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~Note~
On bottom of your email, click "view entire message" to see entire newsletter
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Readings
~16th Sunday after Pentecost-Sept. 17,2023
Gen 50:15-21-8 and Ps. 103: (1-7) 8-13;
Rom. 14:1-12; Matt. 18:21-35
~17th Sunday after Pentecost-Sept. 24, 2023
Johan 3:10-4:11 and Ps. 145:1-8;
Phil. 1:21-30; Matt. 20:1-16
~18th Sunday after Pentecost-Oct. 1, 2023
Ezek, 18:1-4, 25-32 and Ps. 25:1-9;
Phil. 2: 1-13; Matt. 21:23-32
~19th Sunday after Pentecost-Oct. 8, 2023
Isa. 5:1-7 and Ps. 80:7-15;
Phil. 3:4b-14; Matt. 21:33-46
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Homestead Spotlight on
Ed McClymont
How Long have you been a Presbyterian member?
I have been a Presbyterian member my whole life. I was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, NE where I grew up. My wife and I moved to Norfolk in 1995, and we joined the First Presbyterian Church here at that time. I have served as both an elder and deacon.
What Committees do you serve on?
I have been the treasurer for Homestead Presbytery since the spring of 2021. Prior to that I had not been involved with HP, so I have been making a lot of new friends. In my position as treasurer, I serve on the Steering the Ship team and the Leadership team.
What are some of your Outside interest?
Reading and golfing are my primary outside interests.
How do you keep busy in your free time?
My wife and I own and manage a cattle feeding and farming operation with locations outside of Norfolk and Tilden, all of which goes to say there is not a lot of free time for us at the moment. Hopefully that will change when we step back from the business at some point. We both enjoy travelling, so that will take up a big part of our free time in the future.
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What are you looking forward to in the future?
I’m looking forward to being a part of the people that forge a new path in the operation of HP. We are moving to a model of being a volunteer led decision-making group. I am impressed with the current
group of volunteers that are committed to making process work. As believers in Jesus, I think we will accomplish much.
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AUGUST 2023 STATED MEETING | |
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY TEAMS | |
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, holds a ‘service of service’
Members and friends worshiped together on Aug. 6, then packed 10,000 meals to feed neighbors near and far
LOUISVILLE — Each Sunday this month, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska is putting service into its worship service.
The Rev. Chris Peters, Westminster’s head of staff, is offering a month-long “When Life Shows Up to Church” preaching series by considering the question, “What do we do when the storms of life show up to church?”
During worship on Aug. 6, the answer was clear: After hearing Peters’ sermon based on Mathew’s account of the feeding 5,000 families, about 130 people worshiping not in Westminster’s sanctuary but in the church’s gymnasium donned hairnets and plastic gloves to pack 10,000 meals for People’s City Mission, Lincoln’s primary homeless shelter, as well as for people in the Omaha and Winnebago reservations through another partner, Heartland Kids Against Hunger.
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Regarding Ruling Elders:
A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully
As Presbyterians we understand that the ministry of prayer is an essential aspect of our baptismal calling. In a recent edition of Regarding Ruling Elders, we were reminded that ruling elders — who are charged with the nurture of the congregation — can and should lead the prayers of intercession and supplication (Book of Order, W-3.0308).
Laurene Chan, a ruling elder at the Presbyterian Church in Chinatown, in San Francisco, believes that being prayerful while preparing a liturgy and practicing its delivery builds confidence and trust in it. She finds that centering herself and praying, “OK, God; use me,” helps her trust that God will use her to do amazing things.
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Free books available to equip faith formation in PC(USA) readers at home
Applications are open until Oct. 15 for
English and Spanish versions of ‘Psalms of Wonder’
“A psalm is a song that we sing to God,” writes Carey Wallace, author of “Psalms of Wonder: Poems from the Book of Songs,” a new illustrated book published by Flyaway Books. “Today, the psalms are known in almost every language that humans speak, but something happened as these songs moved around the world: They lost their music.”
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Digging Deep with BibleWorm – November 6-9, 2023
As parish pastors many of us meet the beginning of fall with trepidation about how we might craft worship for the upcoming year. Which texts do we pursue? How do we craft our sermons so there is consistency between the weeks? The Narrative Lectionary (NL), developed by Luther Seminary in 2010, is a four-year lectionary cycle that focuses on story and helps preachers tell of the story of God’s people - of who God is and who we are called to be. Hebrew Bible Scholars Drs. Robert Williamson and Amy Robertson of the BibleWorm Podcast will engage us in collaborative study, both as biblical scholars and as people of faith, one Jewish and one Christian. Please join us for a week of fellowship, study, and renewal at The Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska November 6-9.
In addition to offering educational resources you can use in your own worship setting, this retreat provides opportunities for personal spiritual renewal and growth; (re-) connection to God, other pastoral leaders, and yourself.
Click here for more information.
Register here.
Limited spots available
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Long-term Continual Focus on the Development of the Self
Resilience Task 10
by Joanna Quanbeck, Ph.D., LP
There is an intense amount of learning and study in graduate school, as one readies to launch into the formal work of one’s vocation of caring and service. Yet the work of learning begins in a new way after the academic coursework is completed and the diploma is received. It is in the subsequent years when clarity emerges as to the ongoing development and growth that is needed. The gift is that we get to individually and thoughtfully examine what kind of learning will best support our sustainability.
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Laughter as a Vitality Source for Practitioners
Resilience Task 11: Have Fun and Be Playful
by Thomas Skovholt, PhD, LP, ABPP, Professor Emeritus University of Minnesota
“The person who invented autocorrect should burn in Hello.”
“Always remember you’re unique just like everyone else.”
“Take my advice, I'm not using it.”
“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you prove you don’t need it.”
“To avoid taking down my Christmas lights, I turned my house into an Italian restaurant.”
“Hedgehogs, eh? Why can’t they just share the hedge?”
“Every novel is a mystery novel if you never finish it.” * `
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A Guide Map Towards Resilience
by Drew Benson, PhD, LP
When I was growing up, my family had AAA, and anytime we took a big road trip, I remember my parents getting a nicely laid out itinerary from the local AAA office. Our proposed route was identified in highlighter in a bound series of maps from our starting point to our destination and back again. Before the age of Google Maps or Mapquest, I think it helped make the journey from Neenah, WI, to some far off place feel more manageable. Over the past 11 weeks, we hope that our articles outlining eleven “tasks” of resilience might have helped you feel a little better equipped on your journey towards a more resilient life in ministry. We are grateful to Dr. Tom Skvoholt and his colleagues whose decades of research informed our writing.
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An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
by Sarah Parker, MDiv, MA, LMFT
Chances are, you’ve heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Maybe you’ve even said it yourself. I wonder. . . do you know the story behind this famous proverb?
According to Cambridge University, the story is told that during a visit to Boston in 1733, Benjamin Franklin was impressed with the city’s fire prevention methods. He tried to bring some of these practices to the city of Philadelphia, where he lived.
Allegedly, Franklin sent an unsigned letter to his own newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette. Published on February 4, 1735, his letter – “Protection of Towns from Fire” – began with the expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” quoting a proverb dating back to the 1200s in Jurist Henry De Bracton’s work, De Legibus. Then he wrote, detailing ways that the city could take steps to prevent fires before they had to fight them.
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Lincoln First
~Sept. 3~
Prayers are requested for the well being and prosperity of the Lincoln First congregation. May they continue to grow as a caring and nurturing Christian community, as well as individuals, focusing on prayer, Bible study and worship.
Lincoln Fourth
~Sept. 10~
Continued prayers for all at Fourth as we continue to discern and embrace Gods will for our congregation as we acknowledge 116 years of ministry in the University Place Neighborhood. We dedicated a new 12ft cross in our grounds on World Communion Sunday to celebrate this
milestone. We are continuing to enhance our Worship and Evangelism efforts through outreach and partnership. We are excited to partner again with A Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln through their Streets Alive efforts in bringing over a thousand people to the UPCO area at the end of September for the second consecutive year. We are also humbled to have served almost 1000 through community use of our building this summer. We are thankful for Presbytery prayers as we discern how God calls us to be good stewards of our resources and are excited for the year ahead!
Lincoln Good Shepherd
~Sept. 17~
Gracious God, I lift up the work and worship of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, asking for Your continued guidance and blessing. As they continue to facilitate and serve as a depot for the CWS Gift of the Heart Kit Mission, may their hands be an extension of Your love, providing relief and solace to those in need. Empower and direct their ministry teams to achieve their goals for 2023, ensuring that their upcoming service day at Camp Calvin Crest becomes a testament of our commitment to building community. Let the seeds of Your Word take deep root in their hearts, growing each member spiritually, that they draw closer to You and reflect Your love. Let them serve You God and neighbor with love, joy, humor, and dedication. Through the power of Your mighty Holy Spirit, in the strong name of Jesus, I pray. - Amen.
Lincoln Heritage
~Sept. 24~
Prayers are requested for the well being and prosperity of the Lincoln Heritage congregation. May they continue to grow as a caring and nurturing Christian community, as well as individuals, focusing on prayer, Bible study and worship.
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Attached, please find the
UPDATED (6/30/2023) PC(U.S.A.)
A Corporation list of job opportunities
Please click below to see entire list
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ONGOING SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANT OPPORTUNITIES | |
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The Transforming Communities/Vital Leaders Committee of the Synod is offering registration scholarships to individuals and groups from the Synod to attend the Stewardship Kaleidoscope , September 25-27, in Minneapolis.
These scholarships are part of our effort to support church leaders in their work as well as congregational vitality through availability of excellent events in our geographic region.
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Apollos Scholarship
The Apollos Scholarship Program directly supports the mission of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation to seek, develop, and support excellence in Christian leadership through the Presbyterian Church (USA). The program has funded hundreds of seminary students since it was launched in 1954 by the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary Board of Trustees.
- Recipients of the Apollos scholarships are students who are enrolled full-time at a Presbyterian Church (USA) seminary. Five Apollos Scholarships will be awarded in 2023.
- Apollos Scholarships will be awarded with an annual maximum of $8,000 and a total maximum potential of $24,000 over a three-year enrollment period.
- Apollos Scholarships will be paid for a maximum of three years regardless of any degrees undertaken in addition to a Masters of Divinity or any other circumstances. For example, a seminary junior may receive support for up to three years of seminary study; a middler is eligible for up to two years; and seniors qualify for one year of financial support.
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These scholarships are named to honor former Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation leaders: Robert K. Adams, Eugene C. Dinsmore, Howard B. Dooley, Silas G. Kessler and William L. Mulford.
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THE KESSLER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND
The Nebraska Presbyterian Foundation offers financial assistance for PCUSA pastors or a surviving spouse who is experiencing an urgent financial crisis. Applicants must be an active or retired installed or commissioned pastor who has, or is currently serving, a Nebraska congregation and currently residing in Nebraska. For more information on the Kessler Fund, please visit:
our website atwww.nebpresby.org
or contact Audrey Richert at arichert@nebpresby.org
or 402-420-9877.
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GRANT PROCESS CHANGING
We’re changing our grant process!
Congregations now have the opportunity to apply for a grant in June or December. If your congregation has an outreach or mission project which demonstrates putting your faith into action, consider applying for a grant to help fund your idea. Our website has been updated to include new application deadlines for both grant cycles. For more information on the grant process, please visit:
our website at www.nebpresby.org
or contact Audrey Richert at arichert@nebpresby.org
or 402-420-9877.
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HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY CONTACT | |
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Remittance payments from all Homestead churches are made payable to "Homestead Presbytery" and mailed to:
Synod of Lakes and Prairies
2115 Cliff Drive
Eagan, MN 55122-3327
Always attach a remittance form with checks.
Click here REMITTANCE FORM to download
Homestead Presbytery Office: Sheryl hpoffice@homesteadpres.org (402)413-2143
Stated Clerk: Erica Nelson
statedclerk@homesteadpres.org (801)389-4975
Treasurer: Ed McClymont
edmc@homesteadpres.org (402)649-3630
Homestead Presbytery
2110 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502
Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm
Friday 9:00am-12:00pm
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