Bi-Weekly Brief news & updates
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John Haynes, whose parents are members of Davison-St. Andrews. John is an RN who is experiencing serious heart and lung complications from COVID.
Our churches currently in pastoral transition.
Our Mission Co-Workers:
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Upcoming Ordination and Commissioning Anniversaries:
Elder Liz Long (3/5) - Commissioned Ruling Elder of Ithaca-Lafayette
Rev. Hoon Koo Lee (4/29) - Member-At-Large
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.
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From The Stated Clerk's Desk |
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We just concluded our March Zoom-only Presbytery meeting. That meeting included what I find to be one of the most meaningful and powerful times in any of our Presbytery meetings throughout the year. I’m referring to the sharing of the annual Necrology Report. For those who aren’t aware of what that is, the Necrology Report is the reading of the names of clergy members of our Presbytery and ruling elders from our various congregations who joined the church triumphant in the last year.
It's no more than the reading of those names, sometimes with the tolling of a handbell or other recognition of each name. At first glance, that may not seem like much. But, maybe because I’ve been around this Presbytery so long, hearing those names strikes a chord.
The clergy ones always strike me. This year we had two clergy names and between those two names we had 197 years of life and ministry. I always wonder about the churches they have served, the people they have ministered to, the gifts for Jesus Christ they have shared. That is worth-while.
Then there are the ruling elders from the congregations of the Presbytery. After this long in Lake Huron, many are names I recognize. But even if I don’t recognize the individual names, I certainly recognize the congregations for which they were members. I reflect on those congregations and what these people meant to them over the years. Almost certainly, these were people who gave much to that congregation’s ministry. Those congregations would not be who and what they are without the gifts of those saints found on the Necrology Report of the Presbytery. In that way, they are more than just names.
I bring this up not simply because it’s a privilege to share in the reading of it. But it is a reminder for us all that we are surrounded by people with many gifts in our churches. We all are able to do ministry because of the saints that fill our membership.
This is equally true for our Presbytery. One of the great gifts of being Stated Clerk is seeing the people who become part of the life of this Presbytery either as pastors or elders. As we look around our congregations and give thanks for those who served, maybe take a moment to celebrate not only what so many saints did for our congregations but also what they have done for the Presbytery.
We are blessed by those who serve. As we continue to figure out our path as a Presbytery, I am confident that we will continue to be blessed in ways both expected and unexpected by so many. And, one day, we will give thanks for their life and gifts. That will be a report worth celebrating.
Yours in Christ,
Ted McCulloch
Stated Clerk
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Congratulations To The Pfeuffer Family |
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Congratulations to the Rev. Paul Pfeuffer ( Flushing) and wife Darrah on the arrival of their adorable baby girl.
Juniper Marie Bird-Pfeuffer was born at 10:22 am, Tuesday, February 15th at McLaren Hospital in Flint. A few days later Mom and Dad brought her home to be with her big brother, Rowan, 7. We're all over the moon with excitement for our new addition, feeling blessed beyond measure.
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On February 9, 2022, the Council of the Presbytery met and:
- Opened with prayer at 10 AM
- Elected Rev. Andrew Miller as Vice-Moderator of Council for 2022
- Heard plans for the March 5, 2022 Presbytery meeting with Fraser Presbyterian Church being our “virtual” host including an equipping time on “Restoring Congregational Hope” and using several of our church leaders from different size congregations to present. Also providing breakout rooms for discussion.
- Personnel Team reported the hiring of Jessica Schira as the permanent Financial Secretary for the Presbytery
- Mission Commission reported Rev. Lucy Der Garabedian has been asked to speak about her work in Lebanon.
- Approved the Presbytery meeting offering going to Revive Ministries of Cass City.
- Approved the proposal of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center to conduct deep listening with individual former and current Council members and progressing to restorative conversations that will involve a wider part of the Presbytery and function in a guided small group (10-12 per group) format.
- Noted that starting with the June meeting, Presbytery meetings will be in-person again with the ability for people to participate by Zoom if they choose (hybrid meeting-style).
- Adjourned with prayer.
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Save The Date: The Niger Mission Network's Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2022. It will be in person at Midland-Memorial 10:00 am to 2:00 pm with participants from Niger joining via Zoom.
Any individual or congregational group interested in receiving the Prayer Newsletter of the Niger Network Mission are welcomed to join via [email protected]. This is the email for Rev. Don Dawson, co-convener of the Niger Mission Network.
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The Presbyterian Women of Flint-Trinity United invite you to their Celebration of the Gifts of Women on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 10:00 am. The guest speaker will be Judge Tabitha Marsh. The theme for the occasion is “And a Sword Will Pierce Your Own Soul Too” – Scripture: Luke 2:25-35
A reception will follow immediately after the service.
Trinity United Presbyterian Church, (USA)
5151 Lennon Road
Flint, MI 48507
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Flushing Presbyterian Church is seeking a part-time pianist for our worship services and occasionally weddings and funerals (additional compensation provided for these services). If interested, please call the church office at 810-659-5831 or email at [email protected] to schedule an interview.
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Now is the time to begin your planning to attend the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant Gathering to be held July 29-30 in Dearborn, MI. You are invited to join your PW sisters from around the Synod with a theme of Hope Renewed – New Visions Imagined.
Click here to view the registration flyer and to see what is planned for you.
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New! 2022 Tread Lightly for Lent The Presbyterian Hunger Program strives to walk with people in moving toward sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and Creation. As people of faith, we seek to “serve and preserve” God’s world. However, some of our collective choices have led to a changing global climate, which translates to warmer temperatures, rising sea levels and severe storms, just to name a few. To turn this tide, we must commit to treading lightly on God’s Earth. Our hope is that this Lenten calendar will be the beginning of actions intended to create more mindful behaviors throughout the year. Download here in English, Spanish or Korean.
Resources from the Office of Gender & Racial Justice The Office of Gender & Racial Justice announces a series of workshops and events that will be offered in person and/or by webinar. Upcoming topics, locations and dates are: Preaching for Presbytery Retreat, New Castle Presbytery (March 3–5); quarterly gathering of LGBTQIA Teaching & Ruling Elders (March 30); Race & Gender Webinar, online with sign-up required (April 26); new resources released (April); Reproductive Justice Webinar, online with sign-up required (May 11); PRIDE Chapel Service, live on Facebook and YouTube (June 1).
Click here for more details and to view all of the resources and opportunities presented by Presbyterian Mission Engagement and Support.
Our presbytery advisor, the Rev. Chris Roseland is also a great resource. You may contact him at [email protected] or (502) 439-4930.
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The McCabe Charitable Foundation Scholarship assists Jewish or Presbyterian residents of Bay, Saginaw, or Midland counties in Michigan who are enrolled or planning to enroll in undergraduate studies at Delta Community College or Saginaw Valley State University.
This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Deadline to apply: March 16, 2022 3:00 pm CT
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A donor at First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven, Michigan, wants to provide generous financial assistance to children desiring to go to a Christian camp. This year the program is being offered to all the churches in the four presbyteries in Michigan - Detroit, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Mackinac. If you are willing, we'd like to have you offer this financial assistance to the children and youth of your church. Please make copies of the application and distribute them among those eligible for the funding.
Here are the parameters of this program:
- The purpose of the camp must be Christian faith development.
- It is open to any child or youth with a connection to your church.
- The camper's family is responsible for paying the camp registration fee (at a minimum).
- A family can pay more if they choose.
- The donor desires that children will do work around the house or community to earn the funds for the registration fee.
- This program will pay the remaining portion of the camp. The expectation is that this will not exceed $500.00 per camper.
- This financial assistance comes with no income requirements. The donor wants children to go to Christian camp without restriction.
- The donor expects that the home church will pray for their campers in person prior to attending camp.
- Following the camp there will be a follow-up letter for reflection by the camper on his or her experience. This letter will be shared with the donor.
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