NORTH CENTRAL IOWA PRESBYTERY 4 1 0 2 6 1 0 1 s w e n E y l k e We News in THE PRESBYTERY: Inside this issue: Next Presbytery Meeting Date November 6, 2014 Stated Presbytery Meeting 11:00 a.m. Lakeshore Center at Okoboji Prayers 2 Thoughts from Dave 3 Installation Invitation 4 Ruling Elder Training 5 ‘New Synod Exec 7 Presbytery Mission Trip 10 Help Wanted 11 Education Events 13 Special points of interest: 2015 Budget Planning Moderating meetings Presbyterian Foundation Goldfield/Clarion Meals from the Heartland PAGE 2 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 Prayers CHURCHES AND PASTORS Candidates and Inquirers October 19, 2014 Reinbeck, Amity Diane Martin, CRE Candidates October 26, 2014 Waterloo, St. Erin Marth Patricia Geadelmann Andrew;’s Inquirers November 2, 2014 Lime Springs, Saratoga—Rev. Tim Sir Rebecca Dix Andrew Hagee Julie Erkel Hagee November 9, 2014 Lone Rock, Lone Rock—Rev. Doug House Stephen Keve Heather Libich November 16, 2014 Clarion, United—Rev. Bill Kem November 23, 2014 First, Jefferson – Rev. Gordon Moen November 30, 2014 First, Ackley – Rev. Lynne Hanna Please Note: Kaylene is back in the office part time for the next few weeks. She will be working 4-6 hr days. Thank you for your support after my surgery. Office hours are 8:30-4:30 M-TH Keep in your prayers: A surprise celebration was held at Goldfield United Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 28, for Diane Kraft, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary this fall as secretary/treasurer of the church. Congratulations, Diane! Sharma and Keith Brockmeyer. Sharma is on staff at LakeshoreCenter at Okoboji. Their home burned and all was lost on Sunday, October 5. Cards may be sent to them c/o Lakeshore Center, 1864 Hwy 86, Milford, IA 51351. Elder Ray N. Morgan of Algona. Died Sunday, Oct. 5th, Ray was a former Presbytery Moderator, and chair and member of various Presbytery committees. Cards and condolences may be sent to his wife, Verna Lee Morgan, and family at Box 593, 801 S Minnesota St., Algona, IA 50511. Rev. Greg Bock, Honorably Retired, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Notes may be sent to him at Villa Care Center, 2721 10th Avenue N, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 NOTE: If you have a prayer request or joy to share, please email [email protected] or phone 319-233-1747 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 PAGE 3 Thoughts from Dave. . . Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, It came across my screen this week. A sheet of dreadful percentages regarding pastors. ____ Percent will leave the ministry in the first five years. Only ____ percent will end up retiring from the parish ministry. _____ Percent feel abused and unappreciated. I am reluctant to reprint the page since no credit was given and we don’t know who provided the statistics. When our children were beginning to drive I often reminded them to be careful. At one point I said, “Remember 85 percent (I don’t remember the actual percentage but it was high) of fender benders happen backing up”. My son replied, “Yes, and 90 percent of percentages are made up.” October is pastor appreciation month. For those of us who have been at it for a while, many of us would agree the parish ministry has reached new heights or depths of challenging. It would be good if you would offer a kind word, an expression of appreciation to the pastor or staff members who serve in and through your church. However there is a part of me which wonders when it will be elder….. Deacon….. Choir director…… Sunday school teacher…… appreciation month? Perhaps it is time to simply be more appreciative and express it. There is that biblical concept that the world will know us, our Christian witness, by our fruits. They will be drawn to Christ when they see our love, our gratitude, our appreciation, our service. October is pastor appreciation month. With love in Christ – in appreciation for the pastors of North Central Iowa Presbytery, David Feltman PAGE 4 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 The Presbytery of North Central Iowa Invites You to A Service of Installation for The Reverend Sara C.R. Hill as Associate Pastor First Presbyterian Church 1111 5th Avenue North Fort Dodge, Iowa Service to be held at the church October 19, 2014 4:00 p.m. Reception following the service Growing Giving Online We all love a challenge, right? How about challenging your members to join with Presbyterians across the nation, to make an online gift for their church and/or their favorite ministry on Tuesday, December 2. This is the global Giving Tuesday date and charitable organizations around the globe will be encouraging their supporters to make a gift. Be part of it! Let's see what giving together can mean for mission and ministry. You've already got the platform. Here are some resources to help promote this initiative. For more information you can also visit givingtuesday.org COME ON...Let's do this! WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 PAGE 5 Thursday, November 6th - NCI Presbytery Meeting Friday, November 7th - Ruling Elder Training LAKESHORE CENTER AT OKOBOJI We hope you plan on joining us for a wonderful day up in Okoboji as we gather together for our November Presbytery meeting. This year we will be offering a training event for all ruling elders from 10:00am-3:00pm on Friday, November 7th. Stay overnight after Thursday’s meeting, or come up the night before the training for FREE!. To Register for the Ruling Elder Training, RSVP to [email protected] to reserve your lodging. (Rooms include 2 queen beds) The Ruling Elder Training will include: What does an effective ruling elder look like? (Qualities/Actions) Definition of a Ruling Elder (Book of Order) Constitutional Questions We hope this opportunity prepares your Ruling Elders for ministry in your congregations, and provides a space to meet others who are serving. Regarding ruling elders: Moderating Meetings Office of the General Assembly MILLIE SNYDER As a ruling elder, you may have been asked, or will be asked, to moderate a committee or a meeting. For some of us who aren’t accustomed to leading meetings, this call seems frightening or overwhelming. Here are some practical guidelines for moderating church meetings. Click on the blue link above. PAGE 6 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 For your 2015 Budget Planning: 2015 Per Capita General Assembly 7.07 Synod 5.20 Presbytery 18.54 TOTAL $30.81 2015 Mission 25% 4% 71% 100% Your church 2015 General Mission Pledge form and a 2015 pastor compensation letter from the Committee on Ministry will be sent soon. Also, we offer other giving opportunities within the presbytery as expressed in the June letters from Rev. Loren Shellabarger, Rev. Dr. S. Glenn Wilson and Rev. David Feltman, to the churches regarding the encouraging ministry during 2014 and the vibrant and exciting potential for 2015 in partnership with the churches of North Central Iowa. Ministry with the Presbytery: Annual Presbytery-wide Mission Trips—January 21-February 8 to Charleston, South Carolina. Lakeshore Center on Okoboji varied ministries for and with our churches Candidates and Inquirers under our care Macedonia Ministries for pastors/CRE’s begins in 2015 Mission & Ministry Board approved grants of approximately $50,000 for projects partnering with local ministries. Committee on Ministry as they work with churches in transition Transformational church mission dollars for second mile giving: Central Presbyterian Church in Nevada Life and Hope Presbyterian Church, Fort Dodge and Webster County If your church has any questions for Presbytery, we stand ready to visit with you to listen to your concerns, challenges and visions for the future. Call 319-233-1747 or 319-231-3570. WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 PAGE 7 GIVING BACK IN RETURN: Elona Street-Stewart to become first American Indian synod executive Duane Sweep, Special to Presbyterian News Service, Presbyterian News Service The Synod of Lakes and Prairies elected Elona Street-Stewart, its current associate for racial ethnic ministries and community empowerment, to be its next synod executive effective Jan. 1. She will be the first Native American to serve as a synod executive in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A ruling elder and a longtime staff member of the synod, she was elected when the synod met at the Mt. Olivet Conference and Retreat Center here Oct. 5-7. Street-Stewart, who has served in her current position in the synod since 1994, said, "I am a woman of faith and I am grateful to serve wherever I am called." To read more of this article, go to: https://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/10/13/ giving-back-return/ JOB OPENING: MINISTER OF PASTORAL CARE The Presbytery of Northern Plains is seeking a Minister of Pastoral Care. This is a ¼ time, contractual position paying a $1000/month stipend. Expenses will be reimbursed. The successful candidate will be an ordained Presbyterian teaching elder. Click here to view position description. PAGE 8 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 Presbytery Calendar Presbytery calendar dates are on a first come first served basis. If you (Presbytery Committee, Commission, Board, Church, or other Presbytery groups) are planning a meeting/event/or time please contact the Presbytery office or check the Presbytery calendar. Thank you. A complete calendar is on the website at www.presbynciowa.org Date Time Event Location 16 11:30 SE Pastor Cluster Grundy Center, First 18 9:30 M&M Grant Consultation meeting Maxwell, First 19 4:00 Rev. Sara Hill Installation service Fort Dodge, First 20 9:30 Cluster B 5:00 Lay Academy Board Ft. Dodge, Village Inn 7:00 Life & Hope Commission Life & Hope at Baptist bldg. 21 2:00 Stewardship & Finance meets Ackley, First 23 1:00 Intentional Faith Tewell Seminar Ames, Northminster October 26 Conrad, First Reformation Sunday 28 1:30 Cluster D Waterloo, Westminster 29 10:00 Cluster C Boone, First 30 10:00 Vital Ministries Initiative Ackley, First November 6 11:00 Stated Presbytery Meeting Lakeshore Center at Okoboji 7 10:00 Ruling Elder Training Lakeshore Center at Okoboji 10 5:00 Committee on Ministry meeting Ackley, First 11 5:00 ELP/CLP/CRE Gathering Ackley, First Barnabas Cohort Quaker Heights, Eldora 9:30 Cluster A Lakota, First 11:30 SE Pastor Cluster Grundy Center, First 2:00 Cluster G Fort Dodge, First Lay Academy-Preaching Fort Dodge, First Transitional Ministry Pastors Ackley, Pizza Ranch 13-14 20 21-22 24 2:00 26-27 Presbytery Office Closed December 1 Noon First Call Pastors Ackley, First 3 10:00 Cluster F Toledo, First 4 5:00 Council Ackley, First 5 11:00 Camp Board Lakeshore Center at Okoboji 8 5:00 Committee on Ministry Ackley, First 18 11:30 SE Pastor Cluster Gathering Grundy Center, First 25 Presbytery Office Closed WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 PAGE 9 Plan Now for Your Church to ‘Adopt’ Its Very Own Cabin! Several churches from the two Presbyteries which own the Lakeshore Center at Okoboji, (North Central Iowa Presbytery and Prospect Hill Presbytery in northwest Iowa) have already ‘adopted’ cabins to care for. They include Pine - Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee; Cottonwood - First Presbyterian Church, Paullina; Maple - Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church, Cedar Falls; Linden - First Presbyterian Churches of Irvington and Algona; Pin Oak – First Presbyterian, Mason City; Black Oak - First Presbyterian in Sioux City, and Bur Oak - Westminster Presbyterian, Ida Grove. Algona and Irvington have also adopted the Rec Hall. Additional cabins are still longing to be adopted. These include Red Oak, White Oak, Aspen 1, Aspen 2, the First Aid Cabin, and the Cottage. The Chapel and the Canteen (old dining hall) can also be adopted, as well as the Challenge Course, the archery range, the waterfront, etc.. So think about applying for a Presbytery grant, or holding an innovative fund-raising extravaganza, or partnering with another church to take on this challenge. (Just ask the folks from the Algona and Irvington Churches how much fun they’ve had working together on ‘their’ cabin!) Fall is a great time to consider adopting a cabin, when church budgets are still being finalized. And how about bringing a group to the Saturday, Oct. 4 Fall Work Day at the Lakeshore Center to enjoy the fun and fellowship and check out the cabins that are still ‘up for grabs’! See elsewhere in this edition of the e-news for more information about the Work Day. Individuals or teams are even welcome to come and work year round to help modernize the camp’s facilities. Or help out for a week or two, if that fits your schedule. And here’s a real ‘perk’ for those participating. Overnight lodging is free in the lovely Lakeshore Lodge for those who work 8 hours during a 24-hour period. You are only asked to pay for your food. For more details about adopting a cabin contact Director Beth Ehlers ([email protected]) Is your church’s name conspicuously absent from the above list of ‘adopters’? Fortunately there’s plenty of time to remedy that. Any of the participants of the churches who’ve ‘adopted’ a cabin will tell you what a fulfilling experience it is to work together on this project. So come. Immerse yourself in the relaxing surroundings of nature. Become reenergized by the beautiful lakeshore view. Take a slow tranquil walk through the peaceful woods and reconnect with God in this sacred place. PAGE 10 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 PAGE 11 On Saturday, October 4, the Goldfield and Clarion United Presbyterian churches teamed up to package meals for Meals from the Heartland (Des Moines). The event was held at the Goldfield United Presbyterian church from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There were two shifts, with 30 volunteers per shift from the two churches, plus members of the Congregational United Church of Christ, the Catholic church, and Missouri Synod Lutheran. During this event we were to package 24,000 meals (each bag serves six). We filled 4,334 bags for 26,000 meals!!! We were all very tired at the end of the day (some worked double shifts), but what a wonderful feeling of accomplishment! We truly made a difference! - Diane Kraft Dear Colleagues in Ministry, The Office of the General Assembly is searching for a Coordinator, Immigration Advocacy and an Associate/Exec Director, Presbyterian Historical Society. If you know someone who is qualified for either position, please encourage them to apply via Church Leadership Connection at www.pcusa.org/clc, or send a resume and cover letter to my office. Loyda P. Aja Associate Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) [email protected] 502-569-5430 – direct line PAGE 12 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 Having trouble viewing this email? Click here For more information Click here Having trouble viewing this email? Click here PAGE 13 WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 Educational Events and Seminars Mark Your Calendars—January 24, 2015 Boundary Training for all Teaching Elders & Commissioned Ruling Elders Also on this date: Ruling Elder Training This is a combined training event for all members of the Presbyteries of North Central Iowa, East Iowa and John Knox. These two learning events will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Falls From 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Registration forms will be available soon. 2014 Lay Academy Schedule ___ October 24-25 ___ November 21-22 Preaching Rev. David Feltman *You do not have to be an ordained Ruling Elder to take classes in the Lay Academy; however, persons wishing to become a Commissioned Ruling Elder (formerly known as Commissioned Lay Pastor) will need to be an ordained Ruling Elder prior to commissioning. All participants should register through Marcia Rich, (515-570-5763) or email [email protected] WEEKLY E-NEWS 10-16-2014 PAGE 14 Worshipping in Advent: From Darkness to Light A 90 Minute webinar Tuesday October 21, 2:00 p.m. Register now! Mark Your Calendar Big Tent' July 30—August 1, 2015 Tennessee Conference Center In Knoxville, TN The "Big Tent," a biennial event of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that includes conferences and activities of multiple organizations within the church, will take place July 30 through Aug. 1 next year at the University of Tennessee Conference Center, Knoxville. Details should be showing up soon at "Big Tent." 2016 Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2016 Presbyterian Youth Triennium Production Team applications are live! The Triennium Staff are looking for 26 thoughtful, hard working, youth and adult youth worker volunteers to serve as the Production Team - the team who will produce the amazing 2016 Triennium! Applications and reference forms can be found on the Triennium website. Act quickly! http://presbyterianyouthtriennium.org/ Weekly E-News 9-18-2014 Page 13 PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFERS GRANTS TO PRESERVFE YOUR CHURCH’S HISTORY Heritage Preservation Grants Application Deadline Did you know that PHS awards Heritage Preservation Grants to PC(USA) congregations? Grants offer funding to assist churches with digitizing their official church records. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2014. Grants must be used within a two year time period. MORE INFO HERE Congregations that qualify are A PC(USA) congregation of 250 members or less At least 50 years old Interested in the preservation of its history Looking for financial assistance to digitize church records Application procedures The Clerk of Session should submit: 1. A letter describing: the condition of the records (i.e. binding, pages, ink, any previous water or insect damage, etc.) where the records are currently stored and any history you know about where they were stored in the past why the records are important to the congregation plans the congregation has for preserving its original records in the future the financial need of the congregation 2. An inventory of the records 3. A copy of the congregation's most recent annual budget Please submit all application materials to: Presbyterian Historical Society/Heritage Preservation Grant 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 See more at: http://www.history.pcusa.org/hpg#.dpuf The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators Invites all professional educators, pastors, and volunteers to the 2015 APCE Annual Event - FEAR NOT “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’” Mk 4:40 February 4-7, 2015 Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD Keynote speakers: Brian Blount, Carol Howard Merritt Registration has begun. You may register at: apcenet.org/2015-annual-event-html Hotel registration may be made at: apcenet.org PRESBYTERY OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA 2302 Falls Avenue Waterloo, IA 50701 Phone: 319-233-1747 Fax: 319-233-2015 E-mail: [email protected] 800-383-3617 319-233-2015—fax We’re on the web, www.presbynciowa.org sr u o H e ffic .m. 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