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May 1, 2006 |
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May 1, 2006 |
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Summer Celebration When I was a minister in a church, I
found summers challenging. Both staff and members wanted go on vacation
for two to three months. Attendance went down, the Sunday services were
combined, boards did not meet, giving declined – you get the
picture! It was summer time and we all yearned for living that was
easy. But being a Calvinist . . . I fought
this urge. At Buffalo’s University Presbyterian Church where
Alison Halsey and I both served (she cleaned up for me after I left) a huge
banner hung over the front portico and proclaimed “Summer
Celebration.” In all my churches I tried to make
every Sunday special – to give people a reason to attend. We had
simple summer brunches once a month. Each Sunday during one month we celebrated
a different community from whence our members came – and brought in
leaders from each community. Another month we gave out awards to people
in the community for building up the Kingdom of God. One June we
celebrated long marriages (although this resulted in two couples evaluating
their relationships and getting divorced – not exactly what had been
planned). One summer we asked people to offer testimonials on their faith.
I would often have month-long sermon series on things like issues of justice
or important but confusing theological words. We organized Sunday picnics and
worship services in the park. We made every Sunday special. As summer draws nigh, I encourage you
make Sunday so special that your folk will not want to take a vacation from
their faith. Blessings, Peter |
Inside this issue Event of the
Week “Transforming Violence into Wholeness” Non-Violence Training Retreat
May 5 – 7, Darlington, MD Take Note/Act
Now § Educators’ Roundtable § Cuban Friends at Light Street § Scholarships and Grants § Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel § Guatemala Youth Mission Trip § Creating the Church of the Future § Presbyterian Youth Connection § Interim Pastors’ Seminar § Ecumenical Institute at St.
Mary’s Prayer
Concerns New Imani NCD
Brown Memorial Park Ave PC |
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People Praises that Carol Cole, Alice McGee’s mother, is recovering well after
her accident. George
DeMass will be representing Baltimore at the Dakota Presbytery the
first weekend in May. |
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Prayer Concerns New
Imani NCD asks for prayers: ·
That God will continue to provide revelation(s):
current ministry focus and needs; our current location and facility challenges;
and future location ·
For our Seven
Prayer Points: 1)Seeking God’s Perfect Will 2) Infilling and Indwelling
(baptism) of the Holy Spirit 3) God’s vision for New Imani 4) Pastor
and family; New Imani leadership and members 5) Purity & holiness of the
church 6) Spiritual, numerical, and financial growth 7) To become dynamic
disciples (Assistance welcome-visit our website) Brown
Memorial Park Ave PC asks for prayers: ·
for our brothers and
sisters in Pine Ridge Reservation and the delegation from the Presbytery
going to serve with them, July 8-23 ·
for our brothers and
sisters in the PC of Mbengwi, Cameroon as we discern God’s leading for
a new partnership ·
for strengthening
our partnership with Eutaw-Marshburn ES; prayers for a just and equitable
education system for our city’s children ·
prayers as we
continue to adapt our liturgy to encourage the participation and leadership
of our children on each and every Lord’s Day |
Take Note/Act Now The
next meeting of the Educators’
Roundtable will be Thursday, May 11th at noon at the
Presbytery offices. Proposed topic: VBS with Cokesbury. Bring a bag lunch and
ideas! On
Sunday, May 14th (Mother’s Day) Aya
and Loida, friends from the Cabaiguán
Church in Cuba, will be worshipping at Light Street PC. All are welcome
to come meet and worship with Aya and Loida. A
number of scholarships and grants
are available to individuals and churches through the Presbytery and
Synod. Some scholarships,
upcoming deadlines, and application links: ·
Robert
J. Turner Scholarship for travel on a Presbytery-sponsored mission trip (May 15) ·
Robert
F. and Rosa M. Ferguson Student Scholarship offers $5000 toward college
tuition (May 15) ·
Presbyterian Camps Synod Scholarship for attendance at a
Presbyterian camp ·
Synod of
the Mid-Atlantic Visionary Fund for new, existing, racially inclusive and
creative programs which address ways to implement the priorities of
education, evangelism and social justice (June 30) ·
Synod of
the Mid-Atlantic Jubilee Fund to be used for African-American Clergy
Recruitment, African-American Christian Education, African-American
Congregational Leadership Development, African-American Youth Ministry (July
15) Please
contact Deb
Milcarek for more information or see the scholarship page
of our website. Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel
will be speaking at Woods PC on Saturday, May 20th from 2-5pm. The
topic is “Mission, Justice, and Peace is our Calling”. Register
by May 14 to Pam Ward, 410.647.2550. Learn more and see the brochure through Local Church
Announcements. The Presbytery Youth Mission Trip to Guatemala will be from July 29th
through August 5th to work with our partner in Mission, the Kaqchikel Presbytery. The
trip is open to current HS sophomores, juniors, and seniors and college
students. There is also an opening for a second female chaperone. Contact Pastor
Steve Tisinger for more information (410) 974-1713. Save the Date! September 30th the Presbytery will be offering a
one-day seminar led by Michael Durall called “Creating the Church of the Future” focusing on
Stewardship and Evangelism. Contact Rita Walters rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org
for more information. Synod and GA
items “Shine
Like the Stars” is a Presbyterian
Youth Connection Leadership Training Event for youth and adult leaders of
youth entering 9th grade through graduated seniors. It will be on
June 12-15, 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama, preceding the General Assembly. (More Information) There are
also brochures in the Presbytery office. There
will be an Interim Pastors’
Seminar offered by the Synods of the Pacific, Southern CA, and Hawaii at
Zephyr Point on Lake Tahoe July 16-21, 2006. (Learn More). Other Resources and Articles The
Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University
offers master’s-level degrees, certificates, and courses.
Registration for the summer term begins Monday, April 24. Auditors are
welcome! For more information contact Patty Rath, Coordinator of Recruitment
& Communication at 410-864-4200 or prath@stmarys.edu, or visit our website
at www.stmarys.edu/ei. 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. |
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Bill Millen, Associate Executive bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org |
Deb Milcarek Associate of |
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Charles Forbes, Stated Clerk |
Director of Development rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org |
Julie Erickson Director of Public Policy |
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Alice McGee Coordinator of Information Services |
Judi Forrester Coordinator of Financial Services |
Wanda Morgan Coordinator of Resources |
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Janice Kominski Coordinator of Communications jkominski@baltimorepresbytery.org |
Questions? Comments? E-mail Janice
Kominski or office@baltimorepresbytery.org
To unsubscribe email Alice McGee or call the
office. |
Office: 410-433-2012
or 800-511-0087
Fax: 410-433-2066
Online: www.baltimorepresbytery.org |
