December 12, 2016
Inside this Edition

Notices for Submitting 2016 Contributions & Expenses

Presbytery Holiday Closings 

Church Development & Grant Writing

Christmas in Song Sunday at Trinity PC

Granite PC Bluegrass Vespers

Catonsville Concerts at 3 presents Elysian Camerata in Concert

Woods Mem'l PC Seeks a Director of Contemporary Music and a Director of Youth

Mt. Hebron seeks Music Director 

Grace PC Seasonal Events: Veterans' Ministry; Childrens' Bazaar; and Christmas Eve Candle light Service.


Meetings
Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office (unless noted otherwise.) 

Trustees meet at 9am on Tuesday, Dec. 13

Committee on Preparation for Ministry at 3pm on Wednesday, Dec. 21

BAD Ministry Group will meet at 7pm on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Ark & Dove PC.

Susquehanna Partnership will meet for lunch at 12:30pm on Thursday, Dec. 15. Location TBA.

In the Loop Ministry Group will next meet at 6pm on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Light Street PC
Our Shared Ministry 
At this date, the Presbytery has received $195,503 in pledges -- just $29,497 short of our $225,000 goal. Thanks you!

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 
First & Franklin
1st of Annapolis
1st of Bel Air 
1st of Cumberland
1st of Howard Co.
Franklinville
Frederick
Good Shepherd
Govans
Grace
Granite
Grove 
Hagerstown
Hancock 
Harundale
Highland
Hunting Ridge 
Kenwood
Light Street
Maryland
Mount Paran
Northminster
Prince of Peace
Roland Park
Second
Springfield
St. John United 
Towson
Trinity
Woods Mem'l
 
Imperfect Ally or Perfect Enemy

"We aren't fighting against human enemies but against rulers,  authorities, forces of cosmic darkness  and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens." 
Ephesians 6:12 (CEB
)



by Rev. Mic
hael L. Moore, Pastor
Knox Presbyterian Church 

I must say I don't know why I was prompted to write this letter at such a late time in the midnight hour. I can 
only think that it's something that's been pressing on my spirit for a long time about the demon we refer to as racism.  It's not hard to understand why we struggle to name it, define it, address it, take action to change it and eradicate it; for it was birthed out of a very dark need for power, greed and exploitation to pit the unconscious masses in a egoistic struggle of superiority and inferiority.  

Recently I re-read the biblical text of the tragic story of Cain and his brother Abel. Cain killed his brother Abel. The very first murder. They both brought offerings to God. They brought to the table what they had. The different gifts they brought to the table was not the issue. The Lord identified something was wrong inside of Cain. The Lord pushes Cain after his unconscious brutal act to grapple with his soul in which he brings forth the fundamental issue of human relationships. 

"Am I my brother's keeper?"  Indeed, that question haunted him as he was banished to be a wanderer in the earth. But the amazing thing about this text is that God declared that a mark would be placed on Cain so that anyone that might come across Cain's path to harm him in retribution could not touch him.

This is an amazing insight into the grace and mercy of God.

It  prompted me to think about racism and how we interact around the issue -- not taking seriously the demon, the spiritual dimensions and how it diminishes us all.  When I hear my vanilla brothers and sisters dialogue about racism it comes across too often that the issue is a person of color's issue and they don't have a voice, insight or enough knowledge about the issue. Often I hear I don't know or feel I don't have any experiences in what it means to be a person of color.  Perhaps, but do we know what means is to be human?  Are you your brother's keeper?

Racism in all its dimensions kills. It kills physically, emotionally and spiritually. "I would rather you be an imperfect ally than a perfect enemy."  On the other hand, when I hear my chocolate brothers and sisters of color talk about racism they are very clear that it is not their issue and that they don't have the time, vested interest in coming to the table to talk about racism because they are too busy trying to survive it. My response is yes Cain has a mark on him but you are commanded not to harm or kill Cain.  "Are you your brother's keeper?" 

Racism in all its dimensions kills. It kills physically, emotionally and spiritually. I would rather you be an imperfect ally than a perfect enemy.  The Presbytery has spent the last year dialoguing about racism, poverty and injustice. Racism is the mother of poverty, injustice and class. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II was with us earlier this year. He has now been elected as the stated clerk of our denomination. He challenged us with his closing words- "Don't mess it up!"

Peace and Blessings!




Members of the Presbytery of Baltimore are invited to come to the table and join us for a special event on Martin Luther King Day entitled "What Now: Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community," featuring PCUSA Stated Clerk, The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II.  The event will be held 11am to 2pm on Monday, Jan. 16 at Faith Presbyterian Church, 5400 Loch Raven Boulevard in Baltimore.   Click here to register for the event, which includes free lunch for participants. 


taff Directory

Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery 

2016 CONTRIBUTIONS & EXPENSES

All  church contributions are due  Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at the close of the business day. Please mark your contributions with the year to which you would like them applied. All expense requests for 2016 must be submitted to the Presbytery office no later than the close of business day on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. There will be no exceptions! 

The Presbytery of Baltimore will close Dec. 23-26 in observance of Christmas and on Jan. 1 in observance of New Year's Day

Does your church have a regular or ad hoc Funds Development/Grant Writing Committee? If so, a networking opportunity is being sought, should a contact person be available and willing to do so. Please contact: Ledonia Kimball, 410.292.0479 ledoniak@yahoo.com .


Churches

Granite Presbyterian Church will host a Bluegrass Vespers from 5-7pm on Sunday, Dec. 18 featuring Rick Hill and Company performing a mix of   bluegrass and traditional mountain versions of Christmas music .  The Vespers is free of charge; free will offerings will be accepted and refreshments will be available for sale. For details, contact Frank Owens .

Catonsville Concerts at 3 presents Elysian Camerata in concert at 3pm on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017.  The Philadelphia-based Elysian Camerata has built its chamber music repertoire and reputation with works of all styles and periods.  This free concert will be held at Catonsville Presbyterian Church. For details call 410.747.6180.

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church seeks a vibrant and dynamic Director of Contemporary Music to work with the church's praise band, which performs at the 11am Sunday service and participates in weekly practice sessions. For details, click Woods. The church also seeks a  Director of Youth and Their Families. Click here for the job description.

Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church has an opening for Music Director.  This is a part-time position encompassing organ, piano and choir director skills.  We are a small church with a traditional choir program, and are open to many other genres as well.  Our congregation loves and appreciates good music.  We have a gorgeous two-manual Allen organ and a fabulous Steinway M grand piano.  Please direct inquiries to Rev. Adrian Pratt.
Grace Presbyterian Church invites you to attend a variety of events this season:  
All are welcome to Grace's  Children Christmas Bazaar on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The event supports the ( Jesus and Me Children and Youth Ministries) .

Worship with Grace's congregation at its "Word Up" Christmas Eve Candle-light service at 7pm on Dec. 24. The event features a free performance of "The Wilderness Experience" by Dawn Jones. For details about auditions for the production, contact Ms. Jones at 410.299.9919.


taff Directory

 Jacqueline E. Taylor
General Presbyter
jtaylor@baltimorepresbytery.org 


  Deb Milcarek
Assoc. for Reconciliation
dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org 
 

Susan Krehbiel
Dir. of Congregational Advocacy
skrehbiel@baltimorepresbytery.org
  
Judi Forrester
Financial Administrator

William Nickels III
 Assoc. General Presbyter


Debbie Ingram Schmidt
Assoc. for Spiritual Leader Development
  
Deborah Greene  
Dir. of Communications
dgreene@baltimorepresbytery.org
 
Laura Mullen
Book Keeper


Catherine Blacka

Judy Johnson
Ministry Group Staff


 Wanda Morgan
Dir. of Events/Services