During last Thursday’s Gathering at St. John United Church, Pastor Mary Ka Kanahan spoke on Luke 15 : 1-10. I appreciated her sermon at about the lost sheep and the lost coin. My biggest take away was that the “one” who is “lost” IS part of the whole, not just an interloper, stranger or an inconvenient responsibility.
Afterward McKenna (Program Coordinator at the Center) and I had a pop-up exegesis session which led to the assertion that perhaps God is already at work in the world and the church has to catch up.
Which makes me now wonder…maybe the world is the “99” and the church is the “one” who is lost....
-
Jackie
|
|
A new video was also shared at last week's Gathering which describes the great work being done at The Center in Baltimore. It was a big topic of discussion, as we look forward to cultivating a productive future for our local mission.
Check it out
.
|
|
September is Hunger Action Month
|
|
Walking for Hunger
Celebrating the 50
th
anniversary of the national CROP Hunger Walk movement, CROP Hunger Walks continue to raise millions of dollars each year to help end hunger and poverty through long-term sustainable approaches to significantly reduce or eliminate hunger.
Today, the CROP Hunger Walk is a national movement raising funds for the global hunger-fighting work of Church World Service and local hunger-fighting agencies. Last year, over 800 events raised over $8 million dollars. This year some 800 communities nationwide are joining together in interfaith CROP Hunger Walks around the theme "Stepping up to End Hunger Since 1969.” For more information or to find a local Walk, visit
www.crophungerwalk.org.
|
|
Giving for Hunger
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland
is collecting shelf-stable food for their most at-risk clients. Please consider donating any of the following items to your distribution site:
- Canned vegetables
- Shelf-stable applesauce, fruit and vegetable cups
- Granola bars
- Hot chocolate/soup packets
- Pasta meal packets
Volunteers will be making care packages on Monday, September 23
rd
. Please consider helping us with this event by delivering your donations to your distribution site by Friday, September 20
th
. These items are welcome year-round, too!
|
|
St. Andrews Supports Library Project in Ethiopia
In 2017 St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (Mt. Airy, MD) launched the Western Gambella Bethel Synod (WGBS) Theological Empowerment Project in response to an urgent appeal for help to improve and expand their only theological training school. With the support of other churches, St. Andrews collected thousands of theological reference books and Bibles. Volunteers spent over 400 hours sorting and preparing the 6,150 books which were sent to the Theological Book Network (TBN) for shipment to Ethiopia. The books are still being held by the TBN because the school has not been able to build a library suitable for the books.
St. Andrew’s invites other churches to join with us in our continued participation in this emerging partnership. We believe it has the potential to heighten our awareness and deepen our compassion regarding Christians and missionaries in Africa who carry on despite distressing circumstances. We need prayer that all the pieces come together and construction goes smoothly. For more details about the project and Bible school please contact
missions@standrews.us.
|
|
|
|
Cameroon Peacemaker Lunch
|
Jaff Bamenjo is the Coordinator of RELUFA, the Network for the Fight Against Hunger, which is a partner of the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Everyone is welcome to come and hear first hand about how RELUFA is working to address the root causes of hunger and poverty, the recruitment of young people by the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Cameroon, and the ongoing conflict in the Anglophone region which has caused widespread displacement. The event is hosted by Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church from 12:30 PM – 2 PM. RSVP
to:
office@baltimorepresbytery.org
, and
visit our website for more details
.
|
|
|
|
Free Concert on 9/29 with R&B Slant. 5 - 7 PM at Granite Presbyterian Church at 10637 Old Court Road, Granite Maryland 21163.
Download Flyer
|
|
|
|
|
Presbyterian Outlook Anniversary
|
The magazine is turning 200
th
this fall, and you are invited from 10 AM - 2 PM to the Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond to celebrate
.
Hear keynote speakers Dr. Brian Blount, President of Union Presbyterian Seminary, and Dr. Ted Wardlaw, President of Austin Theological Seminary as they offer reflections on current life in the church and culture and the important role of the Presbyterian Outlook. Join us for a time of celebration and inspiration! Registration required by September 30:
pres-outlook.org/Outlook200
|
|
Fall Gathering of the Baltimore Presbyterian Women
|
You are invited from 9 - 12:30 to the Howard County Historical Society Museum at 8328 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Although the event is free, early registration is requested for each church. Contact Paula Crews at 443 388-4073 or
paulacrews@gmail.com
to confirm your attendance.
|
|
|
Second Presbyterian Church is offering used artificial green trees with pre-lit white lights to churches in the Presbytery. Some new strands of lights needed on some, they come with worn storage bags and stands. Tree heights are 2-6’, 4-7’, 1-9’, 2-12’. Also 12, 2’ wreaths are available. Need large vehicles to move trees. Call Janet at 410-256-5097 for more information and to arrange pickup.
|
|
The Presbytery seeks at least two individuals to staff a nursery during Presbytery Gatherings. Persons must be 18 or older, willing to undergo a background check (if you have not had one recently) and willing to commit to at least one or more of the following dates, times and locations:
- September 12, 2019, St. John United, Columbia, 9:30-3:30
- November 16, 2019, First of Annapolis, 9:30-3:30
- February 13, 2020, Catonsville, 1:00-7:00
- May 14, 2020, Christ Memorial, 3:30-8:30.
Salary is $20 per hour; if you will commit to the specified times on any of those days, Presbytery will guarantee payment at that rate for at least six hours. Churches are invited to encourage their background-checked child care workers to apply for the position. Send letter of interest to: Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Baltimore,
statedclerk@baltimorepresbytery.org
.
|
|
Continue the Conversation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
