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The weekly newsletter from the
Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
June 21, 2017
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We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ,
joyfully participating in Christ's ongoing life and work. "Therefore encourage one
another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
(I Thessalonians 5:11)
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Congregation of the week: June 25 - July 1
First Presbyterian Church of Mountain Lake
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Pastor - Linda Becken, CRE
Secretary/Clerk of Session - Julie Johnson
Custodian - Steve Peters
Treasurer - Char Peters
Session Members - Julie Johnson, Steve Peters, Roxann Wellman, Jean Haberman, Sandy Melheim
Prayers would be appreciated for our members who have recently been hospitalized and who are in nursing homes and assisted living. Some exciting upcoming events that we are looking forward to are our joint worship service and picnic in the park July 9 at Lawcon Park. We will be joined by the Windom, St. James and Mountain Lake congregations. We will also be hosting the Bullypulpit Blue Grass Band for an afternoon of Songs on the Lawn and an Ice Cream Social August 6. Prayers for success and good weather. We would also ask for prayers for the leaders of our church, our community and our nation.
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God Chat Apps: A Life of Prayer
Saturday, October 7, 2017
9:00 - 3:30
Hope Presbyterian Church
Spicer
Email
Karen Lange to register. Cost: $10 if preregistered by September 22
Plenary Speaker: Rev. Kara Root
Breakout session topics:
- Centering Prayer
- Spiritual Practices
- Yoga, Meditation & Prayer
- Introduction to Prayer
- Tech Tools for Prayer
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| God Chat Apps: A Life of Prayer |
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Steering Congregations to Formational Resources
The Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development exists to resource congregations. We have identified six critical areas: discipleship, evangelism, mission, spiritual leadership, stewardship and worship. Each area has one or two individuals who serve as point persons. The point person's goal is to steer you in the right direction toward valuable resource. Please let us know how we can come alongside of your congregation.
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Presbytery office hours are 7:30 - 3:30 Monday - Friday.
Office will be closed on Friday, June 30.
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New Pastor at Crosslake to begin July 1
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Crosslake Presbyterian Church will soon be getting a new interim pastor; we would like to introduce to you Rev. Dr. Patricia Schick.
Patricia Schick, Ph.D. Educational Psychology, spent most of her adulthood teaching in several universities, including University of Florida, Penn State University, and SUNY Plattsburgh. In 2001, however, the Spirit moved both her and her husband, Bill, and they left their home in Saranac with gardens and mountain views and moved into married housing on the campus of Drew University, Madison, NJ so that Patricia could attend seminary. After graduation in 2005, the couple moved from one church to another as Patricia did Interim Ministry in seven different Presbyterian churches. In November 2015 retirement allowed them to spend their first winter (of many they hope!) in Florida. Then in early 2017 Patricia felt that God was calling her again, and she found two Churches on the PCUSA web site that were looking for Interim Ministers. Crosslake Presbyterian stood out as her first choice, and she contacted us.
Patricia and Bill traveled to Crosslake to meet with Session and the personnel committee, and it became obvious to all of us that that God is indeed calling her to our church to be our interim pastor. They have secured a place to live for their time among us, and Patricia is looking forward to being in ministry to us and with us.
On July 1st Patricia will officially start as our interim pastor to help us and guide us through the transition and finding our new permanent pastor.
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Camp Scholarships Available
The Congregational Transformation and Development Commission meets on Tuesday, June 20. If children or youth from your congregation will be attending the camps at Clearwater or Okoboji this summer, please know the church is welcome to apply for scholarships by June 19.
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Lakeshore Center at Okoboji,
October 13
Pastors and CREs: Here is a great opportunity for you to spend a day with preacher/teacher/author Tom Long. He will be in the area to teach a class for the new Academy and will be doing this day long workshop at the Lakeshore Center at Okoboji on Friday, October 13
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Discover Presbyterian Mission in Pakistan
During the week of September 4-9, 2017, Veda Gill, Executive Director of Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan (PEB), will be in Central Minnesota and is looking for opportunities to acquaint God's people with the vital work being done in educating some of Pakistan's poorest children, both Christians and Muslims. This work was started by Presbyterian missionaries in the 1850s and continues to this day. Veda is looking for pastors, mission groups, PW members, or interested church members who could receive initial information about PEB in preparation for a follow-up visit with a larger church group at a later time. If you would like to sit with Veda and hear the good news from Pakistan, please contact Lynn Miller at 320-492-3341 or
lynn.miller@friendsofpeb.org.
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Celebrating Pastor Al's Ministry and Wishing Him Well on His Retirement
The congregation at First Presbyterian Church of Foley are planning a retirement party for Pastor Al Jergenson on Sunday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m. The celebration will be held in our church's fellowship hall.
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PC(USA) pastors and commissioned lay pastors encouraged to apply for matching funds to attend financial literacy and leadership events and training
The Presbyterian Foundation is accepting applications for a newly established Church Financial Leadership Grant. Grant applicants must be a pastor, commissioned lay pastor (CLP), or leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Funds are available for those pastoral leaders seeking to gain a better understanding of church financial vitality and management of their congregations.
The application deadline is June 30. More info
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Do you hear a call to a new role in church leadership?
In response to a need for accessible educational opportunities for church leaders, the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys along with two other presbyteries and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies have developed an exciting new course of study called "The Academy."
Maybe God is calling you to respond to a specific need for a Commissioned Ruling Elder in your church. Or maybe you feel a hunger for personal spiritual growth. Perhaps you are a current CRE who feels you could benefit by a refresher on certain topics.
Courses may be taken as a series with the goal of meeting the requirements of becoming a Commissioned Ruling Elder, or individual classes may be audited for personal education and growth.
Hurry! The first classes start at Synod School in July, so registrations are being taken now. Check out the link for the brochure or visit the registration website for more information about the courses and the quality teachers. Questions may be directed to the presbytery office, or Academy board members: Rev. Elaine Boyd and Kathy Knips.
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
The following congregation within the bounds of our presbytery is currently seeking pastoral leadership:
Randall Presbyterian Church, Randall, Minnesota
Ministry Information Form - 03892.AC
First Presbyterian Church, Foley, Minnesota - Interim Pastor
Ministry Information Form - 03882.AAO
Additionally, there will be other opportunities arising in the near future. Please keep your eyes open as Fulda begins a pastoral search.
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Big Tent - July 6-8 - Saint Louis -
More info
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See what's happening on our Facebook site:
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