Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
September 7, 2022
We Lift Up In Prayer
The Rev. Peter Russell, Honorably Retired, who is residing at Abbey Park in Grand Blanc.

Our churches currently in pastoral transition.

Our Mission Co-Workers:
Lucy Der-Garabedian serving in Lebanon.
Cathy Chang and family serving in the Philippines.
Upcoming Ordination and Commissioning Anniversaries:
Elder Jon Essex (9/1) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Twining-Maple Ridge
Rev. Ron Vredeveld (9/1) - Temporary Supply of Beaverton-First
Rev. John Becker (9/17) - 50 Years - Honorably Retired, Pastor Emeritus of Vassar-First
Rev. Matt Schramm (9/19) - Pastor of Midland-Memorial
Rev. Hal Shafer (9/22) - 20 Years - Pastor of Lapeer-First
Rev. Brenna Overland (9/25) - Pastor of Bay City-First
Rev. Jane Young (9/25) - Temporary Supply of Saginaw-Countryside Trinity
Rev. Timm High (9/28) - Honorably Retired
Rev. Dr. Dan Saperstein (10/2) - Member-At-Large
Rev. Paul Pfeuffer (10/17) - Pastor of Flushing
Rev. Dr. Wally Mayton (10/25) - Honorably Retired and Parish Associate of Midland-Memorial
Rev. Dr. Do Hyeong Kim (10/26) - Pastor of Saginaw-Michigan Nanum
Rev. Christina Jensen (10/28) - 5 Years - Pastor of Elkton-Chandler, Cass City-Fraser and Kinde

We ask that you consider including these requests each week in your bulletin and/or newsletter.
 
We also encourage everyone to send a card or e-mail or make a phone call to those listed. Sometimes a small gesture creates a big smile. 

Contact information for anyone on this list may be obtained by calling the presbytery office at 989-799-7481 or replying to this email.

September Stated Meeting of Presbytery
The Presbytery of Lake Huron will hold its stated meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, starting at 9:30 AM. This will be a hybrid meeting with the ability to be in-person or by Zoom. Our host congregation is Bay City First Presbyterian Church, 805 Center Ave., Bay City, MI 48708. Regardless of how you plan to attend, registration by all commissioners and/or guests ahead of the meeting is required.

The registration link and all documents relating to the meeting may be found on the Presbytery Meetings page of our website. (There is likely to be an addendum to the committee reports that will be posted next Wednesday.)

Please note: There is a lot of important information in the cover letter, please read it carefully prior to the meeting.
From The Nominating Team Moderator
Fall is usually a time of new beginnings whether it is the children returning to school, the resuming or the beginning of different programs at our churches, preparing to lose those unwanted pounds before Christmas or sprucing up the yard or house for the fall.

It is also a time in the life of Presbytery as we begin to fill our committees with potential candidates for their election at the December Presbytery meeting so they can take office in January.
 
As moderator of the Nominating Team, I am asking several questions that I would like you to contemplate and pray about. I also want to give you some information that may help influence your decision, when and if, you receive a call from one of my team members. With Presbytery in a transition phase currently, “How do you see it?’ Are you willing to be a part of this process as an active member or do you want to stand on the sideline and watch and wait to see what happens?” There is an opportunity for you and members of your church to be a part of the solution. You could help pave the way to a better Presbytery with not only your prayers but active participation in the life of the Presbytery.

The Nominating Team works hard at trying to fill vacancies on the various boards. We strive to reflect the diversity of Presbytery and to balance regions as well as teaching elder and ruling elder positions. The guide to the committee structure was devised several years ago. Sometimes we have difficulty filling certain positions. We always are in need of ruling elders from your churches who are interested in the fulfilling work of Presbytery. If you have someone who might be an asset to Presbytery, feel free to notify a member of the Nominating Team either by e-mail or a phone call. If you (whoever is reading this) are interested in a position, let us know.

Reflection questions. What is your passion as far as serving on a Presbytery committee? What committee would best suit your interest? Would you like to serve on the Disaster Response Team, the Council, or on Nominating, just to name a few? Have you been on a particular committee in the past but found it wasn’t really what you thought it would be? Do you have the courage to try something new? Stretching and reaching outward is a good thing!

I love the scripture about the Lord’s calling Samuel to service. Three times the Lord called Samuel’s name before Eli finally realized what was happening. Finally, Eli told Samuel to answer when he heard his name called. Samuel’s answer to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

What will your answer be when you receive a phone call from a member of the Nominating Committee? 

Yours in Christ,

Elder Mary Ann Parker, Nominating Team Moderator
Installation Services
The Presbytery of Lake Huron and the congregations of
Chandler Presbyterian Church, Elkton; Fraser Presbyterian Church, Cass City; Kinde Presbyterian Church, Kinde invite you join them in worship as they celebrate the Installation of the Rev. Christina L. Jensen as Pastor on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 1:00pm. The service will be held at:

Kinde Presbyterian Church
4965 Diem Street
Kinde, Michigan 48445

Reception to follow service. Clergy are invited to vest in red.
The Presbytery of Lake Huron and the congregation of
Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland invite you join them in worship as they celebrate the Installation of the Rev. Matthew Schramm as Senior Pastor and the Rev. Michael Ludwig as Associate Pastor on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 1:30pm. The service will be held at the church.

Memorial Presbyterian Church
1310 Ashman Street
Midland, MI 48640
Boundary Training
One of our requirements is for each clergy person and CRE to take part in boundary training at least once every three years. This year’s boundary training is scheduled for November 16 and 17. We will continue to use the Leaderwise program offered through the Synod of the Covenant. It is a virtual event, taking place from 6 to 8:30 PM each of those two days.

To register, go to synodofthecovenant.org/leadership-development-workshops/ and scroll down to the Introduction to Boundaries and click on the registration link.

If you are not sure if you need to take boundaries training, the Stated Clerk will be mailing out specific invitations to those who need to complete it this year during September. Or you can contact Ted or Staci at the Presbytery office to check your completion.

Also, if you have taken another form of boundary training, either in another Presbytery or through a different organization, please share that information with Ted so that our records can be kept current.

Please let us know if you have any questions.
Minutes Review and Clerk of Session Training
Session
Minutes Review: There will be three chances for Clerks of Sessions to have their minutes and registers reviewed. The review can include minutes and records through August of 2022.

The dates for the reviews have been set as follows:

Monday, October 24 at 10 AM at the Presbytery Office
Saturday, October 29 at 10 AM at Flint-First Presbyterian Church with Clerk of Session training to follow (see below)
Saturday, November 12 at 10 AM Bay City-Westminster

As in recent years, the Clerk can also review emailed minutes. Just email the relevant minutes to Ted and he’ll review them. Checklists for the minutes and registers along with final information on reviews will be mailed out shortly after Labor Day.
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Clerk of Session Training: Clerk of Session training will be provided on Saturday, October 29 from 11 AM until no later than 1 PM. This will be held at Flint-First Presbyterian Church. While beneficial to all Clerks, it will be especially helpful to any relatively new Clerk of Session. More details to come in the Bi-Weekly Brief.
Presbyterian Women Fall Gathering
PW Logo
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN – 101 
FALL FUN – FELLOWSHIP – FACTS
Saturday – October 22, 2022 (Registration begins at 9:30am)
 
5151 Lennon Rd – Flint

FACTS: Presbyterian Women
  • Who are we
  • Where are we going
FELLOWSHIP: Sharing (bring your joys & concerns)
  • How are you / we doing
  • What can Presbyterian Women do to help you
FUN: Lunch together
  • Bring a book (or two) to share
  • A picture book with a message
  • A book you read that we all should read
FREE WILL OFFERING
 “Motherly Intercession” (for children of incarcerated)

Registration begins at 9:30am
Worship at 10:00am
Presbyterian Women 101 = PW Purpose
Lunch
Closing Devotion at 1:30pm

COST: Individuals $15.00 or $12.00 for 5 or more from same church. Registration due October 8

Click here for more information and the registration form.
You're Invited! Happenings In Our Congregations
Car Show: Vintage Car, Truck, and Tractor Show at Birch Run-First Presbyterian Church of Taymouth, 12517 Morseville Road, Birch Run. Our 2nd Annual show will take place on Saturday, September 24th, from 10am to 2pm. Registration begins at 9am. Entry fee is a free will donation. Awards are given based on spectator voting. New this year- Food Trucks and Craft Vendor Marketplace. For more information, please call (989) 624-9473.  

Click here for a printable flyer.
Rummage Sale: HUGE Community Rummage Sale hosted by Birch Run-First Presbyterian Church of Taymouth at 12517 Morseville Road, Birch Run. The sale will take place on Wednesday, September 28th from 9am to 5pm, Thursday, September 29th, from 9am to 5pm, and on Friday, September 30th from 9am to 1pm. Donations are accepted from September 25th through the 27th. *No items before the 25th please. For more information, please call (989) 624-9473.

Click here for a printable flyer.
Craft Show / Fair just in time for the holidays! Trinity United Presbyterian (5151 Lennon Rd, Flint) is excited to welcome back their annual Craft Show on October 14th-15th. The show will go from 9:00am - 4:00pm both Friday and Saturday and will feature a variety of local vendors and artists! There will also be plenty of tasty goodies available for purchase to help keep up your energy as you shop! Interested vendors can contact Sharon Auger at 810-653-8735.
All are welcome to attend Caro-First's new monthly Music and the Spoken Word gatherings beginning in September 2022. These events include sacred music masterworks performed on the congregation's Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, texts for reflection, an aesthetic environment for contemplation, and spoken prayers. Music and the Spoken Word begins at 6:30 p.m. and is scheduled for the following Wednesdays: September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7. 

Click here for a printable flyer.
Matthew 25 Grants From The Synod
Would a $5000 grant strengthen your church in its ministries to build congregational vitality and/or to dismantle structural racism and/or eradicate systemic poverty? If so, apply by September 30 for the Matthew 25 Grants from the Synod of the Covenant. 

Click here for more information and to apply.