Mar 2, 2006 Issue #37 |
Top Stories Mission Info News Issues Upcoming meetings! One Good Idea |
March Presbytery Suspense Dates: |
Send Docket time requests and motions to netting@epix.net by Thur Mar 9th. Steering meeting at the Presby office on Mon Mar 13th at 4:00 pm. Council meets at First Strasburg on Mar 13th at 7:00 pm. |
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Personnel Resource Database! |
Need a contact in our presbytery with some special expertise? Go to our web site, www.donegalpby.com click on Resource Center and then Personnel and find some help! To add your own skills to the database, just use the password - dpres and you can add your own. |
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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 |
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TOP STORIES GROWING FAITH - GROWING CHURCHES |
Meet our Moderator, Rick Ufford-Chase at the Senior High Youth Event on Sat. March 18th at Old Pine Presbyterian Church in Phila. More details and registration at: http://www.presbynewbrunswick.org/event_detail.asp?eventid=51
The Rev. Michael Wilson's sermon, "Get Up!," is a podcast! If you download the free program iTunes for your computer, open it up and select Music Store, then select category, "podcasts" and then select Religion & Spirituality and Christianity, then scroll down the list of Names of podcasts until you come to the SECOND Presbytery of Donegal Sermon Podcast Program. You can then click on it and listen to it on your computer. Pretty cool, huh? Once you master this, I encourage you to listen to the Presbytery of Donegal Vitalization Training Podcast! It's an excellent Vitalization primer by the Rev. Marion Haynes-Weller!
Register today for the Elder/Deacon/Clerk training on March 12th at Highland Presbyterian Church 2-5pm. Send an email to: Kathy@donegalpby.com with names, church, address (inc. email) and phone. Also, indicate which group you will attend: Elder, Deacon, Clerk.
March Pre-Presbytery Workshop on Mission and Stewardship will be led by the Rev. Robert Bohl. This is on Tuesday March 21st at 1:00 pm at Wayside Presbyterian Church, Landisville, PA. Rev. Bohl retired in 2002 after a long and distinguished career as pastor and leader in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In the first years of his ministry he served here in Donegal Presbytery as pastor of Trinity Church in Berwyn. While serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, TX, he was elected moderator of the 206th General Assembly (1994). As workshop leader, Bob will be sharing his passion for the mission of the whole church and for active stewardship that helps to grow the church. Without question, this will be an outstanding and inspiring gathering. The workshop will begin at 1:00 pm at Wayside Church and is open to all who wish to attend. More info at: http://www.waysidepc.org/
Dear Fellow Purpose-Driven? Presbyterians: The 2006 Presbyterians Seeking Purpose-Driven? Ministry Conference is only 66 days away.. You can view a PDF file of that brochure online by visiting www.purposedrivenpresbyteriansnetwork.net and click on the Online Brochure link. Early Bird discount are still available until March 15th. Here are some highlights of the upcoming conference: Conference dates - April 26-28, 2006 Key Note Speaker and Teacher - Jorge Acevedo, Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, Cape Coral, Florida. Jorge was featured in the recent issue of Net Results magazine as a "turnaround leader". He has helped Grace church's once struggling congregation grow from 350 to 1800 in worship attendance by using Purpose-Driven? church strategies. Jorge will also lead "Starting a Celebrate Recovery Program" workshop on Friday. Conference Teacher - E. Stanley Ott, Pastor of Pleasant Hills Community Church, Pittsburg, PA. Stan is a PCUSA pastor, founder of Vital Church Institute, and the author of Twelve Dynamic Shifts For Transforming Your Church and Transform Your Church With Ministry Teams. Because Stan is such a recognized authority on how to be gentle and persuasive in the art of transitioning a congregation, he will lead the opening and closing sections of the Already-In-Transition Seminar.
Grow in your Christian walk! Get free education! Antiracism training is a worship-based process designed to assist individuals, governing bodies, agencies, institutions and congregations with their efforts to live in a racially, culturally diverse and peaceful community. National and regional teams are trained for antiracism ministry and provided with supporting resources. Our immediate goal is to train potential interracial/intercultural leaders for the Survivor 2006 camping experience, July 9 - 14. Our long-range goal is to provide the Presbytery with additional facilitators who can conduct training for our congregations and groups within the Presbytery. This can also be used for personal growth in anti-racism awareness. This outstanding training will be conducted at Lincoln University, May 19 ? 21 at the living learning center. Full scholarships are available for Donegal Presbytery members! Register by April 28th by sending your name, address, phone, and email to Susan Harner, P.O. Box 10054, Lancaster, PA 17605-0054. Also, if you are planning to stay over night, send the name of your preferred roommate.
Camp Donegal will hold its third intentionally interracial camp for young people (ages 12 - 14) on July 9 - 14! There are 28 openings and scholarship money available! Call the Presbytery office - 717.392.4035 for applications! This is an awesome opportunity! We are leading the nation in this type of experience! |
MISSION INFORMATION |
Make plans to be a part of the presbytery sponsored trip to Gulf Port, Ms to work on Hurricane Katrina relief work. The planned dates are June 18 - 24. It's a wonderful opportunity to make mission work come alive! By all accounts it's a very moving and life changing experience .... if tiring. So, mark you calendars now! The details of the trip will be unveiled at the March Presbytery Meeting. For more information email Rick Schmidt: frederick_schmidt@yahoo.com
Possible link for Donegal Presbytery with tsunami-affected people of Sri Lanka! Feel as if your church?s mission program is sending money to those in need without actually becoming invested in their lives? Wish there were a way to grow your mission ministry without draining your budget? Lynn Connette, the PCUSA?s Associate for Presbytery Support for Joining Hands Against Hunger, will be visiting on March 28th to introduce a groundbreaking program to interested congregations in Donegal Presbytery. There is a strong possibility that a network of churches here in Donegal could be linked directly with partners in Sri Lanka in a transforming ministry based on dialogue, exchange visits and advocacy rather than financial assistance. If your church is looking for ways to be more tangibly connected to the people rebuilding their lives after the 2004 tsunami, Joining Hands Against Hunger provides an opportunity for learning and healing through growing relationships. It?s about listening to what the people on the ground need rather than dictating from afar an agenda for people we haven?t even met. Please contact Alex Wimberly at 717-656-0979 if a representative from your church would like to attend the meeting with Lynn at Bellevue Church (Gap), March 28th at 7pm.
MARCH 12TH IS SELF DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE SUNDAY!!! CELEBRATE THE DAY. This month's Info-Pak includes a resource piece for SDOP Sunday. Also, resources are available from PDS---THEY ARE FREE! Bulletin: Celebrate Hope PDS#74350-05-007, Poster: Celebrate Hope PDS#74350-05-005, Summary Information -(English) PDS# 75350-05-008, Summary Information-(Spanish) PDS#75350-05-009, CELEBRATE HOPE------ REMEMBER THE DAY-- MARCH 12 SELF DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE from Bill Brown, Chair
Oxford Presbyterian Church: April 2--a covered dish supper and slide presentation by Sarah Carter and Denise Chandler: Most recent visitors to Mthata Presbytery. April 30--A joint event with Oxford Presbyterian Women and St. Christopher's Episcopal Women. CAFE SOIREE!! An evening of music and entertainment at Oxford Presbyterian. Tickets $10. Proceeds go to the Neighborhood Services Center. June 17-June 24--KATRINA RELIEF. A special excursion to Mobile Alabama Presbyterian Church. Relief efforts for all ages will be planned through the Presbytery of South Alabama. A joint venture of Oxford Presbyterian's Social Justice and Witness committees. The Mobile Church is pastored by our former Youth Pastor, Rev. Drew Smith. He and Jim Sumner are coordinating the trip. AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. Join us--call 610-932-9640. Thanks, Jim Sumner: Clerk of Session
Rev. Douglas Baker, Regional Liaison for Ireland and UK, will be in the U.S. for meetings on two different occasions this Spring and Summer and has a few days available on each occasion for Mission Interpretation Visits to congregations. The dates and areas where I could visit are as follows: Sunday, April 23 (Evening) and Monday, April 24 (morning) in eastern PA or NJ. Sunday, May 7 (evening) through Monday, May 10 (lunchtime) in NJ or Philadelphia area. Sunday, June 25 (evening) through Wednesday, June 28 (morning) in NJ or eastern PA. If you would be interested in arranging a visit, simply reply to him by email at doug.baker@dnet.co.uk and indicate what dates and times would be your first two preferences. |
NEWS ISSUES FROM PRESBYTERY! |
The Theological Discussion Groups are a wonderful initiative and greatly needed! They are being used as forums for relationship building, camaraderie, and fellowship. The groups are using the Peace, Unity, and Purity Task force process to care for one another, value one another, and grow in faith with one another. It is truly wonderful to be able to connect in new ways and build up one another in the Spirit of Christ. We are looking forward to how the Holy Spirit will work in these gatherings. There are two scheduled for Thursday, March 9th. See the calendar below.
RESOURCE CENTER WANT AD. Looking for some servants who would be interested in helping organize "no longer published" but still useful, church school curriculum by categories (ie. Old/New Testament persons, life and ministry of Jesus, etc) This project can be done at a person's convenience. When organized and filed this will become a valuable resource for educators in our churches. Please contact Betty Duncan, Resource Center Director for more information. You can reach Betty on Tuesdays at the Presbytery office 717.392.4035.
WOMEN OF THE BIBLE! Come to a dramatic presentation by Anita Gutschick at Great Valley Presbyterian Church on Sunday March 12th at 6:00 pm. Great Valley is on 2025 Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA 610.644.1995.
The Youth Ministry of Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster is looking for a part-time summer 2006 intern (appx. 20-25 hours / week) to help assist the Director of Youth Ministry. The intern will be working with both the Junior and Senior High, and will focus on the managing and running of the weekly youth program. They are looking for someone who is at least 21 years old and called to church work. The position would run from June-August of 2006. If you are interested in this position, please contact Allison Brown at Highland as soon as possible, 717-569-2651, allisonbrown@dejazzd.com. There is an application process for this position.
La Iglesia Hispana de Toughkenamon is inviting us to an International Dinner on March 25th. Call the Rev. Nering Huete at 610.350.7366 or email him at je777ing@aol.com by March 20th for your spot at this delightful event.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has launched an all-Spanish Web site, putting a compendium of Spanish resources just a few clicks away. The new site, www.pcusa.org/espanol , is presented entirely in Spanish, even down to the PC(USA) seal and navigation buttons. An English version is available at www.pcusa.org/spanish . The new resource allows church leaders and members to find and access nearly 200 items in Spanish available through The Presbyterian Marketplace and elsewhere on the PC(USA)'s Web site: www.pcusa.org .
Marcia Towers ? our co-worker from Highland ministering in Guatemala will be here April 17 ? 23. She can be reached at: marciajt@yahoo.com Contact her for speaking engagements! |
CALENDAR OF COMING MEETINGS! |
Use the webpage calendar at: http://www.donegalpby.com/cgi-bin/calendar.pl or:
Sunday, March 5th, 2:00 - 5:00pm - Leadership training - held at Central Downingtown for Deacons, Elders, Clerks of Session. See above for registering.
Monday, March 6th, Committee on Preparation meets at Highland Pres, 1pm - 4pm. The Committee on Ministry meets at 7pm at Leacock.
Tuesday, March 7th, Administration Dept meets at Presby office - 9am - 10:30am Vitalization Division meets at 1:30pm at the Presby office.
Wednesday, March 8th, Mission Beyond the Presbytery meets at the Presby office from 9am till 11am.
Thursday, March 9th, Property and Insurance meets at the Presby office at 9:30am. There will be a Theological Discussion from noon till 2pm at Central Downingtown www.cpc-dtown.org or 11 am till 1pm at Guinston. www.guinston.org
Sunday, March 12th, Leadership training - held at Highland Presbyterian Church for Deacons, Elders, Clerks of Session. See above for registration.
Monday, March 13th, SPIRE meets at 11:30 at Isaacs in Strasburg. Steering Committee - meets at 4pm at Presby office. Presbytery Council meets at 7pm at First Strasburg.
Tuesday, March 14th, New Church Development meets at 1:30pm at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, the Self Development of People meets at 7pm at the Presby office.
Friday, March 17th, Risk Management Seminar meets at 9am at Westminster West Chester. Call 610.399.3377 for more details. |
ONE GOOD IDEA |
The value of Spiritual Disciplines, according to Richard J. Foster, in Celebration of Discipline, is, "...they put us where he (God) can work within us and transform us. By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. They are God's means of grace." The good idea is to take on a spiritual discipline this season of Lent. [meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, celebration] May you go deeper this Lent through a spiritual discipline!
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! |
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