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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 office@ptcaweb.org.
July 14, 2017
  
Presbytery news  
 
Reflections on the 'Big Tent
Big Tent New Greg Bolt, co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Red Wing, Minn., attended and participated in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Big Tent last week in St. Louis. Writing about the experience, Bolt noted the theme of the event was "Race, Reconciliation, Reform," and that it would "emphasize the hope of the Gospel and its power to transform society in our current cultural context." But he added, "But it was so much more." Bolt's complete reflection on the Big Tent can be found at "So Much More."
 
It's time to apply
to be a GA commissioner
Office of General Assembly Applications are now being accepted for the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) slated next summer, June 16-23, in St. Louis.  The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will send two ruling elders and two teaching elders as commissioners, and a young adult advisory delegate - age 17-23. The application deadline is Sept. 15. Additional information can be obtained by contact Stated Clerk Bill Davnie at statedclerk@ptcaweb.org. The complete announcement is at "General Assembly."
 
PTCA's Self-Development of People Committee posts application form
sdop The Self-Development of People Committee of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area has prepared a new grant application form. The committee also notes that funds are available in 2017. The attached application must be completed and returned to the presbytery office by Aug. 18 to be considered for funding. The application form can be found at "SDOP 2017." Additional information about SDOP Committee can be found on the presbytery website at "SDOP."
 
Jeff's Jottings
The stories we tell ourselves
Jeff Japinga
By Jeff Japinga
Executive Presbyter
 
One of the phrases that has shaped me over the past few years, in profound and positive ways, is this five-worder from Brene Brown: "The stories we tell ourselves."
 
Brown is a research professor who studies and writes about shame, vulnerability, authenticity, courage and worthiness. She's best known for her 2010 Ted Talk on vulnerability , which to this day, she says she's never seen, but more than 30 million others of us have. One of her profound insights talks about the way people process what they experience. Far from the logical and rational beings we think we are, Brown says, we instead unconsciously interpret these events to fit some kind of already-established narrative we "know" to be "true." Says Brown, it's these stories we tell ourselves more than actual events that create our anxiety and negative reactions.
 
The complete Jottings are at "Stories We Tell Ourselves."
Around the presbytery   
 
S pirit of Life will again be host
to Matsiko World Orphan Choir
Matsiko Choir The Matsiko World Orphan Choir will perform at Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church at the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday, July 16. The church is located at 14401 Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley. The Matsiko choir is currently made up of 27 of the poorest orphaned and at-risk children from Nepal, India, Liberia and Peru. Their ages range from 5 to 16. The children, with their 11 adult leaders and teachers, will stay in the homes of Spirit of Life families from July 13 to 18 while the choir performs at other venues in the Twin Cities area. The complete announcement is at "Matsiko."
 
Presbyterian Women plan
Fall Gathering in Burnsville
Presbyterian Women logo Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area will hold their Fall Gathering on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Presbyterian Church of the Apostles in Burnsville. The program is titled "Interfaith Outreach: Understanding Our Muslim Neighbors." Details will be available on the presbytery website and in future issues of EMerge.
Resources, conferences ... 

 

Deadline approaches for OPSF
Lifelong Learning Program grants
Omaha Presbyterian Seminary The Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation has been awarding Lifelong Learning Program Grants in its 13-state region since 1972. Through the years, the Foundation has provided more than a million dollars to support many educational events, workshops and/or seminars which cover a wide range of topics and serve anywhere from 10 to more than 200 people. Applications and estimated expense/income totals for Lifelong Learning Program Grants are due in the Foundation office by Aug. 15 of the current year for an event planned for the following year. Program details are at "Lifelong Learning."
 
Resource Center for Churches
Pathways to water offers '6 new things'
The Resource Center for Churches produces a weekly post  that features six new things available at the Resource Center, located at the Church Center in Minneapolis. This week the post features resources on baptism preparation, Christian mindfulness, coloring with seniors, preaching, vocation, and movies as prayers. The detailed list is available at "Six New Things."
 
UDTS offers eight online courses 
for commissioned ruling elders
UDTS Logo The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary will offer eight online courses for commissioned ruling elders in its CLP/CRE lay ministry program. The courses are scheduled from Sept. 5 to Dec. 16. Additional information and registration requirements can be found at "CRE Courses."
 
Luther, United seminaries
offer 'Perspectives on Luther'
contemporary Luther Luther Seminary of St. Paul, and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities are sponsoring "Contemporary Perspectives on Luther" Aug. 18-19 in Northwestern Auditorium of Luther Seminary. The program offers an opportunity to hear and converse with theologians as they address Luther's reforming insights across a range of current topics and issues. The event is free and open to the public. Details, including a schedule, can be found at "Contemporary Luther."
 
Luther Seminary plans 1-day
stewardship event in August
Luther Seminary Luther Seminary of St. Paul plans to offer a one-day stewardship event, "Beyond Abundance: Faithful Stewardship Language to Fit Our Realities," on Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The seminary website notes, "For years, stewardship sermons and annual campaign materials have emphasized 'God's abundance' in contrast to our culture's 'myth of scarcity.' While this rhetoric of abundance vs. scarcity is a faithful way to frame broader realities, it can fall short when applied to specific circumstances." Details about the event are at "Beyond Abundance."
 
Conversation Project encourages conversations about end-of-life
Conversation The Conversation Project, dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life, has a page on its website dedicated to resources for faith leaders. The page includes sermons, videos, materials for pastoral care and some special events, including Conversation Sabbath planned this fall, Oct. 27-Nov. 5. Clergy from across the country will preach or teach on values-based conversations with loved ones about care at the end of life. Additional details are at "Conversation Project."
 
Research Services produces online tool
to deliver segmented church statistics
Church statistics The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services office rolled out a new website during the 2017 Big Tent that promises to make access to church statistical information more user-friendly than in the past. The new website -- church-trends.pcusa.org -- replaces the old "10-Year Trends" website and Comparative Statistics report. "About three years ago we began asking what information people were seeking," Research Services Associate Susan Barnett told a July 7 Big Tent workshop. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Jerry Van Marter can be found at "Statistics."
 
Synod School: It's never
too early to be thinking ahead
Synod School Logo When it comes to Synod School, that popular midsummer ministry of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, it's never too early to be thinking ahead. In this case, Synod School 2017 hasn't yet opened, but those who plan it have posted online a form for submitting a course proposal for the 2018 installment of the popular event. For those who have something in mind, it's not too early. The link to the form can be found at "Course Proposal."
 
Thinking ahead to next summer?
PW plans gathering in 2018
Presbyterian Women logo The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women is on next summer's calendar. The Gathering takes place Aug. 2-5 - yes, 2018 - in Louisville. The theme for the event is "Arise, shine, your light has come." Details can be found in a promotional packet at "PW Churchwide Gathering."
Service opportunities
 
The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area  is seeking nominations and applications for its stated clerk position. The part-time position will begin in September. The stated clerk serves as the corporate secretary of the presbytery and writes all official correspondence. The stated clerk also records and maintains all official records of the presbytery, and is the principal staff resource to the presbytery's Permanent Judicial Commission, the Bills and Overtures Committee and administrative commissions. Inquiries regarding the position or the requirements may be directed to Manley Olson, chair of the Nominations Committee ( manleyolson@gmail.com), or to executive presbyter Jeffrey Japinga (ep@ptcaweb.org). The desired starting date for the new stated clerk is Sept. 15.The complete position description is at "Stated Clerk." The application form is available here.
 
Winnebago Presbytery , with offices in Neenah, Wis., is seeking a part-time -- 10 hours per week -- Stated Clerk to succeed its retiring incumbent. The successful candidate will be a teaching elder or ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), demonstrate expertise in Presbyterian polity, and have excellent attention to details. Additional information is available at " Winnebago Stated Clerk."
To give away ... 

 

First United Presbyterian Church of Baldwin, Wis., has more music to give away - all you pay is book-rate postage. Or you can come and look through the files. 1960 to 1980, the collection is mostly anthems, both single items and Monthly magazine items, some with multiple copies. Previously advertised cantatas are still available. The bonus is a file of anthems in The Choir Herald and "numbers" from the Volunteer Choir, and single items, dated 1917-1947, about 50 items. Those interested should send email to suehaus44@gmail.com.
News of the wider churh  

 

Nelson at Big Tent: 'Reformation
doesn't happen overnight'
J Herbert Nelson General Assembly Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson II told a Big Tent workshop in St. Louis last week that his recent trip to Wittenberg, Germany, reminded him once again that "the Protestant Reformation occurred over a long period of time ... that it wasn't like two weeks and -- bam -- we're done." The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Jerry Van Marter can be found at "Reformation."
 
Board launches search
for PMA executive director
Presbyterian Mission Agency The search committee for the executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency has finalized the leadership profile for the position and formally launched the search for the next PMA leader. Applications are now being accepted. "On behalf of the search committee, I want to express deep appreciation to everyone who shared their hopes for the next executive director via the open online invitation and those in leadership whom we interviewed personally," said Nancy Ramsay, chair of the search committee. "We listened to you." Ramsay said they heard from more than 330 responses to the online invitation. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Melody Smith can be found at "PMA Search."
 
Presbyterian Intercultural Network outlines steps to engage racism
Stop Racism In a room filled with individuals of all nationalities, the Presbyterian Intercultural Network tackled the difficult subject of race relations in America. The Big Tent pre-conference, "Coming to America: Some Here, Some Forced, Some Welcomed, Some -- Not," was sponsored by the Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency and attended by a group of nearly 100 persons. The conference challenged attendees to answer the question, "How does the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) catch up with the rest of the country and become more diversified denomination?" The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Gail Strange can be found at "Becoming Diversified."
 
Ministers share triumphs, struggles 
when looking back at Ferguson
Big Tent New The shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., nearly three years ago, continues to impact the communities of St. Louis and the nation. That's the assessment of a panel discussion titled "Grounding Big Tent in the St. Louis Context" held at Big Tent in St. Louis earlier this month. Attendees gathered in the chapel of Washington University to hear from local church pastors and community organizers about the aftermath of Brown's death and what they are doing to keep momentum going to end suppression and racism. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Rick Jones can be found at "Ferguson."
 
Gender gap prevails
among PC(USA) ministers
gender gap Participants attending the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 2017 Big Tent event, "What if the Women Left? Shattering and Reframing the Stained Glass Ceiling," waited expectantly to hear what presenters had to say about gender discrimination within the denomination. And Angie Andriot, research associate for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, pointed out that although women represent a larger percentage of the population of the church they are under represented as ministers. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Gail Strange is at "Gender Gap."
 
PC(USA) 2020 Vision Team
gathers information at Big Tent
PCUSA logo A church-sponsored coffee shop where the baristas are trained in pastoral care. A new congregation worshiping in a shopping mall. Churches using their resources creatively -- transforming unused buildings into affordable housing or incubators for faith development and spiritual practices. These were among a potpourri of images that emerged as people with ideas to share about the future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) took advantage of lunchtime conversations and listening sessions hosted by the PC(USA) 2020 Vision Team at Big Tent in St. Louis. The complete Presbyterian News Service story by Eva Stimson can be found at "Visioning."
 
Justice & Peace newsletter notes 'We Choose Welcome' awareness campaign
Justice Peace News "We choose welcome. It is a commitment we make to embrace one another recognizing that we encounter Jesus in each other," wrote Sara Lisherness, director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency's Office of Compassion, Peace and Justice, in the most recent edition of Presbyterian Justice & Peace newsletter. A number of PMA offices have joined with the Office of Immigration Issues to launch a "We Choose Welcome" awareness campaign. "This project embodies a personal and church-wide commitment to embrace refugees and immigrants into our communities, and helps strengthen our engagement in the welcoming of others." Lisherness wrote. The complete newsletter is at "Justice and Peace."