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| 867th Gathering May 7, Covenant PC, Hagerstown Spring Gathering of Retired Clergy and Clergy Spouses Woods Mem'l PC Choral Concert Light Street PC Hosting A Spring Tea Brown Mem'l Pk. Ave, Tiffany Concert Series: Organ Recital by James David Christie Night of Elegance Formal Dance at Cherry Hill Comm. PC Light Street Hosting Community Yard Sale John Lamkin Jazz Concert at Grace PC Religious Tour of Switzerland and France Big Tent! Donations for The Center Board of Pensions: National Walk@Lunch Day ICJS' Mannekin-Clark Lecture: Eboo Patel Nepal Earthquake |
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Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office unless noted otherwise.)
Committee on Ministry meets 3pm Tuesday, Apr. 28
Reconciliation Commission meets 6:30pm Wednesday
Thriving Congregations will meet 6:30pm Thursday, May 5
Spiritual Leader Development will meet 6:30pm Thursday, May 5
Transition Team will meet 2pm Tuesday. May 14
Steering Cabinet will meet Wednesday, May 21
West Side Story MG
will host a communication workshop entitled "Ancient Principles, Modern Practices," led by communication specialist Sue Washburn, from 9:30am to 4pm on Saturday, May 2 at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia.
Bay Area Disciples MG will host a dinner meeting from 6-9pm on Tuesday, May 19 at Harundale PC.
Susquehanna Parish will meet 7-9pm on Thursday, May 21 at Grove PC.
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Please pray for
TE Deborah McEachran's husband,
Dan, as he recovers from heart surgery at University of Maryland Hospital. Deborah McEachran serves as pastor of
Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church.
Please continue to pray for
CRE Ed Terry, pastor of
Mt. Paran Presbyterian Church in Randallstown, who is recuperating from surgery.
Please pray for our
Transitional General Presbyter, Craig Palmer, and his family as they learn to adjust to the recent changes and challenges in their lives.
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G
race PC Awarded Grants for Summer Camp
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Grace Presbyterian Church was awarded $2,500 grant from the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic as well as a $500 grant from the Presbytery of Baltimore to support its summer youth camp. "The Lord is blessing us with a vision, resources, and energy to be a blessing," said TE Tanya Wade, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church. "This was such an unexpected and wonderful blessing to be supported by our Presbytery for a work that we are so passionate about -- helping to educationally enrich children while providing support for families." To learn more about the church's program, click Grace.
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Knox Presbyterian Church received $2,000 to support its summer youth camp as a result of MusicFest Concert. The event was sponsored by In The Loop Ministry Group.
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5 Peacemaking Affirmations to be Considered At our Presbytery Gathering on Thursday, May 7, presbyters will be voting on five affirmations to help the PC(USA) discern new directions in its peacemaking ministry. This peace discernment process was initiated "in 2010, on the 30th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling and the formation of the Peacemaking Program, [when] the 219th General Assembly (2010) authorized the creation of a six-year discernment process to take a new and fresh look at peacemaking in the church's life. The assembly's action combined [7 presbytery] overtures seeking to review and strengthen the church's policy thinking and program after almost a decade of war, and to examine particularly the nonviolent understanding of Jesus' call to discipleship. A steering committee was appointed to devise opportunities for the broad membership of the church to explore not simply the effectiveness of the church's peacemaking work, but the basic nature and scope of the Gospel's mandate for peacemaking. The 220th General Assembly (2012) authorized study materials to be distributed ... and approved a two-stage process of face-to-face discussions in both congregations and councils, and then of presenting a set of concise affirmations to the presbyteries." ["Risking Peace in a Nonviolent World," 221st GA (2014)] The presbytery of Baltimore was one of the 65 presbyteries and congregations that participated in these discussions, holding its Peace Discernment Retreat at Faith Presbyterian Church on Jan. 12, 2013. Now we are being asked to consider five peacemaking affirmations, which were approved by the 221st General Assembly (2014) for discussion, debate, and voting in the presbyteries. The five affirmations summarize the main points of the full General Assembly Report entitled "Risking Peace in a Violent World." They honor the range of viewpoints within the church while testing new directions; they are not statements of policy but propositions for serious debate. We are asked to discuss and take an advisory vote on each affirmation to help guide the preparation of a report on peacemaking directions for the 222nd General Assembly (2016). We may amend the affirmations and/or develop one or more new affirmations of our own, along with a brief statement of rationale. Before the May 7 Gathering, please read the four-page summary, "Five Peacemaking Affirmations for Presbytery Deliberation," which is posted on our Presbytery's website and accessible by clicking here. You may also choose to read the full report, "Risking Peace in a Violent World" in preparation for the vote. See you on May 7! Roger Scott Powers, Pastor Light Street Presbyterian Church
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| Take noteTake Note /Act Now |
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Presbytery
. . . and the
Wider Church
Register now for a Gathering Meal
A Spring Gathering for Retired Clergy and Clergy Spouses will be held from 10am to noon on Wednesday, May 6. We will gather at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville for friendship, fellowship and a conversation about "A Political Theology of Climate Change". If you missed our fall gathering, we hope we'll see you in May! RSVP by Apr. 28 to Bob and Audrey Jewett at [email protected] or 410.203.106.
Churches
SURPRISE! RENEWAL! SEASON OF SPRING! Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church will host a Choral Concert at 7:30pm on Friday, May 1. Come hear the uplifted voices of Woods' Choirs, a string quartet and enjoy many surprises! Admission is free and childcare is available upon request. For details call 410.647.2550. A free-will offering will benefit Benevolent Baskets, an employment program for women and the Music Ministry of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Light Street Presbyterian Church will host a SPRING TEA from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, May 2. A variety of teas with sandwiches and desserts will be served. The cost is $25. Proceeds will support the church's mission and ministry. Reservations (prepaid) are required. Please contact the church office at 410.539.0125.
As part of its Tiffany Concert Series, Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church will host an organ recital featuring James David Christie at 3pm on Sunday, May 3. For details, click Christie Organ Recital.
Cherry Hill Community Presbyterian Church will host a formal dinner and dance entitled "Night of Elegance," from 6-9pm on Saturday, May 16. Admission is $20 for an individual and $35 for a couple. For details, click Formal.
A COMMUNITY YARD SALE will be held 9am to 3pm at Light Street Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 16. For details, click Yard Sale.
Local jazz great, John Lamkin and his quintet, will shake up your spirit at Grace Presbyterian Church from 4pm to 6:30pm on Saturday, June 27 with his sacred jazz sounds! The concert includes an exciting program of gospel and spiritual arrangements featuring vocalist Earth Lamkin; soloist, Leo Burroughs; and, a performance by the J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) Dancers. Donations: $25.00 adults; $10 Children 12 years and younger. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling 410.466.4000 and leaving your name, phone number and number of tickets needed.
Reforming Spirit in Switzerland and France Tour, April 3-12, 2016. Join TE Ken Kovacs, pastor of Catonsville Presbyterian Church, and others on a travel tour to explore the rich history, religion and culture of Switzerland and France. The group will travel to some of the most beautiful and inspiring places in France and Switzerland to learn more about the roots of the Reformed tradition and to witness the continued development of traditions in Taiz?, Strasbourg, Basel and Zurich. Click Reforming Spirit for more details.
Other
Big Tent 2015 registration is up and running and everyone is excited about what it will bring. You can watch the Big Tent video or read more information about this event on the Big Tent web site.
The Center needs a few items for its dorm space. If you think you might have some items to donate, click on this link to see what we need and to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c4ba9ab22a02-thecenter1 Questions? Contact Kate Foster Connors.
Walk the Talk: Join Us on National Walk@Lunch Day. The Board of Pensions encourages you to take a walk with a neighbor or colleague - or by yourself - at lunchtime on Wednesday, Apr. 29, National Walk@Lunch Day in simple celebration of our health, well-being, and the goodness of life. Connect with others in the larger church community by taking a picture of yourself while you walk at lunch and posting it on the Board's Facebook page ("like" us first, if you haven't already). Click, Walk the Talk.
Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core, will lecture on best practices of effective interfaith leadership: the ability to voice values, engage diversity and act on behalf of the common at 7pm on Wednesday, May 13 at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium. The event is sponsored by The Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies' Manekin-Clark Lecture series.
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - APRIL 2015
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image courtesy of cbsnews.com
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An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale struck west of the ancient Nepali capital of Kathmandu, Pokhara; It is the most powerful earthquake to hit the region in 81 years. The death toll from the quake has risen to more than 970 and is rising further. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance's (PDA) partner ACT Alliance and ACT members are on the ground and working to support the people of Nepal. Financial assistance will be needed to help with the response. Financial gifts can be made by clicking here or checks may be written to the Presbytery of Baltimore and designated in the memo section to DR999999 - Nepal.
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