During Lent We Listen and Reflect ...

What is God Asking of You?

From Matt's Desk ...

"You can support our Initiative to Cultivate the Gift of Preaching in at least two ways. First, by praying that God will continue to raise up emergent preachers across our synod. Second, by sending us names of individuals called to preach who would benefit from further cultivation of their preaching gifts."

To read more of Matt's letter, please click here

Dr. Matt Aragon Bruce

matt@synodofthecovenant.org

https://www.synodofthecovenant.org/cultivating-the-gift-of-preaching

Excerpt from the CGPI Flyer:

"Funded by a $1.25m Lilly Grant, the aim of the Cultivating the Gift of Preaching Initiative is to train 140 preachers across the Synod over the next five years. Of the 650 Churches in the Synod of the Covenant, nearly 200 are currently without an installed Teaching Elder or Commissioned Ruling Elder. Yet there are also many elders and other church leaders throughout the synod who are called and gifted to preach. Our aim is to help emerging preachers hone these gifts and live into their calling."

To view/print the CGPI Flyer, please click here

2024 Leap Year Mission Challenge

Churches, individuals, couples, and groups are invited to give a special offering of a $366 donation to help support Presbytery Missions.

Why?

Missions have been underfunded for years and drew funds from operations reserves.

These reserves are no longer available resulting in $17,000 cut to Missions for 2024.

Your gifts will help fund missions in the future.

A letter to Sessions will explain more details of this Leap Year Mission Challenge.

From Chip's Desk ...

Presbyterian History and Polity Class Offered Through Ecumenical Theological Seminary

This course introduces students to Presbyterian history and polity so that as church leaders they can serve “decently and in order.” 



Rev. Chip Hardwick, Ph.D., Executive of the Synod of the Covenant, will teach this course. It will be held Monday evenings 3/18 through 5/20/24, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on zoom. It is offered through Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. (www.etseminary.edu).

Contact Chip for information about the course content, including a preliminary syllabus. 

Chip@synodofthecovenant.org or 309-530-4578.

Contact your Presbytery Leader or Committee on Preparation for Ministry to see how it would fit into your ordination process.

Contact Dr. Linda Morin, Enrollment Manager at Ecumenical Seminary, for enrollment information and costs as a student or auditor.  lmorin@etseminary.edu

------------------------------------

God bless you,

Chip

CLP Education Retreat

Deadline to register:

March 22, 2024

Retreat Topic:

Personal Gifts and the

Ministry of Stewardship

April 5 & 6, 2024

Registration Form/Welcome Letter

CLP Education courses are open to everyone.



Check out the courses online at our website

LINKS & REMINDERS:

From the admin's desk ...

When is the last time you browsed the Presbytery of Mackinac website?

Click here to check out the directory, meeting info, resources, and more.

Questions, comments, thoughts ... email admin@presbymac.org

... my laptop is always open!

With Christ's peace & joy, Alana

Boundaries Training Opportunities

Clergy, CPS/CREs, presbytery staff, and others in our presbytery and churches are required to renew/refresh their Boundaries Training every two-three years.  These are the opportunities available in the Presbytery of Mackinac in partnership with the Synod of the Covenant and LeaderWise.  

Tuesday & Wednesday, April 9 & 10,

1:30 to 4:30 pm

    Saturday, September 28,

9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Tuesday & Wednesday, Oct. 15 & 16,

6:00 to 9:00 pm

    Thursday, November 7,

9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Registration is limited to 40 registrants per training session. Please register as soon as possible to get the dates you need.

Registration Is Open

Made you Look ...

Are you starting to think about summer and outdoor activities?

~First Presbyterian Church

of Elk Rapids is celebrating

150 years on July 28, 2024

Watch for details on their website

www.erfpc.org

~First Presbyterian Church

of Rudyard is replacing their bibles and looking for a new home for their older bibles.

Interested? Contact Rev. Jeri Baker

revjeribaker@gmail.com

FEMA non-Profit Security

Grant Program

Each year more and more PCUSA congregations are applying for the Non-profit Security Grant.  FEMA just sent the attached list of spring 2024 webinars about the grant.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Peace, Jim

jim.kirk@pcusa.org

www.pcusa.org/pda

Your Holy Cow! Team Members

are hard at work ...

Check out the article

Technology Thoughts for Worship

presented by

Rev. Leslie Mott

and

Keith Schroeder, CLP