Give Feedback on Meeting Times for Presbytery Gatherings!
The Presbytery Leader Team is also seeking feedback from Teaching Elders and likely Ruling Elder Commissioners on meeting times for the 2020 May and September Presbytery Gatherings. Currently, those gatherings are held in the late afternoon and evening, while the February and November Gatherings are daytime meetings. After a few years experimenting with this pattern, the Leader Team is seeking feedback on how it is working. Of interest is the opinion of Ruling Elders in the workforce, and whether this increases the likelihood that they could serve as Commissioners. Here’s the link to the survey to express your opinion on meeting times.
www.surveymonkey.com/r/PbyGatherings
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Highlights
from the November 2019 Presbytery Gathering
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What Happened at the November
Presbytery Gathering?
In addition to the Plenary Addresses from Christine Baer and Byron Borger (see separate article below), the presbytery worshiped with a powerful sermon delivered by the Rev. Yung Me Morris, pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church, Mendenhall. Learning opportunities continued with break-out groups to follow-up on the plenaries, and other topics of interest, including an introduction to Godly Play. The Rev. Dr. Tracy Brown, pastor of Latta Memorial, was welcomed as a member of the presbytery.
The updated Manual of Administrative Operations was adopted unanimously. One highlight is that the presbytery will now enjoy a five-year term with Stated Clerk Michael Wilson. A marvelous lunch was served by the people of First, York. Participants enjoyed the extensive bookstore offered by Hearts and Minds Bookstore. Participants also had the opportunity to visit a Habitat for Humanity Build offsite.
In their Presbytery Conversations, Executive Presbyter Erin Cox-Holmes and Stated Clerk Michael Wilson introduced a survey to determine the meeting time for the Spring and Fall Presbytery Gatherings in 2020 and requested invitations to host Presbytery Gatherings in 2020 and 2021. It was pointed out that a number of congregations are not sending Ruling Elder Commissioners on a regular basis, and that some pastors are not regular in attendance at presbytery gatherings. The Leader Team will be in conversation with those sessions to discover ways to continue to build our connections and participation.
Presbytery of Donegal Elects General Assembly Commissioners and Young Adult Advisory Delegate
The presbytery elected Commissioners and the Young Adult Advisory Delegate to the 224th General Assembly, which will be held in Baltimore June 20-27, 2020.
- Teaching Elder Commissioners: Sarah Kneier, Ann Osborne and Alternate, Larry Moir
- Ruling Elder Commissioners: Julie Allport, John Graham and Alternate, Alexandra Barainyak
- Young Adult Advisory Delegate: Julia Wilson and Alternate, Gretchen Wade
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Presbytery of Donegal Gatherings in Plenary: Baer and Borger
At the November 19, 2019 Presbytery Gathering at First Presbyterian, York, the presbytery heard from Christine Baer, the East Coast Faith Community Organizer of Church World Service and Byron Borger, co-owner of Hearts and Minds Bookstore. Baer focused on issues related to refugees, migrants, and asylum-seekers. A harsh truth is that there are globally 25.9 million registered refugees and 70.8 million displaced people. “A difficult reality is that the world has not figured out how to work together,” she said, speaking of the challenges of re-settling people who cannot safely return to their home countries. Baer advocated that a first step is to grow in hospitality. “When we welcome the stranger, we will be uncomfortable. Hospitality goes beyond saying welcome to the United States. It’s the gift of welcoming yourself into someone else’s space,” she pointed out. When we practice hospitality, strangers become neighbors. She quoted a woman from Somalia who was puzzled over American individualism: “How can I cook for my next-door neighbor if I don’t know her name?” Baer suggested that when we search such large world-wide statistics of disaster that we start to get numb, that we should start in our neighborhoods and congregations. From the awkwardness of being uncomfortable comes genuine welcome in the name of Christ.
Byron Borger spoke on four things that books can do for us. “Some say You lose yourself in books. But we find ourselves as well,” he said. His take on the value of reading:
- Buying books and reading them is an act of worship. Reading slowly, with all the grey matter you’ve got is less about information, and more for formation. Reading a couple of things really slowly and allowing it to shape us is an act of devotion.
- Books lead to discipleship. In reading, we become an apprentice to the master teacher. “We have to learn some such about the Jesus Way. At the very least we have to learn our Bibles.” He said there is so much that is broken in this world. God cares about it all. The cost of discipleship is buying a lot of books and reading them.
- Relational evangelism and Missional Engagement. Like Paul on Mars Hill, the church has to engage in culture and build bridges for the unchurched. We need to be listening to the stories, reading the bestsellers, watching the academy award winners as acts of discipleship. “People who read a lot are more empathetic.”
- Act of Community. Borger maintained it was John Wesley who founded book clubs. When we bring people together around storytellers and artists, lives are changed.
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Local Church Events Coming Up:
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Wednesday, November 27, 2019
7:30pm
Old Leacock Presbyterian Church
3181 Lincoln Hywy
Paradise
The Rev. Robert W. Birch will preach at the Thanksgiving Eve Service at the Historic Old Leacock Presbyterian Church. Old Leacock Church dates back to 1740 and is located at Old Leacock Road and the Old Philadelphia Pike - one mile west of Intercourse. Come and worship this Thanksgiving Eve - all are welcome. Readers may call 687-6619 for further information or visit the website
here
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Advent Service
Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church
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Sunday, December 1, 2019
3:00pm
Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church
1199 Valley Road
Quarryville
The Octarara Covenanter Presbyterian Foundation's annual Advent Service, featuring
a mix of Scottish and American sacred music will be performed by The Root Blossoms, Thompson McConnell, an ensemble from Solanco High School and others. Donald Henderson will read the Gospel in Broad Scots.
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The Polar Express & Holiday Craft Event
Honey Brook Presbyterian Church
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Saturday, December 14
10am - 2pm
Honey Brook Presbyterian Church
4331 Horseshoe Pike
Honey Brook
The event includes unique crafts, lunch, and desserts for purchase. There will also be model train layouts on display and a showing of The Polar Express movie throughout the day with free popcorn and hot chocolate.
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Seeking Churches with Solar Panels
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Ruling Elder Barb Warren from the First Presbyterian Church of York is seeking information on churches who have Solar Panels installed. Here are a few questions from Barb.
Does your church building have installed solar panels?
- Were the Solar Panels installed to produce electricity or hot water?
- Which direction is your church roof(s) oriented (N-S or E-W)?
- Is the roof slate, asphalt, or metal?
- Is your church located in a historic district or have an historic building?
- Would your church like to have solar panels installed but have issues such as historic building, slate roofs, financing, etc.?
Please contact Barb Warren at
Bwarren@legupfarm.org
who would love to talk to ministers or members of churches regarding any
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A NEW EARTH:
THINKING THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Sunday, June 14-Sunday, June 28, 2020
What does it mean to care for creation?
Are Christians called to respond to climate change?
Is it possible to live sustainably for the benefit of future generations?
Theologically curious high school students are invited to
apply before January 1, 2020
for the 2020 Lux Summer Theological Institute at Presbyterian-related Monmouth College (Monmouth, IL).
Funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Lux Institute is an opportunity for students to engage with a topic of global importance and participate in a living-learning community through study, worship, service, recreation, and vocational exploration.
Scholarships are available to cover all program expenses for the two-week program,
with the exception of travel. A free shuttle to/from Chicago airports is provided.
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Transitional Pastor Position Available at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Berwyn PA
The Trinity Presbyterian Church in Berwyn, PA, in Donegal Presbytery, is looking for a Transitional Pastor for a three-quarter to full-time position. The position will begin as soon after December 1, 2019 as possible.
Click here for details.
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