Because Presbyterians love Santas dressed as firemen:
These masked Santas from the Brownsville Fire Department stopped by First Presbyterian Church in Brownsville to drop off gifts for distribution. How does one get to be a masked Santa fireman anyways?
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MISSION PRESBYTERY
WEEKLY NEWS
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Prayer in a Time of National Emergency |
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Editor's note: This pastoral letter was sent yesterday, January 6th, as events were unfolding in Washington, D.C. We reprint this note today to encourage continued prayer.
Beloveds,
I can use a million different adjectives to describe the time in which we find ourselves today: unprecedented, scary, you name it. The best posture that you and I can take, in a moment of what looks to be national emergency, is prayer. Please pray with me the text of Psalm 46 as we ask for God's presence, God's wisdom, God's healing to prevail.
You all are very close in my prayers this day.
Blessings, Sallie
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The General Council calls a meeting of Mission Presbytery on Saturday, January 9, 2021, at 9:00am via Zoom. The purpose of the meeting is to elect an Administrative Commission to help close Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at its own request. Click the button below to register for this meeting |
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After registering and your request has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If you are attending this meeting as a VISITOR and have not been elected by your congregation to serve as a COMMISSIONER, please do not register. The meeting will be available for viewing live on our YouTube channel by clicking the button below.
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Third Sunday Resources for Jan. 17th now online |
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Mission Presbytery offers "Third Sunday" worship services for your congregation. These resources include video sermons and liturgical elements.
You can find liturgical and video resources for Sunday, January 17th on the Mission Presbytery website now.
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Synod of the Sun Scholarships for M.Div and Undergraduate Students |
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The Synod of the Sun offers scholarships for M.Div. students attending PC(USA) seminaries. The Synod also offers scholarships to selected undergraduate students at Austin College and Trinity University. Thanks to an additional generous donation, this fund is now endowed over $1 million.
Read more about our Kerr-Munson and M.Div scholarships below.
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Blessed Be The Tie That Binds |
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(editor's note: look for the photo taken at Ed Sackett's ordination in the video)
"Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love..."
Per Capita offerings are an individual effort to show that we belive and belong to this body that we call 'Presbyterian'. Our individual offerings join with others' in the joyful participation in the Spirit's collective work of strengthening and expanding the Church. Our particular structure and style of discernment welcomes all voices to the decision table and the Lord's table, ensuring our leaders are able to serve God and God's people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.
In giving to support Per Capita, we are saying, "Thank you for the gift of the Church." We are working together, seeking the mind of Christ, working for justice and mercy in the world, and participating in God's continual reformation of the Church.
We are the Church, together.
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While some people look forward to baseball season or the season of Spring, our faithful Stated Clerk welcomes Statistical Report season!
In addition to reporting on forms that are being updated and the preparation of two Necrology Reports, Laurie encourages us to "go easy on one another" in this season of perseverance and resiliency.
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While encouraging us to be "the light of Christ" to our friends and neighbors, offering "cups of cold water to those in pain", Sallie writes of the direction of Mission Presbytery in 2021, increasing participation and engaging our neighborhoods.
What might it look like when there are fewer silos and more cross-pollinating? Read more in this week's Ponderings.
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The members of the Youth Connection Committee and the Midwinter Planning Team are thrilled to invite you to Midwinters 2021: Holy Connections! Midwinters will take place on Zoom this year on Friday, January 22-Sunday, January 24, 2021. Our theme scripture is Hebrews 10: 21-24. We will explore what it means to “not neglect to gather together” during this time of COVID.
We are blessed to be joined by our two amazing keynote speakers, Natarsha Sanders, Director of Family Ministries at First Presbyterian in Kerrville, and Rev. Andries Coetzee, Pastor of University Presbyterian in San Antonio. You and your youth won’t want to miss this!
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Free Webinars on Foster Care and Adoption |
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Sunday, January 10 at 2:00 PM
Thursday, January 14 at 8:00 PM
Tuesday, January 19 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 23 at 10:00 AM
Wednesday, January 27 at 8:00 PM
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Board of Pensions Resources for the New Year |
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The Board of Pensions offers two helpful resources to assist churches in being ready for 2021.
The Start of the Year Checklist from the Board of Pensions provides congregational leaders reminders and guidance of annual reporting requirements to the presbytery, IRS, and Board of Pensions.
The Benefits Connect Employer Guide walks treasurers/administrators through the steps of reporting changes.
Find these links below and contact Rev. Kevin Keaton, BOP Church Consultant with your questions at kkeaton@pensions.org or 215-435-1301.
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PCHAS Thanks Mission Presbytery for 2020 Grant |
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The Mission, Outreach and Justice Committee wants to pass along this Thank You Note from Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services, one of our 2020 grant recipients.
This is also a reminder that MOJC grant applications are due by January 22, 2021. Applications are located on the Mission Presbytery website and can be emailed to Rev. Chad Lawson @ chadlawson06@gmail.com
Advent Blessings!
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Church Worship and Meeting Plans Worksheet |
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The Presbytery office has compiled a listing of worship opportunities and programs being offered by the Presbytery's churches. The file is in Excel format and can be downloaded from the website Virtual Community page. Please contact Melody Gonzalez at the Presbytery office with any updates. |
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Find it on our "Virtual Community" Web Page |
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- Scattered Church Resource Support Survey - NEW
- Online Giving in 2020 - NEW
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Northminster Presbyterian Church in Northwest San Antonio is seeking a full time pastor. Interested candidates may email his or her PIF to ramsdoc918@gmail.com or mail it to Northminster Presbyterian Church, 6800 Tezel Road, San Antonio, TX 78250, ATTN: PNC Chair.
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, in rapidly growing Boerne, Texas located in the beautiful hill country, is seeking a full-time Solo Pastor. You are invited to email your PIF to pncstmarktx@gmail.com or mail to St. Mark, P.O. Box 1274, Boerne, Texas 78006.
Canyon Lake Presbyterian Church is searching for a part-time Administrator.
First Presbyterian Church of Kingsville is seeking a full-time or part-time Pastor.
Northminster Presbyterian Church in San Antonio is seeking a part-time Director of Christian Education.
Hospice Austin has a PRN-on-call chaplain position.
First Presbyterian Church of Uvalde is seeking a part-time Pastoral Leader.
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We are Mission Presbytery, serving Christ in the World. In the Reformed Tradition, together we,
- Establish and equip congregations and session to carry out their missions;
- Recruit, receive, ordain, develop, and care for those called to service in the church;
- Enable mission and witness to the Gospel that congregations cannot accomplish alone; and
- Steward our resources faithfully and generously.
We are better together.
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