Apr 21, 2010 Mission Yearbook Prayer
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O God, Creator of children: we offer to you believers' hearts. May we boldly present the gospel with arms wide open to children in our midst thirsting for the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Energize us with creativity and imagination so that our acts of love become acts of hope. Amen
Apr. 30, May 1, Synod @Irving, TX May 4, COM @Central, 12noon May 11, Council @INP, 10a May 12, NOM @Moore, 1p May 13, CPM @INP, 10a May 18, Con. Cong. @Memorial, 10a Jun. 5, INP Stated Mtg @Clinton, Jul. 15 - 16, PW Gathering @OKC - FPC
Calendars are Here!! The latest PC(USA) Planning Calendar is now available for pick-up at the presbytery office located at 1001 NW 25th St., Ste 206, Oklahoma City. Calendar pages begin with June 2010 and ends with December 2011. The General Assembly’s commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” is reflected in Scripture verses and art by Kelly Rider. Features include: ~ Monthly calendar pages from June 2010 to December 2011 ~ Lectionary for the Lord's Day & special liturgical days ~ Colors for liturgical seasons ~ Monthly planning suggestions and resources ~ Synod, presbytery and GA staff directories ~ Foldout Synod, presbytery and world maps in color Call (405) 524-0990 or email (jmcdaniel@okinp.org) with questions.
If you hadn't heard already, the Redhawks are broadcasting 60-second inspirational messages by Rev. Matt Jones of Grace Presbyterian Church during each of their home games. They display the video message on the large scoreboard screen during one of the pitching breaks during the games. More details to follow
Director of Children and Youth Activities
First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City is located in the Historic Paseo Arts District, an area that is rich in ethnic diversity as well as a thriving Arts community. This active congregation of 200 is a reflection of both the local community and of the larger Oklahoma City faith community. First Presbyterian Church has a rich history of community involvement and sees a continued need for outreach into the greater Oklahoma City area. Position: Director of Children and Youth Activities (Full-Time Exempt) Essential Functions: This position will be responsible for directing and planning the activities of both the Children’ and Youth programs (grades K-12). The incumbent shall mentor and guide children and youth as they increase biblical and theological literacy and grow in personal faith. The position will guide the youth on how to best apply faith in their personal relationships within the church community and the world at large. This position will play an integral part in ensuring continuation of our existing programs and for preparing the programs for additional growth. Duties and Responsibilities: . Work with Ministry Teams to promote a Christian learning environment . Direct, plan, coordinate and participate in activities for Children and Youth (education, service and fellowship) . Recruit, train and counsel volunteers . Develop and maintain contact with children and youth through the creation and use of calendar of events, newsletter articles, contact lists and electronic devices . Attend weekly worship services . Provide leadership for Sunday and Wednesday classes, children’ chapel, Vacation Bible School and other activities . Attend and assist Youth in Mission events including summer mission trips . Maintain open dialogue with supervisor and Youth Ministry Team chair and advise them of concerns or needs with the youth program . Meets with supervisor weekly and attends regular staff meeting . Participate in and support church outreach events Qualifications: . Degree in Education, Religion, Christian Education or equivalency . 3-5 years experience in directing a Youth and Children’ program or graduate level training in Christian Education . Advanced interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, with the ability to discern and handle confidential information. Benefits: Available to the selected candidate and include health insurance. Application Information: Please submit a letter of interest, resume, references and transcripts to: Director of Children and Youth Search Committee First Presbyterian Church 1001 NW 25th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-5666 Telephone: (405) 525-6584 E-mail: FPCSearch@hotmail.com
April 12
Milestone on a journey to a fair food industry
Stated clerk releases statement on agreement between CIW, Aramark by Bethany Furkin Presbyterian News Service LOUISVILLE — Another company has reached an agreement with a farmworkers' rights group with strong ties to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), taking the next step in the workers' fight for fair wages and working conditions. On April 1, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Aramark Corporation released a statement agreeing to establish a supplier code of conduct with input from farmworkers. Aramark will also increase payment to workers by 1.5 cents for every pound of tomatoes picked. CIW is a community-based worker organization in Florida that advocates for the rights of workers in that state’s tomato fields. It partners with the PC(USA)'s Campaign for Fair Food and has reached agreements with companies such as Yum! Brands, Burger King, Subway and McDonald’s. CIW works with food industry leaders with the goal of using their market power to demand more humane labor standards from their Florida tomato suppliers. [Read More]
Growth spurt Church growing rapidly in Manchuria region of northeast China by Jerry L. Van Marter Presbyterian News Service SHENYANG, China — Three large classrooms at Dongguan Church here are filled on a Friday afternoon with well over 1,000 church members who are studying Psalm 92. A young female pastor leads the Bible study in one room; her image is projected on large screens in the other two rooms by closed circuit television. Students nibble on the remnants of their lunches as they take copious notes. The class is just part of a seven-day "revival," in which lay leaders of the 40,000-member Dongguan Church — founded more than 100 years ago by Presbyterian missionary John Ross — are being trained to lead Bible studies in their homes. "These people love Jesus Christ," says the Rev. Ho Ban, a PC(USA) mission worker based here in the Manchuria region of northeast China for the past 14 years. [Read more]
April 13 A resurrection story A monthly column for the PC(USA) by the General Assembly stated clerk by the Rev. Gradye Parsons General Assembly stated clerk LOUISVILLE — Yes, Virginia, there is a vital Presbyterian Church in Cuba. I was invited to travel to the island last month with the presbytery and synod staffs of the Synod of the Sun. We spent time at the Matanzas Evangelical Theological Seminary talking about the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba. We also toured churches in each of the three presbyteries. We heard remarkable testimonies of faithfulness and hope in these Cuban congregations. Church members told us about the long time in their history immediately following the revolution when only one or two people would attend Sunday worship. Today, the sanctuaries of those same congregations are full for worship. We also met a group of young adults who were preparing for a mission trip to Canada. [Read More]
Mission support Houston church encourages, collects prayers in light of possible NASA layoffs by Toni Montgomery Special to Presbyterian News Service STATESVILLE, N.C. — Many people know the famous line "Houston, we have a problem," referring to the Apollo 13 lunar mission. Now, in light of possible cuts of government funding for NASA and its programs, it's Houston that might have the problem. Workers at Johnson Space Center are looking at potential layoffs that could affect as many as 12,000 people, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. President Obama has already announced cancellation of the Constellation Program, and Congress is considering further budget cuts for NASA, which would likely mean job cuts in October, the beginning of NASA’s new fiscal year. [Read More]
April 14 Christian films A 60-year survey by Edward McNulty Special to Presbyterian News Service Letters to God opened April 9. It is a film in which the characters talk in a matter-of-fact way about their Christian faith. Co-directed by David Nixon and Patrick Doughtie, it's inspired by a true story about a boy and a man, each with serious problems. Mr. Nixon was a producer for two other explicitly "Christian" films, Facing the Giants and Fireproof. Both of these earlier low-budget films astounded critics by raking in millions of dollars at the box office, beating out many studio and better-connected independent films during their opening weeks at theaters. Thus, the producers have high hopes for Letters to God. [Read More]
April 15 Strength in numbers Seven Pennsylvania congregations join to reach un-churched in area by Toni Montgomery Special to Presbyterian News Service STATESVILLE, N.C. — Although some churches retreat within their own walls and adopt an “us vs. them” worldview, a group of Pennsylvania congregations have learned that cooperation is better than competition. The Rev. Tom Hamilton is pastor of Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church, one of seven Presbyterian churches that have formed a partnership to further one another’s evangelism and ministry. He credits Washington Presbytery for starting the initiative in the spring of 2009. “We took advantage of the remnant of a schism in one church to build something new,” said the Rev. Charles Perrine, interim general presbyter. [Read More]
April 16 Prayer volunteers COLA looks for volunteers to be prayer partners by Duane Sweep Special to Presbyterian News Service MINNEAPOLIS — This July several thousand Presbyterians will attend the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Minneapolis. But there are many more who would like to be at the Assembly, but can’t attend because of time, distance or other commitments. There is, however, a way for all to participate. While many local Presbyterians will serve in ministries of hospitality during the Assembly, showing commissioners and visitors alike the neighborliness that is characteristic of Presbyterians, others can help through prayer. [Read More]
Sunday at Luyano with Jerry Worship, preaching in Havana church is highlight of Cuba trip Words and photos by Jerry L. Van Marter On Sunday, March 21, while in Cuba with a delegation of leaders from the Synod of the Sun, I was invited to preach at Iglesia Presbiteriana de Luyano in a poor neighborhood of Havana. I was ably and entertainingly assisted by the Rev. Adolfo Ham, a renowned Cuban Presbyterian theologian and pastor emeritus of the Luyano Church. The immaculate building bustled with activity all morning — every room and several outdoor areas packed for Sunday school with church members of all ages. Between Sunday school and church, worshipers gathered on a patio for snacks and conversation. The sanctuary, which seats perhaps 150, was filled for worship with a spirited multi-generational congregation. [Read More]
Issue: 299
April 19, 2010
PLAYING IN THE SAME SANDBOX by Wayne Whitson Floyd Running adult educational events for congregations and their leaders is not that different from the work I did forty years ago with a Head Start program in Mississippi. Give people a respectful place to spend the day, provide them something to eat when they get hungry, and send them home able to do something they couldn't do when they arrived, and adults, like children, generally tend to be pretty adept at playing in the same sandbox while they're at school. They don't tend to get all that exercised about the ways they are different from one another or the rest of the world around them. If this happens so easily when we're young or not really thinking hard about it, why are church gatherings likely to be homogenous--meetings of the like-minded, celebrations of sameness? Why are churches so often the poster children of the post-modern epidemic of sandbox-intolerance and bad manners? I got a look last week at how it might be different, when I participated in a one-day workshop in Philadelphia led by independent consultant and Alban author Joy Skjegstad on "New Ways to Fund Your Church's Ministries." Continue Reading "Playing in the Same Sandbox"
FEATURED RESOURCES Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry
Lending Your Leadership: How Pastors Are Redefining Their Role in Community Life Church on the Edge of Somewhere: Ministry, Marginality, and the Future
FREE WEBINAR Understanding Generations in Parish and Ministry April 21, 2010 2:00 pm EST Facilitator: Dominic Perri, organizational development consultant This free webinar introduces a way of understanding the multiple generations who are active in parishes and other ministry settings. You will learn how each of the four generations in the U.S. (Traditionalists, Boomers, Generation X and Millennials) are unique and what each is looking for in faith communities. This online web seminar will allow you to gather for a live, interactive hour of learning, without traveling to a face-to-face event. You will be able to access the complete recording of the webinar for 90 days at no additional charge.
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