July 24, 2006

The Weekend’s Here

I spent a wonderful Friday evening at New Imani Community Church listening to a sermon by Pastor Ron Johnson; he led us down a path of faith and relationships according to the book of Mark. After a rousing time of song, praise, sermon and food I made my way from Randallstown back to my home in Baltimore City with his sermon still stirring in my soul. Once inside my home, I was struck by the quiet of the place. Just hours earlier, it was abuzz with both sight and sound but now, no one stirred; just the humming of a window unit on the second floor family room where my son and niece slept quietly on the floor, falling asleep, I suppose, amidst the Game of Life where play money and cards were lobbied about (I assure you there are sufficient and proper sleeping quarters but try telling that to two tweens).

Watching them there, I thought of an earlier conversation just that day that I had with my niece, Kelsey, who said how much better she liked our previous house. The previous house was new and offered many modern conveniences. From a 12-year-old perspective she thought it strange that we gave up living in a new house in favor of a 100-year-old home without air-conditioning or a garage that instead offers stairs that creek and a leaky roof. But, I disagree. I like the fact that a craftsman, an artisan, designed and built my home, brick by brick. I am not referring to a famous architect like Frank Lloyd Wright but a man like any other who did his job well. A person who purposefully constructed a home to last beyond his own lifetime. He did not think it robbery to labor for generations yet unborn. This is the true measure of life: “The doing for others.”

So we will repair the roof, reinforce the floor and ready the place for the next stewards.

This is a metaphor; you needn’t live in a hundred year old home to be a good steward because I’m sure that even in new construction there are relationships that need reinforcing, peace and justice issues that need mending and missions that need to be accomplished.

Like Pastor Johnson preached, people matter. Faith matters. Relationships matter.

I am not worried. There are so many who think as we do.

Yours in Christ,

Rita Walters

Director of Development

Inside this issue

Take Note/Act Now

§ Nonviolence Workshops

§ Product/service Databank

§ Pulpit Supply List Updates

§ Peacemaking Colloquium

§ Conference for Lay Pastors

§ BOP Medical Dues Increase

§ Presby. Purchasing Partnership

§ Ecumenical Institute

§ Free Seminar for 501(C)(3) organizations

Prayer Concerns

Emmitsburg PC

Maryland PC

People

Please pray for Phil Forrester, husband of Judi Forrester, as he recovers at home from scheduled outpatient surgery.

Prayers of praise that Charles Forbes is recovering well from his heart procedure last week.

Prayer Concerns

Emmitsburg PC

asks for prayers:

· For the wisdom to discern God’s vision for their future

· For a preacher during the interim

· For the leadership of the church during a time of transition

Maryland PC

asks for prayers:

· That their outreach and evangelism efforts will continue to bear fruit

· That all who come and walk their community labyrinth will discover the blessings and peace of God

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items

The Peace and Justice Committee and Northminster PC will co-host “Building Peace with Constructive Nonviolence” on September 23, 2006. This day of peace-building workshops will run from 9:00am to 3:30pm. For more information about the workshops and the event in general, read the letter and registration form on our homepage.

In an effort to provide even wider resourcing services, the Presbytery is compiling a Databank of Products and Services that congregations can recommend to each other. If you know of a vendor who has provided excellent service to you or your church and would like to recommend them, please email that information to Wanda Morgan.

The updated pulpit supply list is available in the “Downloads” section of the Presbytery website.

Synod and GA items

The 2006 Peacemaking Colloquium at Stony Point Center, “Living the Gospel of Peace and Non-Violence,” will be held from September 11-13 in New York State (learn more).

There will be a Conference for Commissioned Lay Pastors and Lay Preachers of the PC(USA) on October 18-20, 2006 at the Montreat Conference Center in NC. This new conference provides practical and valuable continuing education on a variety of subjects for this growing segment within our church leadership (learn more).

The Board of Pensions has announced that medical dues will increase .05% effective January 1, 2007. Total Board of Pensions medical, retirement, and health and disability dues will then total 31.5%.

The Presbyterian Purchasing Partnership is a cost-saving purchasing program designed for use by PC(USA) congregations and affiliate agencies, institutions and organizations. This partnership is a stewardship effort with goals of offering high quality products and services at attractive, competitive prices through negotiated agreements (Learn more).

Other Resources and Articles

The Ecumenical Institute of Theology offers accredited master’s-level theological education to women and men throughout the Baltimore area. Registration for the fall term has begun and will continue until the term begins Sept. 5. For more information please contact Patty Rath at 410-864-4200 or visit the website at www.stmarys/ei.

Other Events

The Baltimore County Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs will sponsor a free Seminar on “How to Avoid Jeopardizing Tax-Exempt Status”, a guide for faith-based organizations, on Tuesday, August 1, 2006, 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Liberty Family Resource Center, 3525 Resource Drive, Randallstown, MD. Seminar topics will include: allowable campaign activity by churches, charitable contributions and disclosure rules, and special rules re: IRS audits of churches. RSVP/get info by July 28 to 410.887.5557.

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