Keeping the Faith . . .

December 27, 2016

Inside this Edition

Notices for Submitting 2016 Contributions & Expenses

Presbytery Holiday Closings

"Now What?" A Special Event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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

Meetings

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

Committee on Ministry will meet Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 2pm

Gathering Team will meet a 1pm on Thursday, Jan. 5

Nominating Committee will meet Monday, Jan. 23. at 7:30pm

Steering Cabinet

at 1pm on Wednesday, Jan. 25

Committee on Ministry Leadership will meet at 10am on Wednesday, Feb. 1

Committee on Reconciliation will meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Jan. 25

In the Loop Ministry Group will next meet at 6pm on T uesday, Feb. 28 at Light Street PC

Uptown Metro Pastors' Lunch will be held at 12oon at One World Cafe on Thursday, Jan. 19

Interim Pastors' Lunch will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 12noon

Cuba Encuentro Orientations will be held 10am on Saturday, Jan. 7 and 10am on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Cuba Partnership will meet 2pm Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Hunting Ridge PC

BDLC will meet at 7pm on Tuesday, Jan 10

Guatemala Partnership meets Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 8am Location TBA

Prayer & Praise

Please pray for the family of Rev. Henry "Hank" Borchardt, who served many years ago as an Associate Presbyter in the Presbytery of Baltimore. Rev. Borchardt died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. There will be a Memorial Service at 2pm on Saturday, Jan. 7 in the Great Hall at Glen Meadows Retirement Community, 11630 Glen Arm Road, Glen Arm, MD 21057.

Keeping the Faith . . .

A New Year's Message from

Moderator John "Jack" V. Carlson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ...

It is time to bid farewell to a tumultuous and unpredictable 2016, and to turn our attention to a new year that promises to be equally uncertain and disquieting. Along with many of you who will read this message, I view the changes unfolding in Washington with alarm, as we see great challenges posed to the progress we have made in race relations, international peace, the environment, health care, acceptance of the LGBTQ community, and welcome to immigrants.

But for all of us, one thing is certain: God is calling the Church of Jesus Christ to make a faithful response to these challenges. For some, this will mean direct engagement in the political process, or a new and deeper commitment to outreach with various communities. For others, it may mean undertaking new study and learning about the issues which face us as a nation and as a church, to find new ways to respond. For still others, it may mean a deeper involvement with our particular communities of faith, as we seek strength and guidance through spiritual companionship.

And for all of us, as the New Year dawns, we must be rededicated to faithfulness in worship and renewal in our prayer life, so that we maintain both the corporate and individual connection to God that we always see in Scripture. No progress can be protected and no advances made apart from these twin disciplines of the spirit.

By the same token, supported by these same disciplines, I am confident that the individual Presbyterians and the churches of this Presbytery will remain faithful. Here are some of the signs: We have already made a commitment to continue into 2017 our ongoing conversations in Race, Class and Poverty. This year we will be making a special effort to broaden that conversation by intentionally lifting up the socio-economic aspects of this theme. Another sign is that our mission Partnerships continue to thrive and develop. I'm very excited about making my first trip to Cuba in February. Yet another is the new initiatives emerging from all three of our Commissions and from our six Ministry Groups. The Presbytery of Baltimore is a good place to be a Presbyterian; more importantly, the ideas, creativity, and spiritual energy here make it a good place to live out one's faith in Jesus Christ in these unsettling times.

And in that regard, let me take this opportunity to say "Thank you" to all the officers of the Presbytery serving alongside me, the Commissions and Committees who labor so faithfully, and Ministry Group leaders and members who embody the Presbytery from one end of Maryland to the other. And let me add my heartfelt gratitude to the entire Staff of the Presbytery of Baltimore, all of whom serve Christ's Church with dedication and distinction.

So even though 2017 promises many more challenges than easy assurances, as the new year begins, I offer the encouragement of Scripture: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, ^* and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us ....

taff Directory

Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery and Churchwide

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.

Click here for registration or bulletin

Churches

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.

Other

Executive Director Position available (Half Time Position) The Central Maryland Ecumenical Council (CMEC), a community of Christian organizations that advocates for environmental, racial, social and economic justice, seeks a chief executive officer. Click here for details.