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A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys
June 8, 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 June 12-18
First Presbyterian Church of Fulda
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Elders: Jon Beeck, Melissa Danneman, Shari Gehl, Mark Knorr, Susan Lee, Dennis Miller
Clerk of Session: Loren Carlson
Youth Leader: Mary Winter
Secretary/Treasurer: Angela Pelzel
Custodians: Susan Lee, Dominic Lee, Keagan Lee
PW President: Marsha Buschena
Pastor: Vacant. The Worship Committee has done an outstanding job securing excellent pulpit supply.
We thank Mary Winter for taking over our confirmation class of eleven students. She did an awesome job and the confirmands responded well to her (picture is below).
Vacation Bible School is planned for July 18-21 with the theme being "Monumental- Celebrating God's Greatness".
Prayer requests: Prayers for those who are confined to their homes and in care facilities. Prayers to those who have lost loved ones. Prayers for a successful Vacation Bible School.
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Our 11 confirmation students and leader |
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Together in Christ
Dear Presbytery Family,
Today, June 7, 2022, was an important day in my life, because today I was officially installed as your Executive Presbyter.
I arrived in Minnesota in early April, in time for your April Presbytery meeting where you voted to call me to this position. I remember stepping into Hope Church in Spicer for that meeting and sensing the warmth and friendship in the air. The hum of conversation, the smiles and laughter, the way you were all working together and enjoying one another made a strong impression. When Bob Kersten came forward to spontaneously share a prayer from the religious tradition of my childhood I was deeply touched. What a caring Presbytery!
The search committee members drove long distances to be with me in person for my zoom installation today. Their kindness and support have blessed me in so many ways! Kathy Terpstra spent a day with me in the office, sharing her wisdom and experience. Pam Prouty and Bev Brock invited me to visit a couple of churches with them and it was a joy to share that experience together. Karen Lange has been on hand to help me in countless ways, so capable and competent at every turn. Leanne and Scott Thompson have made me feel at home in my office in the Willmar church. I feel surrounded by a supportive, experienced community, rich with wisdom and insight, and I feel strengthened by the presence of every pastor and church member that is a part of this Presbytery.
I am eager for the good work ahead. Already I am filling my calendar with dates to come and visit your churches and meet you in person. It will take a little time to get to everyone, but it will happen! It is important to me to be in your churches, in your communities, and learn how the Spirit is leading and working in your lives and ministries. I know you are all called to flourish in unique and beautiful ways, and I am eager to support and encourage all that God is doing in your lives, and through you and through your churches, all that God is doing in the Minnesota Valleys and in our world.
There is such urgent need right now, isn’t there? Every day the headlines bring sadness and challenge. But then I look at you and I see the Good News! Christ is alive and well, and we are his body. Using our hands, our feet, our eyes and ears, our hearts and minds, Jesus will minister to our hurting world and to each of us in the ways that are most needed. I thank God for each of you and for our partnership in ministry that has just begun!
Together in Christ,
With courage, devotion and good spirit as a colleague,
Beth Buckwalter-Miller
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Presbytery Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, June 7, 2022 from 9:00 - 10:30 AM
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Moderator Nancy Skoog ably led us through the meeting with care and sensitivity.
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William McConnell, Regional Mission Engagement Advisor for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, led the devotion
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We met some new commissioners. Above is Beverly Brock from Foley introducing Candy Markfort.
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This is Laurie Cross from Brewster, who joined us from a camper in Wisconsin!
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Val Putnam attended also. She will begin serving the Luverne church as interim pastor on July 1. |
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Jim Krapf bid us farewell - he is moving out of the presbytery. He is a retired pastor, most recently having served the Worthington church, and as the Occidente Task Force chair. |
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Beth Buckwalter-Miller was installed as our Executive Presbyter!
L-R: Leanne Thompson, Le Roy Ennenga, Doug Dent, Beth Buckwalter-Miller, Terry Coffin (This is most of the EP Search Team; John McKay was unable to attend.)
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More:
- New clergy to the presbytery are invited to an orientation on Thursday, June 16 from 10:00 - 2:00 at the presbytery office (312 6th St SW, Willmar).
- Records Review for clerks will take place sometime after General Assembly.
- We approved the transfer of ownership of the cemetery at the Renville church to the cemetery association.
- The search for a youth coordinator continues with interviewing candidates as the next step.
- Two more pre-recorded sermons/service resources will be available for churches to use, after the September pastor retreat and after Christmas.
- Kathy Terpstra is our first at-large presbytery commissioned ruling elder, which means that beyond preaching, she also can officiate at communion, baptisms and moderate session and congregational meetings within our presbytery. Other ruling elders that have gone through the training can apply to be placed on this list also.
- Contact Mark Ford if you are interested in working on a presbytery commission or committee.
- The Commission on Presbytery Life has money from the Peace and Global Witness Offering and invites congregations to apply for funds for a local peacemaking project, such as a book study, speaker or local community project (see article below). Send a note to Karen Lange describing the project, and she will forward it on to the Commission.
- Six people attended our first "Exploring a Call" Zoom last month. We are excited for this interest in pursuing ministry.
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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
P.O. Box 156
Madelia, MN 56062
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Join us as we celebrate the retirement of
Pastor Robert Bartlett
June 26, 2022
First Presbyterian Church
Round Lake MN
Service will start at 9:30 am; Meal to follow at 11:00 am
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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 Kathy Terpstra if you want to get started: 320-815-8158 or e-mail [email protected]
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We are thrilled to be welcoming campers of all ages back for another fun and safe summer of Clearwater programming we know and love. But, before the first cars roll down the driveway, we need your help with two things:
If you have any questions about what is asked of volunteers, please reach out to the Program Team at [email protected].
We’ll be in touch with more updates from Clearwater soon, but in the meantime, THANK YOU for all you do to make this community stronger.
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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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Rev. Owar Ojulu has earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Sioux Falls Seminary! Here he is with his wife, Apay. In Minnesota Valleys Presbytery, he served Hope Christian Ministry in Worthington. He currently serves two churches in Western Pennsylvania, Ebensburg and Colver Presbyterian Churches
If you wish to send greetings, you may send them to:
Ebensburg Presbyterian Church
200 N Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931
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Applications Now Open to Leadership for Social Justice Program
In a world where the politics of exclusion, extraction, and organized abandonment threaten to engulf our communities in fear, dread, and despair, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities believes that communities of faith are critical sites for building forms of community care, solidarity, power, and hope. Congregational pastors are called to serve in unique leadership roles, tasked with activating, developing, organizing, and inspiring communities. And yet, pastors often feel like they lack the time, resources, and support to effectively carry out this important and increasingly necessary work.
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is therefore excited to invite congregational pastors in Minnesota and adjoining states to participate in our inaugural Leadership for Social Justice program. The program begins September 2022.
Led by a team of experienced teachers, leaders, mentors, and grassroots community organizers, this hybrid, tuition-free, nine-month program will equip pastors to reflectively engage in a broad range of pressing social issues—including struggles for economic, racial, gender, sexual, and ecological justice—in contextual, practical, and faithful ways. The program will support pastors in developing and/or deepening sustainable, community-based ministries in social justice responsive to what God is doing in our world, congregations, and communities.
Our first cohort of 16 pastors will meet twice a month (Friday mornings) from September 2022 through May 2023. In addition to earning a Certificate in Leadership for Social Justice, those participants who successfully complete the program may also be eligible to receive up to eight credits toward a Doctor of Ministry degree. The Leadership Center for Social Justice will also be collaborating with Convergence to assess the vitality of participating congregations and their leadership and to build on existing areas of strength.
If a pastor you know is interested in pursuing this opportunity, please have him, her or them complete our application at www.unitedseminary.edu/lcsj by July 1, 2022. Applicants must also supply a letter of support from congregational leadership.
This innovative continuing education opportunity is a program of United’s newly launched Leadership Center for Social Justice, made possible through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The mission of the Center is to equip, inspire, and empower leaders to faithfully and reflectively engage in concrete, contextual ministry for social justice. In the spirit of faith, hope, and love, the Center supports leaders in developing skills in contextually-sensitive, creative, and effective leadership and social praxis.
Rev. Ry O. Siggelkow, PhD (he/him/his)
Director of the Leadership Center for Social Justice
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
767 Eustis St., Suite 140, St. Paul, MN 55114
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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, retired pastor most recently serving Foley, on the death of their daughter last night
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For the family of Rev. Charlie Reid, retired pastor (obit link)
- 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 of Edgerton and First Presbyterian Church of Lismore - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Pipestone - Pastor
Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Pastor
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ConNext Summit Announcement
Register today for the 2022 ConNext Summit! Plenary time will be fueled by Sara Thompsen's amazing musical leadership and Danger Boat Production's facilitation of Improv Café Conversations. Workshops are diverse and interactive. Plenty of time for rest, contemplative practices, nature, and socializing. Find Rev. Emily Meyer of The Ministry Lab at your conference/synod gathering for details or find them here: (https://theministrylab.org/connext-summit/).
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