 |
|
|
|
FROM RACHEL YATES, PRESBYTERY EXECUTIVE
|
LESSONS FROM TRICK-OR-TREATING
Happy Halloween! (As a religious leader, I mean that in the least celebration-of-evil-forces way.)
For the three hours that my daughter's neighborhood encouraged trick-or-treating, we tried to give away as much candy as possible. I got excited each time I saw a group of Mario Brothers, superheroes, ghouls, or princesses working their way toward her house. Then, for some reason, they'd skip us and go to the next house. It was both baffling and disappointing.
We opened the front door, leaving only the screen door closed, in an effort to look welcoming and ready for business. Nope. The little ones would run up to ring the doorbell of the house next door, and then.
..(
READ MORE
)
.
|
|
NOVEMBER PRESBYTERY GATHERING
Please mark your calendar for the November presbytery gathering on Tuesday, November 27th at Linn Presbyterian Church in Lake Geneva. Our theme is Stewardship of our Time. This is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. We hope you can "make time" to attend! Watch for online registration coming soon.
If you have anything you're doing in your local church that you would like to "promote" in the Presbytery Newsfeed at our gathering, please send your Powerpoint slide to
Chris Halverson by November 21.
|
|
STATEMENTS ON PITTSBURGH SHOOTING
- Our PC(USA)'s Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson offered this statement.
|
|
This pastor was on Romper Room.
This week's mystery pastor is Deb Bergeson-Graham. Before entering kindergarten, Deb was on the show Romper Room where she sadly learned that the Magic Mirror was not really magic. Today, Deb is still a do-bee, serving on the Commission on Ministry and enjoying her December 2017 retirement by serving as a substitute teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools. No one correctly guessed Deb was on Romper Room.
******************************************************************************
WHO IS THIS?
This pastor was a college football cheerleader.
Send your guess to
Chris Halverson
and the first person to guess correctly will be recognized next week and receive a free dinner at the next presbytery meeting!
|
|
|
NEWS FROM THE DENOMINATION
|
VACANCY DUES ELIMINATED
Out of a strong sense of stewardship and solid management of the revenue stream, the Board of Pensions has decided to eliminate vacancy dues, effective January 1, 2019. Currently, congregations pay dues for the first 12 months that a minister member's position is vacant. Going forward, this burden has been eliminated.
|
|
re: RE - 'THE GIFT OF SPIRIT'
Rev. Joan Gray has written the most recent installment of Regarding Ruling Elders, a monthly resource of the Office of the General Assembly. She notes, "For the early church, the infallible evidence of being a Christian was the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, at work in a person's life. The ways the Spirit manifested varied from person to person (not everybody spoke in tongues for example), but the bottom line was this: if you were a true believer, you received the Holy Spirit." Gray's complete column is at
"
Regarding Ruling Elders
."
|
|
GOOD CHURCH WEBSITE DESIGN
Odds are that a visitor will go to your church's website before she ever walks through your door. If that worries you, you might find this short YouTube
video, created by Dave Baker from the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, helpful.
|
|
GA AMENDMENTS
As we prepare to vote on Book of Order amendments at an upcoming Presbytery meeting, Fresh Impressions will give you a preview of the proposed changes.
Two proposed amendments, 18-B.1 and 18-B.2, speak to situations when a PC(USA) minister of Word and Sacrament renounces jurisdiction while in the midst of disciplinary proceedings and then wants to rejoin the PC(USA). One amendment would prohibit the minister from serving in a congregation, on either a paid or voluntary basis, until the minister is restored to office through application to the presbytery in which he or she originally renounced jurisdiction. The second, related amendment allows charges to be brought against a minister who rejoins the church, without a time limit and based on all accusations that had been made when that the former minister of the Word and Sacrament had renounced jurisdiction. Read the full text of these amendments and the comments here.
To read all proposed amendments, click
here
.
|
|
ELIGIBILITY FOR SABBATH SABBATICAL SUPPORT GRANTS
The Board of Pensions voted to expand eligibility for Sabbath Sabbatical Support Grants. Effective January 1, 2019, the grants will be open to any Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister enrolled in Pastor's Participation engaged in or supporting congregational ministry, such as interim ministers and mid council staff. Currently, grants are limited to ministers serving congregations of fewer than 200 members.
Applicants will have to have been continuously enrolled in Pastor's Participation (previously, the Traditional Program) for at least the past six years. Their effective salary may not exceed $80,000, and they will have to show financial need. The Board of Pensions must approve their sabbatical proposal and costs. Ministers will be eligible to receive one sabbatical grant per six-year period.
|
|
This congregation
began in 1850 and over the years has changed its name three times. For 40 of their nearly 170 years they have been led by student pastors. Six of their pastors went on to become either Stated Clerks or Presbytery Executives. Rumor has it that if you go to one of their potlucks, they serve a mean Tater-Tot Casserole!
Answer is
here.
|
|
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON
Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee has announced its Annual Luncheon and Awards Ceremony for December 6.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER REV. HURMON HAMILTON
will challenge us to dream and to act for change: "When diverse communities of faith dare to DREAM CRAZY BIG, with a commitment to ACTION, the world changes! "A reflection on Habakkuk 1 & 2!"" Click for
details
.
Interested in attending? Please notify the Presbytery office (
chalverson@pbymilwaukee.org or 414-292-2740), so we can determine whether to secure a Presbytery table.
|
|
MARTIN SCHREIBER AT GREENFIELD AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Former Governor Martin J. Schreiber will be the special guest speaker at the Nov. 18, 2018 Adult Sunday School at Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church,
1455 S. 97
th
Street, West Allis. The time is 11:00 AM, & EVERYONE who is interested in
hearing about his book,
My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer's Caregiver,
is invited to attend. All of us know someone who's been impacted by this dreadful disease, whether as patient or caregiver; it's important to learn as much as we possibly can about the subject. "If there's one thing worse than Alzheimer's Disease, it's ignorance of the disease", Schreiber says. Please be with us, & invite friends to come, too! Copies of his book will be available, should you wish to purchase one.
|
|
TREES THAT TRANSFORM
A letter from Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather, serving in South Sudan October 2018
Trees That Transform
|
|
SHARING GOD'S MISSION WITH YOU
|
|
THE LISBON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SUSSEX AND THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RICHFIELD, WI ARE SEEKING A STATED SUPPLY PASTOR TO SERVE BOTH CONGREGATIONS
Click
here
for job description and compensation.
|
|
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN IN RACINE SEEKS BRIDGE PASTOR
We are seeking a Bridge Pastor who will lead worship and preach on Sundays, moderate our session meetings, visit hospital/home as needed, conduct funerals and weddings, and provide staff oversight while we search for our permanent pastor.
Click
here
for full job description and compensation
|
|
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN IN RACINE SEEKS WORSHIP PIANIST
Second Presbyterian Church in Racine is looking for a church pianist to play for our Sunday worship service. This is a part-time paid staff position. If interested or for more details contact Rev. Alan McCalister at 414-640-4116 or email
amccalister@wi.rr.com
|
|
KIRKLAND CROSSINGS SEEKS RN, RA AND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
KIRKLAND CROSSINGS SEEKS FULL TIME RN, RESIDENT ASSISTANTS, MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
Our
Mission
is To honor God by enriching the lives and touching the hearts of older adults. Apply online at
www.preshomes.org
or contact Rachel Anderson, HR Representative at 262-695-5801
rranderson@preshomes.org
for more information. We are located in beautiful Pewaukee, WI.
|
|
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN IN JANESVILLE SEEKS PART TIME SOLO PASTOR
First Presbyterian Church, Janesville seeks part time solo pastor. Click for
MIF
|
|
CROSSROADS SEEKS TWO POSITIONS
Pastor/Head of Staff: Please click here for MIF
Associate Bridge Pastor:
Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Mequon WI is currently looking for a Bridge Associate Pastor to provide continuity with our Deacons, Adult Ed and Mission/Outreach ministries. This is a temporary role for the purpose of bridging the time until our PNC finds a new Sr. Pastor and we begin a search for a full-time Associate Pastor. It is not required that this Pastor be specifically trained in transitional work. Please see the attached job description or visit our website:
www.crossroadspres.org
Resumes or MIFs can be sent to:
careers@crossroadspres.org
. Please include any links or clips of relevant sermons or other recordings. Please click for JOB DESCRIPTION
|
|
GOOD SHEPHERD TRINITY SEEKS PART TIME BOOKKEEPER
Send resumes to the church at 3302 N. Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53216, to the attention of Jeannette Bell.
|
|
PRESBYTERY OF MILWAUKEE SEEKS TWO POSITIONS
The Presbytery seeks 2 people to serve in unique roles. We are hiring a part-time
Communications Coordinator
to be part of our Presbytery staff team. Also, as Jessie Read plans for retirement this year, we are looking for a part-time, volunteer Treasurer
to begin working with her to transition. Click on those links for job descriptions. If you are interested in either position, notify
Matt Lee
, Moderator of Personnel Team.
|
|
CALVARY SEEKS SUNDAY SCHOOL EDUCATOR
Sunday School Educator: job description
here
.
|
|
|
FUTURE PRESBYTERY GATHERING DATES
|
- TUESDAY, November 27 - Linn Presbyterian in Lake Geneva, 4pm
- TUESDAY, February 19 - Living Hope Presbyterian in Menomonee Falls, 4pm
- WEDNESDAY, May 22 - TBD
- WEDNESDAY, September 25 - TBD
- THURSDAY, November 21 - TBD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
