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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Presbytery's stated clerk issues
letter on new overtime rules
Bill Davnie, stated clerk of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, issued a letter to the presbytery regarding proposed new rules for the implementation of the  Fair Labor Standards Act. Davnie wrote, "As you know, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed new rules implementing the Fair Labor Standards Act -- in brief, changing who can be paid on a salary basis, and who must be paid on an hourly basis including overtime. These changes were to take effect on Dec. 1. You received a message from me concerning these changes on September 29, including a document from Diane Smith, who also spoke to a pre-presbytery event on this topic on Nov. 15. Last week, a judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the implementation of the new rules until a broader decision is made about the legality of the new rules. So, in brief, whatever changes you may have had to make starting this coming Thursday, you are not obligated to make immediately." Davnie's complete letter is at "Overtime Rules."
Listening session planned
on proposed amendments to BOO
The Bills and Overtures Committee of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will conduct a listening session Dec. 10 on proposed amendments to the  Book of Order that resulted from this summer's General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The session will begin at 9 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul. The session is open to all in the presbytery to ask questions and offer insights. The committee is asking the presbytery to vote on the proposed amendments during its Jan. 21 meeting. The complete committee report is at "Amendments."
Jeff's Jottings
The gift I gave to myself
 By Jeff Japinga
Transitional Executive Presbyter
One of the seeming challenges for preachers and theologians in this Advent season -- maybe for all of us -- is finding something new to say or to hear in this story we repeat every year. But I've discovered that the new really is there, profoundly and prolifically so, if you really look. That's why my annual Advent gift to myself is the invitation to experience anew, every day, the remarkable story we tell and re-tell this month. And, because of it, to think, and perhaps act, in ways I've never thought or acted before.
The complete Jottings is at "A Gift to Me."
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Spirit of Life plans
special Christmas programs
 Christmas is in the air and music is in the air at Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church in Apple Valley. The church will present its fourth annual "Cocoa and Carols" program on Saturday, Dec. 17; a cantata performance Sunday, Dec. 18; a Christmas Eve service Dec. 24; and special Christmas Day service Dec. 25. Details are at "Christmas at Spirit of Life."
Parrish offers 'sacred pampering'
class Banfill-Locke Center
 The Rev. Tara Parrish is offering a class, titled "Sacred Pampering," Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts in Fridley. The class, according to the Center's website, offers a "renewal of your spirit." The website notes, "We'll engage with poetry, scriptures and writing for self-care to refresh your soul." Details are at "Sacred Pampering."
Spiritual educator writes
about impact of labyrinth
Martha Rockenstein, right, a spiritual educator and director, whose passion, she wrote, is "to hold space  and time for people as they journey toward greater spiritual, emotional and physical wholeness," wrote a column recently on labyrinths as paths to peace and transformation. Rockenstein, who makes her home in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, noted, "My experiences and passion for labyrinths was birthed during my time at seminary where I discovered the seminary's labyrinth. I knew nothing about labyrinths but walked it anyway and found it to be a life-giving encounter with the Holy." Rockenstein's complete column can be found at "Labyrinths."
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Resources, conferences ...
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Disciple-making church conference
set Jan. 16-19 at St. Pete Beach
 Carrying the theme, "Abide in Me ... A Spiritual Purging," the Disciple-Making Church Conference of the Presbyterian Mission Agency takes place Jan. 16-19 at St. Pete Beach, Fla. The conference will explore the spiritual concepts of St. Ignatius: interior freedom, disordered attachments, and spiritual indifference. Conference details are at "Abide in Me."
Presbyterian Association of Musicians
set to gather Jan. 19-21 in Texas
 The Presbyterian Association of Musicians have planned their winter 2017 gathering Jan. 19-21 at University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. The gathering will offer opportunities for professional renewal, a chance to recharge batteries after the Christmas rush, and a hymn festival led by Eric Wall. Details can be found at "Musicians Gathering."
APCE's Annual Event set in January
The 2017 annual event of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators promises to be a  time of grounding, a place of renewal and rest, and a refuge of peace. The event runs Jan. 25-28 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. Speakers include the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, the unconventional Lutheran minister and author of "Pastrix: the Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint." Details, along with links to registration information, can be found at "Annual APCE Event."
Winter Pastors School planned
in February in Nebraska
The Rev. Dr. JC Austin, vice president for Christian leadership formation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City, will be the featured speaker at the 2017 Winter Pastors School planned Feb. 6-9 at  Hastings (Neb.) College. Austin works with faith leaders across the country through a range of programs and consultations to develop the personal resilience, entrepreneurial spirit and practical wisdom needed to lead social and congregational change. Winter Pastors School is sponsored by the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation. Details are available at "Winter Pastors School."
NEXT Church scheduled
March 13-15 in Kansas City
 With the theme "Wells & Walls: Well-Being in a Thirsty World," the annual gathering for NEXT Church is planned March 13-15 in Kansas City, Mo. Keynote speakers are Dr. Rodger Nishioka, the Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah and the Rev. Dr. Linda Mercadante. Conference details are available at "NEXT Church."
Early-bird registration already open
for Summer Pastors School
December is not too early to think about next summer -- at least when it comes to Summer Pastors School
 sponsored by Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation and held each summer at Hastings (Neb.) College. Summer Pastors School runs June 4-9 and early-bird registration is already open. Featured speakers at next summer's School are the Rev. Dr. Gary Neal Hansen, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Hamilton-Poore, and Dr. Anna Case-Winters. Dr. Marcia McFee will lead worship. Details, including biographical information on the speakers, can be found at "Summer Pastors School."
Youth gathering planned next
summer in Leipzig, Germany
 Before the General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches takes place next summer, there will be a youth Gathering in Leipzig, Germany, June 23-28. The gathering will provide youth the opportunity to experience Christian fellowship and explore what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus. The first step is showing interest. Details can be found at "Youth Gathering."
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The Rev. James F. (Jim) Sanders
died Tuesday, Nov. 29. Sanders, ordained in 1979, served many years in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, including nearly 20 years as pastor at Oliver Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. A memorial service is planned Saturday, Dec. 10, at 1 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Additional details are available at "Jim Sanders."
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Service opportunities ...
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
in Minneapolis is seeking a full-time director of educational ministries who will, in partnership with lay leaders, pastors and church staff, lead the development of inclusive educational programs for all ages. Details can be found at "Educational Ministries."
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Standing Rock allies call
on supporters
to pick up pen, phone
As thousands of religious leaders, clergy, chaplains and military veterans make plans to converge in North Dakota Dec. 4 for a day of prayer at the water  protectors camp north of the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, United Church of Christ allies are calling for continued advocacy in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in the form of phone calls and petitions. The veterans "deployment," a show of support planned for this weekend, coincides with Sunday's Interfaith Day of Prayer, initiated by Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the 19th generation spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations. The thousands putting their bodies on the line near the reservation will be supported by a movement to mobilize people across the country to reach out to their elected representatives before Dec. 5 -- the date water protectors were told to leave the lands where they have been camping for months. The complete story by Connie Larkman, which appeared this week in news of the UCC, can be found at "Pen and Phone."
(Photo by the UCC.)
De La Rosa video features
stories of longing, joy, hope
 Keeping Faith, the
video newsletter from Tony De La Rosa, interim executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, was published earlier this week. In this December edition, De La Rosa features stories of those experiencing the longing, joy and hope that are part of the season of Advent. The video can be found at "Keeping Faith."
Co-moderators call Presbyterians
to respond to election with good
Writing to all Presbyterians, the Revs. Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston, co-moderators of the  222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), noted, "As we enter the season of Advent, there are those among us who continue to celebrate the recent election and others among us who continue to experience deep concern. We Presbyterians are a politically diverse denomination and we have our differences. But we come together in these days remembering that we worship a God who knows what it's like to be betrayed and unjustly accused. Please know that, as your co-moderators, we are praying for you and we are asking you to -- ultimately -- use whatever you are feeling after this election for good." Their complete column can be found at "For Good."
Pew study finds Presbyterians among top earners
 A recent breakdown of the Pew Research Center's 2014 Religious Landscape Study ranked Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members fourth in its percentage of households that earn more than $100,000 annually. The study authors found a strong correlation -- based on religious affiliation -- between a person's income and the level of education they have attained. The study reported that among PC(USA) households, 32 percent earned $100,000 or more, 29 percent earned between $50,000 and $99,999, 15 percent earned between $30,000 and $49,999 and 24 percent earned less than $30,000. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Gregg Brekke can be found at "Presbyterian Income."
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