08386
May 16, 2008
Presbytery and synod news
WATERLOO, IA — With financial assistance from North Central Iowa Presbytery, two members of Eden Presbyterian Church in Rudd, IA, recently traveled to Nicaragua as part of a medical mission by 14 Fort Dodge-area Christians.
Nicole Brandau and Marylynn Aalderks participated in the mission, which provided food for 600 families and medical care for 579 people in Esteli and a number of remote villages in the region. A Bible story book was given to every child in every village where the medical clinics were held.
The group received a $1,000 grant toward the purchase of medical supplies from the presbytery’s Mission & Ministry Board.
FRANKLIN, TN — The Rev. Robyn Abel, pastor of Iroquois Presbyterian Church in Louisville, has been elected moderator of the Synod of Living Waters.
Abel, raised a Southern Baptist in Florida, attended the University of Texas at Tyler to become a nurse, before turning to the ministry. After graduating from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, she served pastorates in Waco, TX, and Worthington, OH, prior to returning to Louisville to pastor Iroquois Church.
Abel’s term as moderator runs through 2008.
YATESBORO, PA — Calvary Presbyterian Church in Indiana, PA, in Kiskiminetas Presbytery, is gearing up for the celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of native son and legendary film star Jimmy Stewart. Stewart, a lifelong Presbyterian, was born May 20, 1908.
Most of the anniversary events will take place May 18-24. The festivities begin with a worship service on May 18 at Calvary Church, where the Stewart family worshiped.
HOUSTON — Nearly 350 youth from 30 congregations in New Covenant Presbytery were led in recent weekend retreats by the presbytery’s Presbytery Youth Connection Council (PYCC).
The conclaves, held at the presbytery’s Camp Cho-Yeh, included worship, prayer, Bible study and a variety of recreational activities. The theme for the weekends was what it means to live in hope. In small group discussions, worship and plenary presentations, young people and adults shared how their lives have been challenged and shaped by Christian faith.
SEATTLE — Sarah Haworth, and elder and clerk of session at Cottage Lake Presbyterian Church in Woodinville, WA, is the new full-time communications director for the Synod of Alaska-Northwest. She has been serving part-time on a contract basis since February 2007.
In building healthy relationships among the synod’s presbyteries and between them and the synod, Haworth is focusing on a project called “Network of Giving.” The synod regularly highlights mission in each of the presbyteries and provides an easy means for others to financially and prayerfully support those missions.
CHICAGO — As part of its ongoing efforts to foster inter-religious dialogue and understanding, Chicago Presbytery has established a partnership initiative with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. The action was taken at the presbytery’s April meeting on recommendation of its Ecumenical and Inter-religious Work Group.
The presbytery is also a member of the Chicago Council of Religious Leaders and has leadership relations with the American Jewish Committee, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
“A principle held in common among Islamic, Jewish and Christian religions is to ‘love your neighbor,’” says the presbytery’s executive presbyter, the Rev. Robert C. Reynolds. “Our challenge is to deepen our Christian faith while working together with neighbors of other faiths to foster justice and peace throughout the Chicago metro area and around the world.”
COLUMBIA, TN — When an Islamic mosque was burned to the ground in what was classified as a hate crime, First Presbyterian Church — part of Middle Tennessee Presbytery — reached out.
Within 24 hours, Pastor Bill Williamson called a session meeting at which a $500 donation was given to the mosque (later swelled to $2,000 by concerned church members) along with an invitation to gather for worship at First Church while the mosque was rebuilt. So for several weeks now, the Islamic congregation has gathered for Friday prayers at First Church.
“This terrible event does certainly not reflect the spirit of tolerance in our community,” Williamson said. “We have felt that it is important to extend hospitality in the name of Christ to these who have been through such a terrible experience.”
ANCHORAGE, AK — Kaktovik (AK) Presbyterian Church is the first congregation to establish a partner relationship with a “Lower 48” congregation as part of Yukon Presbytery’s Village Partnership Program.
The 39-member congregation is partnering with First Presbyterian Church of Manitowoc, WI. The partnership brings much-needed resources to Yukon’s village churches and brings participation in frontier mission to the partners.
Seven other congregations in Yukon are expected to be authorized to establish partnerships within the program by the end of the year: Anchor Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, Anaktuvik Pass Presbyterian Church, Nome Presbyterian Church, Bering Witness Fellowship, Savoonga Presbyterian Church and Gambell Presbyterian Church.
CHARLOTTE, NC — Twelve Presbyterians in the Presbytery of Charlotte were recently named recipients of the presbytery’s 2007 Older Adult Award.
The award recognizes “older adults 60 or older who exemplify positive images of aging personally, in the life of the church and/or community, and who, by their example, serve as role models to all the generations for growing older with a sense of God’s grace.”
Recipients were Helen Alston, Clanton Presbyterian Church; Nancy Overcash Blackwell, Calvary Presbyterian Church; Robert Capps, Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church; Sarah Dunn, Star Presbyterian Church; George Govan, Bellefonte Presbyterian Church; Jean Hartsell, Badin First Presbyterian Church; Charles Jackson, Charlotte First United Presbyterian Church; Pat McGee, Meadowlake Presbyterian Church; Govanna Hubbard Miller, Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church; Louise Price, Siler Presbyterian Church; Margaret Taggart, Derita Presbyterian Church; and Wayne Whitley, Bethel Presbyterian Church.
PORTLAND, OR — After a number of years of declining attendance and rising deficits, Cascades Presbytery’s annual Summer Conference has been reinvented for 2008.
Instead of a week-long event, the 59th edition of the annual conference will be a weekend affair, July 17-20. And instead of meeting on a college campus — in past years the conference has been at Reed College, Linfield College and Lewis and Clark College — the Weekend Edition of Summer Conference will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Bend, OR.
Keynote speaker for Summer Conference — with the theme “A Weekend of Holy Play and Renewal for the Overwhelmed” — is renowned speaker and author the Rev. Mark Yaconelli, who had done groundbreaking work in contemplative youth ministry. Special programs have been planned for adults, youth, middle schoolers and children. Also included will be worship, music and recreation. And, oh yes, naps.
COLUMBUS, OH — The Presbytery of Scioto Valley has scheduled a “Cooperative Mission Work Trip” to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Oct. 10-15.
In cooperation with the Presbytery of Mississippi, this first presbytery-wide mission work team will travel to Gulfport, MS to continue the rebuilding effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina nearly three years ago.
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