February 25, 2006. Brochures have been mailed to each church. The brochure is also available as a PDF off of the home page of the Presbytery website: click here. Hurricane Katrina work trips: § A work team from First PC Howard will be going to Mississippi on March 5-11, 2006. Anyone interested in joining them should contact Kris Holmes at krisholmes13@comcast.net or Doyle Nichols at doylenichols@comcast.net. § If you're interested in joining with a work team from Second PC to travel to and work in New Orleans during the week of March 12, 2006, please be in touch with Karen Meyers at 410.825.6940 or krnmyrs@yahoo.com. Also on our website Don’t miss all the new Local Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/announcements.html. Past Issues of Tidings are available at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html. Presbytery Yearly Calendar
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	Rita Walters Director of Development rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org	Julie Erickson Director of Public Policy jerickson@baltimorepresbytery.org
Alice McGee Coordinator of Information Services amcgee@baltimorepresbytery.org	Judi Forrester Coordinator of Financial Services jforrester@baltimorepresbytery.org	Wanda Morgan Coordinator of Resources wmorgan@baltimorepresbytery.org
Janice Kominski Coordinator of Communications jkominski@baltimorepresbytery.org	Questions? Comments? E-mail Janice Kominski or office@baltimorepresbytery.org To unsubscribe email Alice McGee or call the office.	Office: 410-433-2012 or 800-511-0087 Fax: 410-433-2066 Online: www.baltimorepresbytery.org