We Lift Up In Prayer

The family and loved ones of the Rev. Don Neuville who entered the church triumphant last month. We also lift up the members and staff of Linden Presbyterian Church where he served as Pastor for more than 30 years. Please click here to view his obituary

The family and loved ones of the Rev. John Jeffrey who entered the church triumphant last month. John served as Associate Pastor of Saginaw-First from 1967 to 1971 and as an Interim Pastor at a few churches in the presbytery. After retirement he volunteered extensively with the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan and worshipped at Flint-First. Please click here to view his obituary.

Rev. Dawn Russell (2/9) - Pastor of Linden

Rev. Mary Anne Evans-Justin (2/25) - 30 Years - Honorably Retired

Rev. Chris Moody (2/25) - 25 Years - Member-At-Large

Elder Jon Essex (3/1) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Beaverton-First

Rev. Karen Blatt (3/12) - Honorably Retired

Rev. Jamie Milton (3/18) - Pastor of Bay City-Westminster

Rev. Hakbae Moon (3/19) - Pastor of Flint-Unity

Elder Mark Garavaglia (3/24) - 5 Years - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Sandusky and Yale-First

Rev. Linda Graham (3/25) - Temporary Supply of Davison-St. Andrews

Rev. Jan Chambers (3/29) - Honorably Retired; Pastor Emerita of Tawas

Additional contact information for anyone on this list

may be obtained by replying to this email.

Mission Spotlight - Niger and EERN Update

Amid all the other things that demand our attention at this time, I invite you to remember the situation of our siblings in Niger this week. We’ve often highlighted the positive ways that our church partners there are strengthening and caring for their communities. But because of attacks on one village church in late December, these Christians are in great need of our prayers and concern for their protection. The pastor at this church was abducted earlier in December but escaped his captors. A violent attack on their Christmas Eve service followed, and now threatened with continued attacks, the 700 Christians in this village of 1,000 people have fled to a larger village about 9 km away.  

Please pray for the village of Mailo, and for the neighboring village where the refugees are staying outside of the “city hall” as well as a student hosting center that the PCUSA helped to build at the church in that town. You can view a video update about the situation at the link below.

The economic and security situation in Niger continues to deteriorate after the military seized control of the government over two years ago. These attacks raise fresh fears about whether the country is moving to become an exclusive religious state and if the government has lost its power and interest to protect minorities. But the EERN church has already responded with a coalition of other churches in Niger to bring funds they raised to supply these refugees with food and tents. They are also preparing to host peacemaking and trauma events for the area in an effort to rebuild community stability. Our Presbytery has sent funds from our portion of the Peace & Global Witness Offering to support the refugees and this community response. Our efforts at walking with our siblings near and far are a vital connection in these times of insecurity. As we remember our partners in prayer we are reminded of the vast power of our unity in Christ, the one who will never leave or forsake us.

The President of the EERN’s message to us is this: “We ask you brothers and sisters to raise your voice with us, so that together we can bring our cries to the Lord who hears the cries of the oppressed. Pray for lasting security in the area and the village in particular. Pray for these displaced people who need shelter and provisions to survive. Thank you for bearing this burden with us!”

Mission Yearbook:

Black History Month Begins

Western society has used two great tools to oppress Black people. One, the Bible, spewing oppressive theology to justify first the acts of enslavement, and still to safeguard harmful laws and practices that disproportionately impact Black people. Two, the erasure of Black stories, Black history and the stripping of Black culture. I will not spend the next 600 words declaring what I hope you already know; that we serve a JUST GOD.

So, instead, I will challenge us to take heed to these Scriptures, breathe them, live them, allow them to guide you whenever you have doubt. Consider this piece my attempt to model one small way we can combat systemic racism this Black History Month through telling, celebrating, and honoring Black stories, Black history and Black culture.



My Nana painted the walls of her two-bedroom townhome on the Southside of Pittsburgh the color of Pepto Bismol. She covered every inch with images of Black people from all over the world and called it beautiful. It was. Black people, 140 million in the diaspora, 1.2 billion on the continent, connected by water, land, history and culture. I see them, I feel them. And while we were taught that they should bring us shame, it brings me immense pleasure ... so let us honor it.

Lenten Concert Series

Join us at Midland-Memorial every Friday during Lent from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Our Lenten Concert Series is free and open to the public. Come in-person to the Sanctuary or view the concerts through the live stream links below.

Friday, February 20

Helen Myers, voice and flute

Friday, February 27

Central Michigan University’s Henosis Saxophone Quartet

Evan Talsma

Shea Arney

Stephen Trotter

Hailee Milmine

Friday, March 6

Matheus Garcia Souxa, violin

Friday, March 13

Jamie Fiste, cello

Friday, March 20

Mark Cox, tuba and euphonium

Friday, March 27

Ellen Woodard, handbells

Thank you to Adrienne Wiley for her piano accompaniment and leadership of this annual series.

Annual Statistics Due Soon

All of the information you need to enter your congregation's 2025 Annual Statistics is available on our website. Letters were mailed to all Clerks of Session last month. A copy of that letter is also on the Annual Statistics page of our website. The deadline for entering information is February 20th. If you have any questions please contact Staci Percy at spercy@presbylh.org.

We Are a Virtual Office

The Presbytery Office is a virtual office. Our business hours are still Monday through Thursday. Please note that all staff members are part time and hours vary from person to person. Click the link below for contact information for each of us. (Our email and phone numbers remain the same.)

All mail should still be sent to our post box. You can continue to pay for things (per capita, calendars, etc.) via check. If you prefer, you may also pay online.

Presbytery of Lake Huron | www.presbylh.org