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SDOP Deadline: Sept. 19, 2016
($8,000 in funds still available!)
Earth Care 2017 Planning Team
872nd Gathering
"7" Middle School Retreat
In the Loop Summit: Lament & Hope, A Response to Violence in Our Community
Trinity PC Free Health Fair & Flea Market
Kenwood PC Community Day & Pumpkin Patch Story-Time
Faith PC seeks a Full-time Parish Administrator and Book-Keeper
IONA Scholar John L. Bell Speaking at 1st PC of Howard Co.
Woods Mem'l PC seeks an Interim Director of Missions
Chestnut Grove Seeks a Director of Christian Education
Dr. Mary Mikhael Lecturing on Syrian Refugee Crisis at Good Shepherd PC
Free Clergy Conference: Demystifying The Cancer Experience
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Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office (unless noted otherwise.)
Interim Pastors
will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at noon
Ministry Group Conveners will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at noon
Trustees will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 10am
The Cuba Partnership
will next meet at 2pm on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Hunting Ridge PC.
In The Loop Ministry Group
will host its annual
Mission Summit
from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, Oct. 1 at
Cherry Hill Community Presbyterian Church
.
Susquehanna Parish Ministry Group will host a Leadership Training Workshop from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air.
All Ministry Groups are encouraged to meet at a specific time set aside at the next Gathering at 9:30am on Thursday, Sept. 15 at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air.
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Thank you to the following congregations who have pledged toward Our Shared Ministry 2016. At this date, the Presbytery has received $184,599 in pledges. Just $40,401 short of our budget goal of $225,000.
Ark & Dove
Barrelville
Brown Mem'l Park Avenue
Brown Mem'l Woodbrook
Catonsville
Central
Cherry Hill Community
Christ Our King
Churchville
Covenant
Dickey Memorial
Faith
Fallston
First & Franklin
1st of Annapolis
1st of Bel Air
1st of Cumberland
1st of Howard Co.
Franklinville
Frederick
Good Shepherd
Govans
Granite
Grove
Hagerstown
Havre de Grace
Hunting Ridge
Kenwood
Light Street
Maryland
Mount Paran
Northminster
Prince of Peace
Roland Park
Second
Springfield
St. John United
Towson
Woods Mem'l
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COLA & Per Capita
Don't miss the vote at the 872nd Gathering
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COLA:
The Presbytery will be asked to approve increasing the 2017 minimum, base, and maximum salaries at each factor by 1.25% from the 2016 level as a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
Rationale: The Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) is 1.4% and for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) is 1.1% for the Washington-Baltimore region over the 12 months ending July 31, 2016. The Presbytery Manual requires that we use the average of those two numbers, 1.25%.
******
PER CAPITA:
The Presbytery will be asked to approve the Presbytery's Per Capita for 2017 as
$25.85, up 7¢, the first increase since 2014. (The General Assembly portion goes up 38¢ to $7.50. The Synod per capita for 2017 is $0.80. The total is $34.15.)
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To build or not to build?
That is the question that challenges many congregations. Managing a successful church building project can leave many quite anxious and unsure of how to get started.
Why attend this webinar?
Participants of this webinar will receive insightful information while learning the best practices for successfully navigating a church construction project from the visioning stage through to debt retirement.
Who should attend?
How to Survive a Church Building Project is a timely webinar recommended for all church members who are considering or starting a church expansion, renovation, or new building construction.
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Joyful Generosity! 
by Ledonia Kimball,
Stewardship Support Team
Commission on Thriving Congregations
"The ways in which a believer uses God's gifts of material goods, personal abilities and time should reflect a faithful response to God's self-giving in Jesus Christ and Christ's call to minister to and share with others in the world." (BoO - W-5.5004) Stewardship is so broad and encompassing that it impacts not only our time, talents, and treasures but all aspects of our lives --
such as missions, ministries and care of creation.
This is the season in which we again gear up for our year long foci on three levels of Stewardship... connectionally, congregationally and personally.
On the presbytery connectional level, stewardship is focused on the 2016-2017 Our Shared Ministry initiative entitled "One in the Holy Spirit." Our Shared Ministry supports the work of the Presbytery's three Commissions, six Ministry groups and its partnerships. The Shared Ministry pledge and flexible payment option make it possible for each congregation and fellowship to contribute.
Additionally, a workshop entitled "Stewardship: Upping Our Game!" will be presented at the 873rd Gathering on Nov. 12 at the First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis. Other events promoting the care of creation are also planned.
Congregationally, all of the Presbytery's member churches and fellowships need a solid stewardship base to thrive. The Commission on Thriving Congregations Support Team (CTCST) is willing to provide select customized service whether it is a Stewardship overview, a workshop, consultation or help moving a church's leadership from the traditional three month stewardship model to the newer 12-month Generous Giving model.
To determine your church's needs e
ach congregation is encouraged to complete the
Stewardship Survey
. The survey will help
generate evidence showing at what level congregations find themselves operating. There also will be an opportunity to share engaging stories, initiatives and events used to promote Stewardship. Responses should be completed not later than
Oct. 7, 2016
.
On a personal level, the (CTCST) would like to help you make stewardship an annual individual and collective, seasonal and intentional priority. You may participate by being:
- A prayer warrior for discernment and success;
- A brainstorming individual sharing ideas;
- A planning, active, 'hands on,' working participant;
- An individual willing to explain and provide his/her unique skill set for inclusion.
You can also help spread the word about stewardship in a more immediate way! In preparation for the Sept. 15 Gathering at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air,
eight (8) volunteers are needed to participate in a walking, talking, interactive stewardship acrostic. You must be willing to wear a "letter" of the word 'stewardship' on your person and share a scripted message about stewardship that will be provided, but may be modified. If you are interested in participating in this fun activity, please contact Ledonia Kimball at 410.448.9164 or
ledonial@yahoo.com
.
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Presbytery
. . . and the Wider Church
This year,
SDOP applications are
due on Sept. 19. As of today,
no  one has applied for any of the $8,000 in SDOP grants. If you are aware of community groups in need of financial support please refer them them to the application on the
SDOP webpage.
A planning team convened to organize Earth Care events next year will meet at 2pm on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Co. Professor Trisha Tull from the Louisville Seminary and Rebecca Barnes from PCUSA will work with our congregations to develop an agenda on environmental issues. To RSVP, email TE Sue Lowcock Harris.
Trinity Presbyterian Church's
free Health Fair and Flea Market
will be held 11am to 3pm on
Saturday, Sept. 10 (rain or shine). Additionally, Trinity will host Friends and Family Day during the 11am worship service on Sunday Sept. 25.
Kenwood Presbyterian Church will host a
Community Day from 10am to 3pm on Saturday Sept. 17.
B
oy Scout Troop 16 will present a
safety demonstrations and flag retirement ceremony, the nearby Linover Home Association will hold a
yard sale, and the church will offer
fun and games for kids and a
silent-auction. All are invited!
Kenwood Presbyterian Church will offer
Pumpkin Patch with story time
from Oct. 15-31. The patch will be open weekdays from 11am-7pm; Saturdays, 9am-7:30pm; and, Sundays from 12pm-7pm. There will be an
assortment of pumpkins, gourds and other goodies!
Faith Presbyterian Church seeks a full-time parish administrator/bookkeeper. For a job description, click here. Interested individuals are asked to send their resumes to the church at 5400 Loch Raven Blvd., Balto. MD 21239, Attention: Scott McGill.
Come gather Oct. 1 & 2 with the
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County for an
extraordinary weekend of learning, singing and praying together led by
John L. Bell, Scholar in Residence.
To Learn more, click here.
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church
seeks an Interim Director of Missions. The Interim Director of Missions (IDM) empowers the mission engagement of the whole church working in cooperation with WELCOME and other ministries to ensure that every member has an opportunity to Christian service. To learn more and apply for the position, click Interim Director of Missions at Woods.
Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church
(Phoenix, MD) seeks a part-time (20 hours)
Director of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation
. Candidates should email a resume and cover letter to committee chair
Robin Znamirowski
, A full job-description is available by clicking
Chestnut Grove
.
Other
The Susquehanna Parish Ministry Group will host Dr. Mary Mikhael in a lecture about the Syrian Refugee Crisis at 7pm on Thursday, Sept. 22 at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Joppatowne.
A two-part conference entitled Demystifying The Cancer Experience for Clergy and Religious Leaders will held from 8am to 12noon on Thursdays (Sept. 15 & 22) a the Koch Cancer Research Building II, Classroom 111 (1st floor). The event is free and includes lunch. For details, click The Cancer Experience.
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