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News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
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News around the PC(USA)
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August 7, 2019

News around the Synod of Lakes and Prairies
Convocation speaker: Being civil
Johnston Dede in a time
of incivility
Civility is easy when we're in our comfort zone, but civility becomes more challenging as we move away from that easy place. But that's what we need to do - and there's a way to do it. That was part of the message Dr. Deirdre "Dede" Johnston brought to  Synod School last week when she addressed civility in a time of incivility as the midsummer ministry's convocation speaker. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Civility in a Time of Incivility."
 

Artist in residence: Barnhart says

Barnhart it's all about the story

For David Barnhart, it's the story -- not his story, but the story of the subject. "One of the things I love about the work that we do is that we don't know where it's going. We have no idea where it's going and what the focus is," he said. "What we try to do is work with the community and have them guide us and [the film] needs to go wherever it needs to get." That was Barnhart, who served as artist-in-residence at this summer's Synod School, the midsummer ministry of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "All About the Story."
 
Short attention spans: class covers
short books of the Bible (with humor)
Willadsen The Rev. Tom Willadsen of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has become a fixture at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies' Synod School, and he's most often associated with caramel rolls. But he's also known for his classes, and the classes are known for humor. Author of "OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter," Willadsen responded to a series of questions about the Synod School class he taught, "Bible Study for People with Short Attention Spans." The e-mail exchange included this comment from Willadsen: " I taught ["Laughter as Spiritual Discipline"] last year and it attracted people who wanted instruction in spiritual discipline, rather than laughter. People who've taken my classes before know that I'm profoundly shallow, so last year's class was a mismatch." The complete story can be found at "Short Attention Spans."
 
All this and so much more at Synod School
American Indian blanket There was a lot going on at Synod School during the last week in July. That's probably the understatement of a synod year. The picture at right comes from Joy Van Zee and the "Native American Spirituality and Christianity" class. The course explored the Christian faith, and spiritual faith of Lakota/Dakota and native peoples.
 
And if you didn't notice, those attending Synod School gave $1,676.33 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance along with numerous hygiene kits. In addition to donations to PDA, participants donated $7,007.80 for Synod School scholarships.
 
And don't don't forget fleece blankets. Synod School tied 24 fleece blankets for the chaplaincy department at the hospital in Sioux City.
 
Far more happened July 21-26 at Synod School on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. You can find out more, of course, at "Synod School: 'Is this heaven?' 'No, it's Iowa," the popular Facebook group.
 
Moderator of synod-wide PW writes
of community at Synod School
Writing in the July issue of The Sower, the newsletter of Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Moderator Sue Medsker-Nedderman notes the community of Synod School. "All ages of people  The Sower come to learn, worship and have fun together. ... We each need a community like this in which to ground ourselves, so that we can have support during our trying times and mutual rejoicing during our joyful times. Presbyterian Women is this kind of a group for me and I hope it can be such a community for each of you, too." Medsker-Nedderman's complete column, along with the complete issue of The Sower, can be found at "Thoughts on Community."

Registration underway
for 'Art of Transitional Leadership'
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies is planning a new event this fall -- "The Art of Transitional Leadership" -- that will provide ministry  Synod Logo skills training for today and tomorrow's church pastors, staff, committees on ministry and congregational leaders. Set Monday through Friday, Sept. 16-20, at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, Minnesota, the event offers two tracks, one covering an introduction to transitional ministry that runs the full week, and another offering transformation training for church leaders that takes place Wednesday through Friday of the week. The full-week session provides 30 hours of training that meets the requirements for Week I Transitional Ministry Education. The second session provides training for ruling elders and other congregational leaders, focusing on their roles in congregations in times of ministry transitions. Details are available at " Art of Transitional Leadership." Registration information is available through the link in the flyer or by following a link to "Transitional Leadership Registration."
Conferences, camps, resources
Mid Council Relations produces
information-packed newsletter
mid council news From the pending retirement of the Rev. Dr. Tom Hay, director of Assembly operations and associate stated clerk for the Office of the General Assembly, to deadlines for next summer's 224th General Assembly, the Mid Council Relations newsletter is packed full of news. There's even an opportunity to subscribe. The complete newsletter can be found at "Mid Council Newsletter."
 
'First Reading,' podcast resource
for preachers on the Old Testament
"First Reading," a podcast to help preachers get a handle on the richness of the Old Testament readings in the Revised Common Lectionary, is available each week. Designed by Rachel Wrenn and Tim McNinch, Old Testament doctoral students at Emory University, the podcast provides literary and historical background, discusses Hebrew linguistic tidbits, and helps overcome preaching pitfalls in the text. It also offers potential preaching angles for sermons. Episodes air two weeks ahead of the lectionary date. Details are available at "First Reading."
 
Now available with Amazon Prime: 'Trigger'
Trigger documentary Anyone who subscribes to Amazon Prime now has free access to David Barnhart's documentary, "Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence." The documentary looks at the ways gun violence affects individuals, families and communities. Barnhart is the award-winning filmmaker who directs films for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance through Story Productions. Those who do not subscribe to Amazon Prime can rent or buy "Trigger" through Amazon. Additional information about "Trigger" and other Barnhart films can be found at "Story Productions."
 
Addiction, Faith Conference
planned  next month in Twin Cities
addiction faith Noting on its website the "growing concern over the devastation of all forms of addiction, including the ever-increasing opioid crisis," organizers of this fall's Addiction & Faith Conference say the conference will "raise awareness of the terrible addiction problem we face and how the church and people of faith can help to address it." The conference is planned Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20-22, at the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, Minnesota. The conference is presented by the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy in partnership with the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church. Conference details are at "Addiction and Faith."
 
'Stewardship Kaleidoscope' planned
at end of September in San Diego
Stewardship Kaleidoscope Logo "Stewardship Kaleidoscope," the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s annual stewardship conference, will feature keynote leaders Melissa Spas from the Lake Institute and Eric Law, author of "Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries." Diane Moffett, executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, will preach. There are also more than 30 workshops. Details can be found at "Stewardship Kaleidoscope." Scholarships are still available.
 
Thistle Farms founder to speak
at 1001, Vital Congregations gathering
becca stevens Becca Stevens , one of the keynote speakers for the  1001 New Worshiping Communities and Vital Congregations national gathering  coming up Oct. 14-16 in Kansas City, Missouri, remembers how she felt when she started a residential community for women who have survived trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Even though she was fulfilling a longing to open a sanctuary for survivors of trauma, like herself, she says she was "pretty messed up." The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Paul Seebeck can be found at "Surviving Trauma."
 
POAMN national conference
planned in October in Louisville
Older Adult Ministry The national conference of the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network is slated Oct. 15-18 at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Keynote speakers will be the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and the Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos, mission coordinator for Christian Formation and Small Church Support for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. A complete schedule and online registration are available at " POAMN National Conference ."
 
PC(USA) Mission Program
Grants info, deadlines listed
A group of Mission Program Grants are available through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and grant details and deadlines have been announced by the Office of Mission Program Grants. The grants are made available "for organizing new churches and supporting presbytery efforts to build the capacity to continually transform existing congregations," according to the announcement from the office. A list of available grants, along with descriptions, can be found at "Mission Program Grants." A list of submission and review dates can be found at "Application Dates."
 
BOP schedules retirement planning
seminar at seminary in Dubuque
Board of Pensions Board University of the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will conduct a two-day retirement planning seminar Oct. 2-3 at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. The seminar is for members of the BOPs benefit plan who plan to retire within the next 15 years. Complete details can be found at "Retirement Planning Seminar."
News around the PC(USA)
Street-Stewart speaks at opening
big tent 2019 of PC(USA)'s Big Tent
When the Big Tent opened in Baltimore last week,  Elona Street-Stewart , synod executive for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, offered acknowledgement that "this place where we're meeting was the homeland for many indigenous tribes," who lived on the bounty of the tidelands and wooded areas, and who "sang the first song here." The Big Tent met Aug. 1-3 met in a city that President Donald Trump recently decried in a tweet as a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess." This is city where the next General Assembly will meet next summer, June 20-27, and it's a place that Tom Hay, director of assembly operations for the Office of the General Assembly, described as this "precious in God's sight city." The complete story by Leslie Scanlon of The Presbyterian Outlook can be found at "Called to Pay Attention."

Presbyterians join Baltimore residents
in action against gun violence
gun violence A sea of blue made its way along the sidewalks of downtown Baltimore in the evening of Aug. 2. Approximately 200 Presbyterians attending Big Tent joined local advocates to speak out against gun violence. The group, dressed in blue Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) T-shirts, marched as part of the quarterly Baltimore Ceasefire Weekend, a grassroots effort to draw attention to the growing problem. Five local Presbyterian churches organized the walk, covering several areas where people have died in gun violence over the past few years. The complete story by Rick Jones of the Office of the General Assembly can be found at "Action Against Gun Violence."

Churches that aid, house immigrants
gather for Big Tent workshop
Immigration The 40 or so people attending Big Tent's "Asylum & Immigration Networking & Best Practices" workshop Aug. 1 took three hours not only to hear from the experts but to share with one another what they're doing in their local settings to aid vulnerable people. "This is not the time for symbolic activities," one man told those in the group. "Passing a resolution or putting up a peace pole may make us feel good, but we can't be satisfied with something symbolic. Do something substantial." The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Mike Ferguson can be found at "Immigration Best Practices."
 
PC(USA) Mental Health Initiative
draws interest at Big Tent breakfast
The Rev. Dan Milford invited folks attending the Aug. 3 Compassion, Peace & Justice breakfast at Big Tent to imagine a church with 20-30 children under the age of 12 with no children's ministry. It was hard to imagine, he acknowledged. But if that were the case, the church would ask, "what can we do?" and be able to find readily available answers such as Sunday school, vacation Bible school, children's choir and more. But, Milford said, it is entirely likely there are churches that do not have any children under 12. Much less likely are churches that don't have members dealing with mental health issues. Resources to help those members are harder to come by, though, and the breakfast was the public launch of an effort to address that need. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rich Copley can be found at "Mental Health Initiative."
 
PMA Board, mid-council leaders
talk about role, vision, budget
PCUSA Logo In advance of building the 2021-22 Presbyterian Mission Agency budget and approving the agency's work plan, the PMA Board and representatives from about two dozen mid councils are meeting together for two days following Big Tent to discern the priorities of both groups. The Rev. Dr. Laurie Ferguson, a pastor, therapist and organizational consultant from Tappan, New York, led the groups through a discernment process. Seated together at round tables, invited mid-council executives and PMA Board members held what PMA Board chair the Rev. Joe Morrow called a "participatory, collaborative conversation," including expressions of appreciation for one another's work. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Mike Ferguson can be found at "Sitting Down Together."
 
OGA seeks input through online
survey on perception of its work
As one component of the Office of the General Assembly's strategic planning process, it is conducting an online survey to learn how Presbyterians understand the work it does and determine its priorities for the future. The survey is both for those who are familiar with OGA as well as those who may have little or no knowledge on the office. The survey can be found at "OGA Survey." The survey closes Aug. 19.
Just one more
Prayer for El Paso, Dayton
Yes, this small corner of the newsletter is typically reserved for humor. That's been a challenge. First El Paso then Dayton -- only hours apart. Your editor knows that prayer alone -- prayer without movement, prayer without action, prayer without change -- is not enough. But, still, pray. Jill Duffield, editor of The Presbyterian Outlook, published a prayer Aug. 3 shortly after the murders in El Paso. In it, she notes, " Through you, all things are possible, and yet we fail to claim your power to transform chaos into order, war into peace, and anger into action. " The complete prayer is at " El Paso and Dayton ."