In this issue:
- Message from Ted Churn
- News from the Presbytery
- News from Our Congregations
- News from the Broader Church
- Upcoming Events
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In response to God‘s call in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the mission of the Presbytery of New Hope is to enable local congregations, and presbytery as a whole, to function effectively as the body of Christ by actively exploring, facilitating, equipping, and establishing appropriate ministries with the covenant community and beyond.
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THANK YOU!
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you. Philippians 1:3
Whenever I read this Philippians text, I think to myself, “Really, Paul? Every time?" And yet when reading this letter from beginning to end, I can’t help but identify with the depth and breadth of Paul’s gratitude for the Philippians.
I am grateful for the call that came to me in 2011 to serve as your executive presbyter/stated clerk. That's not to say that every day I remembered to give thanks. We all have those days when we feel responsible for fixing everything or lose the imagination to include more points of view. But my thanksgiving is grounded in the Spirit who gives me the strength to live into each day, the openness to find possibilities in even the most difficult situations, and the peace that comes with knowing that I am not alone in this boat. I give thanks for so many in the presbytery who give themselves to the ministry of the larger church. I give thanks for having a front row seat to see God's Spirit bearing fruit through so many people in so many different ways. I give thanks for the encouragement, the prodding, the correction, and the affirmation I've received from so many of you. Throughout my tenure, I have been proud to tell others that I am the mid-council leader of our presbytery. Thank you!
While my time here is finished, the work of the presbytery is not finished. I know I can count on your ongoing support for Vanessa, for the staff, and for the leaders who steward their time to help New Hope move forward into a new tomorrow.
My aim was to make this my shortest missive ever. At the risk of surpassing the limits for pithiness, I want to offer the second verse of Now Thank We All Our God as my parting benediction:
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in God’s grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills in this world and the next. Amen.
Faithfully…and Gratefully,
Ted
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Hats Off To Ted!
Wear a fun hat, bring your gratitude, and visit with Ted and Moffett
on the beautiful grounds of FPC Wilson*
Saturday, June 12, 1-3:30 p.m.
Mingle with friends from around the presbytery
while celebrating the sights and sounds of
New Hope ministries that connect us.
Enjoy snacks and cold drinks galore
and a brief, important presentation to say THANK YOU, Ted!
*414 Sunset Rd. NW, Wilson, NC 27893
Fellowship Hall if raining
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To Church Communicators
Please post this nominations announcement where your members will see it. Kindly give a copy to the session moderator and session clerk to share with the ruling elders. If your church publishes a newsletter, either virtually or in print, please include this flyer in that publication if possible. Your presbytery Nominations and Representation Committee is looking for willing servants to serve at the presbytery and synod levels of our church. This is a rewarding experience. Most volunteers choose to serve a second term! Please let us know your interest: [email protected]
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Pulpit Supply Update
The presbytery is grateful for the opportunity to support our ministers and churches over the years by providing preachers to churches without someone to preach on a particular Sunday. In recent weeks, as churches move back to in-person gatherings for worship, the demand for pulpit supply has increased, while the number of available supply preachers has decreased. In addition, our pulpit supply coordinator George Dudley is recovering from recent surgery. In light of these concerns, we have instituted the following temporary changes to the pulpit supply program:
- Through June 15, all churches with pulpit supply needs should contact Rev. Andy James at [email protected] or 919-710-8608.
- To help us focus on those churches in greatest need, until September 2021, churches of over 100 members are asked to arrange for their own pulpit supply.
- Any ministers or ruling elders interested in supporting the pulpit supply program can contact Rev. Andy James at [email protected].
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Healthy Boundaries 101
Join us for instruction and conversation on the challenges of power and vulnerability, internet technology, social media, finance, attraction, and self-care. HB101 training is for church professionals who have not had previous training around these concepts. All training is conducted via Zoom, and a link will be sent with registration confirmation.
DEADLINE TO REGISTER - June 3, 2021
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New Hope Racial Equity Roundtable
Gather every other week with your fellow presbyters to explore the work of growing beloved community by dismantling racism within your context. All are welcome any week, including members of your congregation. For questions or to talk more about how the Racial Equity Team can support you, contact Katie Crowe at 704-651-8680 or [email protected].
Join by Zoom:
Meeting ID: 857 0529 1309
One tap mobile
+19292056099
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Sabbath, Sustenance and Strategies
A Sabbath and Strategizing Retreat for New Hope Presbytery Educators, Pastors, and Ministry Volunteers
Where: New Hope Camp and Conference Center, Chapel Hill
When: June 3, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
What: $10 per participant
Grab and go breakfast/coffee and catered lunch included!
The specifics: Are you tired? Stressed? Hopeful? Worried? A little bit of everything?
The ConnectEd team would like to offer a time of respite and inspiration for church workers and volunteers, along with fellowship and re-connection with colleagues in ministry and with God. The morning will be spent practicing Sabbath, including guided reflections as well as opportunities to explore the beautiful grounds of New Hope Camp, the walking labyrinth and hiking trails, and/or simply sitting and looking out at the lake!
The second half of the day will be spent on re-opening pitfalls and plans. We will gather in groups specific to smaller churches and larger churches and share visions, issues, plans, and strategies to help move us into the fall of ministry leadership, which promises to shift and change!
Please use the link below to register for the event! Specific information will be following in the coming weeks, with lunch ordering details and more! We look forward to spending a day reaching inward, and then looking forward to the next steps in the life of our ministries!
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News from Our Congregations
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The Ruth Abbot Burton Scholarship is available to post-high school students who are members of a Presbyterian church and who reside in Vance County, North Carolina. The scholarship, to be applied only toward tuition, is administered by First Presbyterian Church, Henderson, NC, and the application deadline for the 2021-2022 school year is May 31, 2021. Amounts of awards are finalized only after endowment income is determined and recipients are selected; in the recent past, awards have ranged from $1,000 - $3,400. To request an application or more information, please contact Susan Hardee, chair, FPCH Scholarship Committee, at (919) 612-3020 or [email protected].
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News from the Broader Church
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Montreat Conference Center
Women's Connection 2021
August 13-15, 2021
Workshops open early June! If you have already registered for Women's Connection you will be sent an early workshop sign-up form. Workshop sign-ups are first come first served, so be ready to sign up when you register for the conference!
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The Center for Vocation and Rural Ministry at Barton College will host the Revive! Renewal Experience for pastors in Eastern North Carolina this summer. This new experience is meant to serve as a sabbatical experience for pastors of small congregations, rural congregations, and congregations of color in Eastern North Carolina. The experience will begin on July 24 and run through August 1. There are 12 positions available during this first cohort.
Participants will have the opportunity to have their pulpits filled by trained Barton College students, faculty, and staff. The participating pastors will be housed at Barton College and will experience times of relaxation, enjoy opportunities to meet colleagues and develop collegial relationships, engage with the local culture, explore ideas with scholars, and receive support through spiritual direction, as well as nurture for all aspects of a pastor’s wellbeing.
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We are reaching out to invite your presbytery to join us in celebrating our connection to one another through our gifts and music. Beginning in June, the Presbyterian Giving Catalog will host a summer concert series featuring three unique virtual concerts over the course of the summer months.
Concerts will premiere on YouTube and are absolutely free! Elizabeth Stockton Perkins, a vocalist, student at Vassar College and longtime Presbyterian Mission supporter, kicks off the concert series on June 21. The Stillman College Choir concert will premiere on
July 21; on August 21 the Mission Musicians of the PC(USA) will close out the series. Once they premiere, all concerts will be available to enjoy through September.
We are encouraging congregations and mid-councils to hold viewing parties for the concerts, gathering safely in person or virtually, to enjoy beautiful music and connectivity with the wider Church.
As we head into the summer months, let’s celebrate and make music together! If you would like to learn more, contact 502-569-5742, or [email protected] . You will be provided with the resources you need to set up a watch party.
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National Black Presbyterian Caucus
46th Biennial Virtual Convention
June 24 - June 26, 2021
See link for more information.
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News from Our Mission Co-Worker
John Etheredge
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It is hard to live through what is happening in our world today. There is a coarsening of public discourse, a rise of populism. Look at the results of all that happened in the 2020 election. I'm attracted to the idea of 'enduring to the end' in verse 13. Christians often emphasize the importance of celebration, rejoicing, and being thankful. Endurance is the ability to keep believing that God is at work, to keep putting one foot in front of the other even though a gale is blowing in your face, to keep your love glowing even when it feels 99 per cent impossible. We cannot let our guard down (endurance) for even one second in this world.
FURTHER THOUGHT.............On a scale of 1 - 10 where is your endurance?
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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has several openings for which it is seeking qualified candidates looking for a call working at the national level. Click here for a list of positions.
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During the summer months, the e-news will be distributed on a bi-weekly basis beginning June 4, 2021. Please make a note of this change.
June Calendar
3 ~ Preparation for Ministry - 9:30 a.m.
3 ~ Commission on Ministry Executive - 1:00 p.m.
9 ~ Commission on Ministry - 10:00 a.m.
15 ~ Interim Ministers Gathering - 2:00 p.m.
16 ~ Coordinating Body - 1:00 p.m.
20 ~ Father's Day
21 ~ Finance and Property - 10:00 a.m.
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Online Presbytery Directory
The Presbytery of New Hope directory of congregations and teaching elders is now available online! Get the most up-to-date information available, search anywhere you have an internet connection, and even print a PDF at www.nhpresbytery.org/directory.
You can look up your personal passphrase at the bottom of the page, or you may contact us at [email protected] to get a pass phrase, update your address, or receive other support.
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Please submit all items for consideration for inclusion by noon on Thursday. We reserve the right to edit, hold, return, or reject submissions based on space available or any other criteria below.
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All submissions should be no longer than about fifty words (one paragraph). Longer submissions will be returned for editing.
- Please highlight and/or separate dates, times, and locations.
- Only items related to the work of congregations, committees, networks, and other related entities of the Presbytery of New Hope will be included.
- Submissions for joys and concerns must be related to minister members of the presbytery, staff of congregations, or others who have served in the life of the presbytery and will be included upon permission of the individual or the individual's congregation.
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