From the Rev. Jamie Milton, Pastor of Bay City-Westminster and Co-Moderator of the Mission Coordinating Committee.

One of the more memorable experiences I had during my time in seminary was a travel seminar to Cartagena, Colombia, and it didn’t have anything to do with being able to escape January in Chicago for two weeks. In addition to learning about some of the ways the church accompanies the oppressed in modern day Colombia, we visited sites that recounted some of the worst atrocities human history has to tell, the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Cartagena was one of the three Spanish ports in the Americas that received enslaved Africans. While Colombia was a Spanish colony, from the early 16th-19th centuries, hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans were brought into the area, most arriving through the through the port of Cartagena, where, by the early 17th century, 25% of the population was made up of African slaves.

“Given its geographic location, it became specialized in the arrival and distribution of slaves on the continent,” explains historian Javier Ortiz Cassiani. “The life of the entire city was shaped by the arrival of new ships loaded with Africans. Tradesmen, notaries, doctors, foremen, etc. The professions of those living in Cartagena were organized around the slave trade and at the same time further developed it.”

Unfortunately, Cartagena is just one example of many throughout the Caribbean and the Americas whose histories are stained with the evils of the International Slave Trade that claimed the lives of close to two million people as they crossed the Atlantic, and enslaved over 12 million African people between 1501 and 1867 (https://eji.org/report/transatlantic-slave-trade/).

August 23 of each year has been chosen to commemorate the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This date was chosen partly to remember the uprising that began on that date in 1791 in what is now the Republic of Haiti that played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.



While we cannot undue the harm that was done to families, cultures, and entire countries during the 400 years of the Slave trade, it is another important part of our history that cannot be forgotten. As a Matthew 25 presbytery, we are committed to continuing to educate ourselves around the history of racism and white supremacy in our country and around the world while also actively working to dismantle structural racism wherever it is at work.

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!

Community Circle: Small Churches

You are invited to register for this Community Circle, designed especially for those leaders in small churches. Are you an educator, volunteer, pastor, or commissioned pastor (CRE, CLP), that serves as a leader in a small church (less than 100 members)? Are you a mid-council leader who supports faith formation leaders in small churches? 

Offered several times through the year, come to every gathering, or when you can, but come to share in conversation and learn, ask questions, receive and share resources for ministry, and support one another. A 90-minute Zoom gathering, the times and days vary so there is flexibility of participation. Register once but register anytime. Each gathering will feature a question or topic just to get the conversation going related to Faith Formation leadership in small churches, then the discussion can go from there. So come ready to participate in the conversation.  



Our conversation facilitator will be Sandy Safford, Faith Formation leader for close to 30 years and a Commission-ready Lay Pastor who served as pastor for a small rural congregation in Colorado for 10 years. She is also a consultant, retreat facilitator, and trained coach who loves the outdoors as well as collecting ideas with colleagues for wonder and imagination in ministry.  

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.)

2025/2027 Book of Order

**** ORDERS ARE DUE TOMORROW (8/21) ****

This book is Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This volume contains the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and the Church Discipline. Additional information is provided to the reader through the inclusion of Received Ecumenical Statements of Guidance and Articles of Agreement.

Join others in ordering the newest edition of the Book of Order at the price of $10.00 each.  

You will be notified when the books have arrived and arrangements for pick up or delivery can be made at that time. They will also be available for pick up at the September presbytery meeting.

Orders must be received in the Presbytery Office by August 21, 2025. Unfortunately, there are no cancellations after August 21, 2025.

All orders must be pre-paid.



Contact Rose Onan at ronan@presbylh.org or 989-372-0494 with any questions.

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.

Applications for Higher Education Scholarships Now Available

Applications are due by 9/2/25

Financial Support for Vocational School, Associates and Bachelors Programs and First Theological Masters is available through the Synod of the Covenant.

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.

This year, the Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations will host its third Young Adult Advocacy "Jesus and Justice" Conference at the First Presbyterian Church of Lansing from September 26-28. The weekend is geared towards college students and recent graduates who are interested in finding connections between their faith and justice issues and connecting with other justice-minded young adult Christians. The weekend will feature worship, speakers, exhibitor booths, workshops, and lots of fellowship! There will also be an action component at the end of the conference focusing on migration.

For more information contact Clare Balsan at Clare.Balsan@pcusa.org or click the link below.

An Event for Students Grades 6-12

To provide the most mission-focused event possible, Living Water Ministries has consolidated The Great Lakes Gathering (traditionally for students grades 9-12) and Charge (traditionally for students grades 6-8) into a single event. 2022 was our first hybrid (high school and middle school) Charge and it was a phenomenal event! By combining our efforts into one event, we believe we can better meet the ever-changing youth ministry needs of the congregations we serve as we develop leaders, practice service, bring together community, and grow in faith. Join us November 14-16, 2025 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, MI for our next Charge event!

Group Registration Required

Charge is an event designed for students grades 6-12 who are registered with a group accompanied by adults. Often this is in the form of a church group with adult leaders from the congregation, however it can also be adults/parents bringing a group of grade appropriate participants (i.e. a group that includes friends and family attending with an adult).

For more information, click the button below or contact the Rev. Cassie Todd.