Eastminster Presbytery

E-News
for the Week of August 14 2019
For correspondence mailing, please use the appropriate mailing address:
General Presbyter & Stated Clerk
1201 E Market St #427
Akron, OH
479.461.4042
Business Administrator
P.O. Box 14439
Poland, OH 44514
330.505.2167
Business Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-3pm
Presbytery Calendar at a Glance

Aug 20, VC Facilitator planning meeting, Firestone Park Church, 1:30 p.m.
Aug 20, AMC, Firestone Park Church (Cathy's office), 3:00 p.m.
Aug 27, RSVP Dinner deadline for Presbytery Stated Meeting.

Sept 2, Dinner with GA Co-Moderator, Cindy Kohlmann, Pi ck's at Portage Lakes
Restaurant, Akron, 6:00 p.m. (see details below).
Sept 3, Lunch with GA Co-Moderator, Cindy Kohlmann, Poland Church, noon (see details
below).
Sept 3, Stated Meeting of Eastinster Presbytery, Petersburg Church, 5:00 p.m.
Eastminster Presbytery
Stated Meeting

September 3, 2019
Petersburg Presbyterian Church
13996 Youngstown Pittsburgh Road
Petersburg, OH 44454

Registration: 4:30 p.m.
Meeting Convenes: 5:00 p.m.

We are excited that The Rev. Cindy Kohlmann, Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be our guest at the September Presbytery meeting and will lead a discussion of this year's One Church One Book, Neighborhood Church, Transforming your Congregation into a Powerhouse for Mission .

The links to RSVP or Excuse Request for the stated meeting are available below or at eastminsterpresbytery.org.


Rev. Cindy Kohlmann Meet and Greet Opportunity : There will be a dinner in the West area of Eastminster on Monday, September 2 , (yes, that’s Labor Day evening) at 6:00 pm at Pick's at Portage Lakes Restaurant (530 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron). All clergy, elders, deacons, church members and spouses are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by email to Rev. Rich Lapehn or call Barberton Church at 330-745-2161.

Likewise, there will be a noon luncheon in the East area on Tuesday, September 3 , at Poland Presbyterian Church. Again, all clergy, elders, deacons, church members and spouses are invited. The Poland Church will provide beverages and a light dessert free of charge. All who join us have the option of bringing their own "brown bag" lunch, or ordering through the Poland Church from a set menu and then paying the church for the food you have ordered. The menu options will be available by August 19, and your food order must be placed with the church by August 29. You will pay on the day of the meal. Please RSVP by email to the Poland Church or call 330-757-1547 even if you are bringing your own lunch. 

Please join your colleagues for a time of conversation and sharing with our PCUSA Co-Moderator.
Committee Chair Reminder

Deadline to submit reports / information to be included in the Presbytery E-Packet, is Monday, August 19th. Our goal is to go completely paperless for the stated meetings and attention to this deadline is most appreciated. Emails and questions about the Presbytery E-Packet can be directed to Diane at diane@eastminsterpresbytery.org
AUGUST ALERT! 

July is fast waning; Tuesday, September 3rd, will soon arrive. The month of August is, essentially, the remaining time to apply to be a Teaching Elder Commissioner, a Ruling Elder Commissioner, or a Young Adult Advisory Delegate for the June 20-27, 2020 General Assembly. To be held in Baltimore, Maryland, the three individuals representing Eastminster Presbytery will have all expenses, except for personal incidentals, paid.  Greater, however, than that provision will be the opportunity to be a part of the connectional Presbyterian denomination at its highest level. It’s an exceptional time in a Presbyterian’s church life to not only serve, but also grow. In that intense week — two new dimensions in each person’s faith journey — service and experience — are primary.

The Nominations and Representation Committee would deeply appreciate the consideration of Ruling and Teaching Elders plus youth in Eastminster Presbytery. Below are links to explanations and applications or visit the Presbytery website, — eastminsterpresbytery.org. T he Nominations and Representation Committee awaits your thoughtful, prayerful pursuit of this opportunity in the decision-making month of August 2019. 
- Ruth Cole , Nominations & Representation Moderator




Eastminster Presbytery Treasurer

Eastminster Presbytery is seeking to fill the position of Treasurer. The Treasurer position is approximately 10 hours per month and a small stipend will be paid. The Treasurer is required to attend the Administrative Ministry Committee meetings as well as the quarterly council and stated meetings of Presbytery. A job description can be found by clicking on the link below. Questions or interest can be submitted to AMC chair, John Pogue at  j pogue@hhmlaw.com

Presbyterian Planning Calendars

The bulk order for the 2019-2010 Presbyterian Planning Calendars has been placed. According to the PCUSA Store, the calendars should be mailed out by the end of this month, and we will have them available at the September Presbytery meeting. Other arrangements for pick up can be made by emailing Diane . Minister Members of PCUSA should receive a calendar by mail from PMA in the next couple of weeks.
Vital Congregations Update

Rev. Cathy Ulrich, Rev. Jamie Milton and Diane Eliser attended Vital Congregations Facilitator Training this week in Baltimore and are excited to share more information about the Vital Congregations Initiative with Eastminster Presbytery. Our facilitators are TE Jamie Milton and TE Francie Fisher, who along with Presbytery staff will walk with pastors and congregations through the Vital Congregations Initiative (VCI). The facilitator's role is to be a resource and to support congregations and pastors in faithful and difficult conversations and help them navigate the challenging and hope-filled work of being a more vital congregation. The facilitator's role is NOT to tell congregations what to do. As we have said before, there are no exact answers... we are here to start the hard conversations about what is happening in our congregations and how we can come together to address the good and the bad we are all experiencing. As part of Eastminster Presbytery's commitment to our congregations, we will be starting "Vital Cohort" groups that will include leadership from the seven congregations who have already committed to Vital Congregations as well as any other congregations that are still considering, have questions, or are unsure about the Vital Congregations Initiative. Vital Cohorts are open to all clergy, elders, deacons, and church members who are looking to renew, recover and live more fully into faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ. To help with this discernment and to begin building "Caring Relationships"(Mark 6), we are offering a 3-Session Series on Vital Cohorts and Vital Congregations:

September 15 - Heritage Church, Poland = Getting to Know You
(Please note that this is a change in date from last week's posting)

October 13- First Church, Mineral Ridge = The Vision of Vital Congregations & 7 Marks
November 10-Firestone Park, Akron = The Vital Congregations Initiative

Time for each session is 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

To help with planning, please register by clicking >>> Vital Cohort Meetings
Creative and Spirit Inspired Worship!
2019 DiscipleFest -October 12, 2019
Poland Presbyterian Church
Keynote: Rev. Kristin Stroble

Our 2019 DiscipleFest will engage you in creative, spirit-inspired worship, and equip you with ideas to take back to your congregations. We also recognize that there is great wisdom in our midst for creating worship that challenges, teaches, transforms,and deepens our relationships with God and each other. In that spirit we invite you to share the creative, life-giving things that are happening with worship in your congregation . Each presentation is to be 5 minutes or less (and will be timed) and is to be designed in a way that sparks imagination and gets people thinking about the small and large ways we can transform our worship services.

Ignite is a feature of the PCUSA Next Church Gatherings ( nextchurch.net ) and there are Ignite talks around the country, based on the mission that "Everyone Speaks." For more information on the beginnings of Ignite talks go here:  http://www.ignitetalks.io/about.

Submit creative, life-giving things that are happening with worship in your congregation to: Diane (diane@eastminsterpresbytery.or g )
Israel Pilgrimage

The Revs. Meta and Stephen Cramer, retired pastors, will be leading their eighth pilgrimage to Israel from March 6-15, 2020 . Travel to Israel is a profound spiritual experience as the words of the Bible come alive. Several people have told the Cramers that travel to Israel was the highlight of their faith journey. Being in the Holy Land deepens your connection with God and God's people. 
 
The cost of the trip is $3,820 for double occupancy and $4,500 for single occupancy This fee includes airfare, all breakfasts and dinners, one lunch, all entrance and transport fees, and all tips.  Your only added expense will be souvenirs and 8 lunches, which are typically cafeteria style.   You can contact Steve at rev.stevecramer@yahoo.com or Meta at metacramer@aol.com .  Meta's phone number is 330-921-1114, and Steve's is 330-921-1115.

**Eastminster's Gunn Fund may be available to pastors interested in this trip to help with financial costs. Information can be found on our webpage under the Resources tab or contact John Pogue , Moderator of the Administrative Ministry Committee (AMC). **
It’s time to select benefits for 2020

Your Employer Agreement for 2020 is now available on Benefits Connect through October 11, 2019. This is your annual opportunity to review, select, and change your benefits offerings for the following year. The selections you make on your Employer Agreement will determine the options available to your employees during annual enrollment, starting in late October.

Costs for 2020 now available
When you log on to Benefits Connect to complete your Employer Agreement, you will see the costs of benefits for 2020. The following dues for Pastor’s Participation remain unchanged:
  • Medical dues are 25 percent of effective salary.
  • Pension Plan dues are 11 percent of effective salary.
  • Death and Disability Plan dues are 1 percent of effective salary.
Medical coverage rates for employees enrolled through menu options are specific to your congregation and are affected by your location, as medical care costs vary throughout the country, as well as demographic factors, such as the average age of your employees in the plan. Unlike commercial health insurance carriers, the Board of Pensions does not build a profit into these rates. We are committed to wholeness and mutual care, and that is reflected in our plans.
Around Eastminster Presbytery

  • The HUB Community Center, Copley, Ohio

“Single, Joyful, and Not Alone”
Saturday, August 24, 2019
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

"Are you a Christian single woman between the ages of 20 and 35 and feeling discouraged? "Foundations of Sapphires," a new ministry for Christian single women, will be hosting "Single, Joyful, and Not Alone" on Saturday, August 24th, at The HUB Community Center in Copley from 10 AM-12 PM. Come to be encouraged & reminded of your Heavenly Father's endless love for You! Contact Lianna at  foundationsofsapphires1@gmail.com  or at 214-307-2931 to RSVP or for more information."

Presbytery Staff & Officers: