September 18, 2006

Alan Hirsch

The familiar question one hears often among church leaders and reads in so many books is: ‘How do we get people to come into the Church?’ That is a non-starter! It leads us down all the wrong paths and just misses the point of the good news of Jesus Christ. So we can’t start with that question. We have to ask: ‘What does it mean for the Gospel to be lived and announced in this time and place?’

Church Growth and Evangelism committees are bringing Alan Hirsch to Baltimore from Australia to discuss how we might lead the Presbytery of Baltimore to answers to this question for new and existing congregations. On election day he will do a presbytery-wide event for all that can come. Please mark your calendars for Nov. 7, 2006 from 10:30 AM through 1:30 PM, place to be determined.

Alan Hirsch is author of The Shaping of Things to Come. He is the director of Forge Mission Training Network and oversees missional leadership development for his denomination in Australia. Known for his radical approach to mission-in-the-west, Alan Hirsch is a teacher, church leader, and key mission strategist for the church. His local church, South Melbourne Restoration Community, is a model of Incarnational mission and ministry in postmodern setting.

On some days I long for a return to the Modern Era, a time when the PC (USA) was at its peak. I understood that reality. I could work well in that day. I am more comfortable in the traditional worship following the bulletin. I find the shift to Post-Modern difficult. I unconsciously try to keep the dying church alive.

I see this season as a time of transition. We have the task of making our church open to something new. We are the transitional people. We will not see the church of the future. Our task is to help the future happen.

Hope to see you on Election Day.

Bill Millen

Inside this issue

Events of the week:

Regional Meetings

#1 Oct. 10 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Christ Memorial PC, Columbia

#2 Oct. 11 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Faith PC, Baltimore City

Presbytery Middle School Retreat

Oct. 13-15 Camp Wo-me-to, Harford

Take Note/Act Now

§ Lochearn PC Men’s Day

§ Knox PC Memorial Concert

§ The Gallery at Woods PC

§ Marriage Equality Overture

§ Grove PC 150^th Anniversary

§ Non-violent Demonstration

§ GAC approves new Staff Structure

§ Hispanic Center for Ministry

§ Presbyterian Outlook

§ Synod Bulletin Insert

§ Craig A. Evans

Prayer Concerns

First PC of Cumberland

Hunting Ridge PC

People

The Presbytery of Baltimore is pleased to announce that Rev. Jane Johnson has accepted the Position of Associate for Leadership Development, Education and Youth effective October 16.

Harry Holfelder was in GBMC last week.

Joan Berry will become a CLP at Catonsville PC

Jennifer DiFrancesco will be installed at Second PC Oct. 29^th at 4pm

New Life PC will celebrate its 10^th Anniversary on November 5^th

Bernie Carey has left the Board of Pensions for a position in Columbia, Maryland

Prayer Concerns

First PC of Cumberland

asks for prayers:

For the peace, unity and success of our newly formed PNC

Hunting Ridge PC

asks for prayers:

· For our strategic planning process in early 2007

· For our evangelism efforts in our changing community

· For our ecumenical partnerships with the 40 West Community of Churches

· For our Open Hands… Committed Hearts Stewardship Campaign

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (dated items first, listed in date order)

Lochearn PC Men’s Day celebration will take place Sunday, Oct. 15^th at 11:00 am. The guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter.

Knox PC will present a Memorial Concert in honor of Beulah and Hanson Caldwell Sunday, Oct. 15^th at 4:00pm.

The Gallery at Woods Memorial PC will feature paintings by Pat Henderson on October 15 through November 19.

There will be a public forum to discuss the Marriage Equality Overture on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 7:30 pm at Havenwood PC.

Grove PC will be celebrating their 150^th anniversary on Sunday, October 29^th (Reformation Sunday).

Roger Powers and Andrew Foster Connors were both arrested in Washington DC on September 26 in a non-violent demonstration against the war in Iraq. Trial dates have been set for after Thanksgiving. Read more about the day’s events on our homepage.

Synod and GA items

GAC approves new staff structure. New alignment saves $500,000 in 2007, $800,000 in 2008. (Learn More).

Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education has a new Hispanic/Latino Center for Ministry which offers courses for lay leaders and pastors. All courses will be taught in Spanish (Learn More).

The Synod’s October Bulletin Insert and Military Prayer List is now available online.

Other Resources

The September 11th issue of Presbyterian Outlook contains a several interesting articles that explore religious statistics including articles on Presbyterian Demographics, Growth Myths and the Importance of Religious Practice in Growing Congregations. These can be accessed at their website.

Other Events

Craig A. Evans will give the annual Dunning Lecture at St. Mary’s Seminary & University on Monday, October 9^th at 7:30 p.m. His topic will be “What Are We to Think of The Gospel of Judas?” The free lecture, open to the public, will be held at St. Mary’s campus on Roland Avenue at Northern Parkway in Baltimore (read more) (flyer).