July 31, 2006

I Will Give You Rest

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NRSV)

Oh, those lazy summers! Vacations at the beach, kicking back, no work, no homework, no commitments... maybe when I was 7! This summer I’m taking four classes at Hopkins, working, trying to get healthy food on the table, squeezing in three gym visits per week, and scheduling time to see my husband, who also works, is in school for his MBA, and trains for swimming events. You know, summers growing up were busy, too: two swim practices a day plus meets, summer reading and reports, working full time as a lifeguard and coach, plus those precious summer internships to get work experience.

No, rest is not a familiar idea to me. I think I notice my lack of rest more during the summer, because there’s this expectation left over from early childhood that it’s supposed to be restful. Yet, I actually sleep less in the summer – there’s more daylight, hence more hours to work in the yard, and the illusion that it’s not actually getting late. On the upside, almost daily I manage to squeeze in “just one more thing” that challenges or delights me. On the flipside, this “extra” time can come with a feeling of obligation to take advantage of the opportunities to achieve and produce more.

I’m not alone; our professional friends struggle with similar challenges – particularly friends with children! Their kids don’t rest; they participate in sports, educational camps and other experiences to go on their college applications. This is insanity! When did rest and play become redefined as luxury or laziness?

Jesus, in his wisdom and knowledge of human nature, anticipated my and others’ weakness and temptation in this area. Jesus said, “I will give you rest.” Rest from the weariness of the anxiety of trying to earn my salvation, from the burden of proving my value and usefulness through achievement and from the yoke of this draining overblown Protestant work ethic. Rest from the insidiousness of busyness that takes my focus away from God and keeps it on me, me, me. So I pray: Lord, slow me down. Help me to take notice of your creation, to accept the gift of salvation, freely given, and to rest in your sovereignty.

Love in Christ,

Janice Kominski, Coordinator of Communication

Inside this issue

Take Note/Act Now

§ 8-week Nonviolence Course

§ Nonviolence Workshops

§ Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast

§ Gulf Coast Hurr. Relief Trips

§ Peacemaking Colloquium

§ Conference for Lay Pastors

§ BOP Medical Dues Increase

§ Presby. Purchasing Partnership

§ Harbor Hospital Chaplain

Prayer Concerns

Light Street PC

People

Pray for Jamie Shipley, on leave from Hancock PC.

Randy Cullen, ordained in Baltimore, has three tickets for this Friday's 7:05 PM Orioles/Yankees game - call the office if interested.

Prayer Concerns

Light Street PC

asks for prayers:

· For its community outreach efforts, that they might bear fruit in increased worship attendance and membership growth

· For its sister church in Paraiso, Cuba, which is renovating its sanctuary with funds provided through the Presbytery’s Cuba Partnership

· For peace in Baltimore City’s streets as a rise in violent crime spreads to Federal Hill

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items

The Peace and Justice Committee and Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick will co-host an 8-week course in active nonviolence, “Transforming Violence into Wholeness”. The course will meet at Calvary UMC in Frederick on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:30pm from September 13^th through November 1^st (learn more).

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.

The Baltimore Presbyterian Men’s Communion Breakfast and Mini-Workshop will be on Saturday, October 21^st from 7:00am – 1:00pm (breakfast at 8:00am) at Churchville PC. The keynote speaker will be Rev. George Goodman, Assoc. Presbyter, Presbytery of the Peaks, VA. Cost: $20 for 2 meals. More info: view flyer or contact David Hodge.

Get Connected: Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief Trips. Using information from recent church mission surveys and church newsletters, we’ve assembled a chart of trip dates, past and future, for various churches in the Presbytery of Baltimore. Would your church like to send a group to the gulf coast, but would like more info. from those who have already gone? Want to team up with another church to travel and work? Check the chart on our homepage, listed after our main story.

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 organizations. This partnership offers products and services at competitive prices through negotiated agreements (Learn more).

Other Resources and Articles

Harbor Hospital is looking for a clergy member who can provide spiritual counseling and guidance to patients and families. The ideal candidate lives within 15 miles of the hospital and can commit to 48 hours of coverage weekly (two days a week). Harbor is offering a quarterly stipend. For a job description, please call Sally Lewis: 410-350-8218.

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