Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
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The family of Heather Bailey and the congregation of Bay City-First. Heather passed to the larger life on April 29th. She was a Certified Christian Educator and the Director of Christian Education at Bay City-First for many years. Click here for her obituary.
Our churches currently in pastoral transition.
Our Mission Co-Workers:
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Upcoming Ordination and Commissioning Anniversaries:
Rev. Ed Borycz (5/12) - 40 Years - Honorably Retired Rev. Bruce Cunningham (5/18) - Honorably Retired
Rev. Michael Loenshal (6/18) - 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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To give Ted McCulloch a much needed break, occasionally a member of the Presbytery Council will write the lead article for the Bi-Weekly Brief. This time, Elder Kathleen Rowe is our guest columnist. She is the Commissioned Ruling Elder of Tawas Area Presbyterian Church and the Vice Moderator of Presbytery.
As I begin my thoughts on faith and action in the world, I find myself surrounded by news of another mass shooting in Buffalo. Followed by a mass shooting in a Presbyterian Taiwanese service last Sunday near Los Angeles. Not to mention the war in Ukraine continues with the fall of Mariupol. Hate, rage, and violence seem to be everywhere I look.
What can I do that will have any effect on our world right now? What can WE do as a church body? Turning to the words of Walter Brueggemann in his 2018 book The Gospel of Hope I find a glimpse light. He suggests that God gives us an invitation to participate in the healing of the world, by living to create blessings for others. He writes:
“That task is done in many ways and by many means. Conservatives want to bless the neighbor through the private sector. Liberals want to bless the neighbor by government policy. Generous people by concrete neighborly acts. The vision is of all kinds of people in all kinds of ways, many strategies, many daring acts of imagination…many commitments to justice and peace, all making a difference in the world.”
Brueggemann concludes that if we act to cause blessing for others, we transmit God’s power for life. If we are channels for that power…the force of blessing that flows through our lives and out beyond us to others will accomplish God’s work and indeed give us opportunity to put our faith into action.
One thing I know, God wants the church in the world to continue to be God’s light, hope, peace and most importantly love in the world. So, let the blessings flow. Open your hearts and your doors to others.
Faithfully with you,
Kathleen Rowe
Vice-Moderator, Lake Huron Presbytery
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From The Moderator of Presbytery |
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Greetings Members of the Churches of Lake Huron Presbytery:
In an ever-evolving world, we are called to pause, reflect and adapt to fulfill God’s promise. In this spirit, your Presbytery Council is seeking your input in creating the future of our Presbytery.
According to the Book of Order (G-3.01) “The presbytery is responsible for the government of the church throughout its district, and for assisting and supporting the witness of congregations to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that all congregations become communities of faith, hope, love, and witness.”
In order that we may grow together in the Spirit, We need your help to fulfill this role.
Council will begin the process during the business portion of the June Presbytery meeting. This will then be followed by regional listening sessions, in person and virtual. We are requesting at least 2 representatives of each congregation participate in a listening session. Scheduling for these sessions will be announced in the near future.
We seek your input on questions such as:
- What has been the role of the Presbytery in regard to your congregation?
- What would improve the way the Presbytery functions in relationship with your congregation?
- How does your congregation participate in the life of the Presbytery of Lake Huron? How would you like to participate in the future?
We will send information on the listening sessions when they are scheduled and look forward to hearing from your members. Your input will shape the future form and function of our Presbytery.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Glenn Grant
Moderator, Presbytery of Lake Huron
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Mission Co-worker Cathy Chang tells ‘A Matter of Faith’ that people of conscience can help reduce suffering by using both eyes and ears
In the days before the Rev. Cathy Chang, a mission co-worker serving in the Philippines, was red-tagged having been accused of supporting groups perceived as terrorists through stickers and a tarpaulin affixed at her home in Quezon City, she spoke on the scourge of human trafficking with the hosts of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast.”
“We recorded this one week before she was red-tagged,” Catoe says just before the conversation with Chang is heard. “We are saying a prayer for Cathy and Cathy’s family.”
A listener question was the impetus for the conversation. “I recently learned that human trafficking is, in fact, still happening,” the listener wrote. “I thought this practice and business died a long time ago, but clearly I was wrong. It’s all over the world! And not only in ‘developing countries!’ As an individual, what can I do to prevent it? In the world context, is there something I can do?”
“I am so grateful for the awareness and the awakening that the question brings,” Chang said, adding there’s “some mythology, superstition and misinformation” in many people’s understanding of the complexity of human trafficking, a broad area that includes online abuse as well as exploitation in the workplace.
Three words are key in the latter case, according to Chang: force, fraud and coercion. “On paper, the job asked for someone who’s a janitor, teacher or nurse. But the coercion is asking for something else or demanding something else,” Chang said. “I may be coerced to stay because as an employee I may have surrendered my passport or my identity documents.”
“Now I am under threat. If I were to say anything to another employee, law enforcement — even a family member — they also might be under threat.”
When they think about what human trafficking is, many people immediately focus on sexual abuse, especially of children, Chang noted.
“The misunderstanding is when you’re talking about trafficking, work and employment conditions should also elicit that same kind of reaction,” Chang said.
Continue reading article on the PC(USA) website.
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“HOPE RENEWED” – That is the theme for the PW/Synod of the Covenant Gathering, July 29-30 in Dearborn, MI.
It will be great to be “in-person” – to hear about the new Horizon’s Bible Study “Celebrating Sabbath” – to worship together – to visit with other women striving to live out their faith. Check out the flier to find out more. (be sure you pay attention to housing!!)
Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Lake Huron are offering 4 - $50.00 scholarships to first time attenders. Contact Terry Wood (terryhwood@centurytel.net or 989-551-1554) by June 15th.
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From The Mission Coordination Committee |
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The Mission Coordination Committee is helping us to find ways to live out our commitment to be a Matthew 25 presbytery. One way they will be doing this is by sharing articles and stories on their page of our website.
The first article is regarding the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act.
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Pre-Order Your 2022-2023 Planning Calendars |
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Presbyterian Planning Calendar 2022-2023
It's that time of year again when the presbytery will be placing an order for planning calendars in order to take advantage of the bulk pricing.
This 19-month calendar contains many planning aids for pastors and other church leaders. Includes lectionary for Sundays and special days, liturgical days, liturgical colors, resource information for PC(USA) programmatic emphases, updated synod, presbytery and Presbyterian Mission Agency staff directories, color foldout synod/presbytery and world maps.
Cost per calendar is $10.50 and all orders must be pre-paid. Payment is needed by July 28, 2022. Unfortunately, there are no cancellations after this date.
You will be notified when the calendars have arrived (expected around mid-August) and arrangements for pick up or delivery can be made at that time.
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From The Commission On Ministry and Ministry Preparation |
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Is there a future pastor in your church? Maybe a future chaplain? Perhaps there's someone sitting in your congregation right now who is starting to feel that nudge towards becoming an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament! Our Ministry Preparation Team encourages churches in Lake Huron Presbytery to lift up this possibility to our members.
We are also happy to announce that the Ministry Preparation Team of COMMP has newly released a Handbook for Ministry Preparation, to aid in the understanding of our process in our presbytery. You can find it here.
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There are several bibles that were at Midland-Chapel Lane that are free to anyone who would like them. There are a total of 143.
- 114 are standard bibles black covers, most hard cover, some soft cover.
- 13 are either blue soft cover and /or have picture - design on the front
- 4 are the old paperback Good News for Modern Man
- 6 student bibles
- 4 Whirl children’s Bible stories
- 2 Children’s Bible in 365 stories
For more information, please contact Tina Jacobs at jacobst@charter.net or 989-430-6455 (cell). |
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The Sandusky and Yale-First congregations invite you to join them on a mission trip to the Christian Appalachian Project in Paintsville, KY October 23-29 2022. Cost of the trip is $540.
Click here to view the Christian Appalachian Project's website.
Contact Pastor Mark Garavaglia, Commissioned Ruling Elder of Sandusky and Yale-First at 810-404-9565 or garavaglia69@gmail.com for more information. |
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This leader will draw on a community organizing approach to connect individuals and churches of color with each other, to discover joint interests as well as hopes for shared ministries and support from the Synod. It is a term position of approximately one year, at approximately half-time, and will be guided by a Steering Committee and report to the Synod Executive. The Asian, Black, Latino/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Native American communities have much to teach and much to gain as joint ministries bubble up and coalesce, facilitated by this Organizer position.
Please reach out to the Executive Chip Hardwick at 309-530-4578 or chip@synodofthecovenant.org to ask questions, recommend candidates, or to apply with a cover letter and resume.
Click here to view this announcement of their website.
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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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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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