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The weekly newsletter from the
Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
May 20, 2020
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We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ, joyfully participating in Christ's ongoing life and work. "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
(I Thessalonians 5:11)
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Congregation of the Week of May 24-30
First Presbyterian Church of Holland
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Clerk of Session - John Oldemeyer
Elders - Ronda Lupkes, Joel Minett, Cathy Moffitt
Trustees Steve Moffitt, Pete Bouman, Bill DeZeeuw, Ron Moffitt, Danny Moffitt, Glenn Nelson
Treasurer - Barbara Winsel
Music Director - Judy Oldemeyer
Musicians - Judy Oldemeyer and Jeanette Sluis
Audio - Visual Technician - Deb Wolfswinkle
Christian Education Directors - Barbara Winsel and Deb Wolfswinkle
Custodians - Marlyn Kuyper and Laura Perli
Women's Association Chair - Lou Perli
Food Pantry Chair - Judy Oldemeyer
Pastor - Rev. S. Lynne Matthews
Our congregation actively supports the Pipestone Food Pantry, Worship services and Bible studies at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities, our presbytery's mission work in Guatemala, and reaching out to local community needs (which vary each month). We ask God to make us aware of those needs and how we may best participate in meeting them.
Other Prayer concerns:
- World leaders and our government leaders at every level, that they may have the wisdom of God.
- Protection for those serving in the military and their families.
- The unemployed/under-employed, those who are hungry
- The homeless, the physically and mentally challenged
- Those who are ill with COVID19 or any disease.
- Farmers, ranchers, livestock producers, all those who struggle in this volatile economic climate
- Those persecuted for their faith in Christ.
- Those in nursing homes.
- Healthcare workers, caregivers, those recovering from surgeries and those facing ongoing medical treatments.
- Our youth (and all of us at every age!) that they may grow in faith in Jesus Christ.
- How to reach out to the young people of our community since we have decided not to have traditional VBS this year.
- Pastor Lynne Matthews and daughter Kristi
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PDA Webinar: Pastor Resilience and Support is June 2
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Jun 2, 2020 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Minnesota Valleys Presbytery Pastor Resilience and Support
Register in advance for this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Application
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General Assembly bulletin inserts – GA224 in 2020
What’s coming to the 2020 General Assembly? How will you explain the actions of GA to the congregation?
The 224th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meeting in June 2020 is shaping up to be an assembly like no other. For the first time, GA will be held virtually.
This year’s assembly will consider critical business and elect a new team of moderators (co-moderators or moderator/vice moderator).
Help your congregation know what’s coming to GA and give your church members a fast, accurate and fair account of what happened after the votes are taken.
We know many congregations are facing unprecedented financial challenges this year. So, we are offering our balanced, trusted GA bulletin inserts for a special price. You will receive both the pre-GA and post-GA inserts for the price of one in a full-color, easy to read format that you can easily email to all members of the congregation.
Only $20 for congregations of less than 200 members and $30.00 for churches greater than 200 members. You download a PDF file of a master, prepared by the award-winning staff of The Presbyterian Outlook, and then email them to the congregation.
Pre-GA bulletin inserts will be available June 12.
Post-GA bulletin inserts will be available June 27. (late evening, after the assembly concludes)
Order now!
Presbyteries are invited to order for all of their congregations for 1 cent per member. Call George Whipple to order: (800) 446-6008 ext. 756.
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The Presbytery received $31,050 from the Presbyterian Mission Agency in Year Two Transformation Going Beyond Change support. The funds will support the following presbytery initiatives:
- Pastor’s Retreat
- Commission on Leadership Group Coaching Training
- Regional Transformation Conference
- Scholarships for Lay Leadership Participation (registration, travel, lodging)
- Small Church Residency (2 congregations)
- Webinar Series (Preaching about Change, Podcasting, Social Media & Ministry)
- Preaching and Social Media Ministry Conference
- Cultural Competence Training Two-part Series
- Equipping for Mission/Community Engagement Two-part Series
- Leadership Assessment Instruments for New Participants
The presbytery was approved for $41,240 through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Seminary Intern from Dubuque Theological Seminary to begin at First Presbyterian Church Winnebago May 18.
Presbytery to begin new website development in June.
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How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going
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New presbytery book study:
How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season
by Susan Beaumont speaks to where we are today. We will discuss on June 30 at 11:00 AM by Zoom.
How do you lead an organization stuck between an ending and a new beginning—when the old way of doing things no longer works but a way forward is not yet clear? Beaumont calls such in-between times liminal seasons—threshold times when the continuity of tradition disintegrates and uncertainty about the future fuels doubt and chaos. In a liminal season it simply is not helpful to pretend we understand what needs to happen next. But leaders can still lead.
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Online worship opportunities in our presbytery
Amboy:
Weekly video devotions available on Facebook at First Presbyterian Church of Amboy or on YouTube at Pastor Amboy
Edgerton: 10:30 Sunday mornings Worship on church Facebook Page, and 11:30 Sunday mornings Worship Audio Version available on church website
Ellsworth Zion, and Rushmore Emmanuel and First are worshiping using Facebook Live at 9:05 a.m. on Sunday mornings. We also have a conference call set up for those who do not have Facebook. We are using Start Meeting for the conference calls.
Fergus Falls: our sermon available on our website
(
www.federatedff.org
)
and our YouTube channel (
FF Federated Church
)
Friday afternoons. We will also post a devotion video in the middle of the week.
Jackson: Facebook Live - Facebook site is Salem Lutheran Church, Jackson, MN
Sunday 9:30 a.m., Wednesday 5:30 p.m., Holy Week - daily devotions, MT and GF 5:30 p.m.
Lake Crystal: Our church is sending Worship bulletin content and sermon via email and regular mail to our membership for each Sunday. Also recording a service from Sanctuary of myself and musician to be accessed on You Tube on the Friday before the given Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSDuL79Bte0CjYxgTVor1ng
Lismore: 9:00 Sunday mornings - Worship on church Facebook Page
Litchfield: 10:00 am Sunday mornings and Tuesday morning Bible study by Zoom. Contact
Gordy Pennertz
for instructions.
Luverne: 10:15 am Sunday mornings on Facebook Live. Also carried by local cable company.
SUNDAYS on Facebook
10AM sermon/prayer with Pastor Lindsay
10:20 (ish) Children's Time with Bailey DeVetter
10:30 (ish) Music Selection by Ben Marti posted
Randall: 10:00 am Sunday worship service is on Facebook and
webpage
Redwood Falls: 10:15 am worship on Facebook Live on First Presbyterian Redwood Falls page and 6:30 pm Wednesday Witness with Pastor Pam (same)
Spicer Hope: Facebook live at 10:00 link on Hope Presbyterian Church
website
.
Also services are uploaded there later in the day.
Willmar: Facebook Live at 10:00 am Sunday mornings
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Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Congregations and Members
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?—Psalm 27:1
Along with our brothers and sisters all around the world, we’re now coming to terms with the “new normal” brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. It is our hope and goal to equip churches and worshipers with useful information and resources during these trying times. Please check back often for updated information. If you have ideas or resources that might be of interest to the wider church, we invite you to email them to us at
connected@pcusa.org
.
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Guidance for Faith-Based Communities from the MN Department of Health
Link to guide
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From Presbyterian Outlook
When grief moves in: Pastoral care for grief and COVID-19 through stories
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Live webinar
with on-demand replay — $29.95 (1-6 participants from the same church)
Live webinar with on-demand replay — $39.95 (7-12 participants from the same church)
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From FPC Litchfield: Due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 Pandemic, First Presbyterian Church of Litchfield has postponed our 150th Anniversary celebration until next summer. Details and invitations will be shared next spring.
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Prayer List
- For Rev. John Lindholm, retired pastor, Fergus Falls
- For Rev. Mark Chamberlain, retired pastor, Willmar
- For Rev. Bob Bartlett, First Presbyterian Churches of Brewster & Round Lake
- For Rev. Michael Roys, retired pastor, Winnebago
- For Rev. Elaine and Kent Boyd at First Presbyterian Church of Amboy
- Rev. Araceli Itzep from the Occidente Presbytery
- For Bety Cifuentes, the treasurer of the Partnership Committee, who is beginning chemotherapy
- For the "Men in the Mirror" program. Men from Occidente that MVP supported financially to attend the classes a couple of years ago are going to share the information they gained with different churches in the eastern and central parts of Guatemala. They, along with the chaplains of the national Presbyterian church, will also be training Christian policemen in what they learned from "Men in the Mirror."
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Presbyterian Women: Opportunity is Knocking at Your Heart
Our PW Presbyterian Women are hoping to have some more women join our Coordinating Team. We usually meet twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. We also have a Spring Gathering, a day for all MN Valley Presbyterian Women to meet together for fellowship, food, fun, interesting speakers, SERRV vendors, and much more, usually in June. With the virus this year it is very possible that our Spring Gathering will become a Fall Gathering!
Our CT has members that have been on this team for many years and would like some new faces, ideas, etc. We do need a Treasurer, if you enjoy working with numbers. This might be just the thing for you! We have committees too: Communications, Mission/Issues, Search. Please consider this opportunity as we continue to fulfill the Presbyterian Women Purpose
If you have any questions or concerns about this opportunity, please contact me at:
Gloria Rust, Moderator
H) 507-283-4975
C) 507-227-7393
Blessings to all as we work together to praise God, knowing that all things are in his hands!
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Four Students from Dubuque Seminary Looking for Summer Internship
Are you open to serving as a ministry learning site? If so, students from Dubuque Seminary are looking for summer placements. Congregations will provide housing and a monthly stipend. Summer internships are paid at the rate of $1,000 a month. The work-week includes 40 hours, Sunday and mid-week worship leadership, mission engagement and mentor conversations. Students will receive training in pastoral ministry, sit on the session with voice, participate in the presbytery, be assigned to a presbytery commission, engage in community outreach, and participate in the presbytery transformation training. Additionally, interns will receive a mentor.
A successful internship will include a learning experience that prepares new leaders to serve the church with a greater sense of vocational clarity. Interns will gain cultural competence, develop skill in adaptive leadership, and grow in their pastoral identity.
For More Information:
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley
Executive Presbyter
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An Invitation to Spiritual Leaders
This is your invitation to submit a short video of yourself offering a meditation of your favorite passage from the Bible for the Presbytery YouTube channel. If you are interested, please contact Steve Tyykila
(
styykila@gmail.com
)
or Andy Davis (
revrn1973@gmail.com
). We'll give you more parameters and information, but we are looking for informal (not from the pulpit), personal, short (less than five minutes) videos on your favorite passage that you can record from your phone or computer. Thanks!
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth; Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Rushmore; First Presbyterian Church, Rushmore
First Presbyterian Church, Fulda
- Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Lake Crystal; First Presbyterian Church, Kasota
- Pastor, yoked parish
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood
- Solo Pastor
Faith Presbyterian Church, Silver Lake
- Solo Pastor
Hope Presbyterian Church, Spicer
- Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago
- Interim Pastor
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