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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
October 20, 2021
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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 October 24-30
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Renville
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Our leadership --
Teaching Elder - Anna Williamson
Session Members - Jeff Bakker, Joel Bakker, Tim Beekman, Greg Dikken, Pam Kjersten, Kristy Marks, Ryan Ross, Deb Winzenburg, Lenae Wordes
Clerk of Session - Carol Beekman
Education Leaders - Joy & Adrienne Petersen
Exciting things happening at Ebenezer. Our Christian Education Committee has started a Wednesday Night Program open to the RCW School District. Currently, we have four confirmation students that meet three times a month, four pre-confirmation students and 17 students ages 4 to 5th grade that meet on Wednesday nights. These kids are excited to learn more about Jesus. Our Mission Committee has challenged the church to give $250 to the Renville County Food Shelf along with "packing the pews" with items for the food shelf. The committee will also be challenging the congregation to give money to Santa Express in late November-early December.
Please pray for our members that aren't feeling well or undergoing cancer treatments. We also would like prayers for Pastor Anna as she travels during her vacation. Please also keep in your prayers our members in Renville Health Services (Renville, Meadows on Main, and East Ridge Court.) We would also like to have prayers for safety during this harvest season.
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A Word from Kathy
Congratulations to the First Presbyterian Church in Windom and the First Presbyterian Church in Willmar, who celebrated their 150th Anniversary last Sunday (actually, it was 151st for both). Also to First Presbyterian in St. James who celebrated their 150th in September. It takes the hard work of faithful members for churches to be thriving after 150 years.
Congratulations to Faith Presbyterian Church in Silver Lake who welcomed new Pastor Laura Messer. Blessings on all you as you continue to do God's work in your context.
Thought for the Week:
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy now. Work humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it." --The Talmud
Kathy Terpstra
Gap Executive Presbyter
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Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
We seek a down-to-earth, collaborative leader to partner with the 51 congregations of our western Minnesota presbytery. We are blessed to live, work, and worship in the beautiful landscape of lake country and rolling farmland, small rural communities, college towns, and resort communities. We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ, joyfully participating in Christ’s on-going life and work. We seek an EP who can help us live into this vision by encouraging us to build partnerships and embrace a vibrant future. You can find more information about the position on the CLC website. Or, you can email gmilloy@lakesandprairies.org. Deadline for Application is October 31, 2021.
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GA #225 (2022)
General Assembly #225 will take place......in two locations in 2022...Louisville, KY and your living room! The format for this General Assembly will be different. Commissioners and advisory delegates will meet in person in Louisville at the Presbyterian Center for committee meetings then from July 5-9, the GA will meet in plenary sessions virtually using Zoom. The GA Committees will be coming in person to Louisville over three sets of days: June 18-23, June 22-26 or June 26-30. We seek applications for commissioners and alternates. For much more information about GA, go the website: 225th General Assembly (2022) | From Lament to Hope (ga-pcusa.org)
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Pictures or Videos from Our Presbytery Sought
We are working on a video for our new website, and invite you to send pictures or videos that we might use. We'd like high resolution nature pictures from within our Presbytery. Send links or pictures to Karen Lange.
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October 23 Training for:
Treasurers/Church Financial People
Church Personnel Committees
Clerks of Sessions and Records Review
The time has come to review Session minutes from 2019 and 2020. We will be doing this on Saturday, October 23 from 10-2 (Lunch will be provided) at the Presbytery office which is now in the First Presbyterian Church, 312 6th Street SW, Willmar. Please fill out the form for your minutes for two years – 2019 and 2020.
On the same day, Bea Ourada will be having a training for church treasurers/church financial people, and Deb Hess (Commission on Leadership co-chair) will be leading a training for personnel committees particularly focused on conducting annual reviews for pastors. So it promises to be a good day of training. Anyone interested is welcome!!
Please RSVP to Karen at the presbytery office how many people are coming and to which training so we can plan accordingly for lunch.
If you are unable to attend the review, please let us know too (you can also send someone if you aren't able to make it). It is important to have your books reviewed.
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Support Education for Children in Our Sister Presbytery in Guatemala |
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by Jim Krapf
Our Occidente partners report that school there continues, some places in person and other places virtually. Mission Co-Worker Leslie Vogel tells of students climbing the mountainsides to get reception for their assignments and then climbing again to submit their lessons.
The need for scholarships continues. Your donations in the past have made a tremendous difference. Additional contributions will again do so, particularly in this stressful time with COVID complications.
Their next school year begins in January. You can mail your checks made out to the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys and noted for scholarships to the presbytery office (PO Box 431, Kerkhoven MN 56252). Any amount is appreciated; but $250 per student is the goal. You may consider making this more than a one-year commitment.
You might also add 22% of your donated amount. Five percent is given to the national office of the Presbyterian Church in Guatemala as a part of our partnership agreement. This money assists in paying their administrative and program cost at the national level. Seventeen percent is given to our national office of the PCUSA, to pay for promotional efforts and to ensure the funds are used as intended.
Your donations will be in addition to the six scholarships that are provided through our presbytery’s Occidente Partners budget. Our goal for several years has been a total of $4000, providing 16 children with $250 each. Keeping our donations at this level can support more children beyond elementary into middle and high school.
Communications have been difficult and delayed because of COVID, but we hope that donors will eventually receive photographs, academic reports, and thank you notes from the children and/or their parents. Many churches display these to express appreciation and promote further contributions. We do not reveal the names of donors to the recipients to avoid further personal requests for assistance. We have found presbytery-to-presbytery arrangements are a fairer more manageable way to offer assistance. Occidente's Committee on Ministry will continue to select the recipients from among their now 20 churches.
Thank you in advance. Education yields opportunities. It makes a difference for that child’s future.
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The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update
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The Academy Offers Hope for the Future
Many churches across America, including here in Minnesota, are finding it difficult to find and/or afford a full-time ordained pastor. Several churches, however, are finding what might even be a better solution: Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs). CREs are commissioned by the Presbytery to fulfill the role of a pastor for a specific ministry or congregation. For classes and more info, check out The Academy
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From Transformation & Development
The Commission on Transformation and Development is working to make sure we are serving you and your churches the best we can in this next year.
The Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development exists to resource congregations. We have identified six critical areas: discipleship, evangelism, mission, spiritual leadership, stewardship and worship. Please feel free to contact any of the members of the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development as to what might be areas that you may be seeking assistance with locating valuable resources. Those currently serving on the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development are: Randy Knuth, chair, Anne Veldhuisen, Michael Hartwell, Darlene Scherbing, Barb Wawrzyniak, Lindsay Jacaruso, Rollin Haynes and Steve Anderson. Please let us know how we can come alongside of your congregation. Please contact Randy Knuth, the chair, at 712-540-8243 or via email at knuthr758@gmail.com.
Having a difficult time finding pulpit supply? Have you considered a virtual sermon?
A Sermon for Every Sunday ( asermonforeverysunday.com) is a website that provides lectionary-based video sermons by America’s best preachers for use in worship, bible study, small groups, Sunday school classes, or individual use. All you do is push the button. If you have a computer and a projector, these professionally recorded sermons can be downloaded and viewed on Sunday mornings. The site features nationally known preachers from multiple denominations. Although donations are accepted, the sermons are free. Check out asermonforeverysunday.com.
Technology Grant
Thanks to the gracious generosity of the Budget and Finance Committee, we are now able to offer technology grants up $750.00 each year, not to exceed ½ of the cost of the total project. So, the total project will have to be over $1500 in order to receive that amount. This is effective May 27, 2021. Again, thanks to the Budget and Finance for graciously increasing these funds that churches may apply for in regards to technology upgrades or new projects. Please use the new form which is specific to the Technology Grant.
The above resources are shared by the Commission on Congregational Transformation and Development
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Prayer List
- For Carissa Cunningham, daughter of Pastor Jason and Annalisa Cunningham (Luverne), who underwent heart surgery on Monday, August 9.
- 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
- Pray for our brothers and sisters in the Occidente Presbytery of Guatemala - for their health, safety, and recovery from the effects of the Covid pandemic
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Slayton - Pastor
Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Interim Pastor
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An invitation for clergy from MN Commissioner of Public Safety John Harrington
Join with other interfaith leaders to create a better system of public safety in Minnesota.
Kickoff event: Tuesday, November 23, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
We all want our system of public safety to be better — and we know that people of faith are compelled to seek justice. Interfaith Action invites you to a series of compelling conversations about public safety and policing in Minnesota.
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The Ministry Lab is hosting a "Gentle" Re-Opening - and celebrating with a slew of free resources!
~In-person hours resume October 20 & 21, from 12:00-5:00 PM.
*Meet our new assistant, Bridgette Weber on Thursdays.
*Visitors are asked to be vaccinated and wear a mask at all times.
~Find hidden treasures in our Gently-Used Book Give-Away - Wednesdays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3.
~Let us soothe anxieties with fresh, new, FREE resources, for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and more!
~AND: the labyrinths are available again! Reserve one for Advent, New Years, Lent, etc., by emailing Emily Meyer.
We look forward to moving gently through the coming seasons with you!
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