2017 Annual Retreat for Clergy, Certified Ruling Elders and Christian Educators

April 3, 2017

Inside this Edition

Presbytery Seeks Stated Clerk

Presbytery Seeks Financial Administrator

Apostles & Disciples "7 First Sayings" Good Friday Event

Eco-Palms

Earth Day Event & Earth Action Weekend Activities

Springfield Piano Trio Concert

Faith Cuban Organ Concert

Catonsville at #: Canticle Singers

Christ Our Anchor Seeks Preschool Director

Cherry Hill Community PC Celebrates 70 Anniversary

Princeton Theological Seminary Youth Forum

Meetings

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

*Presbytery Office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday; and will reopen for business on Apr. 18.

Investment Committee will meet at 9am on Apr. 5

Commission on Ministry will meet at 10am on Apr. 5

Gathering Committee will meet at 12:30pm on Apr. 6

Personnel Committee will meet at 1pm on Apr. 19

Steering Cabinet (Whole Group) will meet at 1pm on Wed. Apr. 26

Praise & Prayer

Praise God for the union of Elisabeth Cahill , daughter of the Rev. Harry Cahill

of Babcock Presbyterian Church , and

Ben Myers on Saturday, April 8 at Babcock Presbyterian Church. The groom is a Lieutenant in the US Navy Reserve and will be deployed to Afghanistan in the fall. Rev. Cahill and Rev. Janet Jones will officiate at the ceremony.

Thursday, May 18 at noon to

Friday, May 19 noon

Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center, Marriottsville, MD

by Debbie Ingram Schmidt,

Associate for Reconciliation

Churches, of all places, should be places where people can feel safe to be themselves, where they can find grace and healing for broken relationships, and forgiveness for past mistakes. Yet for many people churches have been places where the deepest wounds have been inflicted -- where trust has been violated and abuse has come through the words and actions of people who claim to stand for love.

The annual retreat for clergy, Certified Ruling Elders (CRE)s and Christian Educators (CE)s of the Presbytery of Baltimore will explore ways our churches can reach out with the love of Christ to those in our communities who are carrying spiritual wounds such as these. " I want people to discover a safe place where we can speak honestly about all the bitterness caused by the church...while finding a way to hold on to the sweetness and wholeness and healing the spiritual life can bring."

This is the way our retreat leader, the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt, describes the purpose of her book, Healing Spiritual Wounds; it also describes the purpose of our retreat. Merritt will help us explore ways we can extend grace to people in our communities and churches who have been hurt by churches that have not been places of grace and acceptance.

Merritt also recognizes that pastors and church leaders can be among those who are wounded, often by their own congregations. Part of the retreat will be devoted to addressing these issues as well.

The retreat will be held at the beautiful Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, MD. The center offers good food, comfortable rooms and well maintained grounds with plenty of areas to walk or simply to sit and reflect. There is also an outdoor labyrinth.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gather with colleagues for a time of stimulating discussions and refreshing conversations. To register, go to the presbytery website, click on Announcements and go to the website registration link for the retreat. Scholarships are available through the Commission on Spiritual Leader Development. Contact: Debbie Schmidt, [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

taff Directory

Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery and Church-wide

Presbytery of Baltimore Seeks New Stated Clerk

The Presbytery of Baltimore (PCUSA) is seeking to fill the position of Stated Clerk. The Stated Clerk serves as Secretary and Parliamentarian for the Presbytery and its Steering Cabinet. The Stated Clerk is elected by the Presbytery and reports to the General Presbyter. We are seeking a ruling or teaching elder of PCUSA who has good interpersonal relationship skills; strong organizational and computer skills with an emphasis on attention to detail; a commitment to a spirit of impartiality; a willingness to work collegially and collaboratively with staff and committee members, and knowledge of, or a willingness to learn, the Book of Order and the Roberts Rules of Order. This is a part-time position with the Presbytery.

Please send a resumé including three references that addresses your relevant service to the Presbyterian Church to Rae Jean Goodman, [email protected]. We will start reviewing applications on 31 March 2017 and will continue until a successful search is completed. A complete job description is available by clicking Stated Clerk.

Presbytery of Baltimore Seeks Part-Time Financial Administrator

The Presbytery of Baltimore seeks a part-time (19 hours/week) Financial Administrator for the PC(USA)

denominational headquarters in the Baltimore, MD region (67 churches). The ideal candidate will have a college degree, experience with financial administration (preferably in a non-profit setting), and good communication skills. The working environment is purpose-driven and collegial.

Duties include creating and distributing financial statements and giving statements; managing loans, investment income distribution, third-party payroll service, and relationship with auditors; attending Trustee and other meetings as requested; and supervising the bookkeeper.

Please send a résumé including three references that addresses your relevant service to the Presbytery of Baltimore c/o Wanda Morgan, 5400 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21239 or email [email protected]. The Presbytery's personnel committee will immediately begin reviewing applications and continue until a successful search is completed (preferably by June 1).

Flier and Fish Dinner orders

ECO-PALMS
	Consider using Eco-Palms in your Palm Sunday worship. Eco-Palms protect forests, local jobs, and sustainable living in the harvesting communities of Guatemala and Southern Mexico. By purchasing Eco-Palms, congregations demonstrate a commitment to environmental and social justice. Click Eco-Palms to learn more . . .

EARTH DAY MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Working with a coalition of churches in celebration of Earth Day, The Center is sponsoring TWO MISSION OPPORTUNITIES on Saturday, April 22nd, 10 am - 2 pm as a part of the Presbytery's Earth Action Weekend. Plant trees at Knox Presbyterian Church, or help

out at the Clifton Park Free Food Forest. Register at https://earthactionweekend2017.eventbrite.com

Take part in other Presbytery Earth Action Weekend activities.

Click here to learn more .

Churches

Please join Springfield Presbyterian Church for a free concert featuring the West Shore Piano Trio at 3pm on Sunday, April 9. A free will offering will be collected to help defray the cost of the concert, and refreshments will be served following the concert . Click here for more information.

Faith Presbyterian Church will host Cuban Organist Moisés Santiesteban in concert at 4pm on Saturday, April 29. The concert features diffusion of the Cuban sacred musical heritage. Click here to learn more.

Catonsville Concerts at 3 presents the Canticle Singers , a select women's chorus, on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 3:00 pm. They will be bringing us a bravura program with a variety of repertoire that spans the centuries and crosses the globe. This free concert is at Catonsville Presbyterian Church, 1400 Frederick Road in Catonsville. For more info, call 410.747.6180.

Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church's daycare, Anchors-A-Wee, seeks a full-time Director to lead a faith-based curriculum in a preschool currently serving 130 children, aged 2-5. The candidate must be able to provide a nurturing, stimulating, creative, and developmentally appropriate environment for preschoolers; as well as be able to work well with teachers, parents, and the church. Education and prior preschool experience desired. Inquiries may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Anchors-A-Wee Preschool Board c/o Heather Steven, 1281 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis, MD 21409.

Other

The 2017 Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry entitled "Declare!" will be held April 25 -28 at Princeton Theological Seminary. The forum will explore the prophetic voice vital to the church's work with young people. Renew your energy for ministry as you create vocational friendships, stretch your imagination, and give Sabbath to your soul. For details click Princeton Youth Forum or visit http://iymforum.com