June 5, 2006

Pray With Me

When I was a child, I went to a Baptist Church with my parents. Every once in awhile, the congregation sang a hymn whose last line was “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right”. I have thought about that hymn quite a bit lately as I prepare for my trip to Birmingham on June 15^th.

As Moderator of the Presbytery of Baltimore, I ask that you join me in praying for the 217^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The assembly meets in Birmingham, Alabama for eight days. It is quite probable that the most important issue on the docket will be the discussion and vote on The Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church. Part of the PUP report addresses ordination standards. There is a distinct possibility that some commissioners will see schism as the only way to resolve the contentious issues. Schism will destroy the church I love.

Without regard to where you stand on the issues before the GA, I fervently request that you pray with me that the commissioners will resist a call for separation. Pray that they pray for discernment as they deliberate. Pray that they will be guided by the will of God and not by personal prejudices and biases. The foundation of the Church is dependent upon where the commissioners see God leading them and how they handle themselves as a result of that guidance. PRAY! “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right”.

Florence G. Henderson

Moderator, Presbytery of Baltimore

Inside this issue

Take Note/Act Now

§ Michael Durall Conf. Call

§ Northminster Youth Park

§ General Assembly

§ Congregational Awards

§ Naval Academy Job Opening

§ Social Capital and Welfare Reform

Prayer Concerns

Cherry Hill PC

St. Andrew’s NCD

People

Please pray for Alice McGee who will be having hip surgery this week.

Prayer Concerns

Cherry Hill PC

asks for prayers:

· for them as they celebrate their 60^th church anniversary on July 9^th

· that they may find new direction as they approach their next decade of ministry

· for their community that crime does not increase as the heat of summer arrives

· for structural concerns for church sanctuaries in light of the coming hurricane season

St. Andrew’s NCD

asks for prayers:

· for SERVE, an organization affiliated with the PC(USA) that connects volunteers with mission projects worldwide

· for St. Andrew’s members Ed Pollock and Greg and Karen Hull who will be traveling to Mozambique with SERVE to construct a church in the town of Ribaue, Aug. 6 – Sept. 10

· for Ed’s father, Ted, a 90-year-old career missionary to Africa who will supervise the work

· for more volunteers and financial contributions to support the mission

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items
Conference call with Michael Durall on Tuesday, June 6^th at 3:00pm. The call will be a chance to ask questions about and preview his one-day seminar titled “Creating the Church of the Future”, focusing on Stewardship and Evangelism, to be held on September 30^th, 2006. Conference phone number: 1-877-597-2663; access code: 7591772#. Contact Rita Walters rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org or 410-433-2012 for more information.

Northminster PC Youth Park Grand Opening, Saturday June 10^th from noon to 5pm at 705 Main St., Reisterstown, MD 21136. Youth Park features a skate park, climbing wall, and other supervised recreational activities on the church grounds. Following the grand opening the park will be open 3-4 times a week during the summer. Anyone under the age of 21 will need a parent present to register to use the skate park/climbing wall. Live music, free food and drink, all welcome. Info: Rev. William Sitterley, 410-833-3815.

Synod and GA items

The General Assembly will convene on Thursday, June 15^th. Read about our delegates on the presbytery homepage: www.baltimorepresbytery.org. Also, Presbyterian Elders in Prayer have created a prayer resource for use before and during GA; a link is posted on our homepage.

Other Resources and Articles

Each year Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education (Union-PSCE) awards congregations in the PC(USA) for outstanding programs in early childhood education, excellence in Christian education, effective youth ministry and outreach and social concern. Each award carries a $1000 contribution to assist the congregations in their ministries. To apply for a Union-PSCE Congregation Award please e-mail April Swofford or call (800)299-2990 x 747. Deadline: November 1, 2006.

The Naval Academy has advertised for a Congregational Pastor. The contract is being advertised and awarded through FISC Philadelphia. Closing date for the contract is June 20, 2006 (See job listing).

Other Events

The Ecumenical Volunteer Service Network welcomes Jo Anne Schneider, Ph.D., author of Social Capital and Welfare Reform: Organizations, Congregations, and Communities, who will lead a discussion on “Faith, Works, and Community” on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 7pm at St. William of York, 600 Cooks Lane, Baltimore, MD 21229 (Flyer).

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