February 22, 2018
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.

 
Mission Opportunity
Multi-level Educational Youth Outreach (MEYO) under the umbrella of Divine Redeemer Presbyterian, San Antonio offers you the opportunity to help youth in San Antonio. Read about their new plans here.

Job Opportunities

Madison Square Church
Reply:
or 210-226-6254

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Mo-Ranch
Reply:

PDA News
New Volunteer Host Site 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has a new volunteer host site for Hurricane Harvey response!

Parkway Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi can host teams of 40 or less with a minimum age of 11 (ratio of 4 youth to one adult over 21).

For more information and/or to book your mission trip, contact the PDA Call Center: 866-732-6121 or [email protected]

Please support this important ministry with your prayers, and help the Parkway congregation keep the site full of volunteers.
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Disaster Preparedness Trainer Training-Aug 1

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will offer Disaster Preparedness Trainer training on August 1, 2018, in conjunction with the PW Gathering in Louisville KY.

Click here for

Annual Report for Members-at-Large and Specialized Ministers
Use this form to submit your Annual Report to Rev. Carol Clarke at [email protected].

Retired pastors, you are not required to submit this report.
And Other News

John Knox Ranch
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Mo-Ranch
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Presbyterian Pan American School
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SoL Center Classes at
University Presbyterian,
San Antonio

Resources
After Harvey:

The Texas Psychological Association, offers three free
counseling sessions by Ph.D Psychology providers to anyone affected by Harvey. Click to find a counselor.
 
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Church Resources: 
offers new materials for

 Confirmation Class,
 Lent & Easter, 
Book of Common Worship.

IRS 2018 Mileage Rates

Business 54.5 cents/mile
Medical/ Moving 18 cents/mile
Service to Charitable Orgs. 14 cents/mile
FYI
Mission Presbytery uses Constant Contact as the
primary vehicle to provide membership and churches (you) with announcements of news, events, and updates.

Also, let us know when your contact information changes so you may have current information. Send to email below.

To subscribe to the newsletter, call 210-826-3296 or 
800-683-9999 or email
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Submit articles for the newsletter by 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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and Like!

Presbyter Ponderings
Greetings to the Saints of Mission Presbytery!

Dear ones, we have been through a week that was both heartbreaking and hellish. I wish I could have been with each of your congregations this past Sunday to hear how our pastors and CREs are ministering to you. As I have said before - and will say again - there is no better time than now for us to be the church. We have so much to do in terms of reconciliation, relationship building, and not only sharing the good news but embodying it. I pray for you daily, and covet your prayers too as we walk this path together. And speaking of being the church...   Continue here
One Week to Presbytery!

Did you....?  Review the Packets on the web? 
Make the most of your Presbytery experience...
Attend a Pre-Meeting Workshop:

1.  Mission Engagement for Local Churches
  • Free workshop on local church mission engagement in Mission Presbytery.  See this flyer for all the details. Ellen Sherby, Coordinator, Equipping for Mission Involvement (PCUSA) will present this workshop for us.

2.  Faithful Alternative and Fossil Fuels Panel

3.  New Commissioners' Orientation
Don't Forget - Open House @ JKR!
February 24, 2018, 10:00 am 'till closing campfire

The entire Hill Country Community is invited to come on out and tour our beautiful 300 acre Ranch to see first-hand what this wildlife preserve, camp, retreat and event venue has to offer! Participate in traditional camp activities and visit the sacred spaces that have brought life-changing experiences to generations of youths attending our summer camps.   Click here for complete letter.
Presbytery Leadership Opening
Mission Presbytery is seeking a Youth and Young Adult Advocate!

If you enjoy working with  young people,  using your leader skills, being a mentor, friend, and enthusiast, this job is for you. Compensation includes Board of Pensions benefits and a salary based on experience and qualifications (range from $30,000-$45,000). Significant travel is required. All applicants may send resume with cover letter to [email protected] . Questions, call or text Claudia Smith at 512-797-3138.  Click here for  Job Description .
Youth Workers!
We are accepting application for our Midwinter Planning Team. MPT is a group of faithful, dedicated high school students from around the Presbytery who plan and lead our annual Midwinter Youth Conferences at Mo-Ranch. It is an opportunity for great faith development, leadership growth, and transformational friendships. We are looking for current sophomores and junior to fill the team for 2018-2019. Please think about the youth in your churches and encourage those who have the gifts to serve on this team to apply. We would love to see more churches represented. 

Use this link to enable your youth to apply. Deadline for application: March 8.
Show Your Support for Parkland

James Potts, Director of Family Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, FL, has networked with churches across the nation to begin a Children's Letter Writing Campaign to the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. If you would like to have your children or youth ministries participate, please being the campaign as soon as you can, gather the letters and send them to the address below, without envelopes (one envelop for all is fine). They will be given to Rev. Willy Figueredo to be hand-delivered to a guidance counselor at Stoneman Douglas. There will not be a time frame for this project in frequency or duration; however, immediate response will be beneficial for the students as they are currently in shock and in grief.

Should you have any questions, please call Sandra 954-785-2220 or email [email protected].  Mail items to:
Presbytery of Tropical Florida
Attn:  Sandra Figueredo
1919 SE 5th Street
Deerfield Beach FL  33441
Special Services
You are invited to this Installation service:

The Rev. Andries Coetzee
as Pastor of
University Presbyterian Church
300 Bushnell
San Antonio, Texas 78212
Sunday, February 25, 2018, 3:00 PM
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and to this Ordination Service:

Mary E. "Molly" Hatchell
into Specialized Ministry as Chaplain
at Seton Hospital in Austin.

The ordination will take place at
Westminster Presbyterian Church
3208 Exposition Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78703
Sunday, March 4, 2018, 5:30 PM
Prayers and Concerns 

-- Rev. Charles Schuler, pastor at First, Rockport, Charlie fell and broke his hip and is now recovering.

-- Diana Vanderland, wife of  Rev. Elwin "Van" Vanderland (HR) is now in hospice care.

--Rev. Kevin Keaton, our Board of Pensions Rep, as he recovers from hip injuries from a cycling accident.
Walk to Emmaus 
Women's Walk to Emmaus

Register now to be a Pilgrim on the Women's Walk  to Emmaus,
starting Thur evening of Mar 22  and ending  Sun afternoon of  Mar 25.  The spiritual  formation  weekend is held at a retreat center in  Boerne.  Don't miss this  exceptional  opportunity  to reflect and exam  your spiritual  life, study, and  leadership service to the church,  not to mention  prepare in a different manner for all that Holy  Week  means for the church and you. Need help  identifying a sponsor for you for this Walk, contact 

Karen Stocks at  210-722-9871. 
Pilgrim Registration  forms are available online at:
Upcoming Events

Anxious to Talk About It:  Accepting Our Discomfort in Talking about Racism in Church
with  Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel, March 10, 2018, 10 AM--1 PM
Cross Roads Church, 8102 Midcrown, San Antonio

For many white Christians, talking about race is very uncomfortable. Many grew up assuming that talking about race meant being a racist. Why talk about something so divisive?  Dr. Helsel shares her own story of coming to learn about racism and how, as a white Christian, she was called to help other white Christians recognize our responsibility in the world to work for justice. Her approach honors the stories and emotions that come from talking about race, and she wants to help white people be able to deal more effectively with their own discomfort around the subject. Join us to learn how you can engage your own church in this conversation.  See flyer
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Series on Racial Truth, Justice & Reconciliation Continues
Sundays, February 18-April 29, 9:30 AM , UPC Great Hall
University Presbyterian, 2203 San Antonio St, Austin 

Please come at 9:15 AM for a hot, light breakfast  provided by the Faith and Life class.  Children will participate in an age-appropriate curriculum on racism.    Schedule  and   Flyer-Speakers


Infertility, often a silent and agonizing form of grief, can threaten one's identity and severely stress important relationships. Join us for a one-day conference focused on infertility and related reproductive loss, with an emphasis on how religious identity impacts healing. Learn with us how to provide insightful, responsive care to those experiencing this form of trauma and deep grief.

Cost is $30 if you register in groups of 3 or more; $10 for students.   Flyer & Details.     Register Here 
Contact Erica Knisely for more information: 512-404-4870 or    [email protected]  

Sponsored by Steve Hicks School of Social Work and  Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  SW and clergy CEUs will be provided.   

Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry
April 24-27, 2018 
Princeton Theological Seminary

A four-day event for Youth Ministers, Christian Educators, Pastors, and Ministry Innovators.   For information: http://iymforum.com   and flyer for your use
It's That Time Again...
...to order your 2018-19 Presbyterian Planning Calendars. And don't forget new officers coming in at year's end. Cost is just $8.75 - quite a savings for any congregation. Order online through Mission Presbytery using this link: