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Christmas 2021 marks different milestones |
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As Christmas comes this week and December ends next week, I find myself reflecting on so many things. |
Among other things, Christmas 2021 is the first since 2001 that the United States does not have military forces deployed in active combat operations overseas this Christmas. The photo shows the chapel where I spent many weekends during the holiday season twenty years ago while deployed to Bahrain in the months after 9/11 while other chaplains I know were in Afghanistan.
Christmas 2021 is also the second in a row unlike any other in our lifetimes. This year, more and more of us are able to enjoy the season a little more and worry a little less thanks to vaccinations and boosters. But, the coronavirus that none of us had ever heard of before early 2020 is finding new ways to challenge us as it surges again. (We learned this week of another church in our presbytery adjusting its COVID protocols after a staff member tested positive for the disease.)
This holiday season also marks the end of Ruling Elder Patrice Hatley's ministry as our Presbytery Coach and Coordinator after seven years in the role. From serving as a member of the Commission on Ministry to vice moderator and moderator, Patrice has been involved in leadership across our presbytery for much more than just the last seven years. It has been a blessing to me to have the chance to work with -- and learn from -- her during the last three years, and I know her ministry has been a blessing to many of you.
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Look for a special eNews next week with a "farewell" letter from Patrice
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While the search for Patrice's successor continues, the Coordinating Team has asked me to shift to full-time for a bit starting January 1 as Stated Clerk and Temporary General Presbyter. We'll also be adding a part-time Temporary Clerk to assist me in the clerking part (more on that in an upcoming email).
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If you know of a possible candidate or wish to apply, please visit this link: Presbytery of Tampa Bay | General Presbyter Search
And, in case you missed it, this holiday season is also the first for one of our youngest Presbyterians as Libby Shannon welcomed baby Kathryn Eunice into the world the night before our December Presbytery meeting. (There's a little more --- and a picture of the happy family --- later in this eNews.)
Of course, there are many, many more milestones in the lives of our churches and the people in the Presbytery of Tampa Bay and beyond.
But, the biggest milestone of them all is the one we'll celebrate on Christmas Eve: the birth of Jesus.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Blessings,
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Rev. William A. Wildhack III
Stated Clerk and Manager of Communications
(813) 868-4800, opt. 2
P.S. Did you miss our last issue of the eNews with the summary of our December 2 Presbytery Meeting? Check it out here!
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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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Join us in honoring Patrice Hatley by dedicating a rocking chair at Cedarkirk |
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The group of ministers and elders celebrating Patrice at our December meeting asks that you consider a donation in her honor to Cedarkirk's Capital Campaign |
In celebrating Patrice’s ministry and retirement, we invited people to contribute to Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center’s Capital Campaign to dedicate a rocking chair at the camp in Patrice’s honor.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
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ICYMI: There's a new Presbyterian in our Presbytery |
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Welcome Kathryn Eunice Stokes to the family! |
Rev. Libby Shannon, our Associate Presbyter for Emerging Ministries, and her husband Michael Stokes welcomed "Baby Kat" into their family and the world on December 1, 2021. By the time we convened our Presbytery meeting on December 2, we had this picture to show at the start of the meeting to share in their joy (and explain her absence 🙃).
Libby will be on maternity leave for a bit into the new year. If you'd like to send her greetings, you can mail a card or letter to her in care of the Presbytery Office at the address at the bottom of this eNews and we'll be sure to get it to her!
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Together is Better: How Small Membership Churches Fulfill Their Missional Call Through Partnerships |
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The Synod of South Atlantic invites you to a free webinar, Thu, Jan 13, 4:00 p.m. EDT |
This webinar will introduce Together is Better, a new (Sept 13, 2021) book by the Rev. Dr. Lisa Baroody Culpepper, and present the rationale and methodology for working together through the missional cluster model of collaboration.
The conversation will also include the foundational principles, the rationale of urgency and necessity, the process and procedures, as well as case studies for forming missional clusters.
From the Amazon listing for the book:
In her book, Together Is Better, Lisa Culpepper addresses the need for collaboration in mission among small membership churches. This collaboration, or clustering for mission and outreach, enables declining small churches to pool their resources so that in working together in both local and global outreach, they can reclaim their missional call.
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"Leaders Believe" by Rodger Nishioka |
The December issue of Regarding Ruling Elders has been posted online and is the twelfth in a special formation series that has run throughout 2021, the Year of Leader Formation.
Note: This article is the last in a 12-part series focusing on PC(USA) leader formation as a part of the “Year of Leader Formation: Investing in Ruling Elders and Deacons.” Additional resources are available at www.pcusa.org/leader-formation/.
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Formation is a process, not an event. While 2021 has served as the Year of Leader Formation: Investing in Ruling Elders and Deacons, opportunities to grow as a leader in the church through service as a ruling elder or deacon will continue into the coming years.
Several events, resources, and activities are planned for 2022. To receive periodic updates and links to these opportunities, subscribe here.
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What are Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministers of the Word and Sacrament thinking, feeling, and experiencing in terms of physical, mental, and financial health, satisfaction of call, and more?
To answer that question, Research Services conducted the first-ever comprehensive study of ministers. Almost 5,000 ministers took part in the study which was completed prior the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges and stresses of the pandemic may have resulted in different responses had the survey occurred during the pandemic.
The results, nonetheless, provide insights into the experiences, thoughts, and feelings of PC(USA) ministers on topics including mental health, finances and debt, wellness, discrimination, and the call to ministry. Research Services wrote a series of eight articles on the study results.
While the survey was completely anonymous, the results should help inform ruling elders about the strengths and challenges faced by ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
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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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- The Executive Assistant is to provide day-to-day advice and consultation to church Co-Pastors in regard to church operations and management. The position will require creative thinking and innovative initiative to assist in fully achieving the church’s vision and goals. Trinity Clearwater is a progressive congregation located in Clearwater, Florida, in a culturally diverse neighborhood and is actively involved in service missions at the local and world level.
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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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St. John Presbyterian Church located at 4120 N. MacDill Avenue, Tampa 33607, seeks to fill a temporary position for an organist/musician, from Jan, 2nd until mid-April. Our present musician is on an extended leave of absence.
Payment is $80 per service. Our church office telephone number is 813-872-0333.
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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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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The next regular issue of the eNews will come out the first week of January. Thanks for reading all the way to the end! -- Bill
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