November 22, 2017
Mission Presbytery Purpose Statement
We are Mission Presbytery, serving Christ in the World. In the Reformed Tradition, together we
  • Establish and equip congregations and sessions to carry out their missions;
  • Recruit, receive, ordain, develop, and care for those called to service in the church;
  • Enable mission and witness to the Gospel that congregations cannot accomplish alone; and 
  • Steward our resources faithfully and generously.

We are better together.

 

Year-End Reports
For Clerks of Session:
Annual Statistical Reports for 2017 are due no later than February 1, 2018. The site for submitting your church's report will be open Dec. 1, 2017 through Feb. 1, 2018. Questions, contact statedclerk@missionpby.org.

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For Specialized Pastors & Members-at-large:
It's time to submit your Annual Report to the Presbytery for 2017. Retired ministers are NOT required to complete this report. Contact Rev. Carol Clarke cjcrev@aol.com for questions. Click here to link to the Report Form (also o the COM page of our website.
Job Opening
Director-Children's
Spiritual Formation

Central Presbyterian-Austin
Resumés to central@cpcaustin.org

Care for Grieving
Comfort & Hope for the Journey of Grief
Feb 23-25, 2018
Mo-Ranch

Mo-Ranch and the Faith & Grief Ministries offers this retreat for adults dealing with loss of a loved one. Experience comfort through scripture, spiritual practices, and interaction with others who "get it". 


And Other News
Mission Co-Workers
Dennis & Maribel Smith
Mission Co-Workers 
Dennis & Maribel Smith
send news of their work
as liaisons in South America.

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POAMN
Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network

Action Request: POAMN
is seeking articles for the 2018 Older Adults Ministry (OAM) Planning Guide about your ministries for older adults. Read more

Fall 2017 POAMN newsletter here.  Check it out!

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John Knox Ranch

Mo-Ranch

Ghost Ranch

SoL Center Classes
From the SoL Center
300 Bushnell Ave
San Antonio TX 78212:

Expressions of Non-Orthodox Judaism
with Rabbi Samuel Stahl & Rabbi Jeffrey Abrahm
Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.; $20
Explore how and why Judaism became multi-denominational; how Orthodox Judaism gave birth to Reformed Judaism.


Serving Mission Presbytery
The following members of Mission Presbytery currently serve you at Synod.

Synod Representatives
CRE Joe Pat Nance -

Rev. Karen Stocks

See

FYI
Mission Presbytery primarily uses Constant Contact as the vehicle to provide membership and churches (you) with announcements of news, events, and updates.

To subscribe to the newsletter, call 210-826-3296 or 
800-683-9999 or email
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Submit articles for the newsletter NLT  5 PM, Tuesdays to
Contact Us
Mission Presbytery
7201 Broadway, Ste 303
San Antonio TX 78209

P:  210-826-3296
800-683-9999
F:  210-826-0917

No personal information is included in Presbytery communications without the expressed permission of the individual.

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The Presbytery Office will be closed beginning at noon November 22 through November 24 for Thanksgiving.

Presbyter Ponderings
Greetings to the Saints of Mission Presbytery!

Well, I bet you're as busy as I am,getting ready for Thanksgiving - and the non-liturgical onslaught that begins the next day! The family and I will be up in the Ft. Worth area to celebrate the day with my two sisters and their families. I hope that Thanksgiving Day finds you surrounded with those you love, with much to celebrate. Continue reading

Giving Tuesday - November 28

Presbyterian Pan American School has set a goal to raise $9,400 for new sound equipment for their student-led worship! See the details here. They will raise funds through Giving Tuesday and/or direct donations. 

Mo-Ranch is raising funds to heat and cool The Art Generator, one of their most historic buildings. Along with heating and cooling, other renovations will allow its use 365 days a year! Mo-Ranch has a matching grant of $10,000 this Giving Tuesday - help them make their goal of $20,000. How to give, here.

Sending Hope Campaign     

The Sending Hope campaign seeks churches with either adult or youth ministries who would want to send cards that have words and/or artwork of encouragement for patients (adolescent to geriatric) who will be at the Georgetown Behavioral Hospital  during December. There are four holidays in December: Mawlid, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, but the cards do not have to be holiday cards.  The program is intended simply to encourage patients who will be here during December

Each card will be reviewed to ensure it is appropriate and that no identifying information from the sender is on the card.  Can your church community help?  Flyer  Send cards to Rev. Nicole Talkington, c/o Georgetown Behavioral Hospital, 3101 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown TX 78626.

For more information, contact Rev. Nicole Talkington at 

YCC 2018 Midwinters

Midwinters are just around the corner! Don't wait to reserve your spot for either of these weekends:

2018 Conference Dates: MW#1-Jan. 12-14 and MW#2-Jan 19-21.  Both conferences are BLENDED for 6th-12th graders. Review the flyer and forms (4 pgs) for details. Registrations must be mailed with payment to Mission Presbytery, 7201 Broadway, Ste 303, San Antonio TX 78209.

From the Stated Clerk      
Dear Friends,

I am such a Presbynerd that I was excited to fill out the submission form for our Commissioners to the General Assembly! My excitement turned to shock and then panic, when I discovered that our commissioners had been reduced from four ministers and four elders to three of each. What's a Stated Clerk to do? Luckily, we have wonderful commissioners and Rev. Britta Dukes and RE Alan Ford both volunteered to step down from serving as commissioners in 2018. We thank them both for their willingness to have served this time and for their graciousness in helping us address the situation. We look forward to putting their names forward for the 2020 General Assembly instead.

Your General Assembly Commissioners are:
Rev. Dan Milford, Covenant, San Antonio
Rev. Nancy McCranie, Hospice, Austin
Rev. Doug Dalglish, Pan Am School, Kingsville
RE Liz Anzaldua, El Divino Salvador, Corpus Christie
RE Dahlia Vela, First, Brownsville
RE Rcik Covington, Hope, Austin

A happy Thanksgiving to all!

Peace
Tricia
Make a Splash at John Knox Ranch!

It's never too early to plan for Summer!

Visit johnknoxranch.com for Summer 2018 dates and costs.

Registration opens November 24.

Adopt a Classroom- Harvey Relief

One way your congregation could assist congregations in New Covenant and Mission Presbyteries impacted by Hurricane Harvey is to adopt a Sunday School Class or two through any upcoming mission opportunities (Markets, Fairs).

The Southcentral Region of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (SCRAPCE) is sponsoring an "Adopt-a-Class" program. Impacted congregations will be able to apply for grants of up to$1,000 per classroom to help them replace supplies, curriculum, and equipment. See About Adopt-a-Class
Disaster Preparation Training

If you think you may not be affected by an active shooter in your church, think again. Here is a link to an article from Christianity Today on how your church can prepare to protect your people against an active shooter. Better yet, schedule your disaster preparation training with Joyce Batty: joyce.batty@gmail.com or 830-627-4261.  

PDA: More Than Storms

If you read Sallie's Ponderings above, you have a good start on how we might begin recovery from un-natural disasters.  We hope these reference sheets are helpful to your congregation:


Remember:
The Texas Psychological Association,  www.TexasPsych.org is providing three free counseling session by Ph.D Psychology providers to anyone who was affected by Harvey. See "find Harvey provider finder tab" on their website. 

Monetary donations directly to Mission Presbytery:
  • Checks directly to Mission Presbytery,
    7201 Broadway, Ste 303, San Antonio TX 78209,
    with notation 2121-50-Harvey
  • Online Giving- All proceeds to relief & recovery
    Give Now
Special Events:

>>A conversation with Your Community:
Tuesday, December 5, 6:30-8:30 PM
William R. Sinkin Eco Centro, San Antonio College
1802 N. Main Ave, at Locust, San Antonio 78212
Sponsored by the San Antonio Faith-Based Initiative

Supper and great conversation on Asset-Based Community Development - working together to make a difference.  Flyer

>>Midwinter Lectures at Austin Seminary
Jan 29-31, 2018