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The weekly newsletter from the
Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
October 9, 2019
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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 13-19
Grace First Parish of Russell
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Grace First Parish of Russell is a congregation formed from First Presbyterian and Grace Lutheran churches. We are without a pastor at this time. Services are led by various supply pastors. In addition, our praise team frequently leads services. Our council is committed and dedicated. Our council chairperson is David Hook, and Aaron Alsaker is the clerk. We are currently in the midst of a small remodeling project to open and expand the church entrance. Confirmation for 8 students in grades 6, 7, and 8 has recently begun their weekly classes for the school year. In the next month we have a new baby's baptism and we will celebrate the 100
th
birthday of one of our members. One of the council members is leading an adult Bible study on the Parables of Jesus during the Sunday School hour each Sunday. Through a local organization, Grace First members sponsor 2 area families at Christmas through a Giving Tree.
We have a large active Sunday School with about 35 children. This summer's VBS had 40 children who attended. In February, the Sunday School children made 124 valentines which were sent to the students at Dakota Boys' and Girls' Ranch in Minot, ND. During the offering time of our church service, the children bring their donations to a large jar at the front of the church. From these funds, last spring the children made the decision to donate $489.00 to World Vision for animals (which the children selected) and Bibles with the remaining $155.63 to be used for summer Bible Camp scholarships. An ice cream social is held each summer which funds our Christian education program.
Our ladies' group meets every other month and is currently busy planning for our 124
th
Annual Election Day Turkey Dinner, serving between 300-400 people each year. Rachel Circle will be having their 38
th
Annual Christmas Bazaar in November and the profits are used for local and regional charitable donations. Last year the donations from the ladies' group and the Bazaar totaled $2125.00. Rachel Circle collected school supplies this fall for 22 kits for Lutheran World Relief. During the winter, several of the ladies meet to sew Prayer Quilts for members of the church or community who are ill or suffer personal tragedies. Several quilts were donated last spring to Lutheran World Relief and each year a quilt is made and donated to the Shetek Quilt Auction.
Finding pastors to serve small congregations in small rural communities is a difficult task. We ask for your prayers that God will send us a pastor to help us continue to serve him here in Russell, Minnesota.
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Living Authentically
I woke this morning with the word competency on my mind. Unconsciously, I was reflecting on a group conversation held on Monday. The faculty for the Art of Transitional Ministry discussed the term competence. We wondered if the meaning suggested that a person has arrived or learned all there is to know about a subject. After a few minutes of dialogue, we agreed that to be competent in an area does mean a person has made the effort to learn about a subject matter with specificity. In this sense, competence does suggest learned knowledge.
However, what about relationships? Do we ever become competent in relationship with others? It is ticklish to say we know everything there is to know about another person; when we do, we are making a huge assumption. This assumption may lead to disregard or one taking advantage of the other. Also, it can lead us to believe we are more connected than we are.
I believe there is something healthy about the mystery of getting to know another person. It keeps us talking and learning what makes the other tick. We learn what is important to them. We learn their values and they, in turn, learn our values. In doing so, we are careful not to offend those we are in relationship with and we work to put their fears at ease. At least we work to create an environment where truth can be shared without condemnation. People are able to be who they are and accepted. Of course, authentic living begins with accepting our own story in its entirety.
To the point, my thoughts today are on authentic relationships. Consider the below scriptures. How do they speak to you? All text are from the New Revised Standard Version:
- Proverbs 27:17 – Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.
- Proverbs 15:22 - Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.
- Ruth 1:16-17 - But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”
- Philemon 1: 10-12 - I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
- Mark 12:30-31 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
- Acts 2:44-47 - All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[ and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved
In my recent visits to congregations through the sermon, I inquired about the place of authentic relationships. Are our congregations spaces where authentic relationships are nurtured and sustained? Acts describes church growth as a direct correlation to people sharing their lives in common. Growing churches today are doing likewise. If we listen to the voice of the ‘
nones
’ we hear their cry for real community. This is not only the cry of the young, but people in general need to be in relationship with others regardless to their station in life. In the preaching webinar last week, Dr. Gerald Lui reminded us good preaching and worship begins with an understanding of parishioners and the community stories in which we live.
Blessings,
SanDawna
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Urgent Reminder from the Committee on Representation
Applications for commissioners for General Assembly have been extended to October 15. Applications for Young Adult Advisory Delegates and alternate commissioners are also due at the same time. Please email applications to
Karen Lange
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Prayer List
- For Sara McKay, Chair of the Committee on Representation, hospitalized at Abbott Northwestern.
- For Rev. Dawn Carder and family on the death of Dawn's son-in-law
- For the family of Mary Hansen of Browns Valley
- For Rev. Steve and Genevieve Tyykila and family on the death of Steve's mother
- For Rev. Michael Roys, pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Winnebago
- For Rev. Elaine and Kent Boyd at First Presbyterian Church of Amboy
- Sue Thompson, Clerk of Session at First Presbyterian Church, Maynard
- Rev. Araceli Itzep from the Occidente Presbytery; surgery scheduled for Oct 23
- For Beatriz (Betty/Beti) Cifuentes, the treasurer of the Partnership Committee, who is beginning chemotherapy.
- For the "Men in the Mirror" program. Men from Occidente that MVP supported financially to attend the classes a couple of years ago are going to share 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, will also be training Christian policemen in what they learned from "Men in the Mirror."
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Upcoming events at a glance
Oct 15: Boundary Training at FPC Redwood Falls
Nov 2: Presbytery meeting at Ebenezer Presbyterian in Renville
Nov 11-13: Pastor Retreat at Presbyterian Clearwater Forest
Dec 16: Gerald Lui's second webinar on preaching at 1:00 p.m.
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Support Education for Children in Our Sister Presbytery in Guatemala
by Jim Krapf
Education yields opportunities. We are grateful for your support of this possibility for children in our sister presbytery of Occidente. Donating $250 scholarships provides funds for a student's required uniforms, books, and other expenses for a year. It makes a difference for that child’s future.
Their next school year begins in January. You can bring your checks made out to the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys and noted for scholarships to the November 2 Presbytery meeting in Renville. Or you can mail them prior to that date to the presbytery office. 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 added 5% of your donated amount, which 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.
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.
After their school year ends in December, donors will 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.. Examples will be on exhibit at the next Presbytery meeting. We do not reveal the names of donors to the recipients to avoid further 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
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FPC Winnebago Celebrates 150 Years
On Sunday, October 13, the First Presbyterian Church of Winnebago will celebrate our 150th Anniversary. Friends are welcome to any or all of the events. There will be plenty of food for all.
10:00 Worship
11:15 Buggy Rides
12:00 Potluck Dinner based on recipes from our three church cookbooks
1:00 Program
- Church History Trivia Quiz
- Next-to-New 50th Anniversary Presentation and Style Show
- Church History Presentation
- Memories shared by clergy with roots in the church
- Displays and presentations of our ministry
- Cookbooks and directory sales available
- Presentation on the Memory Book (being put together)
- Updates on Pastor Michael's retirement and steps toward future leadership
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News from the Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team
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Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery Coordinating Team (PWPCT) met in Windom on Thursday, September 19. We want the churches in the Presbytery to know what we are about and what we are doing, and the Valley Bridge is one good way to pass information along.
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Our mission giving this meeting included donations to Presbyterian Hunger (PHP), Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the Horizon Magazine, and we are sponsoring a scholarship for a school in Guatamala.
We are looking for volunteers to be on the CT committee. YOU ARE NEEDED desperately!
Right now we are having two meetings, one in the Spring, and one in the Fall, usually in a central location like Windom. We have a Spring Gathering and that is some of what we spend our time at the meetings on, along with other business items. It’s a great bunch of women and you would enjoy working together with them. We no longer have a Fall Gathering. So it is not a huge time commitment!
We also want to keep our list of leaders/contact persons for your local PW current, whether you consider it an active group or not. Last year we sent a separate letter to many to update our list. If there are any changes from last year, changes could be emailed to Gloria and/or Betty.
We pray that someone from your church ... Minister, Lay Leader or women’s group will
respond.
KEEP THE DATE: Our next Spring Gathering is going to be in Renville on June 2, 2020. All
are invited to attend. More information will be out later.
Blessing to all!
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Matthew 25 Resources
by Rev. Andrew Davis
Congratulations! Our presbytery is part of Matthew 25. We have pledged to work for congregational vitality and against systemic racism and poverty. Now, you might feel that these goals are daunting, so I'd like to suggest some accessible resources in this newsletter from time to time.
Let's start with dismantling racism. One of the best first steps is to educate ourselves about the history of racism in the United States. To that end, I recommend two podcasts. The first is "
Seeing White" by Scene on Radio. The host and producer is John Biewen, who grew up in our area, in collaboration with Duke University. The series is complete, so you can binge it on your next long drives. The series also includes a salient episode on the U.S./Dakota War. The second series that I'm recommending is "
1619" by The New York Times, which is being released week by week. So far, "1619" is re-framing the history of slavery and racism in America in a way that I find to be quite provocative and helpful.
I hope these two podcasts will be helpful to you!
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You may be startled to learn that 25 percent of children under 6 now live in poverty. Their families lack sufficient income to meet basic needs for nourishment, clothing, shelter, health care and stable family life. As alarming as this statistic is, what is even worse is the fact that poverty is the greatest threat to the healthy development of children and its long-lasting, negative consequences: inadequate quality and quantity of food, exposure to violence, underfunded schools and lack of early childhood educational opportunities, frequent housing mobility, and exposure to pollution and other health risks.
In a developed society such as ours in the U.S., poverty also means a lack of access to social goods such as education that are essential for employment, as well as other measures of dignity, freedom and participation in communal life.
Why do we speak of systemic poverty?
There are structures in our society that all but guarantee that people living in poverty will stay that way. Systemic poverty refers to the economic exploitation of people who are poor through laws, policies, practices and systems that perpetuate their impoverished status.
Poverty is complex and overlaps with many other social ills and oppressive structures in our society.
- Racism, classism, ageism and sexism are well-documented and mutually reinforcing trends. Disproportionate numbers of African-American and Hispanic families are headed by women, have little net worth and constitute the largest number in poverty.
- Homelessness is one of the most egregious signs of poverty.
- General Assemblies of the PC(USA) have called for guaranteed minimum wages, full employment, addressing pockets of high unemployment as disaster areas, welfare reform that does not require workfare or other policies that punish the poor, and support for programs that support the needs of women, infants and children.
- Acute inequality, declining lifespans and higher infant mortality rates have continued to trend upward — while at the same time, taxes for the wealthy have been lowered and medical care costs have increased over the past two years.
- High debt loads and retirement insecurity are also characteristics of poverty in the U.S., a unique situation among developed nations.
- Disenfranchisement of people, including mass incarceration, leads to poverty.
- Conflict, violence and militarism also contribute to rising rates of poverty.
- Poverty, climate change and ecological injustice are interlocking issues in which environmental ills disproportionately fall on individuals and communities already experiencing poverty, hunger and other forms of social oppression. Likewise, those same communities are removed from access to and care of clean water, land and air.
- Determining acceptable minimum standards of living and poverty rates is influenced by moral forces in a society, such as the church. Because income is linked to employment, church policy uses phrases like “family-sustaining, living wage,” and supports public investment to compensate for market failures.
- Poverty often results from wealth and resource accumulation — and hoarding — by those in power. Reformed theology favors balancing economic as well as political power, as seen in support for workers’ rights to organize, the progressive income tax and luxury taxes.
The theology behind eradicating systemic poverty
As Reformed Christians, Presbyterians believe that government is God’s agent when it comes to the providential care of people. We also believe that creation is entrusted to our care. A crucial part of our worship and mission is to stand together for the common good.
The PC(USA) is guided by policies of the General Assembly. The guidelines for developing social witness policy are based on Scripture, the Book of Confessions, social and natural scientific analysis, and the voices of those often unheard or discriminated against.
The General Assembly has spoken many times about poverty. GA statements are very instructive when it comes to suggesting places for communities of faith to roll up their sleeves and become a living translation of Jesus Christ:
Acute poverty has many causes. It is in part a consequence of each country’s history, such as colonial exploitation, sometimes compounded by domestic ethnic rivalry and the failure of unifying national leadership. Even where adequate resources are potentially available to satisfy basic needs, such factors as corruption, political instability, tyrannical governments, economic mismanagement, control of economic resources by elite minorities, excessive military expenditures, ethnic conflicts, civil wars, high population growth, poor education, and cultural customs such as the subordination of women, have contributed significantly to impoverishment. — “Hope for a Global Future,” 208th General Assembly (1996)
We Presbyterians evaluate any economic system not simply on the basis of the material goods and services it provides, but especially on the basis of its human consequences: what it is doing to, with and for people, particularly the most vulnerable among us. In our tradition, economic behavior, like all behavior, must be subject to moral scrutiny. For this reason, the church must speak to the present economic crisis, to the devastation it has brought, and to the hope to which we bear witness: that, in Christ, a more just order is arising. — “Living Through Economic Crisis,” 219th General Assembly (2010)
Scriptures for study and reflection
Matthew 25:31–46
Deuteronomy 15:7–8
Jeremiah 22:3
Micah 6:8
1 John 3:17
James 2:15–16
Isaiah 1:17
Luke 4:18–19
1 Corinthians 10:24
Romans 12:13
Proverbs 22:22–23
Proverbs 31:8–9
Proverbs 3:27–28
Proverbs 11:25
Proverbs 14:21, 31
Proverbs 19:17
Proverbs 22:9
Proverbs 28:27
How do we eradicate systemic poverty?
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From Church Campaign Services: What if you could raise capital funds and increase the annual pledge campaign AT THE SAME TIME?
Riverside Presbyterian Church in Chicago did just that. They combined their annual campaign and a capital campaign last fall, raising funds to remodel their sanctuary. And they and grew their annual revenue too.
See how they did it with our FREE guide to "Planning a Combined Financial Campaign."
With hundreds of combined campaigns in our 69-year history, we have helped churches grow their annual giving while running a capital campaign. We’d like to help you, too.
With proper attention, planning, and prayer, a Combined Campaign can fund needed capital projects and increase annual giving simultaneously.
Learn the Six Essential Principles that guide churches in fulfilling and achieving their ambitious capital goals, while protecting and preserving and even boosting the annual budget.
At the end of a three-year capital campaign pledge period, donors do not typically maintain the level of giving demonstrated during the campaign. However, by following our Six Principles, it is unlikely that they will revert to their giving level from before the campaign. The annual budget will see benefits for many years after the capital campaign.
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White Privilege Symposium
The Privilege Institute (TPI) and The WPS Committee Sioux City, is pleased to announce the
White Privilege Symposium – Sioux City (#WPSSC) registration is now open
! This landmark symposium will take place at Courtyard (Downtown Sioux City), Friday night January 24 and Saturday January 25, 2020. In keeping with the White Privilege Conference (WPC), the #WPSSC focuses on issues of systemic inequity and oppression through empowering, challenging and educational programming. Our workshops, keynotes and institutes provide practical tips, tools and strategies for combating systemic inequities. We are excited about our theme of
#Igniting Passion Through Action.
The symposium is unique in its ability to bring together high school and college students, teachers, university faculty and higher education professionals, non-profit staff, activists, social workers and counselors, healthcare workers, members of the spiritual community and corporate arena, among many others.
Our website is now ready to be viewed. For more information about the conference, including how to register for and/or sponsor the event, please visit
www.wpssiouxcity.com
#SpreadTheWord #RegisterEarly
What: WPS in Sioux City #WPSSC
Where: Courtyard (Downtown Sioux City)
When: Friday January 24 - Saturday January 25, 2020
Theme:
#Igniting Passion Through Action
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Youth Workers Fall Retreat at Clearwater Forest
October 14-15 (extra stay option Sunday, October 13)
Who: youth workers, Christian Ed directors, Sunday School coordinators, Youth Group leaders, paid/volunteer, full/part time
With Fall Kickoff behind us (mostly), Clearwater Forest invites you to come for a rest & renew retreat.
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Boundary Training
Tuesday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church of Redwood Falls
Boundary Training is required for all minister/teaching elder presbytery members and commissioned ruling elders. The Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys will be holding a boundary training on Tuesday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Redwood Falls. Leaderwise will be leading the boundary training. The training will focus on a holistic approach to boundaries, looking at overall resilience and well-being as the best prevention against impaired decision making and boundaries violations.
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Pastors’ Retreat
November 11-13, 2019
Leaning Tree Lodge
Presbyterian Clearwater Forest
16595 Crooked Lake Rd
Deerwood MN 56444
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Begins with lunch on Monday and ends before lunch on Wednesday.
Cost: $40, includes meals and lodging
Please email
Karen Lange
your attendance plans by September 30.
Come and enjoy the fall beauty of Presbyterian Clearwater Forest and spend time with presbytery colleagues. We will reflect on the year of transformation and take a deep breath. The retreat is in the planning stages, but mark your calendars to attend.
Retreat Speaker Rev. Jennifer Hope Kottler is a spiritual director/certified life and leadership coach and yoga teacher in private practice in Florence, SC. An ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with standing in the United Church of Christ, Jen serves clergy and lay leaders who want to deepen their own spirituality and lead their communities with intentionality and grace. Jen facilitates retreats and events for congregations, non-profit organizations, and church leaders. In all her work, Jen incorporates ancient spiritual practices with modern techniques including Energy Leadership Coaching and Conversational Intelligence®. Jen is married to Rev. Gavin Meek, Transitional Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk in New Harmony Presbytery (NE South Carolina) and she enjoys hiking, tennis, cooking for family and friends, and traveling with Gavin.
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
First Presbyterian Church, Ashby
- Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Fulda
- Solo Pastor
Hope Presbyterian Church, Spicer
- Solo Pastor
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I know that I say I am excited about everything, but it is such an exciting time to be part of POINT! We have so much to share with you, and it all starts at APCE.
- Section A—Tuesday, January 28
- Section B—Wednesday, January 29
There will also be a POINT lunch for both training sections to attend on Wednesday, January 29 from noon until 2 pm.
At this training we will share how the POINT program is being revitalized. You'll be equipped with free resources and be informed about future resources coming to you. You'll get training on our curriculum products and help guide our development of new curriculum resources. You'll get an inside look at our newest curriculum products coming out the publishing house next summer. This training is free and geared for POINT Partners, though anyone who is interested in POINT or is a POINT Member is also welcome to attend.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Katie Snyder
Curriculum Specialist and POINT Coordinator
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From the Presbyterian Historical Society
Preserve vital church records for free at the Presbyterian Historical Society. Order digital copies at a PC(USA) discount. Join our Church Membership Program and receive further digitization savings. Find out more at
www.history.pcusa.org/records, email
records@history.pcusa.org or call 215-627-1852
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From Columbia Theological Seminary: New Walker Presidential Scholarship To Make Seminary An Affordable Reality For PC(USA) Students
At Columbia Theological Seminary, we are committed to providing an accessible, affordable theological education that is both academically rigorous and spiritually transformative. Scholarships are an essential part of this commitment. Columbia Seminary offers one of the most expansive financial aid programs in the country. Financial aid awards include scholarships, grants, and tuition waivers that are awarded based on both merit and need.
Columbia Seminary continues to deepen our commitment to providing an affordable theological education by working with strategic partners to create new scholarship opportunities for our students. This fall, Columbia Seminary is excited to announce, once again, the creation of the Rev. Dr. Thomas W. & Jan C. Walker Presidential Scholarship. The Walker Presidential Scholarship will be awarded to Master of Divinity students from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who show outstanding promise for pastoral ministry. The award will cover the full cost of attendance (tuition + fees) and provide each recipient with a
$5,000 living stipend
.
Are you interested in being considered for the Walker Presidential Scholarship?
Apply online today
! Visit
#
to begin your application. The priority deadline to be considered for the Walker Presidential Scholarship and other merit-based scholarships is February 1, 2019. All application materials must be submitted by this date to be considered.
Full-Tuition Awards:
- The Columbia Scholarship covers full tuition, a single living unit and the full meal plan. Full-time enrollment is required, and each recipient must maintain a 3.50 GPA over the course of the degree program.
- The Honors Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and is awarded to a full-time student who must maintain a 3.3 GPA.
- Take the next step on your journey to seminary: schedule a campus visit.
About the Scholarship:
The Walker Presidential Scholarship was made possible by an endowment gift from an anonymous donor in honor of the life of Christian ministry and service by the Rev. Dr. Tom W. & Mrs. Jan C. Walker of Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Columbia Theological Seminary was formative in Tom’s pastoral leadership and this endowed award will provide permanent recognition of Tom and Jan’s ministry and will continue to support the development of future ministerial leaders at Columbia Theological Seminary.
About the Seminary:
Columbia Theological Seminary “exists to educate and nurture faithful, imaginative, and effective leaders for the sake of the Church and the world.” As an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Columbia Seminary is a community of theological inquiry, leadership development, and formation for ministry in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ. Columbia Seminary offers six graduate degree programs and dozens of courses and events as a resource for church professionals and lay people through The Center for Lifelong Learning. For more information, please visit
www.CTSnet.edu
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