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Presbytery Stated Meeting, 4:15 p.m., December 2nd, ON-SITE at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church
Registration and Gathering start at 3:00 p.m.
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As always, there's more in this eNews, but first . . . |
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Even though I moved to St. Petersburg in 1996 from California after living at the Panama Canal for three years, images from autumn well north of Tampa Bay always go with Thanksgiving in my mind -- along with Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents' house (which is now my sister's house!). I'm looking forward to making that trip again someday.
But, this Thanksgiving Eve finds me one week out from a Presbytery meeting making sure that the meeting docket and reports are out at least a week ahead of time! Read on for reminders about the meeting, links to download the meeting packet, and a few other items.
And, while I have to get this out a week ahead of the meeting, I fully expect you to set it aside for now and review it later --- but please do so before the meeting starts!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessings,
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Rev. William A. Wildhack III
Stated Clerk and Manager of Communications
(813) 868-4800, opt. 2
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My work---and this newsletter---is supported by per capita funds from congregations in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, which also help unite all Presbyterians in sharing God’s love through mission and ministry. Thank you!
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DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW if you plan to attend the Presbytery meeting on Dec. 2 |
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First, if you're planning to attend our meeting on December 2 as a minister, ruling elder commissioner, or guest (or are a minister who needs an excused absence), please complete our online registration form right now and then come back for the rest of this newsletter.
If you think you might have already registered but can't remember for sure, before registering again "just in case," please look for an email from "Google Forms <forms-receipts-noreply@google.com>" with this subject line: "Registration for December 2, 2021, Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay."
That email confirms that you registered and includes an "Edit response" button for your use in updating your registration, too.
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Please print and bring copies of the Docket (p.4), Order of Worship (pp. 5-7), and any other reports you’d like to have available during the meeting and/or download the full packet to a device on which you can view it at the meeting; please don’t plan to rely on Wi-Fi to access the materials during the meeting.
In addition to the Docket and Order of Worship, please be sure to have any reports with motions for Presbytery action available at the meeting (motions are on the first page of each report):
- Consent Agenda (p. 8)
- Committee on Nominations and Representation (p. 15)
- Commission on Ministry (p. 17)
- Commission on Preparation for Ministry (p.21)
- Coordinating Team (p. 47 with 2022 Proposed Budget on pp. 42-46)
- Stated Clerk (p. 50)
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In case you missed it, here's some of what we'll be doing starting at 3:00 p.m. on December 2nd at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church:
- Gathering in person, on-site, with others from across the presbytery (and a few guests from far away)
- Electing and installing our Moderator and Vice Moderator for 2022
- Hearing outgoing Moderator Bobby Musengwa preach in our gathering worship
- Recognizing and celebrating the retirement of one of our minister members
- Hearing a brief sermon from a candidate for ministry under the care of this presbytery and examining her for ordination under care --- and meeting a new candidate on his path to ordination
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Electing commissioners to the 225th General Assembly (2022) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), members of our standing commissions and committees, and some ordination exam readers, too.
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handling some other administrative matters along the way, AND
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Recognizing the retirement of Coach and Coordinator Patrice Hatley.
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Now, more of the rest of what you need to know about attending:
- You will still need to check in when you arrive --- AND you'll pick up a pre-printed name tag at check-in, too!
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This is an ON-SITE meeting, and only those present at the site will be able to observe or participate in the meeting. There will not be an online option for remote participation.
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IMPORTANT: Traffic is heavy on the streets around PCPC between 3:20 and 3:40 when Plant High School gets out for the day. Please plan to arrive before or after that and be patient and cautious in between. Parking is available in the church lot, on the street, and after 3:45 at the school.
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Follow the signs to check-in and then join everyone else for heavy hors d'oeuvres during our gathering time in the courtyard.
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The meeting will not include an extended break for a meal, so come early to enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres along with reconnecting before the meeting starts!
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It's time for sessions to elect Ruling Elder Commissioners if you haven't already. Consult this document for your church's number of Ruling Elder Commissioners. Note: you can also find the number in parentheses following the church name in the dropdown under "Your congregation or worshiping community" on the online registration form.
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I plan to host a brief online orientation session for first-time commissioners or first-time visitors on Monday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m. You can join that session on Monday night by clicking here or logging in to Zoom and entering Meeting ID 875 4736 7126 and Passcode 207029. We will use Zoom for the orientation, but the meeting itself will NOT be on Zoom.
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If you need childcare at the meeting site, the deadline in early eNews to let us know was noon on Monday, November 22, so our hosts would have time to plan accordingly.
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As one step in eradicating systemic poverty as part of the Matthew 25 initiative, the Coordinating Team has dedicated the offering collected at our December meeting to support the efforts of RIP Medical Debt, in our case by focusing on retiring medical debt across the presbytery. We'll be following recent efforts by our host church.
Every ten dollars contributed relieves $1000 in medical debt AND the Commission on Church Vitality has voted to match the offering with an additional gift.
You can contribute to our offering without waiting for the meeting by clicking here and choosing "Presbytery Meeting Worship Offering" for your donation.
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NOTE: If none of the links to the online form will open on your computer, tablet, phone, or another device when you click on them (some anti-virus or security software will not load links you click on in Constant Contact), please copy and paste the following link into a new browser window and try that: https://forms.gle/DBMzSy7K5s3bQDwS7
If you still can't register online, there is an option on the form for someone else to register you on your behalf, or you can call our office at 813-868-4800, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm, for help in registering.
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A word about COVID-19 protocols:
The Coordinating Team agreed that the Presbytery meeting will comply with the COVID-19 protocols currently practiced by Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church (PCPC) for in-person worship and other large gatherings. This week, the session of PCPC adopted this update to its protocols:
"PCPC continues to support those who should mask and need to mask by providing masks at entrances and a clearly marked seating area in worship for those members of the congregation who prefer to continue mask-wearing and social distancing for their own comfort and the safety of their loved ones. Masks are optional for all fully vaccinated persons, except for in the designated seating for masked participants only[.]"
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A final note: as has often been referenced when discussing various COVID practices since last year:
Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Luke 10:27
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REMINDER: New 2022 minimum effective salary for ministers and certain other church workers |
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Commission on Ministry increases Minimum Effective Salary for 2022 to match Social Security COLA |
For 2022, the minimum effective salary for ministers (and certain other employees is $49,102, a 5.9% increase over the 2021 encouraged minimum, and matches the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) announced on October 13, 2021.
For comparison, the minimum effective salary for 2022 is $228 per month above the encouraged 2021 minimum of $46,366 based on SSA’s COLA for 2021, and $278 per month above the official 2021 minimum of $45,771 which the Commission on Ministry left unchanged from 2020 due to COVID.
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We're happy to share openings among our member churches and ministries (and occasionally beyond). Send information about openings to info@pbty.com with "eNews - employment opportunity" in the subject line --- and be sure to let us know if/when you fill the position! |
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Village Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida is seeking a new Pastor to lead the church and its congregation in fulfilling its mission to Continue Christ's Work in the World.
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TAMPA
Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church is often looking for new people to join their team:
- Program Administrative Assistant
- Sunday Church Nursery Teacher
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CLEARWATER
Thornwell is seeking a Family Specialist for its Building Families Program
(LCSW, LMHC, LMFT Preferred)
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TAMPA
St. John Presbyterian Church seeks a new backup musician
From the church:
St. John Presbyterian Church in Tampa has filled the advertised position for an organist/pianist to play for our services. We could use a back-up person as our new hire is going to be absent on some agreed-upon dates.
Payment is $80 per service. Our church office telephone number is 813-872-0333.
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CLEARWATER
Northwood Presbyterian Church is looking for a Director of Children's Ministry
As this issue of the eNews was getting ready to launch this week, Northwood listed the following open positions:
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Remember, there's always something new to see on our Facebook page and more at the Presbytery of Tampa Bay website. Click the buttons below to start exploring! |
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Have you found, "liked," and "followed" the Presbytery of Tampa Bay on Facebook yet? Click the button below to visit our Facebook page and be sure to click on "like" or "follow" to be notified of updates! |
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Our next issue of the eNews will come out the week after the December 2nd Presbytery Meeting.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! -- Bill
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