An electronic newsletter from the Presbytery of Donegal
January 27, 2005 - Issue #8 Survey of Presbytery La Iglesia Needs Partners in Mission News Issues from Presbytery Missional Church Corner One Good Idea On the lighter side   ETHIOPIAN CHOIR!! The Oromo Ethiopian Choir is available to you for worship services!  Expand your worship experience!  Invite Rev Gemechisa Guja's choir to your worship service! Contact him at: 717-393-8842 or 717-917-3279 or guja12@hotmail.com  He is also willing to preach with or for you.   OUR NEW MODERATOR - ELDER ELAINE LENYO   http://www.donegalpby.com/emoderator.jpg CONTACT Presbytery of Donegal P.O. Box 10054 1861 Charter Lane Lancaster, PA 17605-0054 717.392.4035 (phone) 717.392.8922 (fax) To unsubscribe from this news, send an email to: kathy@donegalpby.com and put in the subject line - unsubscribe eNews Go see what's new at our constantly changing webpage! http://www.donegalpby.com	SURVEY OF PRESBYTERY We started to survey the entire Presbytery for the areas of need and for your skills and passions.  To join in this monstrous effort, go to the following link:  http://www.donegalpby.com/pres%20downloads%20jan/presurvey%20questionaire.pdf Fill out the survey (half of page one and two), and mail it to: Rev Charlie Gross, P.O. Box 10054, Lancaster, PA 17605-0054 or fax it to: 717.392.8922.  Thank-You for your willing participation!  You can see preliminary results at:  www.donegalpby.com/January 2005 Survey.pdf  but we need more data on the skills and abilities of those in our midst.  Extravagant Blessings to you all!   LA IGLESIA NEEDS PARTNERS IN MISSION! We need partners in mission for the La Iglesia church in Toughkenamon.  This exciting outreach nests in the beautiful Toughkenamon Presbyterian Church.  They worship at 2:00pm on Sundays and have programs most of the other days of the week.  They are growing and reaching out in unique ways, but they need your help. You can do this by clicking on the link and taking it to your session & mission comm.  http://www.donegalpby.com/pres downloads jan/LA IGLESIA COVENANT FORM 07-C.pdf Thank-you for your passion and heart for serving!    NEWS ISSUES FROM PRESBYTERY! Non-Profit Corporation Registration. You can do your non-profit registration on line!  Simply go to http://www.donegalpby.com/documents.php and follow the instructions.   Home Communion Workshop.  Thanks to Rev Don Lincoln for taking on the home communion workshop.  It is scheduled for Thursday, January 27th at 1:00pm at Westminster West Chester.  According to W-3.3616e., the Lord's Supper may be extended to those isolated from the community's worship by 2 or more ordained officers of the church.  Come join this short conversation or ask for the "cliff notes" from this discussion and workshop. Tsunami Disaster Response Update.  To get current updated information about our role in the Tsunami disaster response, go to:  www.pcusa.org/pda There is a comprehensive website of information that will be helpful in your interpretation and response efforts. Souper Bowl is Coming!  Don't forget to participate in the hoopla of Super Bowl Sunday and bless others with what you're paying for your own snacks!  Click on: http://www.geocities.com/donegalpbyhunger/ and scroll down and follow instructions. Awesome to be informally connected!  In my discussions with pastors and elders, I've found an incredible joy expressed by all in our informal connected-ness.  For instance, Bob Young hosts study group luncheons which are rich in content; Larry Chottiner, Michael Wilson, and Roger Uittenbogaard reach out in unique ways to new pastors; and Bud Davies has helped many committees in their building plans.  We are a connectional church in a formal sense, but what a joy it is to be informally connected in God's mission with Jesus Christ.  Thank-you all for reaching out! The Moderator has put together the Per Capita Taskforce.  The Moderator of Presbytery has put together a slate for studying the issues around paying Per Capita.  The Presbytery has asked for a report on their work at the March meeting. Find out more about Honduras this Sunday!  You can still find out more about the Honduras mission trip scheduled for June 18 - 25, by attending an informative meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster (140 E. Orange Street. 717-394-6854) this Sunday, January 30th at 2:00pm.  Don't miss this opportunity!   MISSIONAL CHURCH CORNER According to "Shaped by God's Heart, the passion and practices of missional churches," the sixth characteristic is Expect to Change the World!.  The author, Milfred Minatrea, relates stories of excellent companies and communities who are driven by a huge passion to make a difference and change the world - not just survive or sell a product.  He then carries this principle over to our partnering with God in mission to bring life and wholeness to God's people.  We are called and equipped to be in relationship with people, expressing God's mission "glocally."  Missional churches identify their gifts and primary mission fields and touch the world with an exhibit of the Kingdom of Heaven.  We excel as we, in faith and assurance, expect to make a powerful, positive difference through God's energizing Holy Spirit.  "Reflect on God's transformation of your life.  How are the lives of your friends being transformed by Him?"  This would make a great small group discussion question.  Blessings!     ONE GOOD IDEA Two year ago Wrightsville PC started to include a pre-printed Per Capita offering envelope with the regular weekly offering envelopes that can be ordered from Hubbard Press.  Once the per capita is approved (usually at the November Presbytery meeting) Wrightsville calls Hubbard and lets them know the amount to be pre-printed on the envelope.  In 2004, the church collected 28% of their per capita through the separate per capita envelope.  They include a reminder and brief explanation of per capita in the bulletin during January.  This helps the congregation to better understand per capita.  Although the session realizes they will never collect 100% by using these envelopes, 28% is a big help to a small church.  Thanks to our Moderator, Elaine Lenyo for sharing this tip. If you have a good idea, I'd love to share it in this eNews letter.  Send it to me via: cgross@donegalpby.com  Thank-You Very Much! ON THE LIGHTER SIDE! Rev Dr Ed Brandt wears an Eagles' stole! (Ed was our previous Stated Clerk) [to see the picture - http://www.donegalpby.com/edbrandt.jpg ] Thanks to Rev Michael Wilson and The News Journal/JENNIFER CORBETT for this picture.  The Rev. Ed Brandt shows his support for the Eagles by wearing a stole with the team's emblem at Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church.
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