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The weekly newsletter from the
Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
December 2, 2020
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"We are congregations who seek to be a collective expression of the Body of Christ, joyfully participating in Christ's ongoing life and work. "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
(I Thessalonians 5:11)
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Congregation of the Week of December 6-12
First Presbyterian Church of Slayton
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Pastor: David Hollis and Rev J Rollin Haynes
Secretary\Treasurer: Jannette Carlson
Clerk of Session: Nola Aanenson
Session: Ron Behrends, Luann Parker, Rich Wajer, Becky Boeve, Branch Haken, Phil Swenson
Trustees: Rick Parker, Dale Bergman, Bruce Haken, Randy Boeve
Church Motto: “Honor God by loving others, one person at a time.”
- Pray for our congregation as we go through the process of beginning a search for a new pastor.
- Pray for the eleven families that receive gift certificates from our congregation during the holidays that they will feel God’s love in their difficult circumstances.
- Prayers for the many other missions that we support: Murray County Food Shelf. overseas missions, The Banquet in Sioux Falls, Feed My Lambs, Murray County Christmas Project, Hospice of Murray County, and Early Childhood’s annual fund raiser. Pray that people may be touched by the Lord and will turn to him for guidance.
- Pray for the protection of all who are sick and elderly.
- We are thankful for the generosity of our congregation and for the committees who work diligently to carry out their tasks.
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Healing a divided nation post-election J. Herbert Nelson and Diane Moffett share thoughts on moving forward on Vimeo |
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2020 Remittances: In order to be counted for the year 2020, remittances for 2020 are due to the presbytery office before January 5, 2021. |
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Minnesota Department of Health Coronavirus Resources
Updated faith related guidance documents have just been posted. Anything you can do virtually, you should do virtually at this time.
New updated documents are:
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Congregations can get up to $50k to help their pastors find renewal
Applications are now available for the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs
by the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs | Special to Presbyterian News Service
According to a news release from the program, congregations may apply for grants of up to $50,000 to underwrite a renewal program for their pastor and for the pastor’s family. Up to $15,000 of the funds are available to the congregation to help cover costs for ministerial supply while the pastor is away.
There is no cost to the congregations or the pastors to apply for the competitive grants, which represent the Endowment’s continued investment in renewing the health and vitality of American Christian congregations.
Details and applications for the 2021 programs are now available. To learn more about the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, view an informational video here. Listen to interviews with previous grant recipients here.
The deadline to apply is April 21, 2021. Congregations will be notified whether their proposal is funded or not by August 2021. Activities funded by a 20211 grant in the clergy renewal programs may begin anytime in 2022.
Through its religion grantmaking, Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation, seeks to deepen and enrich the lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.
To this end, National and Indiana Clergy Renewal Programs provide an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations, but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God’s life-giving waters and for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry.
Learn more by clicking here.
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Safety & Technology Loan
Congregations and PC(USA) entities wishing to safely re-open their facilities, or acquire new technology to connect virtually, can take advantage of the new Safety and Technology loan recently launched by the Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program.
With lower interest rates, lower equity requirements, and up to 12 months interest-only on qualifying loans up to $100,000, churches and other entities can take advantage of this special purpose loan designed to make our campuses safe and sound!
Qualifying Projects include:
- Audiovisual Technology
- Audiovisual Training/Consultation
- Air Quality Improvement Systems
- Air Filtering Systems
- Sanitation Equipment
- Touchless Bathroom System
- And more…
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Prayer List
- For Rev. Bill Yueill, retired pastor, Zimmerman, well on the way to recovery from a serious heart event
- For Rev. John Lindholm, retired pastor, Fergus Falls, health concerns
- For Rev. Mark Chamberlain, retired pastor, Willmar
- For Rev. Bob Bartlett, First Presbyterian Churches of Brewster & Round Lake
- For Rev. Michael Roys, retired pastor, Winnebago
Pray for Our Occidente Partners in Guatemala
- For the families of the three Occidente pastors that have recently died
- For those who have contracted the Covid virus
- For the "Men in the Mirror" program. Men from Occidente that MVP supported financially to attend the classes are sharing the information they gained with different churches in the eastern and central parts of Guatemala. They, along with the chaplains of the national Presbyterian church, are training Christian policemen in what they learned from "Men in the Mirror."
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth; Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Rushmore; First Presbyterian Church, Rushmore - Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Lake Crystal; First Presbyterian Church, Kasota - Pastor, yoked parish
Maine Presbyterian Church, rural Underwood - Solo Pastor
Faith Presbyterian Church, Silver Lake - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Slayton - Pastor
Hope Presbyterian Church, Spicer - Solo Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Interim Pastor
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Pastoral Care
A Winter Learning Opportunity for Presbyterians
February 1-March 8, 2021
Join this class to explore what it means to reflect on what it means to provide pastoral care in a variety of settings and concerns. Rev. Lisa Watson, a long-time hospital chaplain, who currently serves as a Marriage and Family Counselor is the instructor.
Who might want to take this class?
- Deacons who provide pastoral care and make pastoral visits
- Commissioned Pastors who would like to improve their pastoral care
- Those who might be called to be commissioned pastors as it meets the criteria of participating presbyteries
What will this class involve?
This course is designed to introduce you to pastoral care and the issues that commonly arise in this ministry. Our goal is to address topics that are directly relevant and applicable to your ministry work. Through readings, discussion, and self-reflective exercises, you will:
- Increase your understanding of the essence of pastoral care.
- Identify theological, scientific and awareness resources for future use in pastoral care
- Deepen self-reflection awareness and skills needed to provide thoughtful pastoral care. There will be one book to read in advance and two instruments to take prior to the class.
The class runs asynchronously, meaning, you will participate in weekly activities at your own pace, based on your schedule. Each week, you will be expected to complete an assigned reading, participate in a discussion, respond to two of your classmates’ discussion posts, and complete an assignment. We estimate that you will spend about two hours weekly on coursework. There will be two Zoom meetings with the instructor: February 15 and March 1 from 7-8 p.m.
What is the cost?
- $125 for those whose presbyteries support The Academy. $150 for those whose presbytery is not a partner. For those interested in the whole series of 11 classes in the Academy, there is an additional discount.
Who is sponsoring this?
- This is a class offered through The Academy, a series of classes for church members designed to deepen faith as participants encounter Christ in a new way. For those who are called or are exploring a call to become a Commissioned Pastor, this is a program that can help that happen. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the Presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, North Central Iowa, Northern Waters and Prospect Hill are the current sponsors of the Academy.
How do I register or find additional information?
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Formation for Mission: Dipping into the Well of PC(USA) Resources
A Spring Learning Opportunity for Presbyterians
March 13-14, 2021
This weekend class offers participants the opportunity to learn more about the breadth and depth of resources available for Presbyterian church leaders. This course provides the opportunity to interact with a number of national staff people for the PC(USA) and to become acquainted with the resources their offices offer to aid and further the ministry of local congregations.
Who should consider taking this class?
- Anyone who wants to grow in their faith and understanding of being Presbyterian
- Session members and Deacons
- Committee chairs
- Commissioned Pastors seeking a helpful continuing education opportunity
- Those who might be called to be commissioned pastors
What will this class involve?
- Through a series of interactive panel discussions with national staff for the PCUSA, participants will dip deep into the well of resources for:
- Understanding and engaging the Matthew 25 initiative of the denomination and its focus on building congregational vitality, eradicating system poverty and dismantling structural racism.
- Forming lifelong disciples who are grounded in the reformed tradition and equipped for evangelism, equipped to be peacemakers and witnesses to the world, and who engage the reformed tradition to work towards justice and equity for all God's people.
- The Presbyterian Publishing House will share new resources for faith formation of all ages and participants will explore a variety of resources and how they can be used in local congregations.
- This class will meet by Zoom on Saturday 9:00-5:00 and Sunday 9:00-3:00 CT.
What is the cost?
- $125 for participants from partner presbyteries. $150 for participants from non-partner presbyteries. For those interested in the whole series of 11 classes in the Academy, there is a discount.
Who is sponsoring this?
- This is a class offered through The Academy, a series of classes for church members designed to deepen faith as participants encounter Christ in a new way. For those who are called or are exploring a call to become a Commissioned Pastor, this is a program that can help that happen. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the Presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, North Central Iowa, Northern Waters and Prospect Hill are the current sponsors of the Academy.
How do I register or find more information?
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