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The weekly newsletter from the
Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
May 13, 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 17-23
First Presbyterian Church of Fulda
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Leadership:
Session Members: Loren Carlson (Clerk of Session), Jon Beeck, Melissa Danneman, Jodie Getting, Kasey Konrady, Dean McNeal, Shirlene Pritchard
Church Secretary: Kasey Konrady
Treasurer: Ruth Carlson
Custodians: Doug & Becky Tuin & family
Adult Bible Study Leaders: Jodie & Cindy Getting
Sunday School Teachers: Shirlene Pritchard, Jena Meinders, Chad Ouellette, Jonathon Curry
Youth Leaders: Shirlene Pritchard, Kasey Konrady, Jonathon Curry
Confirmation Teacher: Mary Winter
Pastor: Vacant
We are very grateful for:
- Pastor Jim Krapf who has been serving as our moderator
- Pastor Lynne Matthews who has been supplying the video sermons during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Our members who have been stepping up during our time without a pastor as we continue to be active in our church and community.
Prayer Concerns:
- A member who is recovering from by-pass surgery
- A member who has cancer and had stem-cell transplant
- Pastor Carl Gearhart who provided pulpit-supply and is awaiting a kidney transplant
- Our members and friends who are in care facilities or home-bound
- Our church as we continue our search for a new pastor
Some of our outreach activities have included a Heroes for Hunger food drive in the fall; putting together Thanksgiving food baskets for the food shelf; spreading plastic Easter eggs around the community filled with treats and a Bible message, and made window stickers for the residents of the Maple Lawn Nursing Home, Assisted Living and Independent Living Apartments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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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.
COVID 19 Pastors’ Gathering June 2 at 10:00 a.m.
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Presbytery approves conservation easement for Clearwater Forest
At the Special Presbytery Meeting held by Zoom on May 12, the Presbytery approved Presbyterian Clearwater Forest, Inc. entering into an option agreement for the amount of $1,663,620 cash with the State of Minnesota, Forest Legacy Division of the Department of Natural Resources, for a perpetual conservation easement on the property lying and being in the county of Crow Wing, State of Minnesota, legally described as follows:
- Parcel with Tax Identification Number 50050509: GOVT LOT 5, EXCEPT THAT PART LYING NW’LY OF THE CENTERLINE OF CSAH #8 AND ALSO EXCEPT THE W 250 FT OF SAID GOVT LOT 5, LYING SE’LY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CENTERLINE.
- Parcel with Tax Identification Number 50050511: SE ¼ OF NE1/4 5 45 28.
- Parcel with Tax Identification Number 50050512: GOVT, LOT 3 5 45 28
- Parcel with Tax Identification Number 50050513: GOV, LOT 4 5 45 28
- Parcel with Tax Identification Number 50050514: NE ¼ OF NE ¼ 5 45 28
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From Ministry Lab: Do you know what you're doing this summer?
Webinar is May 14 at noon
The
Ministry Lab
encourages clergy and faith formation leaders from MN's UCC, UMC and Presbyterian congregations to join Rev. Kevin Brown, Associate Conference Minister of Faith Formation for Children & Youth of the MN Conf. UCC, for a supplemental
Co-Lab Webinar
/Faith Formation Leader's Bi-weekly Gathering: "Do You Know What You're Doing This Summer...??" on
Thursday, May 14, from 12:00-1:00 CST
. Concerned with how to replace VBS/Day Camp? Not sure what to do instead of camp or a mission trip? Share ideas and challenges, get inspired, and be empowered to innovate your way through a fantastic, faith-filled summer. To register, contact Ministry Lab Director Rev. Emily Meyer:
ministrylab@unitedseminary.edu
by 11:30 AM on Thursday, May 14.
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May Ordination Anniversaries
05/08/2008 Eunice Woodberry
05/15/1983 Randy Knuth
05/21/1978 Bob Springer
05/27/1973 Rollin Haynes
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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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Resources from Theology, Formation, and Evangelism
End-of-Life pastoral care resources / Resources at the time of death. The PC(USA) Office of Theology and Worship has developed resources for prayer at the time of death in situations where patients are quarantined, pastors or loved ones are not permitted to be present, and medical personnel may be seeking to offer spiritual care. Two documents are provided, each in two versions:
Prayer at the Time of Death
(
booklet
,
larger print
) and
Comforting the Bereaved
(
booklet
,
larger print
). These materials are based on the
Book of Common Worship
© 2018. Adapted with permission of Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. – April 13, 2020
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Guidance for Faith-Based Communities from the MN Department of Health
Link to guide
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Emotional and Spiritual Care
Resources in response to COVID-19
Building Resilience
Webinar for Faith Leaders
This one-hour program is designed to increase participants’ understanding of their own signs of stress and to teach in-the-moment tools to engage the relaxation response in body and mind. This webinar is designed for faith leaders in this season of COVID-19 and will engage participants in responding to questions and prompts to help create a personalized self- care and resilience-building plan, with attention to the particular issues facing faith leaders and awareness of the importance of the spiritual life which guides us all. Those attending will build on their experience while practicing new tools that have been shown to be effective in sustaining our capacity to serve in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Building Resilience
Webinar for General Audiences
This one-hour program is designed to increase participants’ understanding of their own signs of stress and to teach in-the-moment tools to engage the relaxation response in body and mind. This webinar is designed for anyone who is responding to the COVID-19 situation and will engage participants in responding to questions and prompts to help create a personalized self- care and resilience-building plan. Those attending will build on their experience while practicing new tools that have been shown to be effective in sustaining our capacity to serve in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance can offer either of these one-hour webinars live to groups upon request.
These webinars have been recorded and are available at
www.bit.ly/PDAESCwebinar
. Anyone wishing to view this webinar should also download and print out the accompanying handout, which participants will use as they participate in the webinar.
Live Faith Leader Support Webinars
In addition to the B
uilding Resilience
webinar,
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance can offer a live webinar to groups upon request. These webinars can be tailored to the group’s needs, with PDA offering a panel of presenters to respond to issues that may include self-care, changing needs of ministry in this time, and responding in times of stress, trauma and bereavement.
Please contact Kathy Riley, PDA national staff and Team Lead for Emotional and Spiritual Care at
Kathryn.Riley@pcusa.org
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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
- From Rev. Steve Boots: For Betty’s recovery
- 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
The Minnesota Valley PW Spring Gathering that was scheduled for June 2, in Renville has been postponed for now. Please watch for future announcements!
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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