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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
February 10, 2021
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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 of February 14-20
First Presbyterian Church of Ashby
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Clerk of Session: Barb Dewey
Treasurer: Jim Risbrudt
Financial Secretaries: Bob and Donna Fay Grover
Worship Musicians: Kris Williams, Jane Rosenow
Session members: Judy Helle, Ron Bowman, Kim Bailey, Hayley Stevens, Troy Johnson, Donna Fay Grover
Administrative Assistant: Hayley Stevens
Pastor: Rev. Paul Snyder
We just returned to in-person worship at the beginning of February, while continuing to offer our worship service on Facebook Live and by conference call each Sunday. We are in the process of implementing a new technology plan which involves installing a new 85” big screen TV and a new sound system. This will allow us to plug the sound system directly into the camera so that our sound quality will be much better for online services. This congregation plans to make online worship services a regular part of our worship experience from this time forward.
Our congregation is also making a concerted effort to connect our Sunday School to our worship service. Each Sunday, all children come to worship with their families. The children stay in the sanctuary for the first part of worship until the children’s sermon. The children’s sermon serves as there Bible story for Sunday School. Following the children’s sermon the Sunday School students go to Sunday School and have a craft or activity that directly relates to the Bible story they heard in worship. This past fall, we offered a First Communion class for the first time. In the past, First Communion was offered following confirmation. We now offer a First Communion class to any child in 3rd grade or above. On November 1, we celebrated as 23 children and youth celebrated their First Communion. What a joyful celebration!!
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As I prepare to say goodbye, I want to express my gratitude for the presbytery again. I give thanks for the joys we have shared, and the ministry implemented together. May God grant you the grace to continue to be faithful witnesses in this region. May you be instruments of advocacy and peace, witnesses of prophetic truth, and those who proclaim that our God reigns. May God propel forward your visions of ministry. May you dream of new possibilities and find the courage to make those aspirations a reality. I am thankful that Elder Kathy Terpstra will serve as your Gap Executive. She will serve the presbytery well—blessings, Kathy, on your new work. |
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Thank you for your many farewell wishes. Special thanks to Karen and Pam. It has been a pleasure to work with you. I expect through our connectional church, we will cross paths again around the Church. I am forever your sister in Christ Jesus.
“The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord cause His face to shine on you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His face to you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Grace and Peace,
Rev. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley
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From the Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee is pleased to report that they received two applications for the Gap Executive Presbyter position. They were both exceptionally qualified. We have done reference checks and interviews of the two and have made a decision along with rest of the Operations Commission to hire CRE Kathy Terpstra for that position. She has served a number of churches in our presbytery and has also served in the Synod and in GA on a national Mission committee. We are extremely happy to have her on board. This will be a part time position and we will be informing you of her schedule as soon as she is settled in.
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Out of office: Karen Lange will be off on Friday, February 12 |
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Presbytery meeting highlights
by Pamela Prouty
The first stated meeting of 2021 of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys was full of study, business, worship, hellos and goodbyes. We started with a Bible Study led by Dr. Raj Nadella entitled “God as the Margins: The Roman Empire and Matthew’s Theology of Kin(g)dom Community” One pastor’s take away from the Bible study is that as Christians we often do charity work in order to further God’s kin(g)dom and feel good about this, but in reality what we need to do as Christians is change the systems so charity work is not needed. The 2020 Necrology was shared. And a musical combo of Paul Snyder, Galen Smith, Leanne Thompson, Michael Hartwell and Thomas Hartwell (Michael’s son) shared their instrumental talents with two selections, “How Great Thou Art” and “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.”
Some of the business of the meeting was electing a new synod commissioner and commission members, approving the membership roll and hearing committee/commission reports. We heard a report from Dianna Wright, interim director of the office of ecumenical and interreligious relations at the Office of the General Assembly. She shared information about the office as well as encouraged us to continue our ecumenical and interfaith work.
Commissioned Ruling Elder David Hollis who served the Slayton church and the Rev. Murphy Ashley who served the Silver Lake were honored for their retirement. The Rev. David Choate, interim pastor for the Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Rushmore and First Presbyterian Church, Rushmore was introduced and welcomed. And finally we said goodbye to the Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley who will be leaving her service as Executive Presbyter to answer a call as Synod Executive of the Synod of the Northeast. The meeting ended with prayer and communion led by Elaine Boyd.
The next meeting of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys will be Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Link to presbytery meeting recording
Link to Dianna Wright's presentation slides
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Michael Hartwell, Galen Smith, Leanne Thompson, Paul Snyder, Thomas Hartwell |
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Westminster Presbyterian Church of Worthington make the news, all because of chickens?
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Short Survey from Transformation & Development
The Commission on Transformation and Development is working to make sure we are serving you and your churches the best we can in this next year. In order to best serve you, we need to hear from you! Please take this brief survey so we can plan our events and opportunities to serve the greatest needs of our Presbytery.
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Help People Improve their Lives
With your donations to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering during Lent, you are a channel of Christ’s love. The more money given in our Presbytery, the more funds will be available for Self-Development of People grants in our Presbytery. Last year we were able to award a grant for just under $6000 to support education for the children of Somali refugees in St. Peter.
You can become more personally engaged by serving on our Presbytery’s SDOP Committee. There is a place for you in this ministry if you have a compassion for struggling people and value the approach of self-development, not just hand-outs. We can better serve our communities by having additional representatives from across the Presbytery. Please contact Rev, Andy Davis, chair of the Commission on Presbytery Life, if you or someone you know would like to serve.
The majority of the committee is to be people of color; they do not have to be Presbyterian. But the majority of the committee needs to Presbyterians, including the chair. If we get more members we can set up a rotation system so people would serve for three year terms.
Responsibilities of the members include: 1) Certification training (required every three years; we are due this year; virtual training is scheduled for April 10 from 10:00-12:00) 2) Soliciting donations to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering which funds SDOP grants 3) Soliciting applications for grants (this may include reaching out to congregations or community organizations through various means of communication--when we can, in-person informational meetings could be the best) 4) Review applications to see if they met the criteria, including conducting an on-site or virtual visit (this process may include working with the applicant to revise the application). 5) Submit the application to the national office for their approval 6) Make sure the checks are sent. 7) Review the project (usually six months later) and submit a report to the national office.
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Church Safety/Security Resources
Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide: A DHS Guidebook for both thinking about the security of Houses of Worship and achieving a security plan best suited to the unique circumstances of every community.
Houses of Worship Security Self Assessment: A CISA developed baseline
security self assessment tool designed for a person with little to no security
PDA Resource Guide for Human Caused Disasters
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Minnesota Department of Health Coronavirus Resources
Updated faith related guidance documents have been posted. Anything you can do virtually, you should do virtually at this time.
New updated documents are
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Beginning January 1, 2021 the standard mileage rates are:
56 cents per mile for business use
16 cents per mile for medical, or moving purposes
14 cents per mile for service of charitable organizations
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2021 Per Capita
$43.00 Total
$28.52 for Presbytery
$5.50 for Synod
$8.98 for GA
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Worship Opportunities
If you are interested in having someone new give a Sunday Message via Zoom or have something recorded to show, here are some PCUSA mission co-workers currently in the states who would be willing to do a sermon or talk about mission on Sunday or another time. They are open to share their stories with anyone interested.
Any groups that might like to have a guest, please contact one of these folks. Do you have a Bible Study group or maybe your Presbyterian Women's group. Think about it!
This might even be a good idea for Lenten services. Please consider using this wonderful resource available to your congregation.
Eliane Menezes
Eliane Menezes: Mission co-worker in Guatemala, Serving with the National Union of Presbyterian Women of the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG)
Tyler Holm
Mission Co-worker in Malawi since 2013, Serving at the University of Livingstonia, College of Theology
Betsey and Eric Moe
Serving with the Presbyterian World Mission and CEDEPCA
Jose Jones
Mission co-worker in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Serving at the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa (CPK) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Friends in Christ,
Here are a some more of the PCUSA Mission Co-workers who contacted me and would love to share their work with your congregations. In this time when we are home a lot and not traveling around, wouldn't it be fun to travel virtually and learn about the world through the eyes of these wonderful people. Please consider using them and their information. They are so willing and anxious to connect with you. Let your congregation be blessed by them.
Kathy Terpstra
Cheryl Barnes, Malawi
My name is Rev. Cheryl H. Barnes. I am currently serving in Malawi, Africa as an Education Facilitator. I would like to forward a taped update of my work for use to Facebook or Lenten services. Please let me know the procedure for getting this update to you. My email address is Cheryl.barnes@pcusa.org.
Ryan and Alethia White - Iran
Your kind invitation to Mission Coworkers to contribute to congregations within your presbytery was passed on to us through Louisville and we would be happy to be involved! If that is something that you are still looking for, please let us know how we can best help. We are very comfortable either creating video messages to send to congregations or joining a church live online, having done both often enough especially in the past year. Our family has been living in Berlin, Germany since 2014 and working with the Iranian Presbyterian Church here in the city. Our work now includes various projects and partners in Berlin and Germany, mostly based on migration practices and the role of the church. We are also expanding our work to include partners across Europe around the issues of migration and racism, although this is still relatively new.
Below our signature is a link to our PCUSA web page in case that is helpful. Please feel free to be in touch with any questions or ideas!
Rev. Ryan and Alethia White
Iranische Presbyterianische Gemeinde Berlin
Richardstr 97
12043, Berlin
Deutschland/Germany
TEL: +49 176 280 379 69
Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Co-workers
To subscribe to our letters click here
Elmarie and Scot Parker, Lebanon
My husband, Rev. Scott Parker, and I are based in Beirut, Lebanon serving with partners in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. We are very interested in discussing with you how we may be of service to you all at this time. We do have some internet limitations, but we have found some good work-arounds that we can discuss as we see what interests a church might have for our involvement in worship.
We look forward to hearing from you!
In Christ’s Peace,
Elmarie
Rev. Elmarie E.R. Parker
PCUSA Regional Liaison to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon
Lebanon Mobile/WhatsApp: +961 76-375-823
USA Mobile (for Spring 2020): +1 971-888-2590
Skype: elmarie.parker
Skype Phone #: 503-213-3532
Lebanon Mailing Address:
The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
Att: Rev. Elmarie Parker
P.O. Box 70/890
Antelias – Lebanon
USA Mailing Address:
1015 Oak St. #63
Silverton, OR 97381
Melissa Johnson - Zambia
Mary Nebelsick let me know that the Presbytery of Minnesota was looking for mission co-workers to connect with your congregations. I would love to participate! I already have a YouTube moment for mission ready to go or I would be happy to discuss any other options. I am including the link to the presentation so you can take a look and decide if you would like to share it with some of your congregations. https://youtu.be/P7q7sf3axUU
I look forward to hearing from you.
Blessings,
Melissa Johnson
+260 97 7969328 (Zambia)
+1-210-218-9847 (U.S.)
Betsey Moe - Guatemala
My name is Betsey Moe, and my husband and I are (fairly) new mission co-workers with CEDEPCA in Guatemala. We are currently residing in Spokane, WA. Thank you for reaching out to mission co-workers in the PC(USA)! I'd love to talk with you about opportunities for virtual sharing in your presbytery. I'm open to preaching, a minute for mission, informal Zoom coffee hour, etc. A few of my co-workers at CEDEPCA are fully bilingual and would be open to participating as well -- if congregations would like to hear firsthand about what is going on in the aftermath of the hurricanes, for example.
One idea is that I am already preaching for a congregation in Denver on Transfiguration Sunday (Feb. 14) and would be happy to record that same sermon for another congregation.
I have a YouTube channel that shows a sampling of what we could do. If you go to "playlists," there are also links to CEDEPCA videos that may be shown in congregations.
I look forward to talking more with you!
Betsey Moe
(509) 951-7837
Jose LaMont Jones - Congo
I am available and am at your disposal.
I am (pandemic permitting) on my way to the Democratic Republic of Congo to work with the schools of the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa. We are in the throws of our Congo Mission Network Virtual Conference and I also include a link to a video presentation I put together a couple weeks ago to give you an idea of what I do (will do) and with whom I will work when I get to the DRC. The link is:
Mark and Miriam Adams US/Mexico Border
My spouse Miriam Maldonado and I serve as Mission Co-workers on the US/Mexico border in Agua Prieta, Sonora and Douglas, AZ.
Mary Nebelsick of PCUSA World Mission shared your invitation to Mission Co-workers to join some of the congregations in the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys to provide worship leadership via a recorded message, a sermon, or a talk highlighting their mission work etc.
Check out this video by Steve Jeeter of National Community Church in Washington DC
We would be honored to participate.
Mark S. Adams
PCUSA Mission Co-worker
Serving with Frontera de Cristo
Rachel and Michael Ludwig, Niger
We heard that you are looking for videos to offer to the churches for worship. We have some available, if they are helpful for your worship services, please use them.
It is a little helpful to know when they are used so that we know where connection has been made with a congregation. It is not absolutely necessary though.
Sermon - with Scripture reading from Romans 12:1-8 (Theme: Offering ourselves to God in worship with perspectives from Niger)
Recent Sermon - based on John 4:5-26 and Proverbs 25:25 (Theme: Being open for mission means being vulnerable and listening)
Peace be with you,
Rachel and Michael Ludwig
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Prayer List
- For Rev. John Lindholm, retired pastor, Fergus Falls, health concerns
- For Rev. Mark Chamberlain, retired pastor, Willmar
- For Rev. Bob Bartlett, First Presbyterian Churches of Brewster & Round Lake
- For Rev. Michael Roys, retired pastor, Winnebago
Pray for Our Occidente Partners in Guatemala
- For the families of the three Occidente pastors that have recently died
- For those who have contracted the Covid virus
- For the "Men in the Mirror" program. Men from Occidente that MVP supported financially to attend the classes are sharing the information they gained with different churches in the eastern and central parts of Guatemala. They, along with the chaplains of the national Presbyterian church, are training Christian policemen in what they learned from "Men in the Mirror."
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
First Presbyterian Church, Lake Crystal; First Presbyterian Church, Kasota - Pastor, yoked parish
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood - Solo Pastor
Faith Presbyterian Church, Silver Lake - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Slayton - Pastor
Hope Presbyterian Church, Spicer - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Interim Pastor
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New online and printable Lenten devotional for 2021 from Presbyterians Today
The Way to Shalom
A Lenten Journey to Peace and Wholeness
Lent is all about spiritual renewal. It is a sacred time of preparation for Easter and a time to reflect on what God has done to redeem us and how we can live a whole and full life as a child of God.
Many of us see Lent as a season of penitence, fasting, service and contemplation — but at the top of our list should be a prayer for the acquisition of peace. In our devotional this year, we invite you to reflect upon the gift of shalom, the Hebrew word with a host of meanings: peace, security, well-being, health, completeness. Our spiritual goal: exploring how can we receive this gift of shalom and, in turn, bestow it upon the world.
Now, more than ever, we deeply crave shalom. Our world is in desperate need of peace. The United States has just come out of a contentious election, a struggle with a global pandemic, and painful racial violence. Poverty, misery and despair fill many corners of the world. Yes, we desire peace. We need peace.
Every week from Ash Wednesday (February 17) through Easter (April 4), this year’s devotional focuses on shalom — and what it can mean in our lives and how we can bring it to the world. We explore themes of justice, peace, healing, hope, repairing and reconciliation. You’ll find Scripture readings along with beautiful meditations and prayers written by the director and staff of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness in Washington: the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Catherine Gordon and Christian Brooks. You’ll be challenged and moved — and hopefully, spiritually enriched.
The Way to Shalom is online and free for download or printing. You’re invited to use it, share it, excerpt from it and make it your spiritual companion this Lent.
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Meet our Presenters and Preview the Workshops
On March 2, the Presbyterian Foundation will present a Day of Learning covering practical tools for stewardship and financial sustainability.
10:30 a.m. CST - Church Mission and Sustainability with Stephen Keizer and Rev. Gail Monsma
Ensuring the long-term viability of your church mission in the face of evolving cultural pressures means it is important for churches to develop creative and comprehensive stewardship programs.
This workshop will provide ideas for creating a culture of generosity through a comprehensive stewardship program. We will talk about how people give, donor motivation, how to craft your mission story, leadership’s role in stewardship, provide giving tools as well as discuss how planned giving fits into a stewardship.
1:00 p.m. CST - Virtual Campaigns and Online Giving with Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley and Karl Mattison
2020 forced everything into a distanced and virtual environment. Stewardship included. There are some blessings in disguise. Join us to call out some of the most important lessons learned for conducting efficient and effective stewardship campaigns. In this seminar, we will share the top five features that we can leverage from a virtual stewardship campaign and how we can effectively use these tools going forward. The pandemic has been a miserable experience, but let’s grasp and grow from lessons learned.
4:30 p.m. CST - Practical Tips for Church Budgeting with Olanda Carr and Rev. Dr. Jonah So
In this workshop we will cover the basic items to consider when creating a
church budget. An overview of the various types of church budgets – zero-based, program, line-item, and narrative – will be provided. Additional time will be allocated to the narrative budgeting process, including beginning steps and resources.
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40th Annual Ecumenical Rural Ministry Conference
“Engaging and Ministry with Cultural Traditionalists”
THIS EVENT IS CO-SPONSORED BY WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
We live in a deeply divided society with divisions along political, social, cultural, urban/rural lines. This conference will be helpful for pastors who see these divisions in their communities and congregations and are looking for ways to minister to all people.
Our keynote Speaker Tex Sample will explore this division by looking at a key demographic, cultural traditionalists. Cultural traditionalists are the largest demographic in rural America and one of the largest in the country. This demographic is not limited by age, gender, or denomination.
The presentations of Tex Sample will provide a description of this important group and offer suggestions for working with cultural traditionalists. These presentations are valuable not only for small town and rural congregations but will provide a greater understanding of this demographic found in many, if not most, congregations.
The Rev. Dr. Tex Sample brings years of ministry experience, teaching and research to this topic. His most recent books include A Christian Justice for the Common Good, and Working Class Rage: A Field Guide to White Anger and Pain. Tex Sample has participated throughout his career in both the church and the community, with a focus on social, racial, gender, and economic justice issues, community organizing, and interfaith movements.
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Living Well, Leading Well
A monthly series of virtual workshops sponsored by Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center promoting wholeness, wellbeing, and renewal in our personal and professional lives. Each workshop will be taught by specialists in the areas of counseling, biblical studies, peace-making, and pastoral ministry.
PURSUING JUSTICE
Thursday March 11, 6:30-8:30pm | $20
Join Rev. Chris Dorsey to learn about our call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). Dorsey is President of Higher Education & Leadership Ministries and has worked as a university chaplain and professor of preaching. An engaging, insightful teacher, Dorsey has significant leadership experience in racial justice and equity in churches and seminaries. Register here.
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Formation for Mission: Dipping into the Well of PC(USA) Resources
A Spring Learning Opportunity for Presbyterians
March 13-14
This weekend class offers participants the opportunity to learn more about the breadth and depth of resources available for Presbyterian church leaders. This course provides the opportunity to interact with a number of national staff people for the PC(USA) and to become acquainted with the resources their offices offer to aid and further the ministry of local congregations.
Who should consider taking this class?
- Anyone who wants to grow in their faith and understanding of being Presbyterian
- Session members and Deacons
- Committee chairs
- Commissioned Pastors seeking a helpful continuing education opportunity
- Those who might be called to be commissioned pastors
What will this class involve?
- Through a series of interactive panel discussions with national staff for the PCUSA, participants will dip deep into the well of resources for:
- Understanding and engaging the Matthew 25 initiative of the denomination and its focus on building congregational vitality, eradicating system poverty and dismantling structural racism.
- Forming lifelong disciples who are grounded in the reformed tradition and equipped for evangelism, equipped to be peacemakers and witnesses to the world, and who engage the reformed tradition to work towards justice and equity for all God's people.
- The Presbyterian Publishing House will share new resources for faith formation of all ages and participants will explore a variety of resources and how they can be used in local congregations.
- This class will meet by Zoom on Saturday 9:00-5:00 and Sunday 9:00-3:00 CT.
What is the cost?
- $125 for participants from partner presbyteries. $150 for participants from non-partner presbyteries. For those interested in the whole series of 11 classes in the Academy, there is a discount.
Who is sponsoring this?
- This is a class offered through The Academy, a series of classes for church members designed to deepen faith as participants encounter Christ in a new way. For those who are called or are exploring a call to become a Commissioned Pastor, this is a program that can help that happen. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the Presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, North Central Iowa, Northern Waters and Prospect Hill are the current sponsors of the Academy.
How do I register or find more information?
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Workshop is Feb 16 online
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