Pilgrimage to GA-223 Seeks Church's Divestment from Fossil Fuel Industry

January 29, 2018

Inside this Edition

878th Gathering: "Building Shalom in Our Communities"

Necrology Report

A World Uprooted: Compassion, Peace & Justice Training

General Assembly Overtures

Ruth Gosnell Education Fund Grove PC Free Concert

Havenwood PC Wine for a Cause to benefit Youth Hunger Program

Springfield PC Presents Pianist Aaron Thacker in Concert

Baritone Daniel C.X. Rich in Concert at Faith Presbyterian Church

Next Church Conference in Baltimore Feb. 26-28

Stewardship Kaleidoscope

Insurance Board Webinar: Keeping Your Congregation Safe/ Preventing Sexual Harassment in Your Church

Meetings

Committee and Commission meetings will be held at the Presbytery's office (unless noted otherwise.)

Administration Committee will meet at 1pm on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Credentials Committee will meet at 10am on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The Committee on Ministry will meet from 2pm-5pm on Wednesday, Jan. 31

Ministry Group Conveners will meet for lunch at noon on Thursday, Feb. 1

The Gathering Team will meet at 11am on Thursday, Feb. 1

Commission on Spiritual Leader Development will meet at 1pm on Wednesday, Feb. 7

Committee on Preparation for Ministry will meet at 3pm on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Catonsville PC

Steering Cabinet will meet at 1pm on Wednesday, Feb. 28

Commission on Reconciliation will meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Feb. 28

Baltimore Dakota Partnership will meet at 7pm on Feb. 13 at Catonsville PC

Cuba Partnership will meet at 7pm on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 1st PC,Howard Co.

Prayer & Praise

Please pray for Laura Mullen , the Presbytery's book keeper, and her family as they mourn the loss of eldest daughter Leah. Leah was 28 and had been chronically ill since birth. She died Saturday evening at Seasons Hospice Center, surrounded by family and friends. A Memorial Service will be held 10am Wednesday at Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, 2325 York Rd. 21093. Click here to read Leah's obituary.

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Please pray for members of the Presbytery's Guatemala Partnership

who are leaving today, Jan. 29, for Central America to meet with our global partner, CEDEPCA.

Pilgrimage to GA-223 Seeks Church's Divestment from Fossil Fuels

by Rick Jones | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - A group of Presbyterians will be making their way to the 223rd General Assembly this summer by foot. Organized by Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and Fossil Free PC(USA), participants from around the country will walk 260 miles from Louisville, the site of the offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to St. Louis, where this year's General Assembly will be held.

In a joint press release, the participants say they are making the walk this June to "stand against investing in the fossil fuel industry." The journey begins at the PC(USA) headquarters on June 1 and will close at the opening of the General Assembly on June 16. Organizers say they will end each day of the walk with teach-ins and worship centering around the stories and experiences of people on the front lines of climate change.

"As a pastor, I plan to participate in the walk because I believe our denomination must always stand alongside the most vulnerable in our society," said the Rev. Neddy Astudillo. "Climate change is demanding from us not just to support with money those who suffer its symptoms, but to look at its root causes and do whatever is in our hands to avoid it."

Astudillo and other participants will once again urge the General Assembly to vote in favor of the church divesting from fossil fuels. Fifteen presbyteries have already voiced support with the overture.

During the 222nd General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, the Immigration and Environmental Issues Committee recommended divestment by a vote of 31-25, but commissioners voted to continue the church's current policy of corporate engagement in the hope that companies would work with them to reduce pollution.

"The Presbyterian Church has a long history of caring for creation through worship, education and advocacy," said the Rev. Abby Mohaupt, moderator of Fossil Free PCUSA. "Divestment is the missing step in our love of God's creation."

"We all want to move toward a low-carbon future and it has never been more important to be engaged on this issue than it is now," said Joseph Kinard, chair of the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment. "We agree that climate change is real and that the church needs to respond. This can be achieved through several different strategies."

Kinard added, "I am reminded of Micah 6:8: 'What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and walk humbly with your God?' We wish them well in this endeavor." Those interested in walking, sponsoring or endorsing the "PCUSA Walk for a Fossil Free World" can click here for more information.

Since 2012, Fossil Free PCUSA has been calling on the PC(USA) to divest from the fossil fuel industry. Since the 1940s, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has worked to end war and seek nonviolent solutions to world problems. Fossil Free PCUSA is a project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.

Message from the General Presbyter


General Presbyte r Jackie Taylor

I am honored to be asked to preach at your congregation! Preaching is a wonderful way to experience worship and introduce myself to your church. Right now, I am open to preaching on special occasions (if available), but I would like to refrain from "supply preaching" until I have had an opportunity to visit each congregation for their regular worship time. My visits have blessed me with good preaching from our Presbytery's pastors and provided an opportunity to meet and fellowship with members too! Hopefully by the fall, I will have visited everyone!

Blessings,

Take Note/Act Now

Presbytery and Churchwide

FINAL NOTICE: Click here for general information and to order a Gathering meal

Take Note: Churches are requested to submit Necrology Reports to the Stated Clerk
by Feb. 1. The report will be read at the 878th Gathering.

Panelists Announced for Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day! Register Today - Space is Limited!

Advocacy Training Weekend , which includes Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day and Ecumenical Advocacy Days , is scheduled for April 21-24, in Washington, D.C. The theme for this year's conference is

"Confronting Chaos, Forging Community - Racism, Militarism and Materialism."

Click here to register or click here for flier

Overtures to the General Assembly are the way the church brings business to the Assembly for consideration. They are diverse in nature ranging from changing something in our Form of Government to making statements on public policy issues. When a Presbytery approves an overture it requires at least one other presbytery to concur (like seconding a motion) before it can be taken to the GA. Church Sessions have the right to submit an original overture to the Presbytery or to overture presbytery to concur with another presbytery's overture. You can access a continuously updated list of overtures at pcbiz.org. The Stated Clerks encourage you to review this list from time to time and consider if your session might be called to engagement with this process. If you need more information or assistance contact Mary Gaut at [email protected].

RUTH GOSNELL EDUCATION FUND: INTEREST-FREE COLLEGE LOANS AVAILABLE

Need an interest-free loan for the 2018-19 academic year to complete your college Junior, Senior or Graduate School studies? The Ruth Gosnell Education Fund, directed by the Springfield Presbyterian Church, provides interest-free loans for those full-time students, regardles s of religion. To learn more, click Ruth Gosnell Education Fund and download an application. The deadline to apply is Mar. 1, 2018

Churches

Wine for a Cause: on Monday, Feb. 5, Havenwood Presbyterian Church will host two wine-themed events to raise funds for Food for Thought, a program that feeds vulnerable students over the weekends. The wine instructor, Patrick Hicks, is a regional sales manager for Vineyard Brands (www.vineyardbrands.com). He travels the world inspecting, tasting and bringing wines to market. Participants must be over 21 to attend.

Burgundy Wine Tasting Class (6-6:30pm) - A class to hone your skills and appreciation for beautiful burgundies. Only 15 seats are available for this class. The cost is $10/person payable by check or cash the day of the event. Registration: https://havenwoodburgundy.eventbrite.com.

Old v. New World Wine Sampling (7-8:30pm) - An event for folks who just want a decent glass of wine now and again. Come and taste and order only what you like. Orders taken at the event in Cash or Check only. Free event but registration is required: https://havenwoodwine.eventbrite.com

Springfield Presbyterian Church is proud to present Aaron Thacker in concert at 3pm on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the church. Aaron, Springfield's piano accompanist, is an accomplished musician who has performed extensively and served as rehearsal pianist for the North Carolina Opera, Baltimore Lyric Opera, Peabody Conservatory and the Ford's Theater. Please come and enjoy a wonderful FREE concert and some delicious food at the reception to follow. Click here to learn more . . .

Faith Presbyterian Church presents baritone Daniel C.X. Rich in concert of music by African American composers at 7pm on Friday, Feb. 23.

Daniel has performed with several opera companies including the role of Surnani in an operetta commissioned by The Smithsonian and the Sultanate of Oman. He is a graduate of Morgan State, and currently a graduate student at Manhattan School of Music. A meet the artist reception will follow.

Click here to learn more . . .

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