EMerge is a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Through most of the year it is published weekly and distributed to congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees and friends of the presbytery. Please send submissions and address corrections to office@ptcaweb.org.
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Presbyterians 'Walk & Roll' team surpasses $6,000 goal in NAMI walk
The "Walk & Roll" team of the Disability Concerns Ministry of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area raised $6,882 in the Sept. 24 NAMIWalks Minnesota, an event that supports the work of the National  Alliance on Mental Illness. In a note this week, walk-team member Dixie Brachlow wrote, "A few weeks before the walk, I had shared ... my misgivings at setting the bar so high for us ($6,000 goal), but I could not figure out how to go into the website's controls to lower our goal to something more realistic. Hmmm. God knew, I guess!" The walk, Brachlow continued, "brought many of us together, got the word out to many congregations that we are seeking justice for any person who is affected by mental illness, and uphold them and their families in prayers and actions. We did this together, with about 60 people walking that day!" Information about the Minnesota effort is at "NAMIWalks." The Presbyterians' page is at "Surpassing Goal." Presbytery seeks synod representatives The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area needs a ruling elder commissioner and young adult advisory  delegate to the Synod of Lakes and Prairies starting Jan. 1, 2017. The ruling elder term is for two years and the YAAD term is for one year, but can be renewed. The synod meets in the spring and fall, and meetings run from Sunday evening through Tuesday noon at Mt. Olivet Retreat Center near Farmington. The 2017 meeting dates are April 30-May 2 and Oct. 1-3. Questions and expressions of interest can be addressed to Manley Olson at 651.644.2848 or manleyolson@gmail.com.
Jeff's Jottings
Is it all really doom and gloom?
By Jeff Japinga
Transitional Executive Presbyter
So let's see ... what doom and gloom might I offer you this week?
How about I start with a few articles that have collected recently:
- Are We Entering the End Times for Mainline Churches?
- Why is Christianity Declining?
- Is the Church Trying to Engage a World that No Longer Exists with Outdated Methods?
- The Storm We Are In: It's Worse than We Thought
- Exodus: Why Americans are Leaving Religion - and Why They're Unlikely to Come Back
Well, then.
I don't for a moment pretend that there is no reality in those headlines. There are plenty of statistics and stories to back them up. But to every one of these headlines, I hear between my own ears a three-word challenge one of my leadership mentors taught me nearly a decade ago (and one Jesus was giving his disciples two millennia ago): "What's another interpretation?"
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Around the presbytery ...
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Apple Valley mayor proclaims
Oct. 9 'CROP Hunger Walk Day'
The South of the River Crop Hunger Walk steps off at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church in Apple Valley. Registration begins at 1 p.m.  Mary Hamann-Roland, mayor of Apple Valley has proclaimed the day as "CROP Hunger Walk Day." The proclamation reads in part: "Locally-organized, Church World Service-sponsored CROP Hunger Walks are an important part of community life for more than 2,000 towns and cities in the United States, bringing together people of different faiths, diverse cultures, and all age groups." The complete story from Spirit of Life can be found at "Hunger Walk."
Cherokee Park United plans fall art show
 Cherokee Park United Church of St. Paul is sponsoring its Fall Art Show Oct.14 through Nov. 13, featuring A K Dayton's exhibit of Abstract Expressionist Landscapes. The display is part of the St. Paul Art Crawl on Friday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 15, from noon to 8 p.m. Dayton will speak about her art on the first day of the Art Crawl at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit will be open Sundays and by appointment until Nov. 13.
Maple Plain congregation plans
its 2nd McCulley Fall Festival
First Presbyterian Church of Maple Plain be host to its second McCulley Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 15. The annual event features a horse-drawn hayride on  the church's 14-acre property. There will also be a free dinner, bonfire, and games for children and youth. Everything is free to all, and the congregation hopes the event will draw the community into the life of the church. The festival is named in honor of deceased elders of the church, Doug, Merna, and Mark McCulley. The food, hayride and games run from 5 to 7 p.m., with the bonfire continuing to 9 p.m.
Looking for a 'one-shot' project? Yard
in Minneapolis will need raking
The leaves will be falling soon and the Vardeman yard in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis will need to be raked. Heidi Vardeman wrote, "We need help with raking our yard and I thought this might be a really good service project for a youth group." She pointed out that it's a large corner lot and she noted that timing is flexible. Youth group leaders who are interested in taking on the task are invited to contact Vardeman at 612.296.7878.
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Resources, conferences ...
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'First Thursday' events planned
at Resource Center for Churches
Beginning in October, the Resource Center for Churches will be host to a "First Thursday" evening gathering of faith formation leaders across  denominations. The gathering will check on new resources, chat about vital topics, address questions and support one another in ministry. The gathering is open to church staff and volunteers between 6:30 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, and every first Thursday of the program year. The Resource Center for Churches is located in the Minnesota Church Center at 122 West Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. Details are available from Lizabeth Bougie, executive director, at info@rcc-mn.org
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Grief workshop
set at Lake Nokomis; book club rates
Beth A. Slevcove, author of "Broken Hallelujahs: Learning to Grieve the Big and Small Losses of Life," will lead a workshop that addresses the "sacred, joy-filled, grief-enriched journey of life" at  Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis Saturday, Oct. 8, from 1 to 6 p.m. The workshop is titled "Staying Present (Instead of Disconnecting)." An announcement for the workshop noted, "In our day together, we will take time to acknowledge our losses, tend to the tensions, invite hope, and rest in God's presence as it unfolds though our specific stories." There's also an opportunity for book club members: read Slevcove's book, register as a group in advance, and receive a discount. The complete announcement is at "Staying Present."
Katherine Willis Pershey to speak
at Oak Grove Presbyterian
 Katherine Willis Pershey, pastor at First Congregational Church of Western Springs, Ill., and author of the new book, "Very Married: Field Notes on Love and Fidelity," will talk about marriage at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington on Monday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone interested in the subject of marriage. Information about the speaker is available at "Katherine Willis Pershey." Questions about the event can be addressed to Mary Koon at 952.888.4621.
Author Griffith Lund to keynote
mental health conference
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Minneapolis will be host to the Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund on Nov. 11-12 for the second installment of its conference series, "VOICES: Addressing Issues that Affect the Church and Wider Community." Griffith Lund is the author of "Blessed are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence about mental Illness, Family and Church." Details about the conference are available at "VOICES."
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Service opportunities ...
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Trinity Presbyterian Church
in Woodbury is looking for a part-time pianist/music coordinator. The position requires from 12-15 hours per week with a monthly stipend. Anyone interested should send a resume to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Attn: Marie Skinner, 2125 Tower Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125.
Metro Meals on Wheels
, an association of 32 Meals on Wheels providers, seeks to open a central kitchen in the twin cities to more efficiently serve more than 4,500 seniors and people living with disabilities in Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota and Anoka counties. Meals on Wheels would like to enter into a partnership with a local church or nonprofit that has a currently vacant or underutilized commercial kitchen available for a long-term tenant. The complete advertisement is at "Meals on Wheels Partner."
The First Presbyterian Church of Belle Plaine, Minn., has an opening for a ΒΌ-time pastor. Belle Plaine is a community of 6,600 people located 45 minutes southwest of the metro area on Highway 169. We have an active membership of 34 people, with many other "friends of the church" in attendance. Our official mission statement is "Welcome, Learn, and Serve," but our unofficial slogan is "Small but Mighty." The complete advertisement can be found at "Belle Plaine." Those interested are invited to send their PIF or resume to ep@ptcaweb.org.
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The Rev. Marion E. Hedberg, an honorably retired teaching elder, died Sept. 26. Ordained in 1982, Hedberg served as interim pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, Minn., as associate pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Way in Shoreview, Minn., interim pastor at Presbyterian Church of Le Sueur, Minn., and associate chaplain at Presbyterian Homes. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Washburn-Mcreavy Funeral Home at 2300 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, at 11 a.m. Visitation begins at 10 a.m.
The Rev. James G. Ellison, an honorably retired teaching elder, died Sept. 28. Ordained in 1971, Ellison served as pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Iowa; First Presbyterian Church in Mora, Minn.; United Presbyterian Church in Rockford, Minn.; and at First Presbyterian in Pine City, Minn., until retiring in 2003. He and his wife, Carol (Kae) lived in Pine City at the time of his death. A memorial service is planned Saturday, Oct. 1, at First Presbyterian Church in Pine City at 3:30 p.m. Visitation begins at 2:30. Cards can be sent to his wife, Kae Ellison, at 11018 Lakeview Heights Road, Pine City, MN 55063.
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African American Consultation focuses on Black Lives Matters
As a part of the first Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries African American Consultation, African American leaders gathered for a session to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement. The Sept. 20 discussion was led by Robina Winbush, director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and associate stated clerk in the Office of the General Assembly.
The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Black Lives Matter."
Racial Ethnic, Women's Ministries is host to first African American Consultation
African American leadership from Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches across the country gathered to kick off the first African American Consultation at the historic Children's Defense Fund Alex Haley Farm in Clinton, Tenn. The leaders came together in an African American historic and spiritual environment to discuss issues impacting the changing landscape of the African American Presbyterian Church, consulting with one another to gain vision for their ministries in the emerging church. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Consultation."
PC(USA) ministry of educational debt assistance expands
As a new class of PC(USA) seminary students matriculates this fall, many find themselves entering graduate school not only with great anticipation and an unwavering commitment to serve Christ's church, but also with unprecedented student loan debt. But they need not worry unduly. In the church, there is good news. And in the church, there is forgiveness -- student loan forgiveness. "Not all of the news about student loans is bad news," said Laura Bryan, coordinator of the Presbyterian Mission Agency's Office of Financial Aid for Service in the Theology, Formation and Evangelism ministry area. "The good news is that there are more repayment options than ever before, and our office, in order to be responsive both to need as well as to borrowing trends, has been moving in the direction of student loan forgiveness
for several years." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Forgiveness."
Co-moderator reflections post
most recent video reflections
 In their video blog, "In This Season,"
Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston, co-moderators of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), share weekly reflections. This week Anderson visits the Children's Defense Fund Alex Haley Farm. The video blog is at "In This Season."
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