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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
November 17, 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 November 21-27
Grace First Parish of Russell
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We have around 50 kids, ages three through fifth grade in our Sunday School. This is a picture of some of them dressed up for Halloween.
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Leadership and staff list
Pastor: Anne Veldhuisen
Treasurer: Christa Peterson
Secretary: Pam Moat
Custodian: Katy Janiszeski
President: David Hook
Vice President: Dennis Petersen
Clerk of Session: Hilary Buchert
Session members: Lee Bush, Tiffany Thooft, Matt Erdmann, Shallyn Dybdahl, Tony Dybdahl and Allie Sanderson.
Prayer concerns
We would like prayers for our entire congregation; our new minister, Pastor Anne Veldhuisen; our Sunday school kids; confirmation kids; and community members who need your healing care.
We would also like prayers as we are in the process of selling our church manse. We pray that it is sold easily and without any issues.
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A Word from Kathy
I've been tired lately. I wonder how many of you share that feeling. It could be that more darkness makes me want to spend more time in bed or could it be the drop in temperature. Maybe it's just the whole pandemic that seems to be going on and on, and now is getting worse. Whatever the reason, I've been sleeping enough but still some days feel exhausted.
I read a quote somewhere that said, "There are two types of tired: one that requires rest and one that requires peace."
When I think about it that way, maybe what I need is more peace rather than more sleep. There is only one place I know of to get peace and that is from time spent with God. This week I'm going to try to make more time for prayer and meditation so I can be wide awake for the challenges to come.
Thought for the week:
"There is no rest without peace."
Kathy Terpstra
Gap Executive Presbyter
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2022 Per Capita
$43.00 Total
$28.52 for Presbytery
$5.50 for Synod
$8.98 for GA
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Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2022
Indianapolis, Indiana
DEPART July 23 – RETURN July 28
A gathering for High School age youth, youth leaders and young adults in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. presbyterianyouthtriennium.org
CLICK HERE for a PDF with more information for our 2022 MN Valleys Presbytery delegation
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Sharing Seeds packing volunteers pack food into plastic bags at First Lutheran Church in Worthington. (photo used with permission by Julie Buntjer / The Globe) |
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SDOP Grant Awarded to Sharing Seeds in Worthington
Our Presbytery's allotment of $4500 in a Self-Development of People grant has been awarded to Sharing Seeds in Worthington. The national staff recently notified us that criteria was adjusted so that funding could go to projects that assists people impacted by Covid-19 without the recipients necessarily having exclusive control of the project. Because the deadline was immediately approaching, solicitation for applications were made just through committee members.
Sharing Seeds is a program that monthly distributes food bundles to students dealing with food insecurity. Counselors identify the needy students and help facilitate the distribution in back-packs. The food is ordered, assembled, and delivered by volunteers.
The SDOP funds will be used to purchase additional $25 grocery gift cards for families that have lost income and experienced increased expenses due to Covid. Arrangements will be made to deliver food to those who are quarantined.
Our appreciation to those in our presbytery who contributed to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering that funds SDOP grants. We are also grateful for the national staff's decision to award additional funds to our presbytery among others. Diverting their funds budgeted for travel to go toward grants made this possible. Your offerings will bring relief to people struggling because of Covid. Thank you!
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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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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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Prayer List
- For Rev. John Lindholm, recovering from surgery
- For Rev. Jeff DeYoe, undergoing cancer treatment (former pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church, Spicer)
- 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
Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, First Presbyterian and Emmanuel Presbyterian Churches, Rushmore - Pastor, yoked parish
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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The Ministry Lab is excited to share a free water/faith curriculum designed especially for the St. Paul area, made by community for community, and including: five Bible themes, links to water stories, local cultural connections, hands-on activities, and more. Download "Wade in the Water" free, here.
Learn more at our November 18th (10:00am-12:30pm) zoom intro event, where community partners will connect water with spiritual practices, enviroSTEM activities, water justice, and ecotheology. All are welcome. This is a free event, but kindly register using this link. Learn more here.
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Join us on Thursday, November 18, 6:00 p.m. CST for a live zoom discussion with Dr. Mark Eakin, well-known oceanographer and contributor to past IPCC reports, to discuss what has come out of the meeting in Glasgow, Scotland in countering climate change. We hope to have some COP26 participants join us. Register here for this free event.
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