January 16, 2018
Inside this Edition

878th Gathering: "Building Shalom in Our Communities" 

Necrology Report

General Assembly Overtures

Ruth Gosnell Education Fund Grove PC Free Concert

Earth Forum: Health & Mortality in Baltimore City

Catonsville PC Word & Music Concert

Next Church Conference in Baltimore Feb. 26-28

Ecumenical and Interreligious Service Recognitions of the PCUSA

Stewardship Kaleidoscope

Meetings
Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office (unless noted otherwise.)
   
COLA meets at 10am on Wednesday, Jan. 24

Steering Cabinet will meet at 1pm on Wednesday, Jan. 24

Committee on Ministry will meet at 2pm on Wednesday, Jan. 31

Committee on Preparation for Ministry will meet at 3pm on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Catonsville PC

Commission on Reconciliation will meet at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Jan. 24

Susquehanna Parish MG will meet at 7pm on  Thursday, Jan. 18 at Franklinville PC.

Guatemala Trip Jan. 29 thru Feb. 3
Prayer & Praise 
Please pray for the family of Stated Clerk John "Jack" Carlson as they mourn the loss of his elderly mother-in-law, who died last week. The family is gathered this week in Pennsylvania for the funeral.

********

Please pray for the safe journey of members of the Guatemala Partnership as they prepare to leave Jan. 29 for Central America to meet with CEDEPCA.
General Presbyter Jackie Taylor 
A Message from the General Presbyter

As a woman I once knew used to say, "Thank you God for another year to get it right."  And to that I say, Amen!
 
My first wish for you all in this new year is for you to reclaim your enthusiasm for your ministry.  Church work can seem like the movie "Groundhog Day" when we do the same thing over and over. This is a time to resurrect those sheets of paper you stuffed behind the file cabinet in the library; you know, the ones with all the goals and objectives on them.  Do one thing on that list.  This is a time to embark on all of the things on your "vision board"; things you wanted to try but got nervous.

Speaking of vision, do you know the vision of the Presbytery of Baltimore?  Approved in 2013 it says:
 
Called to community by God, discipled by Jesus Christ, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, the Presbytery of Baltimore encourages, challenges and equips our congregations to thrive spiritually and be apostles for reconciliation.  

My second wish is that the Presbytery live out our vision through all committees, commissions, partnerships, ministries and groups.  This means that everything we do points to, is guided by and supports this vision.  Speaking of support, thank you for your contributions to Per Capita and Shared Ministry.  We recognize how challenging it is to make ends meet in the local congregations and I am grateful for your commitment to our work together.  This year, I am asking our presbytery leadership, in its many forms, to look at how we live the vision faithfully in spite of those challenges ( see bottom for financials). Stay tuned for more on how we can ensure that our vision comes alive in our collective journey.

Finally, I wish and pray that all of us will be enlivened by the Holy Spirit as we continue our witness to Christ in our lives, churches and the world!

Blessing,

Jackie 

Presbytery of Baltimore 2017 Contributions

Budget Funds Rcv'd Deficit
Per Capita: $489,723 $444,486
($45,237)
Shared Ministry: $225,000 $197,790 ($27,210)


Apostles & Disciples Celebrate MLK JR. Day and Call for Action Against Urban Violence 


Dozens of congregants gathered Monday, Jan. 15, for a special MLK Day event entitled  "No More Sword Talk" at Knox Presbyterian Church.  The event featured a moving presentation from a community public safety group as well as other opportunities to explore the impact of violence in Baltimore City. Participants were encouraged to seek ways to take action against cit violence. Click here to learn how you can help.



Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery and Churchwide


Click here for general information and to order a Gathering meal 

Take Note: Churches are requested to submit Necrology Reports to the Stated Clerk by Feb. 1, 2018.

Overtures to the General Assembly are the way the church brings business to the Assembly for consideration.  They are diverse in nature ranging from changing something in our Form of Government to making statements on public policy issues.  When a Presbytery approves an overture it requires at least one other presbytery to concur (like seconding a motion) before it can be taken to the GA.  Church Sessions have the right to submit an original overture to the Presbytery or to overture presbytery to concur with another presbytery's overture.  You can access a continuously updated list of overtures at pcbiz.org.  The Stated Clerks encourage you to review this list from time to time and consider if your session might be called to engagement with this process.  If you need more information or assistance contact Mary Gaut at  mgaut@baltimorepresbytery.org.
 
RUTH GOSNELL EDUCATION FUND:   INTEREST-FREE COLLEGE LOANS AVAILABLE
Need an interest-free loan  for the 2018-19 academic year to complete your college Junior, Senior or Graduate School studies?  The Ruth Gosnell Education Fund, directed by the Springfield Presbyterian Church, provides interest-free loans for those full-time students, regardles s of religion. To learn more, click Ruth Gosnell Education Fund and download an application. The deadline to apply is Mar. 1, 2018


Churches    
  EARTH FORUM
Find out what's happening in Baltimore City, health-wise on Sun., Jan. 21, 2 - 4:30 p.m., at First Presbyterian's Earth Forum.  Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City's highly regarded Health Commissioner, will speak about her two-year old program to prescribe the opioid antidote, Naloxone, to all 620,000 city residents.  Other transformative projects she will address include reducing infant mortality rate, providing glasses to every child who needs them, and treating violence as a contagious disease.  
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County hosts this free program that is open to all interested persons. Contact  earthforum@firstpreshc.org or call  410.730.3545 (church office) or on Facebook. 

Catonsville Concerts at 3 presents "Words & Music".  Exploring the dynamic unity of two "languages," words AND music, this group uses the compelling medium of a chamber vocal quartet to entertain and inspire.  The group performs at Catonsville Presbyterian Church at 3pm on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018.  The concert is free, no tickets required.  For more info, call 410.747.6180. 












Other 




SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND  ARE AVAILABLE!
Click here to learn more . . . .

The Ecumenical and Interreligious Service Recognitions of the PCUSA are a public acknowledgement of the significant service to the causes of Christian unity and interreligious relations rendered by presbyteries, congregations, and individuals.  Awards are made in conjunction with the General Assembly.  Nominations of suitable candidates (presbyteries, congregations, and individuals) are being requested.  We have extended the deadline to Jan. 19. Please email nominations to The Rev. Mary Gene Boteler, Interim Coordination, Ecumenical Networking and Resource Development
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (740.704.0983, mgboteler@gmail.com ). Final selection will be made by the GA Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations by Jan. 24th.

Mark your calendar now  for  Sept. 24-26, 2018   so you don't miss Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual 
event offering plenary speakers, workshops, and worship experiences, with incredible networking  
opportunities among others passionate about stewardship and generosity. Click here to learn more . . . 


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
  
Chuck Brawner
Financial Administrator

Judy Johnson
Ministry Group Staff


John "Jack" Carlson
Stated Clerk 
 


 
  Deborah Greene  
Dir. of Communications
dgreene@baltimorepresbytery.org
 
Laura Mullen
        Book Keeper

McKenna Lewellen 
Center Coordinator



Mary Gaut
Deputy Stated Clerk

Debbie Ingram Schmidt
Assoc. for Spiritual Leader Development

 Wanda Morgan
Dir. of Events/Services

Kate Foster Connors 
Dir. of The Center