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877th Gathering - Race, Class & Poverty: Lives Touched
Board of Pensions Open Enrollment
Cell Phones for Cuba Partnership
Presbyterian Lady Managers Celebrate 140th Anniversary
"Becoming A Blessed Community" series at Havenwood PC
Faith PC Hosts Benefit for Victims of Natural Disaster in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Mexico
Catonsville Concerts at 3: Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra
Dickey Memorial PC seeks a Music Director/Organist
Strong Schools Maryland
Choose Hope Advocacy Seminar
Insurance Board: Steward Newsletter
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Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office (unless noted otherwise.)
The Interim Pastors Support Group
will gather for a lunch meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Christ Our King PC in Bel Air.
The Center Steering Committee will meet at 12:30pm on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at The Center.
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2017 Our Shared Ministry
Pledges & Contributions
Total rcv'd to date:
$118, 573
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KEY:
*
Pledged (fulfilled)
**
Pledged (unfulfilled)
+
Contribution (not pledged)
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*Ark & Dove
+Ashland
*Barrelville
+Bethel
+Brown Mem'l Pk.
+Catonsville
*Central
**Cherry Hill
+Christ Mem'l
+Christ Our Anchor
+Christ Our King
+Churchville
**Covenant
+Dickey Memorial
+Faith
+1st, Annapolis
**1st, Bel Air
*1st, Cumberland
+
1st, Howard Co.
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*
Franklinville
**Frederick
*Good Shepherd
+Grove
+Hagerstown
+Hancock
+Harundale
**Highland
+Hope
+Hunting Ridge
+Kenwood
**Maryland
+Mount Hebron
+
Mount Paran
**Prince of Peace
*Springfield
**St. John United
+Towson
+Woods
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Got a
q
uestion about
church cont
ributions,
Per Capita or Shared Ministry?
or call 410.433.2012 and ask for finance.
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Not Again: How Must We Respond to Gun Violence?
As our country mourns the victims of yet another mass shooting - gunfire erupting this time during Sunday worship in a small-town church in Sutherland Springs, TX - Christians all over are, once again, trying to reason what led to such a horrific crime and pondering if anything can be done to stop it.
Following last month's mass shooting in Las Vegas, NV - in which 59 people were killed and 489 injured - the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director of the PC(USA)'s Office of Public Witness in Washington, encouraged churches to respond to the violence by praying and actively working for the passage of gun safety legislation. ". . .This has gone on for far too long," Rev. Hawkins said at the time.
"We mourn with those who have lost family members, friends and colleagues. We pray for healing for the injured both physically and mentally. We pray for our nation where there are more guns than people. Each week we learn of a new victim to gun violence and not even our children are immune to gun-inflicted wounds," he added.
PC(USA) and its predecessor bodies have addressed gun violence through the actions of many General Assemblies in the last fifty years. Beginning in the late 1960's, in response to the assassinations of public leaders, the General Assembly called for "....control [of] the sale and possession of firearms of all kinds." Similar resolutions were passed again in 1976, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996 and 1998. Each resolution reflected a sense of moral urgency in response to rising gun violence and the cultural trends that contributed to it. These resolutions have called on the church to be involved in education and advocacy at the federal, state, and community level to prevent gun violence. In 1991 and 1996, these resolutions were backed up with strong educational curricula as well as comprehensive strategies for advocacy.
PC(USA)'s Presbyterian Peace Fellowship now offers congregations a number of resources to help them address gun violence in their neighborhoods and the larger community. This resource provides educational resources, online links, recommended reading and documentaries, guidance for small group conversations, pastoral and worship resources and suggestions for action and advocacy. It includes the following study sessions:
- Gun Violence 101 and the Citizen's Test on Gun Violence in America
- Guns in the US Today, Including "Battleground America"
- Illegal Gun Sales
- Guns and Suicide
- What Does the Lord Require of Us?
Congregations are also encouraged to view a special documentary entitled T
rigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence.
This documentary frames gun violence as both a disaster and a public health issue; and addresses the critical issue of gun violence prevention by moving the conversation away from the polarizing extremes that have long dominated the debate and lifting up the voice and experiences of those who seek common ground and a new way forward. Trigger was produced in part as a response to the 219th General Assembly (2010) resolution
Gun Violence, Gospel Values: Mobilizing in Response to God's Call and to shed light on the growing issue. The documentary and its accompanying resources are the result of a collaborative
effort between the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Presbyterian Peacemaking.
For more information about congregational advocacy issues like gun violence, email the Presbytery's Advocacy Coordinator, Susan Krehbiel.
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OPEN ENROLLMENT period for
Board of Pensions 2018 health benefits started on Oct. 30, 2017 and runs through Nov. 17. You must make your benefits selections for 2018 during this time period. I am not sure if any of you have received an email from Board of Pensions, but I would suggest you go online to make your selection. Go to
BoardofPensions.org and click on Benefits Connect. It will walk you through the process of enrolling for your 2018 benefits.
The 223rd General Assembly will be held in St. Louis, MO June 16-23, 2018. Commissioners for the Presbytery of Baltimore are scheduled to be elected at Nov. 11 Gathering at Harundale
The Nominating Committee invites you to send the names of those who have a love of the Church and would be interested in serving as our commissioner to the 223rd General Assembly. We will be electing two ministers and two elders along, as well as, a Youth Advisory Delegate. Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged.
Please send names to the co-chairs of the Nominating Committee, Jenn DiFrancesco
[email protected]
, or Howard Jackson at
[email protected]
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CELL PHONES for PARTNERSHIP CHURCHES in CUBA
Can you imagine trying to pastor your community without a cell phone?
In El Centro Presbytery, Cuba, the pastors serve 2 or 3 separate Church congregations. They are in desperate need of cell phone minutes to keep up vital communication with their sessions and church leaders.
In an effort to raise funds for the purchase of cell phone minutes the Cuba Partnership is having a fundraiser at the Presbytery meeting Nov. 11 at Harundale PC. Please show your support by visiting the Cuba table where we will be selling desk calendars and note cards with pictures from Cuba. In addition, there will be handmade items from our partner churches in Cuba.
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The Presbyterian Board of Lady Managers, longtime benefactors of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center -- in particular, the Towson area hospital's eye, ear and throat clinic -- will celebrate its
140th Anniversary on Thursday, Nov. 30 at the hospital. To learn more about the group's ministry and mission, email Sue Leber at [email protected].
Havenwood Presbyterian Church will host a series of discussions to expand the congregation's understanding of the impact of racism both nationally and regionally. The discussions will include study and prayer and movie clips to provoke discussion. The discussions will occur at 7:30pm on Thursdays ( 10/26 11/2 and 11/19) at the church. All are welcome. Click here to RSVP
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Faith Presbyterian Church will host a concert to benefit victims of natural disasters in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Islands and Mexico at 4pm on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Click here for details.
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Catonsville Concerts at 3 presents the
Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra,
an eclectic mix of traditional and light classics, along with rags, foxtrots, two-steps, novelty tunes and rousing marches. This free concert will beheld at 3pm
on Sunday, Nov. 19
at the church. For details, call 410.747.6180.
Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church is hiring a
Community Music Director/Organist! This new position will work with both the church and community on all things musical, and it offers the opportunity for creative growth. It is a quarter-time position (10 hrs/week onsite). Click
Music at Dickey to learn more about this position.
Other
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 at 10 am - Introduction to
Strong Schools Maryland campaign with
David Hornbeck, at the
Presbytery Office Conference Room. Light refreshments to be provided. Contact
Susan Krehbiel for more details.
The Choose Hope 2017 Advocacy Summit, co-sponsored by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and Millennial Voices for Peace (MVP) will host an advocacy event Nov. 12-14 in Washington, D.C. The organization p
rovides a holistic space for millennials-including, college, seminary and graduate students as well as young professionals-who wish to engage in a national campaign for peace and justice in the Holy Land. Click Choose Hope to learn more.
See what's in the STEWARD NEWSLETTER FALL 2017:
- Church Needs Defibrillator
- Bring Fido to Church
- Prevent Bullying in Your Church
- Let's Prevent Fires
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Jacqueline E. Taylor
General Presbyter
[email protected]
Mary Gaut
Susan Krehbiel
Dir. of Congregational Advocacy
[email protected]
Chuck Brawner
Judy Johnson
Ministry Group Staff
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William Nickels III
Deb Milcarek
Deborah Greene
Dir. of Communications
[email protected]
Laura Mullen
McKenna Lewellen
Coordinator
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John "Jack" Carlson
Debbie Ingram Schmidt
Assoc. for Spiritual Leader Development
Wanda Morgan
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