Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
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The family and loved ones of Jeanette Gillette who passed to the larger life last week. She was an active member of Midland-Memorial. Her husband, the Rev. George Gillette passed away in December. Click here to view her obituary.
Our churches currently in pastoral transition.
Our Mission Co-Workers:
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Upcoming Ordination and Commissioning Anniversaries:
Rev. Hoon Koo Lee (4/29) - Member-At-Large
Rev. Ed Borycz (5/12) - 40 Years - Honorably Retired Rev. Bruce Cunningham (5/18) - Honorably Retired
We ask that you consider including these requests each week in your bulletin and/or newsletter.
We also encourage everyone to send a card or e-mail or make a phone call to those listed. Sometimes a small gesture creates a big smile.
Contact information for anyone on this list may be obtained by calling the presbytery office at 989-799-7481 or replying to this email.
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Most of you will receive this on Wednesday which mean Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services will come in the next few days. Easter, of course, is our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is a day with bright colors and joyful music and our churches are usually fuller than normal.
Easter this year is a little more poignant and wonderful all at the same time. Yesterday (Tuesday, April 12) was and is a meaningful day in the McCulloch household. A year ago, on April 12, my wife’s father passed away. Additionally, April 12 was also my Dad’s birthday – he died in March of 2020.
This year, April 12, fell on Tuesday of Holy Week. It’s one of the quieter, if not the quietest day of Holy Week. That meant it was a good day to remember our Dad’s passings and yet, more importantly, be reminded that following death there is Easter, there is resurrection, there is life and life eternal.
So for our family, Easter is an even more personal celebration than usual. Maybe that’s a good thing. Easter can often be a kind of general celebration. We celebrate Christ is risen. We give thanks that for what Christ has done and the eternal life that is promised. But I don’t know that we always find Easter to be personal, meant for me or for you.
Yet Easter is personal. Remembering the passing of our dads must be personal for DeAnn and me. Because even as they have left this life, we know that there is life eternal for them. And that they have eternal life because of what happened that Easter morning. That makes me not only smile but rejoice. This is how much God loves all of us, individually and as a whole. God loves each one of us so much that Easter had to happen. This year, more than most, I believe the reality of that love given to us by God, in Jesus Christ, with the blessings of the Holy Spirit.
That’s why Easter is personal this year. May each of us find Easter to be a personal gift of God both this year and for all the Easters to come!
Happy Easter!
Ted McCulloch
Stated Clerk
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Presbytery Council Report |
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At its meeting on Wednesday, April 6, the Presbytery Council:
- Opened with devotions and prayer at 10 AM
- Stated Clerk reported on Boundary Training in the November and will be contacting pastors and CREs who need to take that training or arrange a different one.
- Approved allowing editing to be done on submitted articles for the Bi-Weekly Brief
- Discussed recent information on the future of small churches and created a Task Force to look at the future of our small churches
- Noted the updated, approved job descriptions for the Presbytery staff
- Discussed the June Presbytery meeting at Alma College. The College’s chaplain staff will plan and lead worship, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson will speak at our equipping time. Discussed possible ways of providing lunch and the communion elements for worship – both to be coordinated with our hosts at Alma College.
- COMMP reported on a possible retreat for pastors and CREs; reported on various regional pastor gatherings.
- Heard an update on the work of Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (see article)
- Approved plan to re-size the current Resource Center (see article)
- Adjourned with prayer
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Listening Sessions Scheduled |
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Greetings,
A number of weeks ago, the Presbytery Council engaged the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC) to work with the Council and then the Presbytery on why the Presbytery has had an inability to have a successful longer-term relationship with an Executive Presbyter. In addition, an opportunity would be provided for Presbytery members to share their experiences relating to the recent resignation and departure. Below you will find what steps have been taken and, more importantly, what comes next.
The first step was a deep listening process with a number of current and former members of the Council and other Presbytery members to gain a broader understanding of the situation from a variety of perspectives. That one-on-one process has been completed.
The next step, and this is where this communication comes in, is for LMPC to facilitate small-group structured dialogues. Each group would have approximately twelve members. Each participant would be given uninterrupted time to express their thoughts on the Executive Presbyter position.
These small groups would be on Zoom. If you are interested in participating, we will have two small groups scheduled for Thursday, April 21, 2022. Please register no later than Wednesday, April 20 by 3 PM.
To participate, please use the appropriate registration link below.
For the 9:30-11 AM Small Group, please register with this link:
For the 3-4:30 PM Small Group, please register with this link:
We will not be able to admit anyone who does not register ahead of time. As each person decides whether or not to participate, please understand that this is not designed to discuss what did or did not happen. This is designed to help us understand our history and what might be a better way in the future.
Thank you for your prayers and consideration for the life of our Presbytery.
Yours in Christ,
Ted McCulloch, Stated Clerk
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Resource Center Re-Sizing |
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Recently, the Presbytery Council approved re-sizing our Presbytery Resource Center. In part, it is to provide space for the Michigan Nanum Church for their resources and materials as they make greater use of that room. The reality is that our Resource Center is almost never used and many of the materials are out of date.
To that end, the Resource Center will be relocated to the bookcases on the Presbytery office side of the building by the entrance. In order to reduce the number of resources that will be kept in that smaller space, we will do the following:
If there are any resources that you or your church wish to have, please stop by the Presbytery Office during normal business hours (currently Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:30pm). This will be on a “first come, first serve” basis. Please bring boxes with you. We will do this from now to the end of September.
At the end of September, we will review the remaining resources and transfer some to the bookcases by the Presbytery entrance. Any resources left after that will not be kept.
We are pleased that the space of the original Resource Center is needed and can be used fully. If you have any questions, please contact the Presbytery Office.
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The latest installments of the Parish Paper are now available on our website. The topics are:
May Reaching Out To Low-Income Neighbors
June Small Groups Are The Church's Past And Future
As always, these are short but great reads, and perfect for session training or small group discussions. Click here to view these or any of the previous editions over the years.
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Scholarship Opportunities |
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From the Synod of the Covenant: Applications Due 5/15/22 for Higher Education for Christian Leaders Scholarships.
Information and applications are now available for students pursuing vocational, associates, undergraduate, or first masters degree (in theology). Candidates have the opportunity to discuss their work to strengthen congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism, and/or eradicate systemic poverty. Completed applications are due on May 15, 2022. Learn more and apply at:
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From Camp Westminster: Every year Camp Westminster gives funds to families who cannot afford the total cost of a week of summer camp. We call them camperships. It’s like a scholarship but for camp!
Camp is expensive. It’s costly to run a summer camp, and it’s costly to send your kids to a summer camp. One thing that makes us different than a for-profit or privately owned summer camp is our amazing community of donors. Because of that, our Campership Fund has $15,000 for campers and families who otherwise could not afford a week of camp!
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First Presbyterian Church of Bay City has 2 openings to join our wonderful staff. We are currently searching for a part time Director of Music Ministries and a part time Children's Ministry Director. You can find the job descriptions for both positions at https://www.firstpresbaycity.org/careers
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Flushing Presbyterian Church is seeking a part-time pianist for our worship services and occasionally weddings and funerals (additional compensation provided for these services). If interested, please call the church office at 810-659-5831 or email at flushingpc@outlook.com to schedule an interview.
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First Presbyterian Church of Flint is seeking a joy-filled, passionate, and committed full-time director for our youth and young adult ministry to join our staff and church family.
Learn more about this exciting opportunity either through CLC or directly through our job minisite.
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It's that wonderful time of year again....fish fry time!
Birch Run-Taymouth's fish fry will be take out only on Friday, April 22, 2022 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm while supplies last. Dinner will include four pieces of fried fish, french fries, rolls with butter and coleslaw for $14. Beverages will be available. Click here for a printable flier. The church is located at: 12517 Morseville Road, Birch Run 48415
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Happenings In Our Congregations |
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Birch Run-Taymouth is hosting a Women At Risk, International event on April 30, 2022 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Join us to learn about domestic and global human trafficking and the risks women are facing today. Create circles of protection around women and children. Shop beautiful jewelry and other hand-made gifts crafted by rescued and at-risk women. Restore women and children to lives of dignity and worth.
Every $250 in sales supports a woman in a safehouse for a month.
"Women At Risk, International (WAR Int'l) is a Michigan based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, established to create circles of protection around those at risk. Through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects and partnerships, we provide safe places to heal from abuse, trafficking, exploitation, and more. Our passion is to empower survivors to live and work with dignity and hope.
Our programs and partnerships span the globe, reaching over 40 countries, including the United States. Each month, additional projects and partnerships are formed, increasing our ability to offer the rescued and at-risk a "hand-up" instead of a handout."
Click here for a printable flier. The church is located at: 12517 Morseville Road, Birch Run 48415
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