Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
|
|
|
|
The Rev. Peter Russell, Honorably Retired, who is residing at Abbey Park in Grand Blanc. His health has declined recently.
Our churches currently in pastoral transition.
Our Mission Co-Workers:
|
|
|
Upcoming Ordination and Commissioning Anniversaries:
Elder Chris Wolf (11/4) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Marlette-First and Marlette-Second
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.
|
|
|
|
|
Yesterday (October 5) was World Teachers Day, a day to recognize and remember those who labor to train our minds and character, and those of our children and grandchildren. All of us have had teachers who have excelled not only in imparting information, but inspiring and encouraging us in ways beyond the curriculum.
Back when I was at Princeton Theological Seminary, one such teacher was Gibson Winter. He was a meek and humble Professor of Church and Society with a deep commitment to justice. He was Episcopalian, influenced heavily by the theology of Paul Tillich, but his own faith was deeply Reformed.
One thing Professor Winter taught resonates strongly with me today: “Sin is systematically distorted communication.” Tillich had famously taught that sin was “alienation”—a separation of people from others, from themselves, and from God as the “Ground of Being.” But Winter went beyond sin as a state or condition, or even an isolated action, and looked at sin as a process.
It seems self-evident to say that “systematically distorted communication” is sin. It’s right there in the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. It is often reduced to “You shall not lie,” but that is an oversimplification, whether the lie is a small fib or grand conspiracy theory. The Larger Catechism explains the commandment not in terms of a mere utterance, but as a failure to regard the neighbor as a person whose dignity and good reputation are in our care.
That is important, but Winter inverted the subject and predicate: not “Systematically distorted communication is sin,” but “Sin is systematically distorted communication.” In other words, all sin is systemic and social by nature. It is the process by which the Truth about God, others, and ourselves becomes distorted, and by which that distortion is expressed, perpetuated, and embraced. It isn’t just “breaking the law”; it can be the law itself if that law embodies distortions about human beings or advances injustice.
Next Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day. It might say “Columbus Day” on your calendars, but that itself is systematically distorted communication. I grew up viewing Columbus as an adventurous hero who “discovered” a “new world.” It is closer to the truth to say he was a principal player in a system of exploitation, theft, and enslavement that benefited the royal treasuries of Europe at the expense of indigenous peoples. Less than one year after his “discovery,” a Papal bull was issued under the Doctrine of Discovery that divided the “new world” between the crowns of Spain and Portugal.
The systematic distortion about indigenous peoples became embodied and perpetuated in the myths and ideologies of our nation. The myth of the “noble savage” (itself an offensive distortion) quickly morphed into ideologies that regarded indigenous peoples as sub-human or non-human and rationalized their genocide.
The other great American sin – the Atlantic slave trade – was in part a product of the need of European “owners” to have enforced labor to work sugar and tobacco plantations after the eradication of the indigenous population. Thus, one systematic distortion begat another.
In the Presbyterian tradition, we offer a corporate confession of sin at each worship service. This is our reminder that sin is not merely individual and moralistic in nature. The sin we confess is shared, societal, and often so pervasive and powerful as to be inescapable. But when we receive God’s assurance that in Christ we have been reconciled to God, we are sent forth in grace and gratitude to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the world. And that begins with lives and actions that are truthful about God, our neighbor, and ourselves – and teaching that truth to others.
Faithfully,
Dan Saperstein, Executive Presbyter
|
|
|
Covid-19 and Congregations – Delta Variant Edition |
|
|
|
|
Covid-19 and Congregations – Delta Variant Edition
As sessions and congregations continue to address the reality of COVID-19, questions continue to abound: “How important are masks if everyone is vaccinated?”, “How should we protect our children?”, “When can our choirs safely meet and sing in worship?”, “How much more dangerous are the new variants of the virus?”, “What is the latest CDC advice, and how reliable is it?”.
To paraphrase Albert Einstein, the Delta variant has changed everything but our way of thinking. Infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising again. Vaccination minimizes the effects, but breakthrough infections can occur. To address these changing factors, the Presbytery hosted a new interactive discussion on Covid-19 and Congregations this week via Zoom. Our special guest once again was Lisa Allgood, Ph.D., who has served for 37 years as a Research Immunologist and is currently the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Cincinnati. Lisa is an outstanding resource for understanding the scientific and medical dimensions of the current pandemic and their implications for congregational worship and ministry. Her expertise has been generously shared with the wider church.
|
|
|
Job Openings Around The Presbytery |
|
|
|
|
Position Summary:
The Campus Chaplain will nurture and support the spiritual growth of students, staff and faculty to encourage a dynamic interfaith environment on campus that includes worship, study, service, and other activities that honor the rich diversity of faith perspectives within the College community. This individual will report to the Senior Chaplain and will work collaboratively with the Associate Catholic Chaplain and Associate Protestant Chaplain, as well as the Center for Campus and Community Engagement.
Click here for more details. Please feel free to share this posting with those who may be interested.
|
|
|
|
|
Please click here for a complete job description and information on how to apply. Please feel free to share this posting with those who may be interested. |
|
|
|
|
Position Summary
To perform range of administrative and clerical functions in support of on-going operation in the church office. Administrative Assistant is under the direct supervision of the Pastor and accountable to the Personnel Committee of Session in consultation with the Pastor.
Terms of Employment
Flexible schedule for 20-25 hours a week with schedule to be determines at time of hire. $11.50 an hour.
Principal responsibilities and duties
- Provide administrative and clerical support to pastor and church.
- Perform, oversee and coordinate the basic clerical functions of church office.
- Provide record keeping and computer data entry to facilitate effective management of the church.
- Provide clerical support to ensure adequate supplies and materials are ordered in a timely fashion.
To apply send Employment Application to
Personnel Committee
First Presbyterian Church
495 Charles Ave Alma MI 48801
Please feel free to share this posting with those who may be interested.
|
|
|
|
|
Second Presbyterian Church, located at 2665 Midland Road, in Saginaw Township is excited to once again be holding its semi-annual Fish Fry Dinner on Friday, October 15, 2021, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. This dinner is slightly different than other year, it is drive-thru only. The dinner includes fish (fried pollock), potatoes, coleslaw, bread, and dessert.
The fish fries, held one Friday during Lent and October are the Presbyterian Men's largest fundraisers and help fund various church projects such as; landscaping, many maintenance projects of the church building and grounds, sponsorship of Boy Scout Troop 321, and various other projects. This alleviates pressure from the budget on these items and allows for more mission giving. The Presbyterian Men have been holding the fish fry since the 1950s.
The cost of the drive-thru only experience is $10.00. Come on out and pick up a delicious fish dinner!
You can visit our event at:
Our Facebook page at:
Our website at:
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE: Clergy and CREs who are currently serving a congregation(s), as a reminder, you are required to attend Boundaries Training every three years during your employment within the presbytery. If you have not completed this training in the previous two years, please plan to attend the November session.
This boundaries training focuses on strategies to foster mental health, emotional resiliency, and well-being. While the essentials will still be covered, the best prevention is to encourage church leaders to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation arises.
November 9 and 10, 2021
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Eastern each day
Registration Deadline 10/27/21
This session primarily tor Pastors/Teaching Elders/Commissioned Ruling Elders
|
|
|
Presbyterian Mission Engagement Quarterly Report |
|
|
|
|
The quarterly Presbyterian Mission Engagement resource report is now available.
This week marks the first week of fall and all that the season promises and heralds — cooler days; a return to school, whether virtual or in person; the destructive ferocity of the ongoing hurricane season; the continuing uncertainty of COVID-19 and its variants; and yet, in the midst of all of this and more, we move forward in faith with our programming and budget planning at every level of the Church. Because God is with us and because Jesus calls us, we make our plans with confidence, as evidenced by the events, programs and resources you’ll find described below. We invite you to continue to partner with us in the work of ministry!
- Special Offerings and the Presbyterian Giving Catalog
- Matthew 25
- Communicators Network
- Upcoming Events and Celebrations
- And much more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
