May 5, 2008

Katrina Recovery Mission: Rebuilding Faith One Home at a Time Despite forecasts this year for a “well above average” hurricane season – scores of Presbyterians from the Baltimore region and throughout the nation continue to surge forward in an effort to rebuild the foundations of dozens of Gulf Coast communities destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. It is a long, slow road to recovery and there’s a lot of ‘drop off’ in support from the non-profit sector; but, Presbyterians can be proud of the work they’ve done through mission efforts like Project Homecoming, a campaign to rebuild 900 homes in New Orleans, said Bob Schminkey, the Presbytery’s Resource Person for Disaster Recovery. “Rebuilding the Gulf Coast has become a matter of faith,” explained Bob. “We’re not just hammering nails and putting up dry wall; we’re building communities. And, in the process, folks from all over the country are rediscovering their faith and their sense of what it means to be a part of a congregation.” Since Katrina struck in 2005, more than 31,000 Presbyterians nationwide have participated in the Gulf Coast recovery effort; however, there remains a backlog of unfinished building projects. Nearly three years after the hurricane, only 15 percent of New Orleans has been revitalized; tens of thousands of low-income, elderly and disabled people remain displaced; and, in nearby Gulf Port, Miss., scores of families still live in government funded trailers. Bob and other disaster officials expect recovery efforts to continue through the next decade. “The Gulf Coast has really become the cutting edge of mission work,” Bob said. “Not everyone can go overseas for mission work but, almost, anybody can help on the Gulf Coast. Whether you are retired, in high school or somewhere in between, whatever your skill level – there’s a place for you in mission on the Gulf Coast.” The Presbytery of Baltimore will sponsor two mission trips to the Presbyterian Volunteer Villages on the Gulf Coast: Father & Son (14 & up) mission trips, June 8^th -14^th and June 15^th - 21^st; and, a Youth Week trip, June 22^nd – July 27^th for youth 16 and older. Funds are available to assist groups with expenses if needed. To plan your congregations mission trip to the Gulf Coast, contact Bob Schminkey at 410.708.6463		Inside this Issue Take Note/Act Now § Stewardship Training § Final Meeting for Clerks of Session § Youth & Children’s Ministry Workshop § Charter Bus Service to 829^th Stated Meeting § Dickey Mem. Yard Sale § Catonsville Chairs § Brown Memorial Woodbrook Film § Youth Video Vote § Casa del Sol § Czech Partnership § Peace in Holy Land § Secretary Wanted § Music Director Wanted Presbytery Meetings § Stated Clerks – May 10 § Council – June 10 § Vision - May 13/June 2 § Stated – June 19 § Stewardship – May 10
		People Rev. Richard Shreffler, 88, who served nearly three decades as pastor of 1^st Presbyterian Church of Bel Air before retiring in the early-1980s, died last week in San Antonio, TX. Memorial services will be held at two Presbytery of Baltimore churches later this month. ____ Look in tomorrow’s email for a Special Edition of Tidings featuring Rev. Shreffler.
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 Don’t Miss This! Sign up now for Stewardship Training on May 10^th. For registration click Stewardship . THIS IS THE LAST REVIEW – REGISTER NOW! Clerks of Session meetings from 10am to noon on Saturday, May 10^th at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air. Please bring your church’s Minutes Book and rolls. Individual records sent by mail will not be reviewed by the Stated Clerk. For details, click Clerks or email vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org. Save the Date! How do we manage the moral and spiritual development of our children? Get the answers at a Youth & Children’s Ministry Workshop: From Urgency to Action, scheduled for 11:30am to 1:30pm May 10^th at Second Presbyterian Church on St. Paul Street in Baltimore. For details, contact jjohnson@baltimorepresbytery.org. 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. Church Notices Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a yard sale to raise funds for their second trip to Gulfport, Miss. to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery.  The yard sale will be held 8am to 1pm on Saturday, May 10^th. 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. 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. Synod and General Assembly Items Vote for the Brown Memorial Park Avenue Youth Video: “Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Click here to view video and vote! Casa del Sol is the new Spirituality and Retreat Center at Ghost Ranch, a PC(USA) education, retreat and conference center in Abiquiu, New Mexico.   To view exciting program of 2008 retreats, click Casa del Sol.   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