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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
November 24, 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 28 - December 4
Faith Presbyterian Church of Silver Lake
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Leadership List
Pastor: Laura Messer
Co-Treasurers: Carol Denneson and Megan Bisek
Secretary: Megan Bisek
Cleaning Staff: Carol Denneson
Music Director: Barb Warzyniak
Organists: Barb Wawrzyniak, Jacki Rossi, Dorothy Merrill, and Laura Pieper
CE Director: Brittany McCleskey
Clerk of Session: Deb Jensen
Session members: Jerry Brooks, Doris Jerabek, Deb Jensen, Mark Krcil, Brittany McCleskey, Dorothy Merrill, Bruce Svanda, and Jake Wendolek
Prayer Concerns:
We would appreciate prayers for our confirmation class that began this month, people entering our new members’ class next month, all of our church members who are ill or recovering from surgery, and those who are homebound. We also ask for traveling mercies for all this holiday season.
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A Word from Kathy
Next Sunday is the beginning of Advent, and then it's just a short four more weeks until Christmas. I've been hearing a lot about supply chain issues. There won't be all the toys and other gifts we want on store shelves. We better get out there early if we want to get everything... there's a shortage!! It makes me sad to think that the lack of a certain toy or gift item means Christmas will be spoiled.
Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann in his Advent devotional book, Celebrating Abundance says this:
To "prepare for Christmas" in our society is to be sucked into a vortex of indulgence, from decor to gifts to calorie-rich foods. Layer upon layer of tinsel, lights, chocolate drizzle, and wrapping paper create the illusion of abundance, disguising the feeling of emptiness in our souls. The arrival of the Messiah, by contrast, is true abundance disguised by the impression of scarcity. Training our eyes to see through the rough stable, the adolescent mother, and the anxious escape to Egypt, we can see in that poverty and powerlessness the wonder of God's abundant life and grace coming down to dwell among us.
Thought for the week:
This Advent, don't be sucked into a vortex of indulgence, but enjoy the abundance of life with Christ. Have a Happy thanksgiving and a thoughtful beginning of Advent.
Kathy Terpstra
Gap Executive Presbyter
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Holiday greetings from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) |
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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
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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.
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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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