Presbytery of Lake Huron
Bi-Weekly Brief 
 
"The mission of the Presbytery of Lake Huron is to partner with congregations, helping people to know, grow, share and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ." 
 

April 25, 2018 

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O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
 
~ Psalm 118:1
 
We Pray For 
We Lift Up In Prayer...  

New:
Bruce Graham, husband of the Rev. Linda Graham, Pastor of Cass City-First and Cass City-Fraser who is recovering from recent surgery and has developed an infection.

Ongoing:
Pam Brackbill and the Rev. Tom Brackbill, Pastor of Alma-First as they deal with all that encompasses Pam's diagnosis of Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Pam is under the care of Masonic Pathways. 

Mission Co-Workers:
The Rev. Cathy Chang and family who are serving in the Philippines.

Michael and Rachel Ludwig , our Mission Co-Workers who are serving in Niger.

    
   
 

 

For those Teaching Elders (Ministers of Word and Sacrament) and Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs) who are celebrating Ordination or Commissioning Anniversaries in April and May:

The Rev. Dr. Daniel Ahn (5/18) - Honorably Retired
Elder Jon Baker (4/26) - 1 year - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Rosebush
The Rev. Dr. Ed Borycz (5/12) - Honorably Retired
The Rev. Alec Brooks (5/1) - Honorably Retired
The Rev. Bruce Cunningham (5/18) - Honorably Retired
The Rev. George Gillette (4/27) - Honorably Retired
The Rev. Hoon Koo (David) Lee (4/27) - Member-At-Large
The Rev. Andrew Miller (4/4) - Pastor of Mt. Pleasant-First
The. Dong Won Park (4/15) - 45 years - Honorably Retired
The Rev. Dr. Brian Stratton (4/2) - Alma College Professor
The Rev. Dale Swihart (5/16) - Honorably Retired
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Walser (5/22) - Honorably Retired
   
Presbytery Office
Dan Saperstein
From the Lion's Den

Yesterday (Tuesday), the Presbytery took a small but significant step towards becoming more fully the inside-out, upside-down people of God in our region. At a special meeting called for this purpose, we concurred with an overture to the upcoming meeting of the General Assembly directing our church to respond to environmental racism.

It is a small step because our action did not require much from us. The overture, which originated in the Presbytery of Monmouth (central New Jersey) consists of only three requests, that the church:
  1. Take action to respond to environmental racism in all its forms.
  2. Listen to the perspectives and voices of people most impacted by environmental racism.
  3. In accordance with the Gospel, position the church's approach to environmental problems to include responses to the voices most directly impacted by environmental racism.
These are just words. They alone won't change the lives affected by poisoned tap water, or by exposure to lead and asbestos in crumbling buildings, or by historic policies that made it impossible to buy homes in communities away from toxic waste or other industrial hazards.

They aren't even our own words. They are words proclaimed by another group in our church - a group with a different set of problems and concerns than ours. They are good words, but we are only adopting them, instead of raising them ourselves from our own experiences of solidarity with our own impacted church members and neighbors.

But it is nevertheless a significant step, because for the first time in many, many years, our presbytery is bearing a formal, public witness regarding one of the most significant issues in our region. It is a significant step because we who in so many ways have turned our backs toward those who disproportionately have suffered from our public policies have now turned our faces toward them and moved in their direction.

A term coined only in 1981, "environmental racism" describes "the disproportionate burden of environmental problems that people of color take on. People of color are more likely to live in areas more exposed to pollutants in the air, ground, and water. Environmental catastrophes, such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, disproportionately impact people of color, as these communities are more likely to live in substandard housing and within floodplains. And people of color generally have fewer resources to escape environmental disasters." (from the rationale of the overture)

While the overture directs its focus on issues with the Port of New Jersey, the most significant example of environmental racism this century has taken place in our own bounds - the Flint Water Crisis. By concurring with this overture, our voice will be heard by the Assembly as it considers this overture; which means that the voices of the affected residents of Flint will also be heard.

Will our concurrence change the lives of the affected residents of Flint? Not likely; but it can start to change us. We can start to learn more about how to love our neighbors; how to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God." It can lead us to a more humble and compassionate posture as individuals and communities of faith. It might even help us to recognize our own complicity, not only in environmental racism, but in the hundreds of ways we contribute to racism and racial injustice - one of which has been by our silence. Until now.

Environmental racism isn't the only issue worthy of our attention, but it is one that most of us can recognize and agree demands a response in our time and place. The great reformer Martin Luther said 500 years ago, "If you preach the Gospel in all aspects with the exception of the issues which deal specifically with your time you are not preaching the Gospel at all."

You can read the overture here: https://www.pc-biz.org/#/search/3000297.

It is a small step, but a significant one. So let's keep walking.

Faithfully, 

Dan Saperstein, E xecutive Presbyter
 
Order Your 2018-2019 Planning Calendar

The Presbytery Office will place a bulk order for the 2018-2019 Presbyterian Planning Calendar for individuals and churches. If the calendars arrive in time, they will be available for pick-up at the June 5th Presbytery meeting at the  Lapeer-First.  Otherwise, they can be picked up at the Presbytery office. 
 
Cost per calendar is $8.80. All orders must be pre-paid. Please click here to use our on-line order form. Rose Onan will email you an invoice when she receives your order and payment is due  no later than May 10, 2018.  
 
Contact Rose Onan at  ronan@presbylh.org or 989-799-7481 ext. 6 with any questions.

   
Alma Interfaith Youth Mix
NEW FOR 2018: Alma Interfaith Youth Mix

Join us on May 5th in envisioning and crafting the interfaith community of the future!

Alma Interfaith Youth Mix offers students in grades 9-12 with opportunities and resources to explore their own religious and spiritual traditions and those of others who believe and practice differently. AIYM enables participants to overcome barriers and move toward pluralism, mutual appreciation, and cooperative engagement for the common good of humankind. Through AIYM, Alma College demonstrates its identity as a safe and challenging spiritual home for future college students who find themselves at any point on their journey of faith.

Click here for details and registration information.
 
Young Adult Volunteers
Young Adult Volunteer Applications Now Available

Apply to the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program today!! Final round for the 18-19 season open until June 1. National sites only are available.
 
Program benefits include a regular stipend, housing, transportation and student-loan repayment options throughout the duration of the service year. For more info, visit the FAQ tab at the top of the YAV homepage.  Also, follow @yavprogram as current YAVs take over the account. 

Help plant seeds of service and spread the word!
 
Mission To The USA
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Mission To The USA

This fall the Mission to the USA program is bringing church leaders from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka for three weeks. Hosting churches have the opportunity to build deep relationships with  mission partners as they participate in the life of the congregation and share their faith and experiences from their own lives. The dates are October 12 to Nov. 2. Host churches are needed. If your church is interested in hosting or for more information, contact Eileen Best at  musa@synodofthecovenant.org.
 
Communications Corner
Headlines of Interest

Here are links to articles that we hope you will enjoy and perhaps spend some time discussing them with others. 
 

Ah, remember the good ol' days when social feeds were chronological. Then, all you needed to do to create a stellar post was submit it at the right time.  Since then, the algorithms shaping news feeds have gotten much more complex. But when you post still has a huge impact on how your content performs.  When you research the best times to post on social, you can make smarter decisions. ..continue reading.
 
Church

Not too long ago our presbytery meeting was held at a cathedral-like church with thick stone, intricate stained glass and a grand, high pulpit. As I climbed the steps to the pulpit, I swear the air got thinner. When I got to the top and behind the mic, I felt like I was commanding a starship. There was a smooth wooden shelf encircling the area, like an expansive console surrounding me, but without flashing computer screens. I felt like I could pilot the church straight to heaven. As I looked down upon my colleagues something inside me felt strange. Then I realized what it was. I had pulpit envy... continue reading .
NOTE: The articles listed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of or intended to be an endorsement by the Presbytery of Lake Huron but are shared to encourage discussion of various topics.
Connections
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Connect With Other Churches In The Lake Huron Presbytery

There are so many wonderful things going on in all of our congregations.  Several of our churches have set up Facebook pages to help spread the good news not only to their members but to all who may be interested.  Liking other church Facebook pages is a great way to connect with others in the presbytery and to share ideas with each other.  Here are some of the churches that have Facebook pages:

Tawas
Vassar-First
Yale-First

If your congregation has a page and it is not listed here, please contact Staci Percy at spercy@presbylh.org

'Like' Us On Facebook

The presbytery has a Facebook page and would like you to join us.  Get updates and information faster. Connect with others to share ideas and to post information about events happening in your congregation.  Join us today! 

Contact Information

Staci Percy

Communications Manager/Recording Clerk

spercy@presbylh.org 

989-799-7481 x2

In This Edition
In Our Prayers
From The Lions' Den
Calendar Orders
Alma Interfaith Youth Mix
YAV Applications
Mission To The USA
Communications Corner
Connect With LHP Churches
Join Us On Facebook


Who We Are
 
 
 
 
 
About the
Bi-Weekly Brief

Hundreds of elders, educators, and church leaders read the Presbytery of Lake Huron's email sent out every other week. 

You can reissue or modify this content for your own church bulletin or newsletter, without crediting the Bi-Weekly Brief, but please credit any organizations, photographers, etc, that we credited.

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NOTE: The Presbytery of Lake Huron retains permission to modify submissions for clarity and length. Inclusion of an item in the Bi-Weekly Brief means that we think it's interesting and/or important, and does not constitute an endorsement of its point of view or its journalistic accuracy.

   

 
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Commission on Ministry
April 25
11:00 am


Bills, Policies and Overtures Committee
April 26
10:00 am


General Assembly Commissioners Training
April 26
1:00 pm


Nominating Team
May 2
10:00 am


Alma Interfaith Youth Mix
May 5-6


Presbytery Council
May 9
10:00 am


Mission Coordination Committee
May 14
1:00 pm


Commission on Preparation for Ministry
May 16
10:00 am


Commission on Ministry
May 23
11:00 am


Presbytery Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day
May 28


Personnel Team
May 29
10:00 am



Details on these meetings can be found on the presbytery's website on the calendar.