Wishing You a Joyful Thanksgiving Holiday

The staff, commissioners and committee members of the Baltimore Presbytery would like to wish you, your families and congregations a very happy Thanksgiving. Please travel safely as you enjoy some time away to connect and relax with loved ones!

Mutual Encouragement Group

For Pastors in Transitional Situations

If you consider yourself leading a church in transition (what church isn’t, right?) you are welcome to join the new Mutual Encouragement Group (MEG) being formed and will meet via Zoom.

Steve Nofel, the presbytery’s staff interim will bring this MEG group together for the first time on Tuesday, December 10, at 10 am. At this first meeting, we will determine and day and time that works best.

Like other MEG groups, this one will come together to share experiences, ask questions of one another and, as the name suggests, encourage one another. The agenda will come from the participants.

If you are considered an interim, bridge, transitional or even installed pastor, you are welcome to join this MEG Group.

Clergy Colleague Group for Post-Election Pastoring

Are you a pastor looking for help dealing in this time of growing division in your congregation? The Center for Healthy Churches / PneuMatrix is offering new clergy colleague groups for post-election pastoring. Each small group (12 people) will be facilitated by both a seasoned pastor and a therapist.

“This virtual group aims to build a supportive network, provide professional insight, and create actionable strategies for Pastors who seek guidance and community while navigating the challenges of post-election pastoring to their congregations and ministries.”

There will be six online sessions from January to June of 2025. They promise to be challenge-oriented, community-focused, and value-driven. The cost is $400, and specific dates are TBD, but registration is open here.

2025 Youth Triennium

Get Ready for the triumphant return of Presbyterian Youth Triennium – a gathering normally held every three years for high school age students in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Triennium was canceled in 2022 because of the Pandemic, but it is finally back in a big way in 2025! At Triennium, youth from all churches (across the sponsoring denominations) come together for this life changing, life giving, faith growing gathering! Four days that help form a younger generation of active Presbyterians. Four days that shape the leadership gifts and deepen the discipleship awareness for a generation who are already achieving a strong presence in this church and this world!

Baltimore Presbytery wants to ensure that any students from our churches who would like to attend have that opportunity. If youth from your church are interested in attending please contact Registrar Virginia Callegary at vcallegary@firstpreshc.org.

• Date: July 28th-31st
• Location: Louisville, KY
• Cost: $199 participant fee plus travel/lodging, estimated total of $1000 per person

Missional Entrepreneurship

What can churches and Christian leaders do to bless our communities and connect with our neighbors?

“Everyday churches like yours are using their underutilized properties to address local needs, such as tiny home communities, affordable daycare, and community gathering spaces. Join us to explore the Bible’s vision of how God’s people impact their community and imagine new ways your church can join in.”

Join Fresh Expressions at Riverside Presbyterian Church, home of the bustling Ridgetop Cafe, for Training for Pioneers at the Intersection of the Marketplace and God’s Mission, January 29-31 in Sterling, VA to learn:

• How Churches become Community Hubs
• Best practices for Repurposing Church Facilities
• Opportunities for New Income Streams and New Expressions of Church

Visit their website for more info and registration.

2025 Baltimore Dakota Learning Camps

This summer, the Baltimore Dakota Learning Camps will be operating three camps:

• The Ihanktonwan Learning Camp on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota will be held July 26 - August 2.
• The Sisseton learning Camp will be held on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota July 19-26.
• The Pejuhutazizi Family Learning Camp will be held on The Upper Sioux Community in Minnesota July 26 – August 2.

Please let your congregations know about these camps. They are a wonderful opportunity for your church members to experience God working in a mission setting. Our camps are set up as a partnership with the local churches to provide a bridge between our cultures. As a participant, you will have an opportunity to learn about our native friends while also building a relationship with them. Please go to our website baltimoredakotalearningcamps.org to learn about our mission. If you have any questions, please contact bobsteppling@gmail.com. Applications for next year will be due by April 1, 2025.

Webinar: Supporting Older Adults in the “Third Thirty” December 3rd, at 2 pm

Learn about the challenges of aging, how older adults can best navigate them, and how the church can provide support. Chris Pomfret will lead the webinar.

Parents and many others are unprepared for events that come their way in their later lives. These include decisions about where to live as they age, the importance of downsizing, and having conversations with children or loved ones about our end-of-life wishes. He wanted to help people age smartly, wisely, gracefully, sensibly, and spiritually.

During the webinar, Chris will introduce an ecumenical curriculum for church organizations and/or older adult leaders to use or adapt with their congregations. The webinar is free, but registration is required.

Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries

Towson Presbyterian Church (TPC) seeks a highly motivated, well-organized individual with a deep love for children and youth to lead our children, youth, and family ministries. While our church is blessed with engaging children and youth ministries, we recognize the need to bring greater form and focus to these ministries to grow them into all we believe they are called to be. As such, our next Director will help oversee and facilitate the ministries of the Children, Youth, & Family Ministries Committee (including church school and youth group), and will be passionate about helping parents grow in their role as their child(ren)’s primary faith-former. This position is for 32 hours/week, with competitive salary and benefits. Job Description

Child Care Provider / CE Assistant

The Christian Education Department of First and Franklin Presbyterian Church is looking for a caring individual to provide child care in our nursery (ages 0-5 years). We currently anticipate a short, regular weekly schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays, with the possibility of additional hours as needed (e.g., church meetings, or additional services). Job Description

Mission Coordinator

Towson Presbyterian Church is looking to hire a part-time Mission Coordinator – up to 50 hours/month, a combination of on-site and virtual work. This individual would work with the Mission Outreach team to coordinate international and local mission opportunities. Job Description

Visit the Presbytery's website for additional employment listings.

Please contact us with any questions, concerns or news to share!