YouSPEAK Anti-Bullying After School Program
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Knox Presbyterian Church
was awarded a 2019
Community Engagement Grant
through the Commission on Reconciliation. Sarah Walker and Charese Jordan Moore worked with Gail Danik of the Dawson Safe Haven Center (named for the Dawson family whose home was firebombed as retaliation for reporting drug activity) to plan the YouSPEAK after school program in response to children’s concerns about bullying.
This eight-week, 16 session program is being presented to students from our community school, Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary, in collaboration with the Baltimore Center Stage, Young Playwrights Festival and The Drama Workshop/Bully-Proof. Children are getting interactive instruction on topics such as respect, empathy, peer pressure, and coping skills, among others. The students will follow up the instruction by expressing themselves through drama, art, music, dance, and writing.
YouSPEAK will culminate with the children presenting a play and displaying what they have created through the arts on March 31
st
at Knox for their families, community members, and church members. All are invited.
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Guatemalan Partnership Updates
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As you know, the Presbytery of Baltimore has had a
Guatemala partnership
with an organization called CEDEPCA for the past five years. We are excited that this year, we will be signing a new partnership agreement which will continue our relationship.
A team from our Presbytery traveled to Guatemala City late last year to meet with the staff at CEDEPCA and discuss and evaluate our partnership and to make plans for the future. Everyone at the meeting was in agreement that the partnership was valued and working well, and there was a mutual wish for the relationship to continue.
Representatives from CEDEPCA will travel to the US this year to sign another five year partnership agreement at our Presbytery meeting. We also will have a delegation from our Presbytery traveling to Guatemala later this year for our annual trip.
Our partnership team at the Presbytery has representatives from five different churches. We would love to have more people become involved. If you are interested in having someone from our team visit your church and give a presentation about our partnership, please contact Susan Krehbiel, Presbytery staff,
skrehbiel@baltimorepresbytery.org
or the Rev. Andy Gathman, chair,
andygathman@gmail.com.
Details about our 2020 mission trip to Guatemala will be announced soon. We hope you will join us!
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Stated Clerk available to preach
J. Herbert Nelson (Stated Clerk of the denomination) is open to an invitation on June 28 to preach to your congregation. If your church is interested in hosting, please contact
Rev. Carrie Finch-Burriss
at
rev.carrie.finch@gmail.com
.
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Fasting times for everyone
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Govans Presbyterian Church
has a small group of people who fast together once a month. The stated purpose of the fasts are discernment, but each person can bring their own intention to each fast. People are invited to fast from food completely or to do a partial fast of some kind. Most fast for about 24 hours, but people are welcome to do less or more. Each fast is broken with a very simple Communion service. The next Communion to Break Fast will be Monday, March 9th at 6:30pm in the Govans Sanctuary. If you are interested in participating please contact Tom Harris (
tom@govanspres.org
) so you can be added to an email list that we use for communication before fast and for mutual support.
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March 7, 2020
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This three-hour workshop includes teaching and small group work, with additional resources that congregational leaders can take with them to develop and implement in their church setting. Cost: $40 per person.
Deadline for registration: Friday, February 28.
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Discovering Spirituality in Science
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Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church
hosts this continuing series. Discover a richer, more vibrant, interesting spirituality. Experience a renewed prayer life. Encounter God more fully. Explore being part of the universe, not just one separate species, Homo Sapiens. Six consecutive Mondays - February 10 through March 16, 6-8pm.
More information
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
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Join for a Pancake Supper on Fat Tuesday, at
Havenwood Presbyterian
from 5-6:30. Pay what you want! Proceeds will support their efforts to build a Faith House with Habitat for Humanity. Together with several other churches, Havenwood is committed to raise funds and supply volunteers to build a home with Habitat in the Woodburne-McCabe neighborhood.
More information
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Join the
Presbytery of Baltimore
for the imposition of ashes at 11:45 am in the Chapel of Faith Presbyterian Church (5400 Loch Raven Blvd). This service is open to all and offers Presbytery pastors a time of prayer and worship as they prepare to lead evening services.
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Kickball and Crafts in the Park
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Come make friends and have some fun at Alhambra Park! There will be board games, crafts, snacks and warm or cold drinks depending on the weather. A good time will be had by all. This event is made possible through the partnership between the
North Baltimore Presbyterians
and the Woodbourne-McCabe Community Association.
More information
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Special Meeting of the Presbytery
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First Presbyterian Church of Howard County
, 10 am: The purpose of the meeting will be to hear a report on plans for The Center, including an opportunity to review a motion which will be moved, debated and voted at the May 14 Gathering. Presbyters will be able to ask questions, request further information, and make constructive suggestions.
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The Center
is still seeking summer interns to join their staff for 9 mission weeks!
The application has been extended until March 1st.
Learn more about the internship and
application here
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The Center
is also seeking an organized, detail-oriented, patient individual who is a good communicator and experienced managing a database to work with local congregations to host visiting groups from across the country for mission experiences in the Baltimore area.
Full job description
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General Assembly Volunteers
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The Committee on Local Arrangements
(COLA) is seeing creative and energetic individuals to lead a team or be part of a workgroup for June’s General Assembly in Baltimore. Available roles include: Fundraising Co-Chair, Media & Communications Chair, and Welcome Reception Volunteers. For additional information, contact
Sonce.Reese@pcusa.org
or (410) 433-2012.
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Continue the Conversation
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