|
|
A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
December 1, 2021
|
|
 |
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)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congregation of the Week of December 5-11
First Presbyterian Church of Slayton
|
|
LEADERSHIP AND STAFF:
Session: Clerk of Session Nola Aanenson, Ron Behrends, Becky Boeve, Branch Haken, Luann Parker, Phil Swenson, Rich Wajer
Trustees: Chair Dale Bergman, Rick Parker, Randall Boeve, Bruce Haken
Accompanist: Alyson Drooger
Secretary/Treasurer: Jannette Carlson
Custodian: Brian Byers
Pastor: Rev. Rollin Haynes, Part Time Stated Supply
PRAYER CONCERNS FOR:
- Many members dealing with health concerns
- Our PNC as they work to finalize an opportunity for regular pastoral care
- Our Sunday School teachers and students
- Our Women's Association seeking to determine whether to try to reorganize or to disband
- Our Nominating Committee seeking to fill leadership vacancies
- For the Lord's blessing on our efforts at mission and ministry
- And also prayers of Thanksgiving for gradually increasing numbers in worship and faithful stewardship support for the church despite the pandemic
|
|
A Word from Kathy
I was on a Zoom meeting yesterday with the Minnesota Council of Churches and representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health. This is kind of a summary of the discussion about the status of the Covid19 virus. Omicron: Not much known yet, and it's difficult to know what the impact might be. Delta: Still going strong. 99% of cases in Minnesota are Delta. Minnesota is currently a hot spot for infections.
The best advice for both Corona Virus variants is to do what we know helps stop the spread. Get vaccinated and also get the booster, wear masks, social distance, improve ventilation, wash hands, sanitize and avoid crowds.
I know we are all so, so very tired of this but it doesn't look like it will be over anytime soon. Please stay vigilant. It's important that we do our best to keep not only ourselves but all our siblings as safe as we can. Here is a list of tips to celebrate safely from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Thought for the Week:
"Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Kathy Terpstra
Gap Executive Presbyter
|
|
2022 Per Capita
$43.00 Total
$28.52 for Presbytery
$5.50 for Synod
$8.98 for GA
Treasurers: checks received before January 4, 2022, can still count toward 2021
|
|
Advent Devotionals from Presbyterians for Earth Care
These free Daily Advent Devotions are based on the Revised Common Lectionary texts from Creation Care Perspectives. Old Testament Professor Bill Brown of Columbia Seminary, hymn writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, activist-scholar Abby Mohaupt, other gifted pastors and inspiring activists have contributed to this wonderful resource. We hope it will help preachers, lectionary Bible study groups, families and individuals with new insights on these beloved texts during this special season. We hope the devotions will inspire more people help care for God's creation in these challenging times.
|
|
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
|
|
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)
|
|
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.
|
|
Support Education for Children in Our Sister Presbytery in Guatemala |
|
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.
|
|
The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update
|
|
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
|
|
Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
First Presbyterian Church of Edgerton and First Presbyterian Church of Lismore - Pastor, yoked parish
Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, First Presbyterian and Emmanuel Presbyterian Churches, Rushmore - Pastor, yoked parish
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Pipestone - Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Slayton - Pastor
Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Interim Pastor
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
