The Valley Bridge

A weekly newsletter from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys

October 5, 2022

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)

Congregation of the Week of October 9-15

First Presbyterian Church of Pipestone

Staff:

Hailey Baatz: Administrative Assistant

Heather Swinea: Custodian


Deacons: 

Lana Eeten, Debbie Boelter, Jan Biever, Sharleen Ludolph, Peggy Taubert, Abbey Taubert


Elders: 

Emily Speer, Bud Eernisse, Shelly Hennager, Andrew Schaap, Laura Wurster


Prayer concerns:

We ask for prayers as we approach a busy Fall season. We have six upcoming baptisms, a baked potato feed to benefit our mission, Sleep Tight Pipestone, and for all of our participants in our JAM (Jesus and Me) program. We ask you to pray for our PNC as they continue to do the work of our church in finding a pastor in such a difficult time. We also ask for prayers for our continued growth for our church as a whole, as we have been very blessed in all of our recent opportunities.

Together in Christ


Dear Presbytery Family,


When I was ordained in the Presbyterian church one of the vows I took was to serve “with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.” That’s a pretty fun vow to put into practice, especially the imagination part.


This morning roofers arrived to put a new roof on the little home I rent in Willmar. There was a lot of commotion overhead, starting at sunrise. I tried out my ordination vow – using my energy, intelligence, imagination and love to envision what on earth was going on high above and out of sight. I’m pretty sure at one point those roofers were dancing a polka up there, and at another point they were either doing jumping jacks or playing hop scotch. I laughed aloud as I listened to their footsteps high above my head and pictured them at work! Great time for an ordination vow.


The vow comes in handy when I am imagining what our churches are up to. Again, when I am picturing the work of our committees, our Synod or our General Assembly. It’s a fun vow for imagining the Great Cloud of Witnesses overhead (kind of like those roofers), and all of Heaven enjoying eternity. It’s a vow that tends to help me give others the benefit of the doubt, picture joyful activity that makes me smile, and makes every day a little easier.


So join me…ordained or not. Energy, intelligence, imagination and love…let these wonderful resources shape your thinking and guide your attitude. Have fun!


Together in Christ,

With courage, devotion and good spirit as a colleague,


Rev. Beth Buckwalter-Miller

Presbytery Sermon Sunday

Sermon and Liturgy Available!

 

Churches across the Presbytery are encouraged to use the Presbytery Executive the Rev. Beth Buckwalter-Miller's  virtual sermon.

 

The sermon and worship material can be downloaded at https://pixeldrain.com/l/PYR3yEKF. Click on the image and follow the download instructions. You do not need to register on the site to download the files. The worship material is available in both Word or PDF format.

 

The sermon Is also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/A6C_NZBKX6I.

 

If you have technical questions, please feel free to contact me at pastormichael@randallpresby.org

 

Michael Hartwell

Inventive Ministries Task Force of the Commission on Leadership

Come and enjoy music with Glenn Henriksen,

pianist & organist from Armstrong, Iowa

Sunday, October 9 at 3 pm:

A Hymn Sing

First Presbyterian Church

Third Avenue & 11th Street, Windom

Freewill Donation

Refreshments served after the program

Everyone is welcome!

The folks at First Presbyterian Church of Fulda are looking for a donkey and other animal puppets to use for a Christmas service. Please contact Mary Winter at 507-360-1976.

Receiving SDOP Applications


The presbytery has received notification that the amount of the Self-Development of People funds allotted to our Presbytery is $5,000. The absolute deadline for applications to the national office is November 1, so we have now through mid-October to receive and review applications at the presbytery level.


We invite Presbytery’s congregations and their leaders to identify grassroots groups in their communities who are struggling but want to improve their situations. This is a wonderful way for your church to join God in reaching out to neighbors in need.


The basic criteria to qualify is that the group 1) own, 2) control, and 3) benefit from the project. The process includes groups submitting application forms to the presbytery office as soon as possible. The Committee will review the application and do an on-site or zoom visit and decide whether to submit the application. Application forms can be downloaded from www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/sdop/apply-grant.


Committee members currently include Dick Andzenge of St. Cloud, Thalia Taylor of St. Peter and Jessie Gaytan of Worthington. 

Welcome to Kali’s Korner!


Kali’s Korner is where leaders and youth can find out what is going on and stay up to date on the latest and greatest things! If you’d like to add an event or something special to Kali’s Korner for all leaders and youth to see, please send it to: kali@minnesotavalleys.org

You don’t have to see to believe.

That is exactly what occurs each Wednesday evening at

First Presbyterian Church in Willmar, MN.

The youth are full of excitement, questions and

are eager to learn more about God.

The youth enter their youth room and take a seat. 

None of the youth sit in the chair located in the corner.

This is not just any chair. This is a chair the youth have reserved for Jesus.

You could feel Jesus' presence in that youth room that Wednesday evening.

 

“For where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Matthew 18:20



Follow the OFFICIAL

Instagram account

@mvp.youth

Resources

Learn more about the breakdown for each book of the Bible, and how you can use it in your Sunday School, or Wednesday night classes.

Bible Breakdowns: One-Page Subject Breakdowns for Each Book in the Old & New Testament — Teach Sunday School


Learn more about PC(USA)’s curricula by watching the

Overview Curricula Videos!

Informational Curriculum Videos (mailchi.mp)


Check out Lifelong FAITH Trainings

Lifelong Faith Training

These trainings are FREE, self paced, and there is one for everyone:

Leaders, Children, Pastors, Families, Young Adults, and Adults.







Upcoming Events

Fall Clean Up Weekend (October 21-22)

Winterizing doesn't have to be a chore! Come join us as we put away the summer months and get Lakeshore ready for the colder months. Enjoy the beauty of autumn in our sacred space and enjoy the fellowship of volunteering!

Click on the Link to Book a Room:

https://lakeshorecenteratokoboji.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c20d1321ddb2d06ab707f92a9&id=42252b855e&e=98ed4ade67

 

 

Weekend of Living Ideas Conference

November 4-6th (Friday-Sunday)

Lakeshore Center at Okoboji

More Information:

Schedule (weebly.com)

Registration NOW Open:

Registration (weebly.com)


YOUTH LEAD CONFERENCE 2022

November 5, 2022-Twin Cities, MN

Furnishing and Supplies available from First Presbyterian Jackson church


We have a wide variety of furnishings and supplies available to MVP congregations from the former First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. We are asking for a donation if your congregation is interested in acquiring any of these items.

 

Please contact one of the Administrative Commission members for more information: Galen Smith, (507) 376-3138, Cory Germain, Deb Hess, Mary Jo Lutz, Stan Menning

 

Some of the items are:

The Presbyterian Hymnal (1990 Blue); 180 pew editions;

Pipe organ

2 Filing cabinets - 5 drawer

Wood pews, semi-circular, or straight

Mixer, amplifier, microphones

Pulpit, Lectern, Communion table, Baptismal Font

Choir Robes

Bibles - TEV, ESV

Vases, Candelabra, Advent Wreath

Christmas decorations

Step ladders

Refrigerators: Kenmore, GE

8 burner gas stove

Deep Freezer

Miscellaneous Kitchen utensils, glasses, silver service, dishes, etc.

multidisc DVD player, 2 TV, 2 AV Carts

Fans

Upholstered Chairs

Sofa, upholstered side chairs, end table

Seth Thomas 5’ tall pendulum clock

12 ft conference table (made from pews from the former Alpha Presbyterian Church)

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 beth@minnesotavalleys.org

2022 Per Capita

$43.00 Total

$28.52 for Presbytery

$5.50 for Synod

$8.98 for GA


2022 Presbytery Meeting Dates

Saturday, Oct 8 in person from 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. (location: St. Cloud)

Tuesday, Dec 6 via Zoom from 6:308:00 p.m.

Prayer List

  • For Rev. Elaine Boyd and family, retired pastor most recently serving First Presbyterian Church of Amboy and now living in Willmar, on the death of Elaine's husband, Kent.
  • For Michael, husband of Rev. Jeanne Kumbalek, serving First Presbyterian Churches of Lake Crystal and Kasota; Michael suffered a heart attack and is at Mayo in Rochester

  • For Rev. Mark Chamberlain, retired pastor, Willmar
  • For Rev. Bob Bartlett, retired pastor, 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
Pastoral Leadership Opportunities

First Presbyterian Church of Canby - Pastor
Ministry Information Form - 03775.AD0

First Presbyterian Church, Pipestone - Pastor
Ministry Information Form - 03796.AD0

Harrison Presbyterian Church, rural Spicer - Pastor, yoked parish
Ministry Information Form - 03878.AA0

First Presbyterian Church, Winnebago - Pastor
Ministry Information Form - 03811.AA1

Ministry opportunities are posted on the Church Leadership Connection website -- http://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/clc/

Presbyterian Church USA Weekly News

Synod Newsletter: Keeping in Touch

Intercultural Competence

News for the Common Good

Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities

COVID-19 Updates

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