Blessed be the LORD,
for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
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We Lift Up In Prayer...
Mission Co-Workers:
The Rev. Cathy Chang and family who are serving in the Philippines.
Michael and Rachel Ludwig
,
our Mission Co-Workers
who are serving in Niger.
For those Teaching Elders (Ministers of Word and Sacrament) and Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs) who are celebrating Ordination or Commissioning Anniversaries in November and December:
The Rev. Brant Piper (12/15) - Honorably Retired
Elder Chris Wolf (11/14)
- Commissioned Ruling Elder of Marlette-First and Marlette-Second
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Last month I celebrated the third anniversary of the beginning of my ministry among you as your Executive Presbyter. One of the unexpected joys of my ministry has been the warm reception of this column in the Bi-weekly Brief. It has provided me an avenue to educate, to motivate, and (I hope) to elevate our presbytery to be a more faithful community of Christ.
I recently looked back at some of the early columns I have written, and apart from noticing how the length of the columns has increased, was pleased to see how well they hold up three years later. In my very first column, I set forth some of the core convictions that have shaped and guided my ministry:
- Ministry is about relationships. As we nurture healthy relationships in the church, we build up the church and show Christ to the world.
- The first mission of the church is the faithful proclamation of the gospel; the second is the nurture and shelter of the people of God; the third is our embodiment of the gospel in concrete service to the world.
- Polity matters. It is the lived expression of our theology. To borrow a phrase from former General Assembly moderator Marj Carpenter, I am "sinfully proud" to be Presbyterian because of our polity.
- Healthy processes make for healthy organizations. Trust is built and maintained through transparent and accountable leadership.
- Despite our anxiety over change in the church and society, Jesus Christ is still Lord and Head of the Church. God is doing a new thing in our midst. Executive leadership involves helping to clarify our vision of what that new thing might be, and to assist congregations and leaders to pursue it in their particular contexts.
I still believe these to be true. As we have lived, worked, and grown together, the vision of a church and presbytery whose identity and mission is "inside-out, upside-down, and sticky" has emerged, and if I were writing that column today, I would add that as an addendum to the second conviction. Nevertheless, I have sought to embody the convictions and I believe we have seen significant transformation in our presbytery as we have tried to live them out.
I write this column at the close of the liturgical year as we prepare for Christ the King Sunday. In the secular calendar, it is Thanksgiving week. I give thanks to God for the opportunity to continue to serve you as your Executive, as we affirm together that Jesus is still the Lord and the only Head of the Church. As his Lordship took the form of a servant who emptied himself of all but love, may his example inspire us all in the new year ahead.
Dan Saperstein, E
xecutive Presbyter
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December Presbytery Meeting
Our focus for this meeting is congregational mission. In the equipping time, we will hear from Chris Roseland, who is the Mission Funding Regional Representative for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. We will also hear from the Water Justice Committee of Detroit Presbytery to hear about their involvement with the Flint water ministries. We are excited to have representatives from a number of different missions of our congregations that will be available for us to visit and talk with in finding out how they became part of that congregation's ministry and how that met the ministry of that church.
For the business portion, we have several items of significance. Most notable is that we will celebrate the ministry of Saginaw Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church as they prepare to close as a worshipping community. As part of that, we will have a report on future plans for the building and possible ministry. As is the custom, we will install our new Moderator, Elder Chris Wolf, and new Vice-Moderator, Rev. Rhonda Myers. Outgoing Moderator, Rev. Desiree Lawson, will be our preacher for worship. Also, we will have the 2019 Presbytery Budget to consider as well.
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Celebrate The Life and Ministry of Saginaw-Warren Avenue
On Sunday, November 25th at 3:00pm, Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church will conduct a closing service celebrating their 151 years of ministry to the City of Saginaw. WAPC invites all clergy and the laity of the Presbytery of Lake Huron to join them in worship. Refreshments and a time of fellowship will follow.
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Here are links to articles that we hope you will enjoy and perhaps spend some time discussing them with others.
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What You're Saying When You Say "I Don't Need a Mic"
Failing to use a microphone, in other words, is a form of exclusion. "When I'm excluded," our anonymous leader continues, "I feel weary, frustrated, and invisible. It's as though I'm on the other side of a plate glass window from the room where almost everyone else is, and they don't even notice that I'm stuck outside of their conversation."...continue reading.
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Keeping Safe During The Holidays
This article was sent to us by our insurance representative. It contains a lot of great information for staying safe at home and at church.
Christmas is one of the most cherished times of the year. However, there is an increased risk of fire and injury if proper precautions are not taken for outdoor lighting displays, candles, extension cords and space heaters.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), from 2010 through 2014, an estimated 16,070 non-home electrical fires (structure fires that involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction) were reported each year.
These fires resulted in an estimated annual average of 10 deaths, 200 injuries, and $610 million in direct property damage.
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How To Know When To Say No
In ministry, we're often in a position where we want to please others and make them feel cared for and valued. That's not a bad thing.
However, if you agree to every request for your time and energy, you'll burn out fast. Whether your title includes pastor, worship leader, church business administrator, or another role on staff, you'll often receive requests for your time including
...continue reading.
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5 Steps To Effectively Launch a New Church App
Apps make connecting with the ministry simple and convenient because smartphones are accessible. People carry them everywhere they go (even if it's just from the kitchen to the couch).
Of current smartphone owners, more than 80 percent prefer using mobile apps versus mobile websites because they're more intuitive on small screens. While your congregation would rather use apps, if they aren't aware your church has one or the features aren't inspiring, it won't be very successful.
The solution is launching your church app with purpose and a plan
...continue reading.
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NOTE: The articles listed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of or intended to be an endorsement by the Presbytery of Lake Huron but are shared to encourage discussion of various topics.
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Connect With Other Churches In The Lake Huron Presbytery
There are so many wonderful things going on in all of our congregations. Several of our churches have set up Facebook pages to help spread the good news not only to their members but to all who may be interested. Liking other church Facebook pages is a great way to connect with others in the presbytery and to share ideas with each other. Here are some of the churches that have Facebook pages:
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'Like' Us On Facebook
The presbytery has a Facebook page and would like you to join us. Get updates and information faster. Connect with others to share ideas and to post information about events happening in your congregation. Join us today!
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| Staci Percy Communications Manager/Recording Clerk spercy@presbylh.org 989-799-7481 x2 |
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About the
Bi-Weekly Brief
Hundreds of elders, educators, and church leaders read the Presbytery of Lake Huron's email sent out every other week.
You can reissue or modify this content for your own church bulletin or newsletter, without crediting the Bi-Weekly Brief, but please credit any organizations, photographers, etc, that we credited.
NOTE: The Presbytery of Lake Huron retains permission to modify submissions for clarity and length. Inclusion of an item in the Bi-Weekly Brief means that we think it's interesting and/or important, and does not constitute an endorsement of its point of view or its journalistic accuracy.
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Presbytery Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving
November 22-23
Personnel Team
November 26
10:00 am
Commission on Ministry
November 28
11:00 am
December Presbytery Meeting
December 4
9:30 am
Presbytery Office Closed for Staff Development Day
December 5
Mission Coordination Team
December 10
1:00 pm
Commission on Preparation for Ministry
December 19
10:00 am
Presbytery Office Closed
December 24-January 1
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Details on these meetings can be found on the presbytery's website on the calendar.
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