All of the information you need to enter your congregations 2024 Annual Statistics is available on our website. Letters were mailed on January 6th to all Clerks of Session. A copy of that letter is also on the Annual Statistics page of our website. The deadline for entering information is February 15th. If you have any questions please contact Staci Percy at spercy@presbylh.org.

The Synod of the Covenant has several dates for Boundary Training in 2025.

NOTE: Space in each session is very limited and is shared with all of the presbyteries in the Synod. Please sign up ASAP to reserve a spot. There is no cost to you.

Registration is up and available now for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training, provided by LeaderWise. This is our Boundaries Training offering for 2025 and complies with G-3.0106. Here is the registration link for you to share with your presbyteries: Synod of the Covenant — LeaderWise. 

The dates are as follows:

• March 1 9:00 to 3:00
• May 12 and 13 9;00 to 11:30 am
• May 19 and 20 6:00 to 8:30 pm
• September 17 and 18 6:00 to 8:30 pm
• October 9 and 10 9:00 to 11:30 am

Dale Swihart, one of our Honorably Retired pastors, has recently completed his third book, featuring blank verse meditations and photography. The book is entitled: The Heavens Are Telling: Still More Poems for COVID and Beyond and is currently available at Amazon. To find this new book go to Amazon.com and enter Dale C. Swihart, Jr. There you will see all three volumes.

Alma College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald as its 14th president. Currently president of Southwestern Michigan College, Odenwald brings with him a wealth of expertise and years of academic leadership.

The appointment was unanimously approved by the Alma College Board of Trustees, based on the recommendation of the presidential search committee. Odenwald will assume his new role on June 1, 2025, succeeding interim president Eric Blackhurst ’83.



“The search committee was impressed by Dr. Odenwald’s leadership experience serving higher education and learners in the state of Michigan,” said Erika Powers Appelt ’91, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the presidential search committee. “He truly embraces Alma College’s mission and will bring both a spirit of innovation to the campus as well as a respect for our rich tradition as a leading residential liberal arts college.”

Midland-Memorial invites all to their upcoming events.

Sunday, February 23, 4:00 p.m.

Vespers – Alma College Choir: Enjoy a visit from the student choir performing their winter concert in the Sanctuary. This event is in-person and live streamed, free, and open to the public.

Wednesday, February 26; 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Monthly Health Talk & Breakfast for Seniors: Come to a free monthly chat and breakfast for seniors at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Mayton Hall. This month, MPC’s Faith Community Nurse invites you learn about “Advance Care Planning” which is an excellent topic benefitting anyone 18 and over. It is free and open to the public. RSVP to Nurse Kellie at kellief@mempres.org or 989-898-8239.

The annual tradition of a Lenten Concert Series continues at Memorial Presbyterian Church. The concerts are live in the church sanctuary at 1310 Ashman Street in Midland from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on each Friday in Lent, beginning March 7, 2025. They also will be live-streamed via Facebook and the church’s website www.mempres.org. The concerts are free and open to the public.

Friday, March 7

Collin Whitfield, piano and organ

Erin Whitfield, soprano

Friday, March 14

Wendy Chu, piano

Gerald Blanchard, baritone

Friday, March 21

Heather DeGroot, violin

Friday, March 28

Thomas Heidenreich, organ

Friday, April 4

Cole Bartels, trombone

Friday, April 11

CMU’s Elysian Saxophone Quartet 

Juliana Bollinger, soprano saxophone 

Sam Ringgold, alto saxophone 

Melissa Kret, tenor saxophone 

Dillon Warner, baritone saxophone

The Lenten Concert Series is part of Memorial Presbyterian Church’s outreach to the community and is produced by the church organist, Dr. Adrienne E. Wiley.

The Jesus and Justice Young Adult Advocacy Conference put on by the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness is coming to Lansing. The dates are September 26-28. UKirk at Michigan State is working on local arrangements along with First Presbyterian Church in Lansing, Jimmie Hawkins and Ivy Lopedito. It will be held at Lansing-First.

Here is some idea of what participants can expect. More details will be coming soon and PC(USA) communications is putting together publicity materials to share.

Following the success of 2023's inaugural event in Louisville, Kentucky and the second in Charlotte, NC, last fall this conference aims to provide advocacy and leadership training to college students, seminarians, and young adults. Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, PC(USA)’s advocacy director, highlights the conference’s focus on justice advocacy, offering participants a chance to engage with various social justice issues and learn about the church’s history of involvement in these ministries.

The conference will feature worship services, workshops, panel discussions, and keynote presentations, providing opportunities for young adults to network and share their advocacy experiences. The event aims to empower young people to address pressing societal issues, reflecting a growing trend of youth activism on both national and international levels.

Ivy Lopedito, a mission associate for the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness, emphasizes the importance of inviting young people from diverse backgrounds to join in this crucial work of learning, growth, and connection.

They made this video as a teaser at the end of last year's conference before the dates and location were finalized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHm_v2krOac

The Presbyterian Women of the Synod of the Covenant invites you to attend their annual gathering June 27-28 in Battle Creek, MI.

Click the button for more details.

The PC(USA) has recently revamped their website and added a Leader Formation page with extensive resources and training opportunities for Ruling Elders and Deacons. Click the button below to check it out.

Effective January 1, 2025 the IRS mileage rates are as follows:

Business/Ministry: 70 cents

Charitable: 14 cents

This information, along with other 2025 financial information may be found on the Documents and Forms page of our website.

The Presbytery Staff has new phone numbers. The company who has been providing us service stopped doing so at of the end of 2024. Per Council's approval, we are using Google Voice which is a free service. Here are our new phone numbers:

Ted McCulloch, Stated Clerk

989-372-1152

Staci Percy, Communications Manager/Recording Clerk

989-272-3731 (Not a typo, this is the only number that starts with 272)

Jessica Schira, Financial Secretary

989-372-1118

Rose Onan, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager

989-372-0494

NOTE: There is no longer a general number for the office. You will need to contact one of the staff members.

It's that time of year to remind everyone that Presbytery Office will be closed when the Saginaw Township schools are closed due to weather.