Greetings All,

First, full disclosure – much of this was taken from what I recently shared with my congregation of Saginaw First Presbyterian in our newsletter. But I think much of it applies to all our congregations as we return to our full schedule.

Well, it happened. I was at a restaurant recently and realized that I am now old enough to save $2 on dinner by getting the senior age price. Having seen that it was for those 60 years old and up, I realized that includes me at age 61. Yes, it took me a year to notice that senior savings can start at age 60.

So I mentioned to the server that I am over 60. And I was ready whip out my wallet and show her my driver’s license so she would know I was not trying to pull one over on her.

Only she never asked for proof of my age. She obviously had no trouble believing that I was, indeed, old enough to qualify for the senior discount. Sigh.

So whether I wanted to believe it or not, I must now pretty much look my age. I have to admit, I was a little taken aback by that experience. But then I thought about it and it’s actually kind of cool. Now I can get coffee at many places and it will only cost a dollar! That’s kind of exciting and I don’t even drink coffee!!

But seriously, my experience is a reminder that nothing ever stays the same. We get older and qualify for new discounts even as there are some things we can no longer do. Even here in the church (read Presbytery here), things never stay the same.

At Presbytery, we see pastors move to different congregations. We elect new people to lead us. We may very well be adjusting to our office being virtual. We are making a real effort to adjust how we fund the Presbytery and being transparent on the use of mission dollars and, hopefully, generating new ways to do mission both locally and beyond that honors our congregations’ giving.

But the one thing that does not change and will never change is that God is here. Through our worship and work, no matter how much we change, God doesn’t. God hears our prayers and grants us grace and returns our love and is, simply, always here just as God has always been.

So I will get used to using my senior discount and that no one will have trouble believing it. It means I will change. But none of that matters because God doesn’t change. God loves us and will always lead us individually, as congregations, and as a Presbytery.  And that doesn’t change. Thanks be to God!

Yours in Christ,

Ted McCulloch

Stated Clerk

NOTE: The meeting documents were not finalized at the time of publishing. They will be available no later than Wednesday morning (9/10). However, registration for the meeting is available now. Click the link below to access the documents when posted and to register for the meeting.

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The Presbytery of Lake Huron will hold its stated meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, starting at 9:30 AM. This will be an in-person meeting at Fairgrove Presbyterian Church, 5040 Maple Street, Fairgrove Michigan 48733. and will be our hosts.

Unfortunately, we will probably not be able to live stream this meeting.

A pasta bar lunch will be provided. If able, a $5 donation towards lunch is appreciated but not required. 

Even for an in-person meeting, registration by all commissioners and/or guests ahead of the meeting is required. To register, click the link below.

As far as this meeting goes, we have one of our more significant agendas for recent times. As usual, we will begin with worship together. The offering is designated to the Ministerial Alliance of Fairgrove. They provide direct help to people in need of gas, food, and other essentials. The rest of our time will relate to a number of business items. One of the great privileges of Presbytery is to examine a candidate for ordination and we will participate in that with Candidate Nikelle Johnson. 

Two very significant items we will consider: First, to move the Presbytery office to a virtual office of January 1, 2026 and second, to set the Presbytery portion of the 2026 Per Capita rate. As part of an overall plan on how to fund Presbytery operations, a significant increase is being recommended. A progress report from the Presbytery Funding Work Group will be shared.

Other business will be to elect our Moderator and Vice-Moderator for 2026 as well as General Assembly Commissioners for the 227th General Assembly, held in 2026. Plus we will be asked to approve the Minimum Terms of Call for 2026. All in all, a fairly full docket.

Sexual Misconduct Boundary Training

There will be an in-person Sexual Misconduct Boundary Training. Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence, the Synod Stated Clerk as well as Stated Clerk and Presbytery Leader for Lake Michigan Presbytery, will lead the training.  There will be a choice of two different training sessions – you do not need to attend both sessions.

Date: September 30  10 AM to 2 PM

Location: Bay City-First

Date: October 1 10 AM to 2 PM

Location: Mt. Pleasant-First

Lunch will be provided at each session.

Please sign up for either session on the Presbytery website at the link below so that we might plan materials and lunch appropriately.

This training is useful for church staff and/or elders as well as pastoral leaders. A reminder to clergy that Sexual Misconduct Boundary training is required every three years. If due for this training, you will receive a notice.

Session Minutes Review

The annual records review will take place on the following dates this fall. You are welcome to attend any one which works for you. The review can include minutes and records through August of 2025.

Monday, October 13th at the Presbytery Office

Registration is required; will be individual meetings with the Stated Clerk.

Saturday, October 18th at 9:00am at Flushing

Registration is not required. Event will start at 9am and will be done as a group.

Monday, October 27th at the Presbytery Office Registration is required; will be individual meetings with the Stated Clerk.

Saturday, November 1st at 9:00am at a Thumb area church TBD. Location will be posted no later than September 16th.

Registration is not required. Event will start at 9am and will be done as a group.

Be sure to bring your Session Minutes and Records books along with a filled out review from.

October 13th and 27th events only: If you plan to have your books read at the Presbytery Office on October 13^th or October 27th you MUST pre-register. These are being done in 20-minute blocks of individual time with the Stated Clerk.

Click below to register for the October 13th or 27th reading at the Presbytery Office. Additional details regarding this are included on the registration page. 

Registration is not required for the October 18th reading at Flushing or the November 1st reading at the Thumb area church. Both events begin at 9:00am and will be a group event.

Letters will be sent to all Clerks of Session later this week.

Coming This Fall: Bless This Mic!

Over the next few weeks, we’re hitting the road with cameras, mics, and BIG questions—and we want to come to you!

Introducing Bless This Mic, a brand-new weekly video & audio podcast hosted by our Pastors To Pastors, Brenna Overland and Joseph Novak, launching this fall! Each episode will spotlight one of our own—a local ministry leader (yes, that means YOU!)—and the vibrant, Spirit-led work happening in your congregation. Think casual interview meets creative storytelling, with a splash of laughter and real talk about what fuels your call.

We’re going on location to your church, capturing your story in your own space—because what you do matters, and it’s time others got to see and hear it! 

Are we nervous? A little. Are we excited? 1000%.

Want in? Here's how to join the fun:

1. Sign up using the link below—grab a Monday or Thursday slot over the next few months. It’s a 2-hour block (mostly for setup), but your actual interview will be ~30 minutes.
2. We'll confirm everything after you book.
3. Dress comfortably—we’ll be filming, but this isn’t Sunday morning. Just be you!
4. Expect good conversation, some laughs, and a small gift to thank you for sharing your story. (Okay fine, it's not a puppy... but it's still good.)

Let’s shine a light on the faithful, creative, courageous ministry happening all across our presbytery—one voice at a time.

Sign up now and let’s bless this mic—together!

New Video — Pursue What Makes for Peace

Peacemaking is a core aspect of who we are in Christ.

Peacemaking extends beyond the Scriptures we tell and the stories we share. It’s in every interaction we have with one another. 

In this Season of Peace, we have created a short video you can show your congregation that shares interactions of active peacemaking to address injustice in many forms.

Paired with our other resources, this video can be a helpful tool to share the gospel of peacemaking!

EXCITING NEWS: Council has approved a $200 grant for the first 20 people from the presbytery who would like to attend NEXT Church! This is for the full registration fee option only and you MUST use a code at registration. Email Staci Percy at spercy@presbylh.org to obtain the code PRIOR to registering. This code is for anyone from the presbytery who would like to attend: Clergy, CREs, Ruling Elders, congregational leaders, etc.

We are excited to announce a NEXT Church National Gathering taking place in Grand Rapids, Michigan from November 11-14, 2025. We will gather at Westminster Presbyterian Church, thanks to the generosity and hospitality of their congregation and staff. During the gathering, leaders from all across the Church will learn alongside those asking similar questions, naming the very real/pressing challenges, and hoping to uncover strategies to bring about wholeness as we do the work ahead. Our time together will create the space to cultivate individual and communal transformation.

There are five different Pathways to chose when registering. Please review these and be sure to select which one when you are registering.

There is one hotel nearby where special rates are available for the event. You will need to make your reservation through the conference website to get the reduced rate. Please reserve a room as soon as possible as space is limited. (There are other hotels in Grand Rapids but only one with the conference rates.)

From PC(USA) Special Offerings

World Communion Sunday is a little over a month away on October 5th. Download our liturgy to craft an intentional worship service. Copy and paste the liturgy into your own order of worship. There are even hymn suggestions and sacrament liturgy. Download the World Communion Sunday liturgy by clicking the link below.

Matthew 25 Grants Now Available

Applications are due by 9/30/25

To Support Work Toward Congregational Vitality and against Structural Poverty and Systemic Racism.

Matthew 25 Synod Grants are available to Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations and institutions within the Synod of the Covenant. Congregations that share ministry

with non-PC(USA) institutions and organizations within the geographic bounds of the Synod of the Covenant may also apply to fund the ministry contributed by the church.

The congregation must submit the Matthew 25 Grant application, rather than the non-PCUSA institutions or organizations. 

The purpose of the grant must specifically be Christian in focus and adhere to the objectives of the PC(USA) Matthew 25 Initiative 2 . Special consideration will be given to

churches, ministries, and institutions which are primarily composed of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or whose proposals are engaging with

their neighborhood context and focusing on systemic change.