Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
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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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I am sure that all of us have had moments where something we should know or something we should see is right in front of us and we miss it completely. For me, it’s losing my glasses on top of my head. But we all have times and moments like that.
I recently had one of those moments in regard to something that is in the Bi-Weekly Brief for every single issue. I was part of a discussion with others in the Presbytery and someone asked about the Presbytery having a mission statement. I remembered that we had one in the past but I didn’t think it was being used currently.
I was wrong. As one of our pastors quickly discovered, not only does the Presbytery have a mission statement, it is at the top of every single issue of the Bi-Weekly Brief. Not only is that a reminder of how we can see something so often that we no longer really see it, it is a lesson on how we should always take the time to look at something carefully.
This mission statement has been around for quite a long time in our Presbytery. And in case you have overlooked it like I have, here it is:
The mission of the Presbytery of Lake Huron is to partner with congregations, helping people to know, grow, share and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.
In re-acquainting myself with the mission statement, a couple of things struck me – things that might be relevant to what our Presbytery is working through these days. First, as was noted during the discussion group, this mission statement calls the Presbytery to be a partner with its churches. That means we are called to minister side-by-side – neither Presbytery nor congregation being the sole lead for ministry. That means that there will be times when the Presbytery leads and there will be times when the congregations lead. Being partners is about truly sharing together in who we are and what we do as part of the church of Jesus Christ.
Second, and this relates to the first, this mission statement is about people. It even specifically says, “helping people to know, grow, share and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ. In other words, the mission of the church or the Presbytery cannot be fulfilled without people. Now that may seem blindingly obvious but there is a tendency to overlook that everything a congregation or a Presbytery does in ministry involves people.
Without people, there is no point to what we do. With people, we partner and help and serve. After all, even the act of following “as disciples of Jesus Christ” requires us, as people, to be part of what the church is and does.
So, if like me, you have overlooked our mission statement, I encourage you to find it, to read it, and to reflect on how we, as Christians and pastors and people in our churches, as members of the Presbytery will define and grow the mission of Jesus Christ here in the Presbytery.
Yours In Christ,
Ted McCulloch, Stated Clerk
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A note that Ted McCulloch, Stated Clerk and acting Head of Staff, will be out of the office starting May 9 and returning on May 18. He and his wife will be going to North Dakota to visit her family. He will not have access to his Presbytery email or phone during this time. If absolutely necessary to reach him, please use his personal email of revted@msn.com. Thank you!
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News From Our Partners in Niger |
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Thank God for the faithful witness of our partners in Niger. The EERN leadership writes: "Pastor Salissou Idi, is pictured here, serving the EERN in Bilma (close to Libya). He is shown on the land he would like us to buy, make a borehole for them to grow vegetables together with non-Christians. This is part of their very fruitful outreach program. Pray for them!" Salissou and his co-pastor have many community members coming to them to ask questions at night so they aren't singled out in their religious leaders. Right now the things that Pastor Salissou is requesting are small and the EERN is able to help him right away. Surprisingly, the water is only 10m down in this area, so the plan is realistic and not expensive. But the journey to this town is long, and can take as many as seven days by road!
The Women's Fellowship group of the EERN recently had their national conference with hundreds of women in attendance. They gathered around the topic of Christian households and the problems they face. The national news media picked up on their convention and gave the following 2 min. report (sub-titles in English): https://youtu.be/9z1cWi1eRjs
To stay up-to-date on the Niger Mission Network, join their Facebook group here by clicking here. |
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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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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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