wednesday communique by Shar Grant

May 12, 2010 QUICK CALENDAR

Mission Yearbook Prayer

May 11, Council @INP, 10a May 12, NOM @Moore, 1p May 13, Communion Leaders @INP, 9:30a May 13, CPM @INP, 10a May 18, Con. Cong. @Memorial, 10a May 20, Clergy Lunch @Chisholm Trail, 12noon Jun. 5, INP Stated Mtg @Clinton, Jul. 15 - 16, PW Gathering @OKC - FPC

Lord, may your church, both Protestant and Catholic, in Timor-Leste as well as Indonesia, be an instrument of peace. Give wisdom to your people to overcome hatred and build a just and free society together. Amen

Greetings of spring to each of you Looking forward to the 219th General Assembly Delegates and guests to the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis, July 3-10, will be joined by guests from the Islamic Society of North America, the National Council of Synagogues and a representative of the Ojibway Nation of Lake Superior. Our three guests will speak at the Ecumenical Breakfast on Wednesday morning of the Assembly, and will be available to advise committees and bring greetings to all. The General Assembly Mission Council sent the paper "Toward An Understanding of Christian Muslim Relations" (pdf) for consideration by the General Assembly. The GAMC also reviewed and sent the paper "Christians and Jews: People of God" (pdf) to the Assembly. The 219th General Assembly will act on both papers. These two studies offer Christian theological reflection on the issues involved in these relationships. If approved, they will provide guidance and study material for Presbyterians and others. You may also now read the full report of the Middle East Study Committee.

With my prayers and greetings, Jay T. Rock Coordinator for Interfaith Relations

Opportunities to Lean, Grow and Contribute Summer 2010 Columbia Theological SeminaryCenter for Lifelong Learning

May 6, 2010 Special Announcements July 26-29 – Summer Scholars "Social Networking Media inYour Congregation: Possibilities! (and Practicalities) This is a terrific opportunity to explore and experience several types of social networking and communication specifically for the purposes of congregations and other faith communities– Facebook, Twitter, Constant Contact, blogs. Discounts available for participants from same groups who register at the same time. August 16-18 - Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today (Presbyterian Women's Bible Study Training) The Center for Lifelong Learning is offering one session of this popular learning opportunity. Led by Louise Lawson Ralston, author of the “Suggestions for Leaders” published in the study guide! Deadline to register Aug. 2 – early sign-ups are encouraged! S3 (Sabbath, Study and Service) Program accepting applications Project applications for the 2010-11 cohort will be accepted through September 30, 2010. The application procedure requires a group proposal and individual applications for each group member. Selected participants will be notified by October 15, 2010.

Other Upcoming Opportunities for Lifelong Learners: July 12-15 Psalms: Lament to Praise (Korean Conference on Worship & Music) July 19-22 Montreat Summer Lecture Series July 18-23 Certificate in Spiritual Formation Learning Christ: Spiritual Practices of the New Testament August 27-28 YMLI! Because the Bible Tells Me So: Putting the Bible Back in Bible Study For additional registration information, please contact the Lifelong Learning Registrar at 404.687.4587 or lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu. (Please note NEW email address ) The Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary P.O. Box 520/701 S. Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30031

Four Conferences...and a Renovation Proclaiming the Text, May 31-June 4 There's still time to register for Montreat's acclaimed annual preaching event! “Lift Up Your Voice with Strength” Updated Workshop Information now available. For pastors, lay leaders, seminary students, and all who seek the tools and inspiration needed for proclaiming the Good News. Preaching requires the courage to speak the word of scripture to particular people in particular places who, as worshipping communities, seek to find meaning in their ordinary lives, often in extraordinary times. This conference offers the biblical scholarship, theological insights, and contemporary tools for preaching and workshops that help preachers proclaim a confident, exuberant, and expansive faith. Come join a learning, worshipping, and encouraging community… all amidst the beauty of Montreat. Leadership includes: Luke Powery, Jana Childers, Joanna Adams, Mike Graves, Christine

Jones, Nathan Proctor, and more. Details and registration information

Yoder, Ann Laird

Christian Education, May 31-June 4 Join educators from across the PC(USA) for a week of fellowship and learning. There's still time to register! “Words to Build a Life On” For Christian educators, pastors, and lay leaders involved in the ministry of Christian education. Jesus the carpenter knew a lot about building. One day as he spoke to the people, he put two houses in a parable, to speak to our human tendency to hear things, listen to them, agree with them but then go out and do not one thing about them. As Christian Educators our call is to help our congregations hear and do. Join us as we look at old and new models of transformational architecture, i.e. Christian Education, built on the solid foundation of God’ word. Leadership includes: Dee Koza, Nathan Proctor, Dianna Wright, Jana Childers, Joanna Adams, Luke Powery, and more. Details and registration information.

Renvovations to the Left Bank Building are Underway Major renovations to the Left Bank building at Montreat Conference Center are well underway, with completion expectedmid-summer 2010. The renovated space will be known as the Katherine and Thomas Belk Center at the Left Bank and will house two levels of meeting space. Conference rooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art video equipment, audio equipment, and a video-conferencing system. In addition, a ramp and lift will be added to increase accessibility. Be sure to check website for progress reports, and consider this space for your next churchretreat, business meeting, or special event! Read more about renovation plans for Montreat's historic Left Bank building.

Register for the National New Church Development Conference Join us in St. Pete Beach, August 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 13, 2010 for the National New Church Development Conference at the Don Cesare Beach Resort. Our goal is to ignite your passion to do new church, inspire you with new ideas and methods and equip you with the tools necessary to do new church. The Racial Ethnic preconference will begin on August 9. Contact the individual Congregational Support Offices for details. Find more conference information. Register online today. To register by check please contact either Sherry Britton or Meredith Kemp-Pappan for a registration form.

From the Desk of Aaron Carland

"The Churchwide Leadership Connection will host a Face-to-Face event at General Assembly. The event provides an opportunity for pastor nominating committees and ministers seeking calls to get acquainted and exchange information. Deadline for Face-to-Face registration is June 25. Additional information is available at www.pcusa.org/clc.

Now is the perfect time to start a church subscription to Presbyterians Today Ten bucks a year – you’re worth every penny!" — This is just one of the many testimonials we’ve received in recent months about Presbyterians Today, the award-winning general-interest magazine of the PC(USA). Today, more than ever, congregations have to be smart about where and how they spend their hard-earned dollars. That’s why many churches all across America rely on Presbyterians Today to play an important part in their ministry. PT helps your members stay connected to the wider church by delivering plenty of inspiring, “good news” stories about what our denomination is doing. Every issue is packed with triedand-true ideas that local churches and presbyteries are using … practical tips and suggestions on everything from mission and evangelism to personal faith-building and the latest in technology … plus lots of helpful, up-to-date resources that church leaders and people in the pews can put to use. Find out more. See a sample. No matter how large or small your congregation happens to be, you’ll find an affordable church subscription plan to fit the bill. Choose from print editions sent directly to members’ homes or sent in bulk to your church … or eco-friendly digital versions delivered electronically. If you’re not familiar with Presbyterians Today — or if it’s been ages since you’ve seen a copy — I know you’ll be very pleasantly surprised with our sleek new look. . Ready to subscribe? If you’re ready to start a subscription, call us toll-free at (800) 558-1669 and mention code E20104A. . It’s as easy as that! Many blessings! Jeffrey Lawrence Publisher

Issue: 302

May 10, 2010

SHOULD WE BE GROWING? by Alice Mann We believe in a God to whom "all hearts are open, all desires known." Sometimes we have a lot of work to do--uncovering the desires of our own hearts--before we can hear clearly what God may desire for us. An incarnational spirituality requires that we engage in prayerful dialogue with our own longings. As you ponder your congregation's call regarding size and numerical growth, you may find it helpful to map out the yearnings that are imbedded in this choice.

At all three points on the map, the Spirit of God is working. All of our individual desires, if we trace them back far enough, are rooted in the goodness of creation and oriented toward union with God. To be sure, they become distorted. What once was called idolatry is now more commonly called addiction: placing something essentially good (food, drink, sex, money, work, approval) at the very center of our lives. Whenever we try to fill the "God-shaped hole" in our being with something other than God, we confuse the giver with the gift, investing ultimate trust in persons or things too fragile to bear that weight. Even so, each longing is rooted in the subsoil of our God-given humanness. Continue Reading "Should We Be Growing?"

FEATURED RESOURCES The In-Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations

Raising the Roof: The Pastoralto-Program Size Transition

Can Our Church Live? Redeveloping Congregations in Decline Size Transitions in Congregations

RAISING THE ROOF Seminar: May 19 - May 20, 2010 Facilitator: Alice Mann Size Transitions are critical moments in the life of a congregation. Join Alban senior consultant Alice Mann, author of Raising the Roof: The Pastoral-to-Program Size Transition, to learn how leaders in mid-size congregations can identify transition dynamics, address obstacles to growth, and lead a process of discernment about the congregation's calling in relation to size and numerical growth.

CLICK HERE FOR A SPECIAL COMMUTER OFFER

Technology and Faith: Help Shape the Future & Earn Cash toward the New iPhone Odyssey Networks is launching a new app tool for smart phones to aid people in their spiritual walks. If you own an iPhone, Droid, or Blackberry, will be in the Washington, D.C. metro area May 25 or 26, and can spare 90 minutes beginning around 6 pm, we invite you to attend a focus group. Participants will be served refreshments and will receive financial compensation (which you may want to apply toward that new iPhone said to be coming out in June). To apply by e-mail, click here, type "Odyssey Focus Group" in the subject line, and give us your name and the day you can participate.

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