EMerge is a newsletter of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Through most of the year it is published weekly and distributed to congregations, teaching elders, ruling elders, church members, committees and friends of the presbytery. Please send submissions and address corrections to [email protected].
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Presbytery highlights
A retirement, new beginnings,
thoughtful expressions of mission
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities area honored Risa Anderson for 11 years of service as the presbytery's office administrator when it met Sept. 11 at Buffalo Presbyterian Church. Anderson is retiring at the end  of September. The presbytery also welcomed Jennifer Schultz, who is the presbytery's new office administrator. In the photo, Anderson is acknowledged and thanked by the presbytery and executive presbyter Jeff Japinga.
The presbytery was also busy beyond these personnel activities. Presbytery moderator Rocky Rockenstein and executive presbyter Jeff Japinga, in a joint report, detailed a structure and organization of the presbytery's meetings in the coming year under the banner, "Nurturing thoughtful expressions of God's mission in the world." The goal is to intentionally link the worship and work of the presbytery.
'Heartsinging' at Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis
NOTE: There are so many great stories of creative and energizing ministry happening all across the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. This story is from Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church, and written by Sue Hensel.
We are halfway through our pastor's second sabbatical. The first time the Rev. Kara Root went on a three-month sabbatical, we maintained our schedule, held our meetings, but tensely descended into the way of fear. We "held it together" without a lot of joy or creativity.
This sabbatical is different.
As you may know, our congregation has received a nearly $50,000 Clergy Renewal Grant from Christian Theological Seminary, funded by the Lilly Foundation. WOW! How exciting! The purpose of this grant is to allow Kara to thoroughly step away from her role as pastor for THREE months and experience the world anew. And, for we, as a congregation, to embrace this question:
"What makes your heart sing?"
We are a Sabbath-keeping congregation. We meet for Sunday morning worship the first and third Sundays of the month, and for evening Sabbath service the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. We are a congregation who continues to choose, over and over again, the way of God/love/trust over the way of fear and anxiety that is the cultural norm. It is with this foundation of trust that we gladly launched Kara and her family on their fabulous adventure. And then began our own.
Jeff's Jottings
A house united
By Jeff Japinga
Executive Presbyter
 Just two weeks ago, my friend Jerrod Lowry was elected general presbyter of Coastal Carolina Presbytery. He'll join another friend (and former student), Laura Lupton, on a Presbytery staff that will have some major challenges in the months to come, in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Ted Churn is executive presbyter of North Carolina's New Hope Presbytery; Steve Scott is in Salem Presbytery, Jan Edmiston in Charlotte. Along the South Carolina coast, Gavin Meek started just a month ago as transitional executive in New Harmony Presbytery. Shepherds in turbulent times, all of them: real people who represent the hundreds of thousands in harm's way this weekend. Pray for them. Pray for their people.
Then please consider a gift to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Send a gift individually, if you haven't already, or consider a special offering or fundraiser at your church. Our own PTCA Mission Team worked this spring with PDA still responding to catastrophic flooding two years ago. The needs are and will continue to be great; please consider how you can help.
It means something to be a connectional church.
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Middle East scholar will speak
at Westminster on Sept. 17
Yitzhak Reiter, a professor of Islam, Middle East and Israel studies Ashkelon Academic College in Israel, will speak Monday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at  Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Reiter chairs the department of Israel studies and is the head of the Research Authority at Ashkelon. His presentation is titled "Sharing Sacred Spaces in Jerusalem: Between Contestation and Tolerance." As a location of different ethnic, religious and national groups, Jerusalem has become a hub of conflicts, especially after 1967, as it contains many sacred sites shared by more than one religious group. Reiter is the author of 13 books, in addition to five edited books, and numerous articles. Reiter is active in track-two diplomacy meetings regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and his expertise has been sought by members of the media. Additional details are available at "Sharing Sacred Spaces." Free and open to the public, parking information at Westminster is available at "Getting There."
Disability Concerns Ministry urges participation in NAMI Walk
It's a relatively short message from the presbytery's Disability Concerns Ministry: "We Need Presbyterians  to join the NAMI Walk on Sept. 22." NAMI is the short version of National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the NAMI Walk raises awareness about mental illnesses. More than 4,000 people from around the state are expected to join in NAMI Walks Minnesota. Last year, NAMI Minnesota served more than 180,000 people through programs of education, suicide prevention and family support. The 5K walk begins at 1 p.m., at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. There will be live music, picnics and food trucks, speakers, resource tables, a kids' tent, a tree of hope, a t-shirt contest and more. Registration, including forming or joining a walk team, can be completed at "NAMI Walk" or by calling 651.645.2948.
'Rev'd Up' gathering planned
Sept. 25 at House of Hope
Whether retired for two weeks or 20 years, there's always something new that's taking place or something that's been learned. That's the message of the group of retired ministers, aptly called "Rev'd Up," in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. The next group event -- an opportunity to renew friendships and make new ones -- is planned Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. Additional information and registration details are at "Retired Presbyterian Ministers."
Committee on Congregational Vitality plans retreat on 'Good News'
The presbytery's Committee on Congregational Vitality is asking, "How would you like to spend  a Friday and part of Saturday at the beautiful Clearwater Forest at the peak of the fall-color season reflecting on 'Good News?' Does the 'Good News' look different as seasons change? Do we proclaim a message that is 'Good News' to the world we now inhabit, or are we propping up a church built to address the needs of a world that no longer exists?" The committee is sponsoring a retreat, beginning Friday, Sept. 28, that will reflect on the proclamation of the "Good News" in a world that remains divided and filled with inequality. Registration details can be found at "Good News." Additional details are available on request by sending e-mail to [email protected].
Installation service planned
for Kendra Grams at FPC Hudson
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area is offering an invitation to the presbytery to participate in the worship service to install the Rev. Dr. Kendra Grams as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hudson, Wisconsin. The service will take place at the church Saturday, Sept. 29, at 9:30 a.m. Following the service, light refreshments will be served. Any teaching elders who wish to wear vestments and process should meet in the Fireside Room of the church and be robed in red vestments by 9:25 a.m. The church is located at 1901 Vine Street in Hudson.
6th annual South of the River CROP
Hunger Walk steps off Oct. 7
Teams are now forming for the sixth annual South of the River CROP Hunger Walk. The walk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7, with registration beginning at 1  p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church. Following a brief sendoff program at 1:45 p.m., the walkers will step off at 2 p.m. CROP Hunger Walks are community education and fundraising events for Church World Service (CWS). The pledges and donations made by the walkers and sponsors benefit CWS's grassroots programs working to end hunger globally. Additional details are in the complete announcement at "CROP Hunger Walk."
Rescuing democracy from 'big
money:' Meeting set at Oak Grove
Organizers of a conversation with the national director of Move to Amend (MTA) at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington note, "If you care  about the environment, poverty, refugees, or any justice issue, you know that campaign finance reform is desperately needed." A part of that reform is Move to Amend, a nonpartisan effort to reverse Citizens United, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that enables corporations and unions to spend in support of political campaigns.
Move to Amend (MTA), on the other hand,
affirms that corporations are not people and money is not protected speech. The event at Oak Grove is planned Oct. 10 at 11:30 a.m. The complete announcement is at "Move to Amend."
Arlington Hills plans reunion
potluck gathering in October
 The alumni of the former Arlington Hills Presbyterian Church plan to gather Oct. 21 for their annual potluck meal at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Woodbury. The event runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The meal will be served at 5 p.m. The complete announcement is at "Arlington Hills Potluck."
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Resources, conferences ...
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Resources for Evangelism Sunday offered in Grace, Gratitude newsletter
 Ray Jones, director of theology, formation and evangelism for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, writing in the current edition of the Grace and Gratitude newsletter, noted, "As our ministries respond to our work coming out of General Assembly, we will be addressing what it means to 'reclaim Jesus.' From our reformed foundation we'll look at what it means to follow Jesus and obey him above all earthly powers." The newsletter also includes links to resources for Evangelism Sunday, Sept. 23. The newsletter is at "Grace and Gratitude."
Presbyterians Today releases new
Advent devotional: Lifting the Lowly
As a pastor, I am reminded weekly during Sunday's prayers of people that life is not easy. I listen as those in the pew ask for comfort, guidance, healing and  hope. I listen, and then I pray for our laments to turn into songs of praise. Mary had a song of praise -- one that thanked God for looking favorably upon her and the plight of her people -- and so in planning this year's Advent devotional, I thought it was fitting to hear from Mary and to be reminded once again that God sees us, hears us and is with us always. Presbyterians Today's new Advent devotional for 2018 is based on verse 52 from Mary's Song of Praise -- also known as The Magnificat -- found in Luke 1. The complete announcement is at "Advent Devotional."
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Service opportunities ...
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Cherokee Park United Church
in St. Paul is seeking a person to serve as a part-time director of music ministry/accompanist. The church seeks somone who is enthusiastic about a creative blend of traditional and contemporary/world music. The director will work with a choir of approximately 15 members and support volunteer cantors in leading the congregation in a variety of sung responses and other service music. The complete announcement is at "Director of Music Ministry."
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies
is seeking an office coordinator. The synod seeks a diverse pool of qualified applicants with strong office, technical and interpersonal skills to provide administrative support to a staff team delivering mission support and ministry services. The complete position description, along with the application procedure, can be found at "
Office Coordinator."
The House of Hope Presbyterian Church
in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is seeking a transitional associate pastor for church life and adult ministries. The transitional associate pastor will work with the transitional pastor/head of staff, a strong staff and dedicated congregation. It is anticipated that this position will begin this fall and will be in place until the congregation calls a new pastor/head of staff. Additional information and application information can be found at "Transitional Associate Pastor."
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Presbyterians mobilize to help
in recovery from Hurricane Florence
As news comes in of the devastating effects of Hurricane Florence in North Carolina and South Carolina, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is  organizing a response that will help sustain life and restore hope in the coming days. "Our hearts break and rise up in prayer for the people along the Atlantic coast and the inland areas of the Carolinas," said the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, PDA director. "Right now, we need the church's prayers and financial assistance." Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday morning about 7:30 a.m. Eastern time near Wrightsville, North Carolina, bearing sustained 90 mph winds. The complete story, along with additional links and resources, can be found at "Hurricane Florence."
Chip Andrus dies following
 battle with cancer
He has been referred to as the Willie Nelson of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and was a fixture on the stage at General Assembly. The Rev. Chip Andrus passed away this weekend following a lengthy battle with cancer. After spending eight years in remission, he was diagnosed last November with metastatic melanoma. Despite a grim diagnosis, Andrus was front and center with his group of musicians at the 223rd General Assembly in St. Louis saying, "I just love being here, being with the family. I love (Stated Clerk) J. Herbert Nelson's idea of the 'kindom.' This is where the real family gets together - the ones you like and don't like - and hash things out." The complete story by Rick Jones of the Office of the General Assembly is at "Chip Andrus."
PDA documentary breathes
life into refugee crisis
 "To Breathe Free," a short movie produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, will be screened twice in upcoming days at the DC Shorts Film Festival in Washington, D.C. Produced and shot in the District of Columbia, the film follows the five-year saga of a Syrian family fleeing the war in Homs, Syria, to refugee camps in Jordan to beginning their new life in the nation's capital. The 16-minute documentary, which focuses on the humanity of refugees, brings a perspective and voice that goes beyond the political rhetoric surrounding the ongoing refugee debate. The complete story by Scott O'Neill of the Presbyterian News Service is at "To Breathe Free."
PC(USA) A Corp. board elects
co-chairs, makes assignments
The newly elected Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) A Corp. elected co-chairpersons and made committee assignments on Wednesday, the final day of its two-  day orientation session. The 11-member board also heard prayers and pleas for collaboration and cooperation from the stated clerk, Presbyterian Mission Agency executive director and General Assembly co-moderators. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, stated clerk of the General Assembly, thanked the board for its work to come. "Let me thank you for your commitment to this work and thank those on the Way Forward Committee, who put in countless hours to get us where we are today. You will be moving much of the work we do going forward," he said. "Your work will free us up to do the work of mission." The complete story by Scott O'Neill and Paul Seebeck of the Presbyterian News Service can be found at "A Corp Starts Work."
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