June 23, 2022
General Assembly Updates
The 225th General Assembly is underway, with meetings occurring both in-person and online this month. We couldn't begin to summarize all that's happening, but for full, up-to-the-minute information, please visit the GA225 website.

We want to take a moment to congratulate Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace and Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis, who were elected co-moderators during the first day of the hybrid assembly on Saturday. We wish them the best and look forward to a productive session with their inspired leadership.

Additionally, let's acknowledge our Baltimore contingent, faithful peers who are dutifully representing our presbytery:

Keith Reagan and Barbara Renton were the first to arrive at the Presbyterian Center, and are pictured below during Plenary 3 and the election of co-moderators. Keith convenes with the Polity Committee while Barbara focused on the Mid Councils Committee from Group 1, which both conclude today.
Billy Kluttz is also in Louisville, working with the Environmental Justice Committee in Group 2, which continues through Sunday.

Finally, Audrey Trapp and Gayelle Sama will be on hand for the Way Forward/VIsion and GA Mission Coordination Committees, respectively, which take place next week.

A complete schedule of meetings and events can be found here. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to each of our commissioners for their time, energy and enthusiasm in representing us this year!
Welcome Steve Nofel
We are pleased to announce the arrival of the Presbytery's newest addition, Steve Nofel. Steve will serve as an interim / transitional pastor for our congregations, temporarily providing a pastoral role until churches can identify a permanent pastor.

Steve will also work with the Interim / Transitional Ministers’ Support Group. When not serving a congregation full time, as staff interim, he will work with the Commission on Ministry and the Commission on Thriving Congregations in developing strategies to address the long-range health of Presbytery churches, as well as evaluating assessment tools and follow-up processes for congregational development and transformation.

Steve was born and raised in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio and has been a minister of word and sacrament for 31 years. His wife, Kim, is also a PC(USA) pastor. When they were newly married, they went to her first call in southeast Nebraska. There, Steve fell into interim ministry and discovered his calling, serving for 11 years.

They were blessed with two sons and accepted a call to be co-pastors in Cortez, Colorado for more family time. After 11 years, they moved to north central Iowa, where Kim continues to serve three congregations along with her co-pastor. Their sons, now adults are clearly their pride and joy.

Steve loves baseball, sumo (yes, sumo wrestling), and is a hiker / walker, who covers hundreds of miles a year while listening to dozens of books. He looks forward to getting to know everyone, and we are blessed to have him with us. Please join us in welcoming Steve to Baltimore!
Center Interns are ready to roll
We'd also like to welcome Baltimore arrivals, Peter Luljak, Hannah Ratliff and Ada Gonzalez as they prepare to embark on a new season of programming for The Center.

The interns will work with summer groups visiting onsite during their hands-on mission experiences, including leading devotions and debriefs to frame the day, helping
with teaching evening programs, and planning and leading worship. Interns will learn how to facilitate discussions with diverse groups about complex topics. They will also develop skills for community organizing and the tools it offers churches who want to engage in their neighborhoods.

We are looking forward to the connections they will cultivate over the next several months. It's great to have you with us, Peter, Hannah, and Ada!
Upcoming Events
Race, Gender & Justice (RGJ) Committee meetings will be acting on the Overtures that Baltimore supported this year, as well as a report from an Overture Baltimore wrote in 2016.

Saturday, Jun 25, 2022 - ITL Picnic at Knoebels Park All are invited to join the In The Loop family as they travel to Knoebels Park. Buses (and carpools) will depart Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church at 9am and return by 8pm. Bus transportation is available for $20 per adult and $10 per child (under 13). Knoebels is a free-admission amusement park with pay-as-you-go rides, roller coasters, pools & golf courses. Discounted ride, roller coaster passes are available at participating Weis Supermarkets. Register
Sunday, June 26 - Highland Church to host ECOFEST 2022 On Sunday, June 26, from 2-4, the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Highland Presbyterian Church are hosting ECOFEST 2022, a festival celebrating creation in Harford County! ECOFEST will feature fun activities for all ages. More information.
Tuesday, June 28 - How Do Queer Folks Make Sense of the Bible? What unique gifts and questions do LGBTQ people bring to reading the Bible? In celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month, Presbyterian pastors Brooke Scott and Lee Catoe will discuss their perspectives on Biblical interpretation and their recent series on how LGBTQ people interpret the Gospel of Mark in the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s social justice journal, Justice Unbound. For more information, email billy@govanspres.org - Facebook Event
Thursday, June 30 - Towson Presbyterian Church is hosting The Walsh Memorial Bell Choir, a group of high school bell ringers from the Presbyterian Church in Morris Plains, New Jersey, who are on tour this summer and will perform at 7 pm in the sanctuary. All are welcome!
July 11-15 - Vacation Bible School Food Truck Party Join Christ Our King Presbyterian as they roll into a week of fun and food! At VBS, your child will hear stories from both the Old & New Testament, practice daily prayer, get creative at craft time, and play games with new friends! Chefs should be ages 4-10. For more information email Tracy at christianed@christourking.net
July 15-17 - Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Men’s Conference For the first time in two years the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Presbyterian Men will be meeting in person at Massanetta Springs. The weekend will begin focused on worship and fellowship as we reunite and continue with speakers and small groups to encourage our growth in faith. More information
August 3-5 - Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, International “Patterns, Pathways and Play: The primacy of story for life, growth, and community,” with keynote speaker Dr. Tracy Radosevic. After two years of meeting online, this year’s event will be held in person, and nearby at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum. Register at www.nbsint.org
Help Wanted
Deputy Director
The Center is searching for a Deputy Director to focus on providing relational mission experiences that enable participants to see new ways to engage with their own communities. This position has primary responsibility for recruiting participating groups, and assuring that participants have a quality mission experience. Additionally, the Deputy Director has primary responsibility for cultivating participants as continuing participants and supporters of The Center. Job description

Contemporary Music Leader
Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church is a small and welcoming congregation in the Cape St. Claire neighborhood of Annapolis, MD. This church plans to offer two worship services for all ages; one traditional and one contemporary and is seeking a music leader for the contemporary service. The ideal candidate would be creative, patient, organized, accepting, encouraging and demonstrates familiarity with contemporary Christian worship music. The Contemporary Music Leader shall be responsible to the Session of the church through the Worship Committee and shall be supervised by the Pastor. More information

Office Administrator
Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland is seeking a part time office administrator to provide administrative support to the Pastor, organize and run the church office, and facilitate church communications. The preferred schedule is 20 hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. For the complete job description or if you are interested in applying, click here or send an email to adminperson@christourking.net.
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