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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
October 6, 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 October 10-16
Randall Presbyterian Church
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Pastor: Michael Hartwell
Session: Clerk of Session Terry Coffin, Michael Lashinski, Christ Magee, Christi Hartwell, Marlys Olson, Jake Farrow.
Deacons: Sharon Thilquist, Cathy Gannon, Jennifer Lashinski, Allen Lashinski, Vicky Lashinski, Macall Magee, Sara Wester, Colleen Waldoch.
Randall Presbyterian Church continues to minister to the congregation and the community as we live through the pandemic. Since the beginning of summer, we have been worshiping outdoors. We celebrated the coming of fall with a “Pickluck” (a combination picnic and potluck.) The food was great and there were lots of children for the games. In recent months, a number of our members have been dealing with cancer, and prayers would be appreciated.
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Who are you as a congregation?
The United States has 65.2 million people that are considered Generation X (born between 1965-1980) and 72.1 million Millennials (born between 1981-1996).
I have a daughter in each age group. Last week I asked each one, if they were looking for a church, how would they do it? My Gen X daughter said she would talk to friends and look at their website to see what it says about what they believe. My Millennial says "check the website and see what they are doing in the community."
They had more to say but I'll address that at a later time. The takeaway is that they would check the church website to find out about the church, its beliefs and priorities.
This week, take a few minutes to Google your church. Do you like what you see? Would what you found make you interested in checking out the church?
If we want to reach people under 56 years old, maybe we need to up our game. Whether we like it or not, the internet is where younger folks go for information.
Kathy Terpstra
Gap Executive Presbyter
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Have you thanked your pastor?
After a COVID-19 year, appreciation is valued
by Sherry Blackman | Presbyterians Today
Recently, a pastor confessed, “My congregation doesn’t see me as human.” That’s not a strange comment considering the year clergy have had — having to work harder and adapting to the challenges of being the church in a pandemic that entangled many in a wired and wireless world.
“Turbulent” is how one New Jersey minister, who wished to remain anonymous, describes the past year and a half. Several of his church members with COVID-19 sought prayers but didn’t want the congregation to know they had it. “Some thought COVID-19 was a joke or a political ploy, and there was no COVID-19 here,” he said.
As the church slowly enters the postpandemic era, pastors are exhausted and burnt out to the point that leaving the ministry altogether is tempting. A recent Barna study revealed that 29% of pastors have seriously considered doing just that: leaving full-time ministry. Too many have gone it alone, and it is taking its toll.
“I think I felt some resentment that folks really didn’t see that toll, but I know I am very good at hiding what I am feeling,” said the Rev. Karen Kinney of Christ Presbyterian Church of the Slate Belt in Bangor, Pennsylvania.
Kinney left the church she had previously served during the pandemic, citing that it forced her to confront the reality that she needed to move on. “It also made the congregation figure out how they were going to move forward,” she said.
While tension and unrealistic expectations have always been inherent to ministry, they are likely to increase as churches continue to develop a hybrid model that not only makes sense in their context, but one that is sustainable, with the equipment and tech experts to oversee digital ministry.
According to presbyters, if a church doesn’t go hybrid, it will die. For the church not yet embracing technology — either by choice or by circumstances due to a lack of resources — and for churches that are embracing technology but are confused with what a hybrid ministry will look like once the pandemic dust settles, the percentage of ministers leaving the church just might grow.
But it’s not only technology that has been a stressor. Church leaders have been in the middle of the push-pull of the polarizing pandemic, working hard to make ethical decisions about worship and all in-person gatherings: to mask or not to mask, to sing or not to sing, to have coffee hour or not.
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Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
We seek a down-to-earth, collaborative leader to partner with the 51 congregations of our western Minnesota presbytery. We are blessed to live, work, and worship in the beautiful landscape of lake country and rolling farmland, small rural communities, college towns, and resort communities. We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ, joyfully participating in Christ’s on-going life and work. We seek an EP who can help us live into this vision by encouraging us to build partnerships and embrace a vibrant future. You can find more information about the position on the CLC website. Or, you can email gmilloy@lakesandprairies.org. Deadline for Application is October 31, 2021.
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Pictures or Videos from Our Presbytery Sought
We are working on a video for our new website, and invite you to send pictures or videos that we might use. We'd like high resolution nature pictures from within our Presbytery. Send links or pictures to Karen Lange.
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Mrs. Veda Shaheeen Gill, Presbyterian Education Board of Pakistan, to speak at First Presbyterian Saint Cloud |
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On October 14th at 11:30 a.m., member churches of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys will be hosting Mrs. Veda Shaheen Gill, the executive director of the Presbyterian Education Board of Pakistan at the First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Everyone is invited, especially pastors and mission committees and everyone interested in mission. A luncheon will be served so please RSVP to Mark Ford by email, or text or call a response to 218-232-8131.
The Presbyterian Education Board (PEB) is an autonomous Board under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan and is supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other churches and organizations worldwide. Its purpose is to provide high quality education rising out of its Christian values and its Christian roots. The scope of the Board extends to primary and secondary schools (including dormitories for Christian children); higher education; and vocational, professional and technical training for children, regardless of race or creed.
The Presbyterian Church in the United States has a long relationship with mission work in what was India and now Pakistan. These schools are the result of those relationships.
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Save the Date!
October 23 Training for:
Treasurers/Church Financial People
Church Personnel Committees
Clerks of Sessions and Records Review
The time has come to review Session minutes from 2019 and 2020. We will be doing this on Saturday, October 23 from 10-2 (Lunch will be provided) at the Presbytery office which is now in the First Presbyterian Church, 312 6th Street SW, Willmar. Please fill out the form for your minutes for two years – 2019 and 2020.
On the same day, Bea Ourada will be having a training for church treasurers/church financial people, and Deb Hess (Commission on Leadership co-chair) will be leading a training for personnel committees particularly focused on conducting annual reviews for pastors. So it promises to be a good day of training. Anyone interested is welcome!!
Please RSVP to Karen at the presbytery office how many people are coming and to which training so we can plan accordingly for lunch.
If you are unable to attend the review, please let us know too (you can also send someone if you aren't able to make it). It is important to have your books reviewed.
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Support Education for Children in Our Sister Presbytery in Guatemala |
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by Jim Krapf
Our Occidente partners report that school there continues some places in person and other places virtually. Mission Co-Worker Leslie Vogel tells of students climbing the mountainsides to get reception for their assignments and then climbing again to submit their lessons.
The need for scholarships continues. Your donations in the past have made a tremendous difference. Additional contributions will again do so, particularly in this stressful time with COVID complications.
Their next school year begins in January. You can mail your checks made out to the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys and noted for scholarships to the presbytery office (PO Box 431, Kerkhoven MN 56252). Any amount is appreciated; but $250 per student is the goal. You may consider making this more than a one-year commitment.
You might also add 22% of your donated amount. Five percent is given to the national office of the Presbyterian Church in Guatemala as a part of our partnership agreement. This money assists in paying their administrative and program cost at the national level. Seventeen percent is given to our national office of the PCUSA, to pay for promotional efforts and to ensure the funds are used as intended.
Your donations will be in addition to the six scholarships that are provided through our presbytery’s Occidente Partners budget. Our goal for several years has been a total of $4000, providing 16 children with $250 each. Keeping our donations at this level can support more children beyond elementary into middle and high school.
Communications have been difficult and delayed because of COVID, but we hope that donors will eventually receive photographs, academic reports, and thank you notes from the children and/or their parents. Many churches display these to express appreciation and promote further contributions. We do not reveal the names of donors to the recipients to avoid further personal requests for assistance. We have found presbytery-to-presbytery arrangements are a fairer more manageable way to offer assistance. Occidente's Committee on Ministry will continue to select the recipients from among their now 20 churches.
Thank you in advance. Education yields opportunities. It makes a difference for that child’s future.
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People Investing in People
Deadline extended to October 8
Our Presbytery’s Self-Development of People Committee is now fully composed and qualified to review and decide on grant applications. We are grateful for the opportunity we had to present this opportunity at the August 17 Presbytery meeting.
Our invitation at this time is for congregations and their leaders to identify grassroots groups in their communities who are struggling but want to improve their situations. This is a wonderful way for your church to join God in reaching out to neighbors in need.
The basic criteria to qualify is that the group 1) own, 2) control, and 3) benefit from the project.
The process includes: 1) Groups submitting application forms to committee chair by October 8; 2) Committee reviewing, doing on-site or zoom visit, and deciding by November 1; 3) National office deciding and distributing funds in January. We have $4500 available for our presbytery.
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150th Anniversary at First Presbyterian Church, Windom
On Sunday, October 17 the First Presbyterian Church in Windom will be celebrating 150 years. Former pastors and people who have been ordained out of our congregation, as well as former members and others have all been invited to a worship service at 10:00 a.m. followed by a catered lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a program at 1:00 p.m. “To God be the Glory” is our theme as we reflect and celebrate our past and look forward to our future mission and ministry. You are all invited to join us; please RSVP to bdmuller@mvtvwireless.com.
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The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update
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The Academy Offers Hope for the Future
Many churches across America, including here in Minnesota, are finding it difficult to find and/or afford a full-time ordained pastor. Several churches, however, are finding what might even be a better solution: Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs). CREs are commissioned by the Presbytery to fulfill the role of a pastor for a specific ministry or congregation. For classes and more info, check out The Academy
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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.
The Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development exists to resource congregations. We have identified six critical areas: discipleship, evangelism, mission, spiritual leadership, stewardship and worship. Please feel free to contact any of the members of the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development as to what might be areas that you may be seeking assistance with locating valuable resources. Those currently serving on the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development are: Randy Knuth, chair, Anne Veldhuisen, Michael Hartwell, Darlene Scherbing, Barb Wawrzyniak, Lindsay Jacaruso, Rollin Haynes and Steve Anderson. Please let us know how we can come alongside of your congregation. Please contact Randy Knuth, the chair, at 712-540-8243 or via email at knuthr758@gmail.com.
Having a difficult time finding pulpit supply? Have you considered a virtual sermon?
A Sermon for Every Sunday ( asermonforeverysunday.com) is a website that provides lectionary-based video sermons by America’s best preachers for use in worship, bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes, or individual use. All you do is push the button. If you have a computer and a projector, these professionally recorded sermons can be downloaded and viewed on Sunday mornings. The site features nationally known preachers from multiple denominations. Although donations are accepted, the sermons are free. Check out asermonforeverysunday.com.
Technology Grant
Thanks to the gracious generosity of the Budget and Finance Committee, we are now able to offer technology grants up $750.00 each year, not to exceed ½ of the cost of the total project. So, the total project will have to be over $1500 in order to receive that amount. This is effective May 27, 2021. Again, thanks to the Budget and Finance for graciously increasing these funds that churches may apply for in regards to technology upgrades or new projects. Please use the new form which is specific to the Technology Grant.
The above resources are shared by the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development
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Transitional Ministry Education for All Pastors—A message from TMEC (Transitional Ministry Education Consortium)
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Prayer List
- For Carissa Cunningham, daughter of Pastor Jason and Annalisa Cunningham (Luverne), who underwent heart surgery on Monday, August 9.
- 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 brothers and sisters in the Occidente Presbytery of Guatemala - for their health, safety, and recovery from the effects of the Covid pandemic
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Slayton - Pastor
Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Interim Pastor
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The Ministry Lab and Growing Green Hearts invite you to an ecumenical unveiling of a FREE new Water Where We Live curriculum. This half-day retreat includes ecumenical worship; introduction to the inter- or multi-generational curriculum; and four workshops on Water in Worship; The Curriculum in Context - A Panel of Creators and Implementers; Water, Faith, and Enviro-STEM at Church; and Water, Faith, and Community-Based Justice. Further information and registration forms will be available soon. Mark your calendars now for November 18, 2021; 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM; Luther Seminary. Lunch provided by Shobi's Table!
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