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August 16, 2007 Issue #76 |
Top Stories
Mission Info
News Issues
Christian Formation Info
Positions Available
Upcoming meetings!
One Good Idea |
Growing Faith Growing Churches |
Upcoming Presbytery meetings:
September 18th at Stewartstown Presbyterian Church at 3pm, BUT DO NOT MISS the Pre-Presbytery event on Small Groups at 1pm! This could be the learning that you need to effectively launch small groups!
Presbytery meetings:
Do you need a baby sitter for presbytery meetings? Call the church directly and they will arrange for it!
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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.
As of 8/16/07 there were 130 skilled people in this database. What skills do you need? |
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CONTACT |
Presbytery of Donegal
P.O. Box 10054
1861 Charter Lane ste 125
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
Important Note: If you want to have a confidential conversation regarding a possible sexual misconduct incident, call our Stated Clerk, Rev. Dr. William Netting, 717.548.3719, as indicated in our Presbytery Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Go see what's new at our constantly changing webpage!
http://www.donegalpby.com |
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TOP STORIES GROWING FAITH - GROWING CHURCHES |
Preaching Workshop! November 8th. The Rev Dr Sally Brown of Princeton Theological Seminary will hold a preaching workshop called, “Preaching in Advent: Facing Judgment, Embracing Hope”? We will look at the texts for Advent, Year A. Sally A. Brown, Elizabeth M. Engle Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Princeton Theological Seminary. This will be held at Bellevue Presbyterian Church on Thursday, Nov 8th from 9am till noon. Register with Kathy at 717.392.4035 or kathy@donegalpby.com
Small Groups Workshop – Pre-Presbytery Event at 1pm on Tuesday, Sept 18th Everything that happens at NLPC happens through two connections: Worship and Small Groups. Therefore we have put all of our eggs into those two baskets! What about missions, service, giving, leadership development, discipleship, Christian ed., youth, older adult ministry, evangelism, stewardship, facility care, and all the rest? The path to all of it runs through worship and groups. As a result they are currently receiving our best and most intentional efforts. If you would like to learn more, please join us for the pre-presbytery workshop at 1:00 on September 18. Presenters: Jeff Lampl and Small Group "pastors"/coordinators, Amy Haehle and Lenny Gawlikowski
Life Changing - Continuing Education offered in October! "Being the Church: Moves for Missional Reformation" led by the Rev. Tony Sundermeier. This will be a partner event with Lancaster Theological Seminary. Friday mornings, Oct 5th - 26th from 9:00am till noon at the Lancaster Theological Seminary Lark 202. The cost is $150 with some scholarships available. Receive 1.5 CE units. To register call Dr Bruce Epperly at 717.290.8759 or bepperly@lancasterseminary.edu This will revolutionize your approach to "being the church!"
Dates are set for the mandatory Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training!Please mark these dates on your calendar and spread them around. These are the dates for the mandatory “every three years” sexual misconduct prevention training sponsored by the Committee on Ministry and Human Resources. Thursday, Oct 25th from 9:30am to 12:30pm with lunch provided at First Strasburg Pres. It will be taught by the Rev Bob Barcus. Thursday, April 10th from 9:30am to 12:30pm with lunch provided at Bellevue Presbyterian. Also taught by the Rev Bob Barcus. The list of those who have not had this recurring training will be circulated at COM and all (who have not had the training in the last 3 years) will be expected to attend one of these. Thanks very much!
The Presbytery 2008 Budget draft. A dedicated group has been working on our 2008 budget. Our efforts have been filtered through the lens of Growing Faith and Growing Churches with the priority areas of Building Healthy, Vibrant Congregations, Leadership Development, Evangelism and New Church Development, and Outreach to the World. At this point our Per Capita budget for 2007 was $365,600 and is proposed for 2008 at $385,600 for a total per capita rate of: $25.35. This increase is due to the General Assembly this coming year, the shift of the Associate Execs pay from Mission to Per Capita and a proposed 4% pay increase. The Mission budget for 2007 is $361,000 and we are proposing $371,000. The increase is primarily in our Vitalization efforts as well as support for Camp Donegal.
Have you seen Bill (our Stated Clerk) on our first video podcast? The direct link to iTunes is the following:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=258340915
Try this out! It's really easy to call and express yourself and your ideas for raising the bar in ministry! You can call in from the beach or from the mountains and publish an entry to our blog via phone! Don't be shy! It's fun, easy and educational!
Just call 214.615.6431
Enter pin – 168-049-813 and #
Then select 1 to record and publish
Then select account 1000 and #
Then just follow the instructions to record your message and hit # to end. It’s that easy. In a day or so, I will make sure that it is published on the following blog area for all to hear! Give it a try! If you want to listen to my first attempt at this, go to the following location and listen! http://www.donegalpresbytery.blogspot.com/
Our Transitional Consultant, the Rev Dr John Sharick will be meeting with the Transition Team on Sept 12th to start building relationships and planning their work. Please pray for this team and their work to discern God's purpose and ministry of this presbytery. Thank-you! |
MISSION INFORMATION |
Church World Service is looking for some hosting assistance. For more info visit the following link: http://www.cswusa.com/countries/burma.htm We are looking for churches to sponsor a family or individual (we've received 16 Burmese Karen so far, about seven have been single guys). We ask for a commitment of 3-6 months and sponsorship responsbilities include everything from picking the family up at Harrisburg airport to supplying food and shelter, registering children in school, parents in English classes, etc. until the family is self-sufficient, ideally within the 3-6 month period. If there is more information you need for the electronic newsletter, please let me know. We have several churches now sponsoring the Burmese (no Presbyterian yet) that you could talk to. Contact info here at our office would be Mindy Nolt, 717/381-2891 or myself. Thanks again, Sheila McGeehan
Do you promote fairly traded coffee and other economy enhancing products? Click here: http://equalexchange.stores.yahoo.net/
Let's Make 2008 A Banner Year for Serving Jesus Christ! Stay Tuned for Details!
To supercharge your zeal for serving Christ, give David Hall a call and set up a seminar on what God is doing around the world! It will be an outstanding event for your church! Call 215-692-2481 or weclink@wec-usa.org
Our missionary friends Ted and Sue Wright, now laboring in Zambia as Regional Coordinators for Southern Africa . Sue Wright will be visiting Donegal Presbytery October 12-19. Ted and Sue Wright are currently Regional Coordinators for Southern Africa and are from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, where Ted was Pastor of the Langhorne Presbyterian Church . Formerly from the Presbytery of Albany, the Wrights were close neighbors and friends to Larry and Barb Moir. Sue will be available to meet and greet the Presbytery through local churches or clusters of churches. She is available for preaching, has a power point presentation, and would very much enjoy meeting with church groups throughout her stay. For more information, or to reserve a time for Sue's presentation for your congregation, please contact Larry Moir at 717-354-5311. E-mail LarryandBarbMoir@comcast.net
Our denomination is having a BIG mission conference in Louisville from Oct 2nd - 6th titled "World Mission '07." There will be many dynamic speakers & workshops and it will be a chance for the many PC(USA) Mission Networks to meet. I'm the convener for our South African Mission Network that will be meeting at this time.
To find out all the information on the conference just click: http://www.pcusa.org/missioncelebration/ To cut to the chase, i.e. the registration page click: http://www.pcusa.org/missioncelebration/register-now.htm
The registration fees are as follows:
$175 – Registration fee after Monday, June 18th
$25 – Student registration (seminary, college & high school)
$75 – For attendees of the network gatherings only (Oct 4th - 6th)
I hope you find this conference of interest and make plans to attend. Rick Schmidt
Could you help one of our pastors serve Christ in Honduras? A Donegal Pastor and his wife desire to participate in an Inter-Presbytery Medical Mission to Honduras in January 2008. They are seeking a Frequent Flier Mile donation of 50,000 for airfare. Are you one of the lucky individuals sitting on heaps of accrued miles who might donate them for service to Christ's mission? If so, please contact Rev. Richard Graugh (610)593-2957. Thanks for being a partner in this effort! |
NEWS ISSUES FROM PRESBYTERY! |
http://donegalpresbytery.blogspot.com/ - Tell us what God is doing in your life! Record your own stories of the power of the Almighty! We are richly blessed!
Garage Sale at Nottingham Presbyterian Church
The public is invited to a garage sale at the Nottingham Presbyterian Church on Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 8, from 8:00 a.m. to ?. Come out and join us to see what treasures you can find — rain or shine. The church is located in Nottingham on Rt. 272 and Old Baltimore Pike (across from Herr Foods, Inc.). For more information, call the church office at (610) 932-0556.
275th Anniversary Celebration of the Presbytery of Donegal Oct 14, 2007 at Hempfield Performing Arts Center! Alert your choir director/choir about the combined choir, Oct. 14 Consider opening your church for “visitation Sundays” with some type of historical display or presentation. Get information from Bill or Nancy Brown at wjb453@verizon.net
Elder Sally Bovais from Trinity Church in Berwyn is attending the Elders Conference in Nashville Aug. 29-31 and is wondering if others from Donegal will be attending. She will not be staying for the Evangelism Conference that immediately follows. If you or someone you know is going, please contact the Presbytery Office and we will coordinate travel. Kathy@donegalpby.com or 717-392-4035. Thanks.
Reminder - If you signed up for the Do Not Call List in Pennsylvania five years ago when it first began, your request is expiring. After 5 years, you have to sign up for the list again. Call 1-888-777-3406 if you want to be on the Do Not Call List in PA.
Columbia Presbyterian Church, 360 Locust St. , Columbia , is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial on September 22, 2007, from 10 am until 5 pm at the church. Our theme for the occasion is: Celebrating 200 Years of Ministry: 1807-2007. Watch the video! http://www.columbiapresb.org/11.html The church will have an open house, a display of the contents of the cornerstone (last removed in 1957 for the church's 150th anniversary), historical artifacts and displays on hand. The bicentennial celebration will also feature an outreach to the community. There will be a picnic in the church grounds with live music by the church's own Found Grace Worship Band, face painting, free hot dogs and other summertime goodies! For more information, contact the Rev. David C. Powers at the church- (717) 684-6271.
Wellspan Health, the operators of York Hospital, have five open CPE positions running from Oct 8-Mar 31. These are 10 hour per week positions including a 4 hour seminar each Monday 8-12, and 6 hours as the participant is able to fit them in. They are accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. to offer Level I, II, and Supervisory CPE. Their program has been offered at York since 1972. Those interested should contact Rev. Dr. Ted L. Trout-Landen, the Director at ttrout-landen@wellspan.org or at 717-851-2305. Inquirers or Candidates interested?
Please join English Presbyterian as we open our hearts and our doors in this new outreach ministry to the community of Marietta and beyond. We invite everyone to join us for songs, arts and laughter upon the occasion of our opening on October 5th from 6:30 until 9pm. Please pray for this new mission outreach and pray for the Church and community of Marietta as well as English Presbyterian - Peace, Kathy Taylor and the folks of English Presbyterian Church.
Peter Steinke is coming for a workshop on family systems in churches, which I hope most of us can attend. If there are 6 or more, it drops to $30 each. Saturday, Sept. 15, 9:00 am - 3:00 p.m @ St. Paul Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, PA More info from [Pastor] danbiles@pa.net or 717-968-7741. The basic registration is $45 for one person, $35 for three or more, $30 for six or more. Includes presentations, lunch, and refreshments - need to indicate lunch choice: Turkey, Ham & Cheese, Tuna Salad. Hope many of us can attend. Please let me know ASAP. Pam Fischer - 717-682-0222
The Rev Larry Moir is available for Supply Preaching – 717.354.5311
Please mark your calendars Rick Ufford-Chase will be leading a workshop on Immigration on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church , 727 Harvard Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081 from 1:30 to 4:30. He will be preaching at the morning worship service the next day. Everyone is invited to participate in this workshop. Additional details will be available soon at the Presbytery Of Philadelphia website – www.presbyphl.org. Keep checking. Jeanne Radak Phil Associate
Little Britain has replaced their choir robes and I'm wondering if there are any churches in the Hurricane Katrina area that may be in need of our used robes. They are still in good shape and we would have them dry-cleaned before sending them anywhere. Do you know of any way I could check if there is such a need? Peggy Gordon peggy_gordon@solanco.k12.pa.us
THIRD ANNUAL ENERGY COST REDUCTION WORKSHOP SATURDAY, October 6, 2007, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. SUNDAY, October 7, 2007, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, 221 North Front Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania PRACTICAL ADVICE, REAL SOLUTIONS, Fall is budget time. What will your congregation have to forego because of your heating/energy bills? Sign up for professional and practical advice by a consultant to many churches. Andrew Rudin, experienced energy management consultant, will present specific, concrete approaches to reduce energy bills for your congregation’s buildings. Mr. Rudin has conducted numerous energy reduction studies for thousands of buildings owned by congregations, and helped them protect their limited budgets. Like last year’s successful workshop, this workshop will give you real life solutions that can help you at your house of worship. This is an ecumenical workshop open to all faiths. It will include a discussion of the religious and moral basis for reducing energy use. RSVP by Sept. 30 by sending a note to Anne Yellott c/o the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania (ajyellott@paonline.com), P.O Box 11937, Harrisburg PA 17108. Please include a check to the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania for $20 to cover lunch and expenses. Directions as well as instructions on free parking will be provided in response to the RSVP. An optional tour of St. Stephen’s energy efficient green school building will follow the workshop.
Feeling the need to get away and be supported? Consider the National Pastoral Care Network Conference Oct 8 - 11 at Louisville Theological Seminary. The theme is, "From Surviving to Thriving: Four Key Practices for Clergy Wellness" For info Julie Johnson 806.438.0886 or http://www.pastoralcarenetwork.org
CHRISTIAN FORMATION INFORMATION |
"If we had a retreat center at Camp Donegal, would you use it?" The Camp Donegal long ranger planners would love to know. Send your emails to: cwgross@gmail.com or kathy@donegalpby.com
SAVE THIS DATE!! —Wednesday, September 26th. That’s the day of the presbytery’s annual educators’ event at Camp Donegal , 9am-3pm. Our theme is “Fashion Me A People,” based on a book by the same name written by Maria Harris. We’re excited to have Byron Borger, proprietor of Hearts and Minds in Dallastown as our keynote speaker. If you didn’t get a book at the June presbytery meeting, they will be available in the presbytery Resource Center or from Hearts and Minds Bookstore 717-246-3333. The cost is $20, cash or checks made out to Hearts and Minds (no plastic, please). Full details of our event are in a flyer attached to the June newsletter. Go to this link http://www.donegalpby.com/documentdownload.php and scroll down to June Resource Center Newsletter. Betty Duncan Copies of the book are also available here: http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Me-People-Curriculum-Church/dp/0664240526 Editor's note: I read the book and whole heartedly recommend it!
John Bell of Iona is coming to Lancaster on October 22-23! Best known as one of the leaders of the Wild Goose Worship Group of Iona, Scotland, John Bell joins traditional lyrics and passages from scripture with music influenced by the Celtic Christian tradition. He will be on the Lancaster Theological Seminary campus in the Santee Chapel on Monday, October 22, 2007 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. On Monday, October 22 from 3 p.m.-5:00 p.m, Bell will be leading an interactive workshop for clergy and church musicians at Lancaster Theological Seminary’s Santee Chapel, entitled “Worshipping the Incarnate Jesus.” On Monday and Tuesday evenings of that week at 7:00 p.m., Bell will be giving the Carson Lectures at Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster on the theme of “God in the Ordinary.” Editor's note: Doug Baker knows John Bell and sent in a wonderful recommendation to attend this!
We also want to invite you to Seminary’s Fall Convocation, September 20 at 11:00 a.m., featuring Emilie Townes of Yale University, and the Ward Lecture and Workshop, October 18, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., featuring Mary Elizabeth Moore, of Candler School of Theology. For more information, please contact Dr. Bruce Epperly, Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Practical Theology, at bepperly@lancasterseminary.edu or 717-290-8759.
What's going on in the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers? Come hear Tony Compolo and Bob McCarty address this on Oct 15th from 10am till 2:30pm at: Cardinal Keeler Center, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 717.657.4804 or register at: http://www.pachurches.org Register before October 5th. |
POSITIONS AVAILABLE |
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Awesome children’s ministry position of 27 hours per week to lead our active and dynamic children’s programs from birth through grade five. Seeking a person who loves the Lord, who has experience in children’s ministry and has excellent relational skills. A great group of children and a dedicated team of volunteer leaders await. We are a 2,200 member PC(USA) church in West Chester, PA (west of Philadelphia), since 1832, with four growing Sunday worship opportunities (3 traditional, 1 contemporary) and people of all ages ministering with their gifts. Send a cover letter and resume to The Rev. Robert M. Barcus, First Presbyterian Church, 130 W. Miner Street, West Chester, PA 19382 or email them to bbarcus@firstpreswc.com. You will receive in return a copy of the position description.
The First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville is seeking a Worship & Praise Team Leader to lead the music and direct our Praise Team during our contemporary Rise & Shine service. This is a salaried, part-time position (approximately 10 hours per week). This is your opportunity to contribute to a loving, growing and thriving church. Interested musicians should forward their resume to anne.park@verizon.net or mail to: The First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville, 145 Main Street Phoenixville , PA 19460 RE: Praise Team Leader.
Presbytery of Genesee Valley is looking for a Co-Presbyter for Pastoral Vitality. Go to: http://www.pbygenval.org and click on the link for Co-Presbyter Search. Deadline for receiving applications is Sept 17, 2007. |
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CALENDAR OF COMING MEETINGS! |
Use the webpage calendar at: http://www.donegalpby.com/cgi-bin/calendar.pl or:
Monday, August 27 - Committee on Ministry meets at Leacock at 7pm
Tuesday, August 28 - Administration Department meets at the presbytery office from 9am till 11am
Wednesday, August 29 - Nominating Committee meets at the presbytery office at 9:30am; Vitalization Division meets at the presbytery office at 1:30pm
Thursday, August 30 - Coffee chat with Charlie for Chester County pastors at Westminster Pres from 8:30 - 10:00. Register with Kathy.
Wednesday, Sept 5 - Mission Beyond the Presbytery meets at 9am at the presbytery office
Thursday, Sept 6 - Property and Insurance meets 9:30 - 11:00 at the presbytery office; Coffee Chat with Charlie for Lancaster County pastors at Highland from 8:30 - 10
Sunday, Sept 9 - Building dedication at Donegal Presbyterian Church at 11am and Open House from 2pm - 4pm
Monday, Sept 10 - Committee on Preparation meets at Highland at 1pm - 4pm; Steering Committee meets at 4pm at the presbytery office; Council meets at 7pm at First Presbyterian Church in Strasburg. |
ONE GOOD IDEA |
Connect People in ministry! If you are using Verizon as your wireless carrier, you can conference with 2 others by calling a second person while you are connected to another and then simply pressing SEND again. It ties all 3 of you together. If you need to get a group together, just tell them to call: 218.862.6100 and then give them an access code of 6-8 digits (use your phone number) and voila! You are all hooked together in a self made conference call. It's free!
Extravagant Blessings! Charlie
If you have a good idea, I'd love to share it in this eNews letter. Send it to me via: cwgross@gmail.com Thank-You Very Much! |
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