Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
August 24, 2022
We Lift Up In Prayer
The Rev. Peter Russell, Honorably Retired, who is residing at Abbey Park in Grand Blanc.

Our churches currently in pastoral transition.

Our Mission Co-Workers:
Lucy Der-Garabedian serving in Lebanon.
Cathy Chang and family serving in the Philippines.
Upcoming Ordination and Commissioning Anniversaries:
Rev. Leslie Piper (8/1) - Honorably Retired
Elder Kathleen Rowe (8/1) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Tawas-Tawas Area and Vice Moderator of Presbytery
Rev. Dr. Stephen Shugert (8/1) - Honorably Retired
Rev. David Eshelman (8/1) - Honorably Retired
Elder Shaun Hardimon (8/11) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Swartz Creek-Mundy
Rev. Glenn Grant (8/15) - Pastor of Grand Blanc-Kirkridge and Moderator of Presbytery
Rev. Ken Hetzel (8/16) - 35 Years - Honorably Retired
Rev. Ted McCulloch (8/20) - Pastor of Saginaw-First and Stated Clerk of Presbytery
Rev. Charles Marquardt (8/29) - Honorably Retired
Elder Jon Essex (9/1) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Twining-Maple Ridge
Rev. Ron Vredeveld (9/1) - Temporary Supply of Beaverton-First
Rev. John Becker (9/17) - 50 Years - Honorably Retired, Pastor Emeritus of Vassar-First
Rev. Matt Schramm (9/19) - Pastor of Midland-Memorial
Rev. Hal Shafer (9/22) - 20 Years - Pastor of Lapeer-First
Rev. Brenna Overland (9/25) - Pastor of Bay City-First
Rev. Jane Young (9/25) - Temporary Supply of Saginaw-Countryside Trinity
Rev. Timm High (9/28) - 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.

From Our Moderator
Can We Afford to Fail?

Adam Hamilton wrote a book titled “Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times". Our lectionary text have been focused on Hebrews, which in itself is a reminder to Christians to live with courage and hope in uncertain times. Most of us would agree that we are living in uncertain times.

Jan Edmiston’s blog from July 26, 2022, talks about Churches having a Museum of Failure, and goes on to describe the difference between what might be found in thriving vs. dying churches. Finally, she says “If our congregation hasn’t failed lately it could be because we haven’t tried anything new.”

The same thing could be said for each of us as individuals, but also of our Presbytery. We cannot be afraid to try new ways of being in mission. We cannot be afraid of trying new ways of helping each of our congregations to thrive. We cannot be afraid of trying new models of leadership.

Yes, we may fail once in a while, but that is what a thriving Presbytery will do. A thriving Presbytery will live into the future with courage and hope. We can do this because “He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13: 5b-6)

Yours in Christ,

Moderator, Presbytery of Lake Huron
Installation Services
The Presbytery of Lake Huron and the congregations of
Chandler Presbyterian Church, Elkton; Fraser Presbyterian Church, Cass City; Kinde Presbyterian Church, Kinde invite you join them in worship as they celebrate the Installation of the Rev. Christina L. Jensen as Pastor on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 1:00pm. The service will be held at:

Kinde Presbyterian Church
4965 Diem Street
Kinde, Michigan 48445

Reception to follow service. Clergy are invited to vest in red.
The Presbytery of Lake Huron and the congregation of
Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland invite you join them in worship as they celebrate the Installation of the Rev. Matthew Schramm as Senior Pastor and the Rev. Michael Ludwig as Associate Pastor on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 1:30pm. The service will be held at the church.

Memorial Presbyterian Church
1310 Ashman Street
Midland, MI 48640
Boundary Training
One of our requirements is for each clergy person and CRE to take part in boundary training at least once every three years. This year’s boundary training is scheduled for November 16 and 17. We will continue to use the Leaderwise program offered through the Synod of the Covenant. It is a virtual event, taking place from 6 to 8:30 PM each of those two days.

To register, go to synodofthecovenant.org/leadership-development-workshops/ and scroll down to the Introduction to Boundaries and click on the registration link.

If you are not sure if you need to take boundaries training, the Stated Clerk will be mailing out specific invitations to those who need to complete it this year during September. Or you can contact Ted or Staci at the Presbytery office to check your completion.

Also, if you have taken another form of boundary training, either in another Presbytery or through a different organization, please share that information with Ted so that our records can be kept current.

Please let us know if you have any questions.
Minutes Review and Clerk of Session Training
Session
Minutes Review: There will be three chances for Clerks of Sessions to have their minutes and registers reviewed. The review can include minutes and records through August of 2022.

The dates for the reviews have been set as follows:

Monday, October 24 at 10 AM at the Presbytery Office
Saturday, October 29 at 10 AM at Flint-First Presbyterian Church with Clerk of Session training to follow (see below)
Saturday, November 12 at 10 AM (location to be determined)

The Stated Clerk is looking for hosts for the November review in the northern part of the Presbytery.

As in recent years, the Clerk can also review emailed minutes. Just email the relevant minutes to Ted and he’ll review them. Checklists for the minutes and registers along with final information on reviews will be mailed out shortly after Labor Day.
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Clerk of Session Training: Clerk of Session training will be provided on Saturday, October 29 from 11 AM until no later than 1 PM. This will be held at Flint-First Presbyterian Church. While beneficial to all Clerks, it will be especially helpful to any relatively new Clerk of Session. More details to come in the Bi-Weekly Brief.
Clergy and CRE Retreat
Pastors and CREs, what are you doing September 13th to the 15th?

If you have no plans, join us for a great time of sharing, learning, and community. The COM is making available to all currently serving pastors and CREs an educational pastor's retreat. It only costs $80 and will be filled with time to explore who we are, how to connect, and how to be better in our own ministries. If you don't take time to fill your own cup, you will have nothing to give!

Just click on the link below to register and get ready to share.

Bring a beverage of your choice to share, and a book that you think might help others (it doesn't have to be ministry based). We are looking forward to a great time! See you soon at St. Francis Retreat Center in Dewitt!

Click here to register on our website.
You're Invited! Happenings In Our Congregations
All are welcome to attend Caro-First's new monthly Music and the Spoken Word gatherings beginning in September 2022. These events include sacred music masterworks performed on the congregation's Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, texts for reflection, an aesthetic environment for contemplation, and spoken prayers. Music and the Spoken Word begins at 6:30 p.m. and is scheduled for the following Wednesdays: September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7. 

Click here for a printable flyer.
Rummage Sale: HUGE Community Rummage Sale hosted by Birch Run-First Presbyterian Church of Taymouth at 12517 Morseville Road, Birch Run. The sale will take place on Wednesday, September 28th from 9am to 5pm, Thursday, September 29th, from 9am to 5pm, and on Friday, September 30th from 9am to 1pm. Donations are accepted from September 25th through the 27th. *No items before the 25th please. For more information, please call (989) 624-9473.

Click here for a printable flyer.

Car Show: Vintage Car, Truck, and Tractor Show at Birch Run-First Presbyterian Church of Taymouth, 12517 Morseville Road, Birch Run. Our 2nd Annual show will take place on Saturday, September 24th, from 10am to 2pm. Registration begins at 9am. Entry fee is a free will donation. Awards are given based on spectator voting. New this year- Food Trucks and Craft Vendor Marketplace. For more information, please call (989) 624-9473.  

Click here for a printable flyer.
Matthew 25 Grants From The Synod
Would a $5000 grant strengthen your church in its ministries to build congregational vitality and/or to dismantle structural racism and/or eradicate systemic poverty? If so, apply by September 30 for the Matthew 25 Grants from the Synod of the Covenant. 

Click here for more information and to apply.