Notes from the Stated Clerk, Barbara Lutter, about the business of the presbytery during such an unusual time as this
Watch your e-mail next week for a special edition of Business as [un]Usual.
All through this Election Week, our PTCA churches have been publicly present to its members and to its communities, practicing the fierce grace and justice of the message of Jesus during these tense and anxiety-producing days. Below is a small sampling of the public expressions of faith from PTCA congregations from your Facebook pages or websites, with profound thanks for your clear commitments to a faith that leads, guides, and comforts us.
 
(Did we not name your congregation? Send links to your public expressions of faith to Jeff Japinga, executive presbyter.)
There is perhaps no time of year we more long to be together as families and faith communities than Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. This year, that must of necessity look different.
Advent Practices
 
We know most of you have plans in place for your Advent worship and practices. If you want to hear what others are doing, or need a late idea or two for your programming, please join your Presbytery colleagues in an ADVENT 2020 PRACTICES Zoom call on Tuesday morning, November 10, at 10:30am. The link is below.
 
Topic: Advent Practices
Time: Nov 10, 2020 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 865 0488 4243
Passcode: 660240
COVID Updates

The Presbytery continues to participate in regular calls with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, MDH reported that COVID cases reached new record daily highs in cases and hospitalizations in Minnesota (and there are similar reports from Wisconsin), topping 5,000 new cases on Friday and shattering previous highs. Across the United States as a whole, daily cases topped the 100,000-mark on Wednesday and continue to climb. More directly to us, MDH reported that faith-related outbreaks in October showed an 80% increase over the previous three months in individual cases connected to faith gatherings like worship, weddings and funerals.
 
As faith communities and churches, we cannot grow weary in our key role in stopping the spread—even when that means continuing to refrain from the in-person gatherings we so desperately want.
 
Here are updated statistics and resources from the Minnesota Department of Health, as your sessions continue to make informed decisions on church activities and actions.
 
The Minnesota Numbers (November 1, 2020)
  • Total positive: 160,923
  • Patients who no longer need to be isolated: 136,457
  • Total approximate number of completed tests: 2,949,591
  • Deaths: 2,530 - Deaths among cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities: 1,760
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 10,849 - Total hospitalized in ICU: 2,805
Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020.

The number of lab-confirmed positive tests among Minnesota residents will be updated daily on Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with test results from the previous day. The page also includes a map of counties with confirmed cases, and more.
 
 

The retired clergy of the Presbytery and Rev’d Up held their first virtual meeting in late September, bringing together clergy from throughout the presbytery to interact and hear a moving discussion of the issues facing our Church. This discussion was led by our new General Assembly Vice-Moderator Elona Street-Stewart and Presbytery Executive Jeff Japinga. The meeting was attended by over two dozen clergy who used Zoom technology to come together to learn, share, worship and pray. Gregg Dana and Larry Boutelle facilitated the meeting with technical support by Heidi Bolt. As with all technology, we are sorry that some had problems logging into the meeting.

As a gift to entire Presbytery, a video of the main program can be found by clicking HERE. You’ll also need this passcode: Sb+iK22d. We hope you enjoy the presentation.

Members of the the Rev’d Up steering committee in the last few months have also been contacting retired clergy to offer support, friendship and encouragement as well as to plan Rev’d Up general meetings. If you would like to consider joining in the work of the Rev’d Up Steering Committee, initially virtually and hopefully sometime soon in person, please contact Pete Wyckoff (wyckoffris@yahoo or 612-807-0842). The next Rev’d Up Steering Committee will be held virtually in early December.
An online workshop, "Tending to Ambiguous Losses in Uncertain Times,” will take place Thursday, November 12, from 6:30-8:30pm, sponsored by Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center. (The Rev. Dr. Theresa Latini, a member of the PTCA, is Mout Olivet’s executive director.)
 
Ambiguous losses are perhaps the most challenging kind of loss. When someone or something is physically absent yet psychologically present, or physically present yet psychologically absent, it’s hard to find clarity, it’s hard to make decisions, and it’s hard to grieve. The physical, emotional, economic, and relational uncertainty resulting from the current pandemic further complicates ambiguous losses.
Led by Carla Dahl, Professor of Congregational and Community Care at Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN), attendees will discuss the nature of ambiguous loss as well as ways we can all deepen our resilience in these uncertain times.
Registration in advance is required. You may REGISTER HERE.
An Opportunity for All PTCA Leaders and Members
Rev. Luna GebbenGreen is co-leading a 4-week introduction to Centering Prayer Meditation, offered by Minnesota Contemplative Outreach via ZOOM. 

Beginning November 10th, 2020, the class will be from 9:00am to 10:30am, Nov. 10, 17, 24 and Dec. 1.

Each meeting will include a 20-minute Centering Prayer session. Participants are encouraged to read Father Thomas Keating's book, Open Mind, Open Heart, between sessions.
Presbytery Worship Resources
Upcoming Worship Resources

November 22: Reign of Christ Sunday
(NOTE THIS CHANGE IN PLANS!!)
(also, the Sunday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday before Advent)
 
WHAT: a full service of worship produced by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
THE PARTICIPANTS: The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, executive director, Presbyterian Mission Agency; the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Elona Street-Stewart and the Rev. Gregory Bentley, co-moderators of the 224th General Assembly.
WHEN AVAILABLE: The video will be shared at pcusa.org/matthew25-worship for viewing and downloading by Nov. 18, 2020. Congregations are welcome to use the video however and whenever they like.
 
NOTE TO THE PTCA: When we learned that the denominational office was producing a full worship service for Reign of Christ Sunday, we postponed our scheduled service, saving Presbytery resources instead for a late January offering

December 27: First Sunday of Christmas
WHAT: Scripture, sermon, and other elements of worship
THE PREACHER: The Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz, assistant professor of homiletics at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
WHEN AVAILABLE: Thursday, December 18
For more details, please watch this space or contact COM coordinator Heidi Bolt (https://bolt.heidi@gmail.com).
Calling all Church Musicians

The Presbytery is putting together a pre-recorded worship service for December 27, the Sunday after Christmas. We would love to feature a Christmas hymn or anthem that your congregation will record this year to share within the service. If you have a hymn or anthem, or other musical offering that might work well, please contact Heidi Bolt (https://bolt.heidi@gmail.com).
Ministry Lab Offers Small Innovation Grants
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on The Ministry Lab’s plans for 2020, we are delighted to announce a unique one-time grant opportunity to congregations for the upcoming seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

Hopeful Innovation Grants will consist of as many as 40 micro grants of up to $200 each. Grants will be given for efforts that aim to accomplish at least one of the following:
  • expand and/or deepen your reach within your congregation or community
  • represent something new, creative, and/or bold for your congregation
  • facilitate faith development
  • equip leaders for new ministry opportunities

Apply by Nov. 13 for the best chance to receive a grant. Any additional funds will be awarded through the end of November on a rolling basis. Grants are available to Ministry Lab member congregations only. (Note: All PTCA congregations are members of The Ministry Lab through Presbytery support for this ministry.)
Jeff's Jottings:
Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
In these days of pandemic, of contested elections and polarization, it is easy to think we have lost our way, our joy, our future. We haven’t. We know the way (and the truth and the life). The challenge is finding the courage and resilience and focus to walk in the way of Jesus. Here’s the way I named that this week, with thanks to a colleague, Kate Kooyman, for the framework.
EMerge is a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Through most of the year it is published biweekly and distributed to congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees and friends of the presbytery. Please send submissions and address corrections to office@ptcaweb.org
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