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Jan 31, 2008 Issue #88 |
Top Stories
Mission Info
News Issues
Christian Formation Info
Positions Available
Upcoming meetings!
One Good Idea |
Growing Faith Growing Churches |
Next scheduled presbytery meeting is March 25, 2008 at Donegal Presbyterian Church in Mt Joy at 9:30am. Note the change in time!
Send your docket requests to Bill Netting by Thursday, March 6th netting@epix.net
Learning opportunities scheduled are:
Using humor from the podium and pulpit
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 1/31/08 there were 131 skilled people in this database. What skills do you need? Please Register your expertise today! |
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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.presbyteryofdonegal.org |
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TOP STORIES GROWING FAITH - GROWING CHURCHES |
Our goal - imprint Jesus Christ on 500 campers at Camp Donegal in 2008! Watch the video, pray and join us!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERskVexV9E
$50 prize for best Camp Donegal promo video placed on youtube with the link sent to cwgross@gmail.com Hurry and get this done! Do we have creative youth or youth groups? Lights, Camera, Action!
The "holy conversations" are off to a fast start! Even right now, servants are gathering in dialogue about who we are as a presbytery. Thanks for your ministry and your time! For the schedule of conversations and locations, go to: http://www.presbyteryofdonegalintransition.org
Ask Charlie to put plea for volunteers to tile Calvin in eNews! Ok, here it is! Call the Camp at 717.862.3722 and schedule the tile work for Calvin cottage! A wonderful way to live out your ministry with your talents. Oh, We also need volunteers to build swing circles at Camp Donegal. This is the 50th year of changing lives for Christ at Camp Donegal! Join in this life changing ministry!
We are a praying presbytery! One mark of a great presbytery meeting is the amount of time spent in prayer. We are growing faith! Consider this idea for a Lenten devotional - To further unite us in ministry and mission, pray for one or two churches per Sunday for the rest of the year. You could use the link - http://www.donegalpby.com/prayerconcerns.php to follow along and the Anniversary Prayer Booklet for background. If you like the idea, pray for Penningtonville on Jan 20th and pray for Chanceford on Jan 27th. Place these in your bulletin.
Use an iPod? Use iTunes? Subscribe to the podcast "Charlie's Creativity Podcast" or go to iTunes, Advanced, Open Stream and enter: http://www.charliegross.com/charliecreativity.rss Currently, there are two podcasts about effective meeting strategies. Enjoy! Charlie
What is your Net Promoter Score? (from the book, The Ultimate Question) On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), how likely are you to recommend your small group, your worship service, your Sunday School class to a friend, a neighbor, or a colleague? If you are a 9 or a 10, you are considered a promoter! If you are a 6 or below, you are a detractor. An organization's net promoter score is the percentage of 9s, 10s, minus the percentage of 6s and below. Go to: http://www.netpromoter.com/netpromoter/index.php to learn more about this powerful tool. Oh, your second question is: What would need to occur to raise your rating to a 9 or 10?
HELP! STRASBURG IS LOOKING FOR BOOKS: We’re having an adult series, “Loving Across Our Differences,” using the book by that title written by Gerald Sittser. It’s an InterVarsity Press book, now out of print – and we’ve snatched up about every used copy via Amazon and other online contacts, but we still don’t have enough.. Even reached the author and he doesn’t have any lying around. If you have one in your personal or church library that you could loan to us for 8 weeks (we promise to keep it unmarked and return it after March 25) OR that you’d be willing to sell at a reasonable price, PLEASE contact Steve Clark IMMEDIATELY at 717-687-6030 OR stevec@straspres.org. We’ll pay any mailing costs involved. Thanks!
Looking for a local lectionary group? Starting on Feb 13th - at Lancaster Theological Seminary - noon till 1 or 1:30pm bring your own lunch - do a lectionary study for Feb 24th! Fellowship over lunch and dive into text after eating. Call the Rev. Laura Kelsey at: 717.393.2690 or cell 717.449.8221 - Laura will know which room we will be using. |
MISSION INFORMATION |
2008 is the Year of World Mission! At the March 25th Presbytery meeting at Donegal Presbyterian Church at 9:30am, hear and see great things that God is doing around His world! The Rev. David Hall will be giving a fact filled presentation of the power of God's Spirit! Come and See!
Darfur How should the church respond? 400,000 killed, 2,000,000 refugees, 3,500,000 on foreign aid. Breakfast, Speaker, Q&A at WEC USA Headquarters, 709 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Washington, PA - RSVP to David Hall 215.646.2322 x101 or weclink@wec-usa.org directions: http://wec-usa.org/directions
If you missed Dr. Michael Johnson's kick off to our Year of World Mission, click here to enjoy: http://www.donegalpby.com/DrJohnson1-15-08.WMA
Put this on your calendar to enhance the Year of World Mission! There are scholarships available! New Wilmington Mission Conference – July 19 – 26, 2008 in New Wilmington, PA http://www.NWMCmission.org 2008 theme is “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” Luke 4:18 phone: 724.946.7195 or office@NWMCmission.org
World Mission Initiative Conference info: http://www.worldmissioninitiative.org/conference.htm
WMI is pleased to announce details for the 2008 World Mission Initiative Conference! "A New Day in Mission" March 28-29, 2008 Keynote Speakers: Rev. Dr. William J. Carl, III, President of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Nard Pugyao, first generation Christian from the Isnag language group in the Philippines, employed by JAARS, a Wycliffe affiliate; Rev. Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission for the PC (U.S.A.); Rev. Dr. Ken Bailey, retired Presbyterian missionary, author and lecturer. Registration: $25.00 fee, plus meals and (if needed) overnight accommodations. $100.00 maximum registration fee per congregation for as many members as you want to send. To register, download the brochure at the above link
Contact: Don Dawson (ddawson@pts.edu) or Ellen Dawson (edawson@pts.edu) for more information. Scholarships are available from Mission Division of the Presbytery of Donegal - lbpc@littlebritainchurch.org
MISSION VISION AND BOOK OF REVELATION TRIP to TURKEY,
led by veteran missionary Rev. David Hall.
Monday, August 4th through Thursday, August 14th, 2008 (10 days).
Yes, there are Christians and Protestant churches in Turkey today Meeting pastors and believers and hearing what they have endured will be unforgettable experiences, as will visiting several sites of the seven churches of the book of Revelation and seeing such breath-taking sights in Istanbul as the Hagia Sophia.
$2,900. Limited to 8 participants
Since air fares spike as we get closer to summer, tickets must be purchased early. Please contact David Hall soon if you are even considering participating in this trip! David, who was ordained by our Presbytery and has over 15 years field experience, now directs Mobilization at WEC International USA.
Don’t procrastinate! Contact David while you’re thinking about this special opportunity! Rev. David Hall Cell phone: 215-692-2481 E-mail: weclink@wec-usa.org
Read the story of Lois R. Anderson, Missionary to Ethiopia and a member of Guinston Presbyterian Church: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_7996660 |
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!
PARISH RESOURCE CENTER seeks a new president! This is an exciting new opportunity for the right person! To see the qualifications, visit: http://www.parishresourcecenter.org or call the Rev Dr D. Douglas Whiting at: 717.299.2223.
The Board of Pensions offers an Holistic Retirement Planning Education Seminar on April 9 - 10 at the Media Presbyterian Church. You can register for this event by going to: http://www.pensions.org and click the Education Tab in the left column, select Financial and Retirement Planning Seminars, Click Register for a Seminar and then check out the calendar.
Paoli Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church of Berwyn are co-hosting a special speaker/dinner on Feb. 2, 5-8:30 p.m. at Paoli Presbyterian church. John Granger (www.hogwartsprofessor.com) will present a two-part seminar: a) (5-6:30 p.m.)- 'What makes a good book Great?' and he will be using examples from Lewis, Tolkein, & Rowlings. b) (7-8:30 p.m.)- "The 5 keys to Harry Potter for the serious reader."A lite dinner will be served from 6:30-7 p.m.; cost is $5. CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE TO PRE-REGISTER FOR DINNER; SEATING IS LIMITED! (610.644.8250)John Granger has written books which are now being used in academia from Princeton to Pepperdine; they are the only written source that discusses the classical and Christian underpinnigs of the Potter novels. John has been interviewed on CNN,MSNBC, & A&E.
The presbytery office received a letter from the National Ministries Division with signatures of Catherine Gordon – Representative for International Issues and Leslie Woods – Representative for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues – they are offering a resource to help with voting decisions at: http://www.pcusa.org/washington/ Look for the “Christian and Citizen Election Year Resource”
Need a substitute Organist? The Organist Guild of Lancaster has a web site that lists substitutes. Maybe it will help you - http://www.lancasterago.org
Available for free: Yamaha F45 electric organ with pedals and bench in good condition. Contact Paoli Presbyterian Church office 610-644-8251.
Women In Ministry Holding Retreat! Women ministering in Donegal have a neat opportunity to gather for a day's retreat on April 3 at Camp Donegal from 9-3:00. We will have the leadership of Marcia Woodruff and Jennie Clark. The day will be a good time to rejuvenate and re-create. Spread the word to our sisters in ministry and bring a car pool group. Call Kathy in the office to be on the list for lunch. 717.392.4035
Enjoy the teaching and humor of Dr. Lee Barrett? He is presenting a series on Wednesday nights of Lent in Wrightsville. Format is: 6pm meal, 6:30pm singing, 6:40pm Dr Barrett. Feb 13 - Wrightsville Presbyterian Church, Feb 20 - Grace United Methodist Church, Feb 27 - Fairmount United Methodist Church, March 5 - Wrightsville Assemblies of God, March 12 - Locust Street United Methodist Church.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days - 2008: Claiming a Vision of True Security - March 7 - 10 in Washington D.C. http://www.advocacydays.org
SAVE THE DATE: What: Sabeel Conference "In Search of a Homeland: The Quest for Place and Peace in the Middle East." When: April 25-26, 2008 Where: Villanova University Cost:Registration fees, which include a Friday evening dinner and Sat. box lunch are $125 ($135 after April 11) and $50 for students. One-day registration is $75. Keynote: Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, former Palestinian spokesperson and Minister of High Education. Other speakers include: Jeff Halper, Rev. Naim Ateek, Dr. Marc Ellis, Dr. Yvonne Haddad Saturday Panel: "Is the Two-State Solution Still Possible?" moderated by Rt. Rev. Allen Bartlett, retired Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania and convener of the Ecumenical Working Group for MIddle East Peace More information: David Yeaworth 610-525-2776 or D.Yeaworth@worldnet.att.net
“It’s Not Just a Copier Anymore!” The Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Association of Business Administration invites all to attend this program addressing the uses of technologically advanced copiers for document management in churches. It’s amazing how much a copier can do for church life now! Come and hear Gary Fredericksen discuss these advances at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale on Thursday, Feb 7th from 10am-2pm. RSVP to Dory Speer, dspeer@firstpreswc.com or 610-696-0554.
Ed White, Senior Consultant for the Alban Institute and editor of Laynet, is the leader for Montreat's Spring Evelyn Green Retreat, April 11-13, 2008. The program “Reconnecting with the Kingdom: New Life for Presbyterian Congregations” is a time to learn about congregations that are finding new life by engaging their tradition and affirming their identity in fresh ways. Ed says, “This event is designed for teams of pastors and lay leaders (ideally a pastor and Session or delegation from the Session).For creative change to occur, there needs to be a leadership team sharing the vision and committed as a group to leading change.” Please visit http://www.montreat.org/current/2008-spring-evelyn-green-retreat for event details and to register.
LOUISVILLE - A new Internet Web site aimed at getting Presbyterians 50 and over on the road to healthy aging has been launched by the National Health Ministries (NHM) office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Living Longer, Feeling Better (http://www.pcusa.org/healthyliving/) features health and wellness resources to assist older adults in achieving and maintaining good health. It also examines vital roles congregations can play in helping aging members stay fit by keeping them involved in the church and its activities.
S.P.I.R.E. MEETING (Spouses and Survivors are cordially invited)
Date: February 11, 2008, Place: Moravian Manor Café, Lititz, PA, Time: ** 11:00 a.m. (Note the time!) Program: the Rev. David Powers and the Rev. Dr. Mark Atkinson, members of DONEGAL'S TRANSITION TEAM will meet with us to discuss the Future Mission and Ministry of our Presbytery. This Committee is asking for our/your thoughts. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME WHEN WE ARE TO MEET. LUNCH WILL FOLLOW OUR DISCUSSION. Bill Brown, Sec.
BRIEF DIRECTIONS TO MORAVIAN MANOR From Lancaster, go North on Rt. 501 to Lemon Street in Lititz. Turn left and go 2 blocks to the Manor. Park wherever you can. The 2 hour restrictions are for students at the High School. There will be someone at the Main entrance to direct you to the Café.
The PCUSA has a wonderful Employee Assistance Program for their pastors. It is called Cigna Behavioral Health and can be found at www.cignabehavioral.com If you are a pastor, you are entitled to some outstanding counseling to help with tough issues, decisions, and conversations. Even if you just want to talk confidentially to someone! Our Employer ID is ‘PCUSA.’ The phone number to call is 866.640.2772, then selection 2 for a counselor or advocate. Our desire is that we have a very healthy, happy new year. Blessings! Charlie Gross
WHO am I responsible to in my daily buying and spending? WHO might I help or hurt as a result of my daily choices in life style? WHAT IMPACT can I make through my daily decisions informed by the Christian Gospel? Explore these questions and MORE at the 2008 WHO??? CONFERENCE at Stony Point Center. How alternative R U?: Christian Lifestyle choices and their implications in the Global World" DATE: Friday, February 22-Sunday, February 24 LOCATION: Stony Point Center Come join this Ecumenical Gathering of College Students and Chaplains from the Northeast and Beyond. The Keynote Speaker Rev. David M. Schilling is program staff for Contract Supplier Working Group of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility(ICCR). For twelve years, David has worked with ICCR members and associates on a range of global corporate accountability issues including human rights and labor rights in the contract supplier system. David, a United Methodist Minister, has participated in delegations to China, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam; visiting factories and meeting with workers and non-governmental organizations. For more information and to register for this event, please call (800) 253-4285 or visit our website at http://www.stonypointcenter.org/
The 2008th General Assembly (June 21-28, 2009) is less than six months away. If you haven’t already start praying now! I encourage every pastor or session to organize a prayer group or galvanize the groups you already have in your church to pray for our denomination. Sadly, I have found that it is far, far more common for people to complain about what they don’t like in the PC(USA) than to pray for it. This should not be so.
I plead with you to organize the people in your congregation who care about the larger church to begin now to bathe the 2008th General Assembly in prayer
Get your own Self Development Of People screensaver! SDOP Sunday is March 2nd! Visit the SDOP website to download from the homepage your very own SDOP screensaver. The screensaver has pictures of funded projects from around the world. Please visit the Dominican Republic Network page at http://www.pcusa.org/sdop/dominican.htm New email address: clara.nunez@pcusa.org or go to: http://www.pcusa.org/sdop/
Stewardship Promotion! The Rev. Fred Milligan now has a website where you and your congregations can go to download FREE resources for developing more effective stewardship in their congregations and learn about his services. It is www.thegeneroussteward.com. Fred will be conducting a workshop at the up-coming National Stewardship Conference and hopes to see you there. More info on that conference and on-lne registration is available at www.synodsun.com/stewardship. To connect with Fred, call him at 570-575-5611. Grace and Peace, Fred Milligan, The Generous Steward Consulting, ph: (570)575-5611, e-mail: fred@thegeneroussteward.com, website: http://www.thegeneroussteward.com
WOMEN - SAVE THE DATE - May 16 - May 18 at Stony Point! A workshop on Horizon's Bible Study for 2008 - 2009 Jubilee! Luke's Gospel for the Poor - led by Rev Dr Dale Lindsay Morgan - click here for information and to register: http://www.stonypointcenter.org/article.php?story=20071109153325565
CHRISTIAN FORMATION INFORMATION |
Register for this course today! This could be the best continuing education for you this year! Rather than seeing post-modernism as a threat, many Christians are seeing the emphasis on relationship, experience, pluralism, and change, characteristic of post-modernism, as an opportunity to share the good news in creative and life-transforming ways. Christianity's faith is mission-oriented and the whole world, as well as the immediate neighborhood, is our mission. In this spirit, we invite you to participate in a four week seminar on Emerging and Missional Christianity, led by Presbyterian pastor Tony Sundermeier, and UCC pastor and LTS professor and director of continuing education, Bruce Epperly. Over four weeks in April (4, 11, 18, 25) from 9am till noon, we will reflect on the following themes: forming the vision, preaching the vision, equipping the vision, and living the vision. The cost of this program is $150, with some scholarship assistance available. For registration information, please contact Rikki Jones at 717-290-8758 or rjones@lancasterseminary.edu. For questions, please contact Bruce Epperly at 717-290-8759 or bepperly@lancasterseminary.edu. To learn more about LTS programs in continuing education, please consult our web site (www.lancasterseminary.edu) under "continuing education."
Lancaster Theological Seminary - LTS' New Pastors' "Wholeness in Ministry" Program is sponsoring a seminar on "Sabbath and the Religious Imagination," Friday, February 22, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Led by Rev. Hilary Barrett and Rev. Dan Moser, this seminar will explore various aspects of Sabbath-keeping, with a particular emphasis on literature as a source of nurture for the creative spirit of pastors and their congregations. Lunch will be provided. In addition to members of the LTS New Pastors' program, members of the seminary community are also invited. There is no charge for this event. Please register by February 8 with Rikki Jones at rjones@lancasterseminary.edu. Blessings from the the Office of Continuing Education,
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POSITIONS AVAILABLE |
Cedar Grove is searching for an Interim Pastor! To begin a conversation about this, call Wendy Gross at 717.314.1034 or email: WendyJWT@aol.com
New Position at Westminster! Facilities Manager. We would like the congregation’s assistance in identifying candidates for a new full time position at Westminster. The individual will be responsible for: supervision of custodial staff; maintenance of the church buildings, grounds and equipment; oversight of HVAC systems. The candidate should have knowledge of building systems and a capability to handle basic electrical, lighting and plumbing repairs. If you know someone who is qualified and may be interested, email Tom Snyder at tsnyder@westminsterpc.org
Worship Leader Needed at Unionville! Part of our purpose as a church is to provide authentic, God-honoring opportunities for worship that are expressive, faithful, and attentive to our local context. At the present time Unionville Presbyterian Church has two traditional services on Sunday mornings and we are looking to permanently add a new worship experience on Sunday evenings. Our task force has been visiting other contemporary worship services in our area and praying for God’s guidance. Worship teams from other churches have come and led Sunday evening worship for us so that we can see and feel what it is like to worship “at home.” It is our prayer that we will be able to lead this worship with our own team once a month with the expectation that the service will evolve to every Sunday evening in God’s time. Leadership is key. We are praying for a volunteer who would help UPC birth this new worship experience with the hope that it will evolve into a paid staff position once we are ready to worship on a weekly basis. This is a wonderful opportunity to make your own mark while formulating and creating this new worship experience in conjunction with Pastor Jen Howat and the task force. If you feel that you are gifted in this area and that God is calling you in our direction please contact Pastor Jen at 610-347-2327 or email her at pastorjen@comcast.net. Thank you!
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 secretaryfpc@comcast.net or mail to: The First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville, 145 Main Street Phoenixville , PA 19460 RE: Praise Team Leader. |
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CALENDAR OF COMING MEETINGS! |
Use the webpage calendar at: http://www.donegalpby.com/cgi-bin/calendar.pl or:
Monday, February 4 – Committee on Preparation for Ministry, 1-4pm at Highland Church
Tuesday, Feb 5 – Outreach Department, 7:15pm at presbytery office
Thursday, Feb 7 – back-up date for Abortion Study Task Force, 7-9pm at Bellevue Church
Saturday, Feb 9 - 9:30 - noon PW Moderators gather at Covenant Presbyterian Church
Monday, Feb 11 - SPIRE meets with Transition Team at 11am at Moravian Manor; Both meetings at Highland Church: 3-5pm with OAR and COR, Committees of presbytery; 7-9 pm with Council
Tuesday, Feb 12 - Christian Formation Division, 9am at presbytery office; Staff Meeting, 1:30pm at presbytery office; 2:00pm New Church Development meets at Bellevue Presbyterian in Gap, Transition Team at Fairview Church; 4-6pm with Area 1 churches and 7-9pm with disaffiliating churches
Wednesday, Feb 13 - Transition Team at Wrightsville Church 4-6pm with Area 4 churches, 7-9pm with mission groups
Monday, Feb 18 - Presidents Day Holiday - office is closed.
Thursday, Feb 21-22 - Synod meets in Canonsburg, PA
Monday, Feb. 25 – Transition Team at Leacock Church, 10am-noon with Area 2 churches, 1-3pm with CPM, 3:30-5:30pm with COM leadership, and 7-9pm with youth.
Tuesday, Feb 26 - Transition Team meets from 1:30pm - 3:30pm at the presbytery office |
ONE GOOD IDEA |
The Center for Congregations (Indianapolis, IN) has a new resource available - Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with Mission and Message. This a practical guide to help congregations with the challenges of renovation, remodeling, expansion or building. Go to www.centerforcongregations.org to order this resource. Or, try this - go to http://www.pcusa.org/smallchurch/grants.htm for a look at Small Church Grants and Scholarships! It never hurts to ask!
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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