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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
July 13, 2022
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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 July 17-23
First Presbyterian Church of Lismore
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Session Members: Kathy Altman, Sheila Erwin, Joyce Gengler, Candace Joens, Dean Knips, Kathy Knips
Clerk of Session: Lorna VanDerLinden
Pastor: Thomas Voigt
On June 12, we called Reverend Thomas Voigt to begin a new chapter of ministry with us! We are excited about the doors of opportunity that God will open in our community and around the world to share the good news of the Gospel.
We praise God for the recent rains and the beautiful crops and gardens that are growing and maturing before our eyes. We pray that our lives will reflect the same as we nurture one another to grow in Christ.
We pray for the many who are traveling and vacationing this summer, asking God to extend travel mercies to them, and that their time away might bring refreshment and renewal.
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Together in Christ
Dear Presbytery Family,
They say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” so today I want to share some pictures! As you know, I have been visiting the churches of our Presbytery. I did not always have my camera with me, so unfortunately every church I have visited so far is not pictured, but I have snapped photos of many.
There is so much JOY and DELIGHT going on in the Minnesota Valleys!!! Being a Presbyterian is a lot of fun! You are sharing life, praying for one another, celebrating together, serving God and your communities together, and working in partnership with each other. You are conduits of God’s love to the communities you serve. If you ask me, being a Presbyterian is the BEST thing you can be in the Minnesota Valleys, and I’m so glad to be a part of this family!
Together in Christ,
With courage, devotion and good spirit as a colleague,
Rev. Beth Buckwalter-Miller
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Office closed July 25-29: Staff attending Synod School
Karen on vacation July 15-23
No Valley Bridge July 20 or July 27
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As of July 1, IRS mileage rate is 62.5 cents/mile |
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Get Connected, again!
Presbytery Sermon Sunday
Sunday, September 25
Once again, the Presbytery is inviting all churches to include a recorded sermon as part of the worship service on September 25. This will be particularly special, as the message will be delivered by the new Presbytery Executive the Rev. Beth Buckwalter-Miller. Beth began serving our Presbytery on the first of June, and this will be a wonderful opportunity for our congregations to put a face to a name.
We know this will benefit churches that need pulpit supply for that Sunday, but our task force is encouraging every church to participate. This is one way we exhibit the connectional nature of the Presbytery.
Michael Hartwell
Inventive Ministries Task Force of the Commission on Leadership
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Money available for Peacemaking
The Peace and Global Witness Offering is one of the special offerings of the PCUSA. It is usually taken on World Communion Sunday in October. It is dedicated to peacemaking in many different forms. Peacemaking is the job of the whole church. 25% of the offering is kept by the local congregation for their projects. 12.5% goes to the Presbytery and 12.5% to the Synod.
Over a few years the Presbytery has accumulated over $7,000 from this offering. The Presbytery Life Committee is offering money from this fund to help with peacemaking projects. If you have an idea to further the peace in your church or area, send a brief note to the office explaining your project, the cost, amount requested and where other funds would come from. Make sure your session is on board with this. Applications will be taken until September 1.
Some ideas would be:
- Hold a Bible or book study focus on peace: example "Five Risks Presbyterians Must Take for Peace" WJK.
- Find local projects that deal with poverty, violence, racism, climate change, immigration/migration or justice.
- Sponsor a speaker for a community event.
We encourage you to think about ways to promote peace in your community. We would like to see this money used in ways the givers have intended.
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Pr0ject Grants Available from First Presbyterian Madelia
The Mission Redevelopment Committee of First Presbyterian Church, Madelia is seeking applications to receive grants. Qualifying projects may include:
- Development, formation, or redevelopment of Presbyterian churches
- Evangelism or recruitment of new members
- New building construction
- Renovations or capital improvements
- Presbyterian sponsored mission projects
A written letter of application describing the project, other funds available for the project, and the amount of grant requested should be submitted to the Mission Redevelopment Committee and postmarked by August 15, 2022. Grants will be selected and distributed by September 30, 2022.
Mission Redevelopment Committee
PO Box 156
Madelia MN 56062
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Pastor Opportunity
It's been a hard couple of years for everybody! Pastors are dealing with all the issues that are related to the pandemic, along with all the normal ups and downs and other parts of ministry. In addition, they are ministering to congregations that are also dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety.
The Commission on Leadership has decided to give those in ministry some help and support in the form of affordable coaching. The Synod has trained coaches to provide the service at a cost of $50.00 per session. The Commission on Leadership has approved paying one half of the cost for one session a month for up to 24 months. If you are already working with a coach or want to use another one, you still can be reimbursed $25.00 per month. This program is available to all pastors, CREs who are serving churches and Christian educators.
We all can use some help and support as we continue to deal with a lot of heavy issues. If you are feeling just a little (or a lot) overwhelmed, please take advantage of this opportunity.
Contact Beth Buckwalter-Miller if you want to get started: 530-513-0592 or e-mail [email protected]
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Presbyterian Planning Calendars 2022-2023
We will order 2022-2023 Presbyterian Planning Calendars August 1. The PCUSA Store is listing the publishing date as August 2, 2022. The presbytery orders a big batch to get a discount. E-mail Karen Lange to order. Order deadline is July 31.
This year's cost is $10.00 each plus the cost of shipping the calendars to you (no shipping cost if picked up). Pay after receiving the calendars.
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Seeking Youth Director at FPC Saint Cloud
First Presbyterian Church of Saint Cloud is now conducting a search for a Youth & Campus Ministry Director. It is a full-time position working with youth and campus participants. The position description can be found at fpcstcloud.org.
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2022 Per Capita
$43.00 Total
$28.52 for Presbytery
$5.50 for Synod
$8.98 for GA
2022 Presbytery Meeting Dates
Tuesday, August 16 via Zoom from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct 8 in person from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (location: St. Cloud)
Tuesday, Dec 6 via Zoom from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
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Prayer List
- For Rev. Al and Jeri Jergenson and family, retired pastor most recently serving Foley, on the death of their daughter, Tessa
- For Rev. Jeff DeYoe, undergoing cancer treatment (former pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church, Spicer)
- 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 brothers and sisters in the Occidente Presbytery of Guatemala - for their health, safety, and recovery from the effects of the Covid pandemic
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Pastoral Leadership Opportunities
First Presbyterian Church of Canby - Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Pipestone - Pastor
Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Pastor
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Volunteer Work Team Opportunities
It is clear that COVID will influence the way we live and do ministry for years to come. Yet in an adapting world, natural disasters continue to affect communities, who still rely on the generosity of volunteers to support the long-term recovery from floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Individuals and families who have been marginalized in the past continue to be marginalized during disaster recovery.
Along with many other faith-based and non-profit groups, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) provides opportunities to step into the gap, walk with those impacted, and work towards healing.
PDA currently has seven host sites receiving volunteer teams witnessing to the healing love of Christ by supporting rebuilding efforts in areas that have been affected by natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and fires.
These sites are:
- Pines Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX Presbytery of New Covenant, Synod of the Sun responding to Hurricane Harvey.
- First Presbyterian Church in Orange, TX, Presbytery of New Covenant, Synod of the Sun responding to the multiple hurricanes that impacted Lake Charles, LA.
- Trinity Presbyterian Church in Oroville, CA, Presbytery of North Central California, Synod of the Pacific responding to the Camp fire that impacted Paradise, CA and surrounding communities.
- La Casona de Monteflores in San Juan, PR, Presbytery of San Juan, Synod in Boriquén responding to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
- New Hope Village at Neuse Forest Presbyterian Church, New Bern, NC, New Hope Presbytery, Synod of the Mid Atlantic responding to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
- Presbyterian Church of the Cross, Omaha NE, Presbytery of Missouri River Valley, Synod of Lakes and Prairies responding to severe flooding.
- We also support an independent site at First Presbyterian Church in Madisonville, KY, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, Synod of Living Waters responding to tornado damage.
- Finally, we plan to open an eighth site at First Presbyterian Church in Calvert City, KY, Presbytery of Western KY, Synod of Living Waters responding to tornado damage. This site is tentatively scheduled to receive volunteers in the late summer of 2022.
We are writing to ask if you would be willing to share the information about our host sites with your congregations and other interested groups, encouraging them to consider sending adult or youth work groups to one of these sites this year or in 2023. More information is available at www.pcusa.org/pdavolunteersites, or those who are interested can contact Nell Herring (Mission Specialist for Volunteer Ministries) at [email protected] or (866) 732-6121
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Faith Formation Leaders, Clergy, Staff and Volunteers: all who walk with others on their spiritual journey are invited to ConNext Summit 2022: In the Ways of Jesus - Gracious Idleness, Scrappy Transformation, Radical Belonging. Find time for rest and renewal; developing and deepening friendships and colleague groups; inspiring innovations; and processing the past few years with a comedy troupe. Learn more and register here.
Contact your judicatory office to learn about scholarships; United Theological Seminary students attend free through the MN Conference UCC.
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