May joy, peace and love enfold you as Christ rules in your hearts during
this Advent Season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jane, Beth, and Hilary
The next meeting of Maumee Valley Presbytery will be held Tuesday,
February 20, 2007 at First Presbyterian Church, Findlay, Ohio, beginning at 10
a.m.
Please join us before the meeting at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship and coffee!
Branch of Congregational Life to Meet
January 24
All Ministry Team and Network leaders are invited to attend the next meeting
of the Branch of Congregational Life on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, at 12 noon
at Van Buren Presbyterian.
This is a “bring a sandwich meeting,” and pop and desserts are provided.
●Branch Moderator—Norma Wible (elder, Sandusky)
●MVP Staff Support—Stephen Moulton (pastor, Bowling Green)
●Session Records Review—Peggy Lobb (elder, Findlay 1st)
●Hispanic Congregational Ministry Team—Kimberly Secrist Ashby (pastor, Sandusky)
●Camps & Conferences—David Bartley (pastor, Eastminster Toledo)
●Youth Ministry Team—Amy Erickson (assoc. pastor, Christ Toledo)
●Spring Leadership Event—Rosine Harris (elder, Van Buren)
●Transformational Ministry Team—Gavin Pitt (pastor, Napoleon)
●Parish Nursing Network—Jeannine Leckrone (elder, Antwerp)
●Christian Educator Network—Lynn Bova (elder, Maumee)
“Lift up your eyes on high and see…”
Early registration is taking place now for the 2007 National Sabbath retreat
for active pastors, being held at Snowbird Resort outside Salt Lake City from
June 28 through July 2, 2007. Over 650 attended the first retreat in 2005 and
it was strongly praised. For more information about the retreat visit the
website at
www.pcusa.org/pastorsabbath.
Some financial help is available. Contact General Presbyter Hilary Shuford or
Committee on Ministry Moderator Tom Steensma.
Next 3 Presbytery Meetings
Mark Your Calendars!
February 20, 10 a.m.
Location: Findlay, First Presbyterian
Church
May 15, 3 p.m.
Location: To be determined
September 18 ,3 p.m.
Location: To be determined
Other 2007 Meetings:
Presbytery Council
Mondays, 4 p.m., Presbytery office
January 29, April 30, August 27, October 29
Budget & Finance
Tuesdays, 6 p.m., Presbytery office
January 16, April 17, July 10, July 31 (if necessary), October 16
Nominations
Tuesdays, 3 p.m., Presbytery office
January 16, April 17, August 14, October 16
Branch of Service
Thursdays, 12 noon, Presbytery office
January 18, April 19, August 16, October 18
Branch of Congregational Life
Next meeting is Wednesday, January 24 at
12 noon, Van Buren Presbyterian.
Other meeting dates TBA (usually Wednesdays before Presbytery’s Council meeting)
Committee on Ministry
4th Tuesday each month, 5:30 p.m., Findlay, First
Upcoming Cluster Meetings
SW Cluster: Wednesday, January 10,
11 a.m., Lima Market Street Presbyterian
Michigan Cluster: Tuesday, January 16,
7 p.m., Blissfield First Presbyterian
NE Cluster: Sunday, January 28
Time & Location TBA
NW Cluster: Tuesday, January 30,
5:30 p.m., Napoleon First Presbyterian
SE Cluster: TBA
Toledo Cluster: TBA
Meet Board of Pensions Rep
Retired clergy are invited to meet Board of Pensions Regional Representative
Ernesto Badillo on Tuesday, February 20 at Café Marie’s at 8:30 a.m. in Findlay
prior to the Stated Presbytery meeting.
Ministries of Health
Jeannine Leckrone (elder, Antwerp), MVP Parish Nursing Network Coordinator,
spoke to us at the November Presbytery meeting and is able to help you in
establishing a Health Ministry in your church. She has a library of Parish
Nursing resources available to borrow including books, data CDs, pamphlets &
music.
For more information email Jeannine at
leckrone@paulding-net.com.
Gulf Coast Missions
Chuck Thomas (elder, Grand Rapids) is leading a third mission trip to
Gulfport, MS, January 19-27, 2007. He is going again June 24-July 1. If you
need more information email Chuck at
caamthomas@wcnet.org.
John Guthrie (pastor, Adrian) is leading a mission trip to the Louisiana gulf
coast at the beginning of March. Email John at
jguthrie@tc3net.com.
The Presbytery of Mississippi continues to need our disaster recovery help.
Contact Linda Bates at 228-604-2424 or
presbyrecovery@bellsouth.net.
The Thoughtful Christian
By Rev. Dr. Ellen McGormley
First Presbyterian Church, Monroe, MI
Have you ever needed a topic for an adult Sunday School lesson? The Thoughtful
Christian might help. These Christ-centered lessons are relevant to current
topics and issues. Some of the lessons that we have used in Monroe include:
“Hezbollah, Israel and Lebanon: Why Should Christians Care?,” “What Would Jesus
Drive?,” “Spirituality 101,” “Celtic Christianity,” “The Immigration Debate:
What’s a Christian to Think?,” and “Should the Ten Commandments be Used in
Public?” There are many more subjects to choose from.
The lessons cost $5 each and are available online. To download, go to
www.thethoughtfulchristian.com.
Each lesson includes a four-page leader’s guide and a four-page handout that can
be duplicated for participants. The lessons are Bible-based and thought
provoking. Interestingly, “The Ten Commandments” sparked the most discussion in
our Sunday School class and it is a free sample.
When you disagree…
What do you get when you put 2 Presbyterians together?
A committee meeting? A fight?
When there are disagreements…
Is it a “win/lose” situation?
Do people make threats?
Do you hear statements like, “you always…” or “you’re trying to…”?
Do you hear statements like, “those people…”?
If you need help, call:
Reconciliation Consultation Team
Rev. Hal Mills,
Coordinator
419-332-2027
Consultation and training in conflict management
Thai Dance Drama Troup
A Ministry of God’s Love
Maumee Valley Presbytery recently received a DVD from Christian
Communications Institute (CCI) of Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand
promoting their ministry of using Thai cultural dance and drama to communicate
the Gospel.
They travel all over Thailand performing in villages, churches, and other
institutions, and usually conduct a U.S. tour in April or October.
The group is led by PC(USA) missionaries Rev. Dr. Esther Wakeman and her
husband Rev. Rob Collins who have family in Maumee Valley Presbytery in Pandora,
OH.
If you would like to borrow the DVD contact the Presbytery office. You can
email CCI at
cci@payap.ac.th.
Who’s Where?
●We welcome Rev. David
Dennis who began in November as the Pastor of Celina First Presbyterian. David
transfers to us from Great Rivers Presbytery.
●In September Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP) Brenda Wilkison was commissioned
to serve Erie First Presbyterian.
●In September CLP Debra Smelser was commissioned to serve Waterville First
Presbyterian.
●In November CLP Don Loving was commissioned to serve Forest First and
Marseilles Presbyterian.
●Also in November CLP Janet Solarek was commissioned to serve Deshler First
Presbyterian.
Welcome to all!
Conn Organ Needs New Home
A member of the Findlay First Presbyterian Church contacted the Presbytery
office with an offer to donate a Conn electronic organ to a Presbyterian
church. It is approximately 35 years old,
refurbished in 1991, two keyboards, with an
antique white finish. The receiver will need to provide for moving. Call
419-422-3096 for more information.
Contributions Deadline is January 9
Thank you for the financial support your have given to the Presbytery and the
greater church during 2006.
We urge you to remit any remaining 2006 Mission and Per Capita funds to the
Presbytery by Tuesday, January 9, 2007. We have been notified by the General
Assembly Receiving office that this cut-off date is the last day your church
will receive credit for their remittance for the year 2006. Any funds received
after January 9 will be credited to the year 2007.
