Deadlines

Coordinating Team Meeting

Monday, April 14, 2025

Documents and Actionable Items Deadline:

Monday, March 24, 2025

Please submit all items via email to:

CT Chair, Dr. Andrew Poe, RE

aapoe@charter.net

Stated Clerk, Kay Morrill, RE

statedclerk@presbymac.org

Office Admin Manager, Alana Pionk

admin@presbymac.org

Please note, only items submitted by the deadline date will be included on the docket

Presbyterian Women

in the Synod of the Covenant

2025 Gathering in Battle Creek

June 27-28, 2025

Mackinac Scholarship Application

Deadline April 10, 2025

Synod Gathering Registration and Agenda

Deadline May 31, 2025

Mighty Mac CRE Academy

"Calling Pastors to Prayerfully Consider an Opportunity to Teach Via Zoom

How would you like to share some of the wisdom that you learned from Seminary? I am looking for two instructors to teach 1) Reformed Theology and 2) Spiritual Practices for the Semester starting September 2025 to December 2025 via Zoom to our wonderful students." ~ Julie Dowty

Click HERE for details

Current Deadlines:

Spring 2025 Retreat

Monday, March 24, 2025

Spring 2025 Courses

Thursday, March 27, 2025

An Update from Matt Bruce,

CGPI Program Director

"Dear Siblings in Christ in the Presbytery of Mackinac!

Thank you for giving me some space to share with you about the Synod of the Covenant’s Cultivating the Gift of Preaching Initiative (CGPI)!

CGPI is a new ministry in the Synod (launched in 2024) focused on training lay preachers. It is funded by a $1.25m Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant. The goal of CGPI is to strengthen the witness of the Church to the good news of Jesus Christ, by identifying, training, and providing ongoing support to emerging preachers.

Something new that I am delighted to report is that we were able to adapt the terms of the grant, with the blessing of the Lilly Foundation, to open CGPI up to CREs!! So, if you are a CRE who wants to further develop your preaching skills, please apply!

There are lots more details about CGPI on the Synod webpage, as well as the application."

Click here to read the rest of Matt's letter with the program basics.

If you have any questions, please do reach out to me via email, text, or phone:

matt@synodofthecovenant.org

609-712-4258

Grace and peace to you all,

Matt Bruce

CGPI Program Director

2024 Annual Report from CCAM

"Presbytery of Mackinac Mission Committee continues as our major supporter, paying our monthly mortgage. Although few small grants were available this year, public awareness resulted in additional funding from people, businesses, and organizations, but publicity also widened the opportunity to serve more people. We saw an average of 200 people relying on the food pantry each month. Additionally, we provided nearly $1000 per month to prevent utility shutoff or eviction during the first months of the year."

Click here to view the full report provided by CCAM Board President, Sherry Middlemis-Brown



 ccangelmission.org

Shepherd's Corner ...

with Ruling Elder Ted Fines

Excerpts from Ted's March 2025 letter:

"Presbyterian Basics- Part 2: The Presbytery’s Responsibilities

So, why do we need a Presbytery? According to the Book of Order ... these are the two primary purposes of the Presbytery:



1) The governance of the church

2) Assisting and supporting the witness of its congregations.

At one level, this two-fold focus of a Presbytery’s ministry is refreshingly simple. Governing and Assist/Support! That’s it! And it sounds so simple. The truth is ...

Governance isn’t something most people are supportive of. As the staff and many of you who have served in leadership roles within the Presbytery know, the governing side of the Presbytery isn’t always popular, ... 

On the surface, the other responsibility of a Presbytery, assisting and supporting, would seem more popular. But even when helping and supporting, challenges can emerge, ..."

Click here to read Ted's March 2025 letter in its entirety. 

LINKS & REMINDERS:

From the admin's desk ...

So much is happening in 2025!

We continue our efforts to migrate to a new email platform and repair the phone system messaging.



Thank you for your continued patience as we work to reduce expenses and increase connectivity.

Resources are available at the bottom of our homepage at

www.presbymac.org

under "Presbytery Resources"

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

... my laptop is always open!

With Christ's peace & joy, Alana

Presbytery Point Camp Needs You!

Click on the images below for better viewing!

Registered Campers 2025

Assets and Liabilities

Boundary Training Opportunities With ...

The Synod of the Covenant has several dates for Boundary Training in 2025 for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention provided by LeaderWise.

Sold Out--May 12 & 13, 9-11:30am

*M & T, May 19 & 20, 9-11:30am

W & Th, Sept 17 & 18, 6-8:30pm

Th & F, Oct 9 & 10, 9-11:30am

*These sessions are nearly full--only a handful of seats are still available.

Space is limited. To reserve a spot,

go to www.leaderwise.org/sotc

This training complies with G-3.0106

Double Take!

An Open House Invitation from the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

6:30pm - 8pm

Invitation and Poster

Watch for an upcoming article in Venture North.

~ Congratulations and continued success!

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Harrisville Needs Your Input ...

Harrisville Westminster Presbyterian Church has a generator and is looking at becoming a shelter for those without heat when the power goes out. 

They need info on how to do this. 

Does any other church in the Presbytery do this? 

Please contact Cyndi with information.

Cynthia Swise

Harrisville, MI 48740

PH: (989) 724 6868

Cell: (989) 255-1319

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News from Chip Hardwick

The Synod of the Covenant is seeking a ten hour/week volunteer treasurer.

"The Leadership Team of the Synod of the Covenant is considering converting this position from a volunteer to a paid position. "

For more information, visit  Available Position: Treasurer (Volunteer Staff) (synodofthecovenant.org) for the Treasurer position.

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

Rev. Charles B. Hardwick, Ph.D.

Executive, The Synod of the Covenant

Presbyterian Church (USA)

chip@synodofthecovenant.org

This position is also posted on the Presbytery of Mackinac website www.presbymac.org

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Submit items of interest to Alana at

admin@presbymac.org

We will endeavor to post it in an upcoming newsletter.

Please Note: We do not solicit funds for individual churches.