May 12, 2008

In a few short weeks, 5,000 Presbyterians from all over the nation will come together to do the work of our denomination at the General Assembly Meeting in San Jose, Ca. – and, your prayers are needed. While a gathering hundreds of miles across the country may seem remote to your daily faith experience; it is, in fact, an important part of being a Presbyterian. General Assembly (GA) is the biennial meeting of the highest governing body in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The 218th General Assembly will take place at the San Jose Convention Bureau from June 21^st -28^th. A sort of Presbyterian “family reunion,” the GA Meeting will draw together approximately 973 commissioners and advisory delegates (seven of which were elected by the Presbytery of Baltimore) for a week of deliberations, worship and decision-making about the mission and ministries of PC (USA). The commissioners and advisory delegates are each assigned to one of 17 committees which study overtures and make recommendation to the full body before a final vote. More than 100 overtures, including four offered by this Presbytery, will be considered. GA meetings are open to all of PC(USA)’s 10,960 churches; and, many church members will attend the meeting to observe the proceedings on behalf of their missions or congregations. Others wishing to follow the commissioners and advisory delegates in prayer may purchase the 2008 Presbyterian General Assembly Study Pack. As the Presbytery of Baltimore, its commissioners and advisory delegates, prepare for the 218^th General Assembly meeting, we ask that your congregation please: · pray for the guidance of the commissioners to GA, that their decisions will be wise ones; · pray that the experience of commissioners and advisory delegates at GA will give them a new vision of the PC (USA) to take back to their congregations and presbyteries; and, · pray that the 5,000 people traveling to a new place have an easy and safe journey. Some of the people coming to GA are travelling from other countries, and this experience for them will be challenging. Presbytery of Baltimore’s members elected to PC(USA) 218^th General Assembly (top to bottom): Rev. Elizabeth McLean of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church; Elder Mike Billings of Faith Presbyterian Church; Elder Adrienne Knight of Knox Presbyterian Church; Rev. Walt Peters of First Presbyterian Church of Westminster; Rev. Roger Powers of Light Street Presbyterian Church; Elder Bonnie Clarke of Ashland Presbyterian Church; and, Melissa Kardish, YAD, of First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis.		Inside this Issue Take Note/Act Now § Charter Bus Service to 829^th Stated Meeting § Worship& Evangelism Leadership Training § Light Street Flea Market & Silent Auction § Anne Weikart at Gallery at Woods § Towson Family Theater § Catonsville Chairs § Mt. Hebron Choir Robes § Youth Video Vote § Czech Partnership § Peace in Holy Land § Secretary Wanted § Music Director Wanted Presbytery Meetings § Council – June 10 § Vision - May 13/June 2 § Stated – June 19
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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 Presbytery of Baltimore is sponsoring charter bus service to the 829^th Stated Meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Lonaconing on June 19^th. The cost is $10. To register, call Wanda Morgan at 410.433.2012 or email wmorgan@baltimorepresbytery.org. Worship & Evangelism Leadership Training featuring Min. Warren Cooper and Dr. Chuck Denison will be held from 9:30am to 3:30pm on Saturday, July 19^that New Imani Community Church. $15pp and $50per church for up to five members. For details, click Evangelism Worship. Church Notices Light Street Presbyterian Church will sponsor its annual Federal Hill Flea Market & Silent Auction from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, May 17 at 809 Light Street. The event benefits the church’s missions and ministries, peacemaking commitments and ecologically sustainable development of the church property. The Gallery at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park is featuring an exhibit of watercolors by Anne Weikart now through June 15. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Fridays 9:00 am-5:00 pm and weekends by appointment by calling the church office at 410.647.2550. The PYC of Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church will be showing Disney Pixar’s film, “Cars” on Saturday, May 17^th in the church’s fellowship hall. Admission, popcorn and snack bar items are free! Donations benefit the church’s summer youth trips to Guatemala and Massanetta Springs. Towson Presbyterian Church presents "The Reluctant Dragon" and "Feel the Spirit" at 7pm on Sunday, May 18th. This free program is family friendly. For details, contact the church at 410.823.6500 Catonsville Presbyterian Church is offering 25 metal folding chairs with attached writing desk free to any interested congregation. For details, leave a message for Bob Ashton at 410-747-6180. Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church in Ellicott City is offering two sets of choir robes: a set of 17 Adult robes chest sizes 34 to 48 with 15 reversible stoles; and, 16 Adult and Youth robes in royal blue in large to extra small. All in good condition. For details, contact the church at 410-465-3993. Synod and General Assembly Items Cast your vote for Brown Memorial Park Avenue Youth or Ark and Dove Presbyterian Youth’s video. Visit www.ymiLIVE.org to view all the videos in this nationwide challenge. Other Items and Events Share in ministry and faith with a Czech Parish and attend the Czech Partnership Conference in Prague & Janské Lázně, Czech Republic October 14^th thru 24^th. First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis will cohost Czech partnership conference, which has garnered wide interest throughout PC(USA). For details about the conference click Czech Partnership or visit www.czechpartner.org Catholic Relief Services: Peace in the Holy Land speaker’s tour focusing on peace between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs will be held May 14^th at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in the 5400 block of Loch Raven Boulevard, across from the Presbytery of Baltimore. For details visit Parents Circle- families Forum- www.theparentscircle.org or view schedule by clicking Peace Talks. Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church is seeking an Administrative Assistant (Church Secretary). For details click Madison Vacancy or call the church office at 410.523.7935. Ark & Dove Presbyterian Church is seeking an interim Director of Contemporary music/ guitarist. For details, click Ark & Dove Vacancy.
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	Bob Turberville Interim Director of Development rturberville@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