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CREATING SPACE
creating space for young adults
inprint
April-May 2012
Finally, you are probably wondering whats up with these odd looking squares like the one on the right. They are called QR codes and they will be used more in upcoming issues. I want to make the newsletter more interactive and friendly to those with mobile devices. If you scan the square with your smartphone, it will lead you to more information on the web.
Contents
2. Notes from the Editor
Words from Dennis Sanders.
4-17. Cover Stories-Christian Education: Bringing People To Full Maturity In Jesus Christ
Find out about the Christian Education ministries taking place across the PTCA.
24-26. Profiles
A Labyrinth at Calvin, Long Lake and a chat with a storyteller.
Inprint is a publication on the mission and ministry the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (PTCA). Its published five times per year. Recipients include congregations, minister members, other members, committees, and friends. Please send submissions and e-mail corrections to Dennis Sanders, editor, at denniss@ptcaweb.org . Next issue: July-August. Due Date for submissions July 1, 2012. Editor: Dennis Sanders
Presbytery Staff Chaz Ruark, Executive Presbyter: Nancy Grittman, Stated Clerk Risa Anderson, Office Manager Dennis Sanders, IT/Communications Specialist Front Cover: Flowering of the Cross, Randolph Heights Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, MN.
Education can also be defined as any activity that enhances a persons understanding of their faith and helps them become more aware of The Holy (God) within and around them.
Presbyterians Organized in Nurture and Teaching (POINT) is a network of educators who offer Christian education expertise and curriculum interpretation skills to churches in their area. These volunteers, appointed by each presbytery and equipped through the General Assembly Council, lead the way in assisting churches with their educational ministry. Find out more by going to www.pcusa.org/point.
http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/ youthministry/
Thats the big question that is going around the North Como Presbyterian Youth Group. Whats in your back pack? It is a
question that is leading our youth into a discussion about privilege and oppression. Whats in your backpack? It is a question that is leading our youth into a dialogue that will give a language for, and a constructive understanding of, their own social location, and will help them understand things like systemic oppression, classism, racism, and a host of other isms that plague our world today. Over the course of six weeks, the youth group is first going to look at what is in their own backpack (i.e. their own privilege) and then how privilege can get you ahead or keep you behind. The youth group is going to explore the ideas of privilege/oppression through the contexts of current issues such as immigration, human trafficking, poverty, slavery, and political agendas. By the end of the six week study, the NCPC youth will have thought about some of these important questions: Have you ever thought of a birth certificate as a privilege? A drivers license? Your own room?
Whats in your backpack? It is a question that is leading our youth into a dialogue that will give a language for, and a constructive understanding of, their own social location, and will help them understand things like systemic oppression, classism, racism, and a host of other isms that plague our world today.
What resources have you inherited from your parents that give you privilege in the world? What are some privileges you have earned on your own? What does the backpack metaphor look like in high school? College? How do the media manipulate perspectives to foster the cycle of oppression? What things can we do to fight against the systems of oppression?
For more information on the Whats in Your Backpack curriculum, contact Cathy Kolwey at cathyk@northcomochurch.org Cathy Kowley is the Coordinator of Children, Youth and Family Ministries at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville, MN.
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At First Presbyterian Church of Maple Plain you will find the youth serving God and active in the life of the church family.
Teaching Sunday school, serving as liturgist, using and sharing their gifts as part of the praise band, volunteering in the nursery, and serving on the nominating committee are just a few different ways. We embrace the concept that doing is truly one of the best ways of learning and that one of our goals is that the youth see the church as place where they can use their gifts to work for the Lord, no matter what their age is. During the school year weekly Sunday school is offered for children and youth. Youth group for 6th -12th graders meets biweekly for a time of food, fun and a relevant youth topic to study. Monthly social and or service opportunities are available for the youth; such things as: bowling, game night, random act of kindness, etc. On May 5th we will be partnering with Group and participating in the Big Day of Serving in Minneapolis. Youth Ministry doesnt stop in the summer although we do spend most of our time away from church in ministry. Children and youth are invited and encouraged to spend a week making memories at summer camp at Presbyterian Clearwater Forest. Eleven of our youth have said yes to go and serve in Milwaukee, WI this June for a week on the Youth Works mission trip. We are really looking forward to partnering with Plymouth Presbyterian, Calvin Presbyterian of Long Lake and Presbyterian Clearwater Forest to offer Camp-in-a-Van this July; this will be a great opportunity for children to be exposed to camp and for the youth to serve alongside the camp counselors. First Presbyterian of Maple Plain may be a small congregation but the spirit is alive and active and we invite you to Come and Catch the Spirit. Julie Mass-Kusske is the Director of Youth Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Maple Plain, MN.
First Presbyterian of Maple Plain may be a small congregation but the spirit is alive and active and we invite you to Come and Catch the Spirit.
I remember leading those programs. For some, those images still reflect what happens at church in the summer. For many though, those days are long over.
And remember, you can still use traditional VBS curriculum as a basis for your summer program curriculum if you do not have the people to create the curriculum. The key is to provide a different model for what happens in the summer.
Children are participating in a wide range of activities and programs, or else they are in day care all summer. Those volunteers are now at work, or too busy to make the time commitment required to really do a VBS/ VCS well.
So what to do? Summer is still an important time to keep children MANNERS Camp. This has been a and families connected to the church. It is a season that is ripe with possibilities for reaching out to the neighborhood, and for huge hit, and one that we offer every year for young children. a local congregation to provide high quality, fun, and exciting There is a curriculum that can be purchased called OOOPS! Your Manners are Showing, (http://www.oopsgroup.com) activities that hold God at the center. which has all the Bible stories and activities included, or you can create your own. Please make sure that materials used or At the church where I serve , our building is still alive with chil- purchased are theologically compatible with your congregadren, and ministry happens during June, July and August. What tion. follows is what has worked for us, and hopefully will provide Full- Day Camp for K-6. 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Again, this is fee some ideas from which to create your own creative summer based, but our program is the cost of many of the day camps ministries that will reach out and serve the families in your conoffered in our community. We offer our day camp during one gregation and community. of the weeks when the local school districts day care program
Summer is still an important time to keep children and families connected to the church. It is a season that is ripe with possibilities for reaching out to the neighborhood, and for a local congregation to provide high quality, fun, and exciting activities that hold God at the center.
ers. 4 mornings, from 9. a.m. -12 noon. We choose the theme and incorporate lots of music, along with Bible stories and crafts. Really, it is VBS with a different name! There are so many great ways to teach young children about God, Gods people, and Gods world! An emphasis on creation, water, or animals is a perfect fit for summer. Staffing: childrens choir director, school music teachers, college students/music majors, church choir members, etc.
Things to Consider: Scholarships! (or subsidize through donations) Background checks for all volunteers and leaders Use middle and high school students as assistants. When you have a leader for a program, recruit a team of volunteers who can participate for one day, or one half of a day. It is much easier to find help that way. Offer volunteers children reduced price or a free day. Not enough children? Join forces with other churches!
We Believe Summer: Awesome Adventures God's People on Mountains and Seas- Anna and Jake will take your class of adventurers over mountains and across, beside, and sometimes in water, to explore the stories of people in the Bible learning to follow God no matter where they were.
We Believe Summer: Awesome Adventures God's People on the MoveMovePacked with kidkid-friendly lessons, taketakehome comics, and activities, this broadly graded summer curriculum encourages children to explore Old and New Testament stories of Gods people on the move. Anna and Jake will lead your group of adventurers as they hit the road with Abram and Sarai, journey on the path out of Egypt, travel with the disciples as they encounter the risen Christ, and more! We Believe: Mission Stories for Children -This thirteenthirteen-session, downloadable curriculum features a Bible Study prepared by mission personnel in each session. Leaders will be able to access photos and videos from each featured mission site. This curriculum parallels the Summer youth and adult curriculum: We Believe Mission Stories for Youth and Adults. You can find these and other resources at http://store.pcusa.org/. You can also check out the Resource Center for Churches located in the Minnesota Church Center in Minneapolis. Check out their online catalog by going to www.resoucesforthejourney.org.
Now is the time to start to Think Summer! and make plans for those wonderful warm days to come!
Jan Snell is the Director of Childrens Education at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul.
We learn about life (and faith) in our families, in both intenencounter in worship, and the children teach us what they tional and accidental ways through our practices and rhythms (e.g., traditions and celebrations, meal times, bedtime learn each week when we all gather together. Prayers that the kids write during Sunday school are part of each weeks worprayers, reoccurring themes in arguments and conversations, ship service. Then the practices within worship etc). We are shaped by more helped us all unpack and experience the stothan what is directly imparted ries and themes we are exploring in Sunday to us and accepted by us. In school. other words, we learn all the time. And the context were in and encounters we Last year our confirmation students began have shape what we learn as reading Douglas John Halls Why Christian?, so much as (or more than) the our adults joined in. For several months our information were taught. adult education classes (which include our Belonging precedes belief. confirmands and their families) discussed the And in our experience and chapters that the young people had been dipactivities of participation and ping into when they met for confirmation. This belonging, we come to gave us a common language and experience deepen in our faith and our In a time when people are agewith some ideas that then shape our commurecognition and understandsegregated in almost every other nity and our own lives and conversations of ing of Gods presence and faith. And when our confirmands reached the area of life, we have found great activity in our lives. joy (and great challenge!) in being time to examine our Reformed tradition, the adults joined them in that as well. Using Sparkchurch together, young and old, houses re:form curriculum, we dedicated a few At Lake Nokomis Presbyterian weeks together to go through the history and Church, we seek to integrate readers and non-readers, floorbeliefs of our tradition as a whole church comas much of our life together sitters and wall-standers. munity. as possible with our worship and family practices. Shared meals and shared This summer will feature our second (annual) worship and shared prayers Intergenerational Vacation Bible School. All anchor our life together, and ages will gather together for story, music, shared themes guide us. The crafts, cooking, and other explorations of a childrens Sunday school partheme in our shared life of faith. Its a delightallels Adult Ed, which interful experience for kids to be in VBS with their acts with the worship scripgrandparents, and for single people or those tures each week. So, for exwith grown children to share in the excitement ample, in Sunday school, and energy of learning and exploring with chilboth the children and adults dren. explore the text that well
As a pastor and certified Christian Educator, I am often forced to let go of the shoulds that shape good programs, or the pangs of wishing I have when I see what other, bigger churches can do with their education programs that simply are not realistic for us. But when I do let those things go, and embrace who we are and what God is doing within us here and now, I am amazed at how blessed we are to do church in this way. Education happens in all that we do. When we lean into the real life questions, doubts, joy and pain, and bring those to our conversations and shared life of faith, incredibly rich learning occurs. And being a small congregation, we have the capacity to react and interact with these things adeptly. A question about how to read scripture comes up in Adult Ed? How about we read a book together about what the Bible is and how we understand it, and let that shape our sessions for the next few months! That study was extremely fertile and made us want more of the story? How about we take this year and go chronologically through the Old Testament as a whole church in our worship and Sunday school?
As a pastor and certified Christian Educator, I am often forced to let go of the shoulds that shape good programs, or the pangs of wishing I have when I see what other, bigger churches can do with their education programs that simply are not realistic for us. But when I do let those things go, and embrace who we are and what God is doing within us here and now, I am amazed at how blessed we are to do church in this way. Education happens in all that we do.
Our lives of discipleship are shaped by our wonderings and our doubts, our crises and celebrations, and embraced by our practices and rhythms as a community and our relationships with those similar and very different from ourselves. What a joy to be church together, and to learn the faith in all that we do. Kara Root is pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.
The above story is pure quill myth, created in the imagination just as surely as Lake Wobegon is created in the wonderful, hometown, the town that time forgot and decades cannot im- creative genius of Garrison Keillor's mind. But even though this story is made up, the same scenario has no doubt been played prove. Garrison has seen most everything in Lake Wobegon, like Ralph's "Pretty Good" grocery store, where if Ralph doesn't out at countless other churches at some point in their history have it you can probably do without; the Catholic church, Our maybe even yours. So let's help the Lake Wobegon PresbyteLady of Perpetual Responsibility; and, of course, the Norwegian rian Church light a fire under its Christian education program. Lutheran Church, where he seems well acquainted with Pastor Maybe this will help other Christian education programs. Ingvist.
But I don't think Garrison has found the Presbyterian Church in Lake Wobegon. I can't blame himthe church is tucked away on a side street, and there's no sign on the main highway that goes through Lake Wobegon telling visitors where the church is. The folks are friendly at the Lake Wobegon Presbyterian Church. No one could call them God's frozen chosen. And they're proud of their minister, whose prayers are eloquent and who regularly quotes Niebuhr and Brueggemann in sermons. But still there seems to be some unrest floating around in the congregation. Oh, they have church school on Sunday morning, but not many attend. It's hard to get teachers, even harder to keep them. The classrooms are furnished with an eclectic array of hand-me-downs from the congregation. No one is quite sure what curriculum is being used or why it was selected. Teachers can be heard in the hallway on Sunday morning asking, "Wonder who I talk to in order to get a roll of butcher paper?" or "Where can I get a video on Moses?" or "Who took the glue I brought last week?" Once in a while, two or three parents can be heard bemoaning the fact that their youth are attracted to the fun activities at the Luther League at Pastor Ingvist's church. And three men talk a lot about the independent Bible study they attend in town. On
"We want to light a fire under our Christian education program. What can we do? Where do we start?"
Maybe even yours. What Not to Do As a means of emphasizing the organizational task, let's clarify what not to do. Sometimes sessions or pastors appoint an elder for education or enlist a Sunday school superintendent. There's nothing wrong with making these assignments as long as it doesn't stop there. If one person does all the work of getting the education program designed and up and running, that individual is usually overloaded quickly and is soon burned out. Not only is this unfair, but it becomes doubly hard to enlist a replacement. Furthermore, having one person organizing the education program doesn't build broad ownership and support for the program.
Teachers and leaders need encouragement and support all along the way. Not only do they need someone with whom to talk to work out a problem, but they also need to be fed spiritually in order to teach out of fullness, not out of emptiness. The caring and feeding of teachers can include the following: encouragement to go to workshops teacher and student dedication service phone calls to check in teachers' communion service Most congregationseven our fictional Lake Wobegon Presby remembering teachers in public prayer terian Church have some form of education program going on. personal notes Sometimes, however, it consists of many pieces, with little vi a small gift or a flower sion of the whole. This may be the result of many small groups "doing their own thing," with each group having little idea of These ideas are just suggestions. Each congregation should use what "thing" the other groups are doing. Each of the pieces may have been created out of individual or momentary needs, its own creativity in finding ways to nurture its teachers. Here is or simply because someone thinks, "we ought to be doing a word of caution. Teachers are using the talents and gifts that something!" God has given them to volunteer in the education program of the church. Many others in the congregation use the differing Our problem then is that "we can't see the forest for the trees"! gifts that God has given them to volunteer in other areas of Each of these pieces may very well be good when considered congregational life, such as evangelism, stewardship, and outseparately, but when the "trees" are pulled together, the reach. So when showing appreciation to teachers, the educa"forest" may not be exactly what we want it to be. In order to determine the pluses and minuses of our educational program, tion committee should be careful to mention that teaching is we have to look at those individual trees. We need to know one of many ways. why they were "planted," which ones we want to encourage to grow, and which ones need to be thinned out so the forest can Photo by Matt Green. thrive. What Is Reasonable for Us to Tackle? No congregation can cover all fronts. The size of your congregation will determine how much you can offer or what needs you can reasonably fulfill. The kinds of people who make up
Joann Lee is the Associate Pastor for Family and Young Adult Ministries at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN.
Lead for New Uptown Ministry to Start 4/15: The Elders of Grace-Trinity Community Church in Uptown Minneapolis and the Session of Westminster Presbyterian in Downtown Minneapolis chose Daniel Vigilante to serve as the lead for the new Uptown Ministry that will take place at GraceTrinity. Vigilante served as Director of Ministries with Youth and Young Adults at St. Mark Presbyterian Faith, Minnetonka Celebrates 125: Church in Newport Beach, CA since 2004 and is a graduate of 2012 marks 125 years of active minis- Princeton Seminary with a Masters of Divinity Degree. Vigilante try at Faith Presbyterian Church in was introduced at the March 2012 PTCA Presbytery meeting. Minnetonka. Faith in Action, the con- In the February 17 edition of Westminster News, Westminster gregational newsletter will be lifting Teaching Elder Tim Hart-Andersen described Vigilante's ministry at Grace-Trinity: up the various ministries of the church and how they have changed "...Dan will plan worship and preach at Grace-Trinity, teach Bible over the years. In the Spring issue we learn about Faith's Art and Music Ministries. Here's a snippet talking about the range study, welcome new members, and care for the congregation and community. He will spearhead the effort to rebuild a thriving minof music in worship: istry in Uptown. Under Dan's guidance Grace-Trinity, with the partnership and support of Westminster, will grow into a new, "Numerous other musical opportunities have been part of life at exciting future; a future in which we pray and trust that God's Holy Faith. We have had a series of talented organists dating back to Spirit will be seen and felt." our Czech founders, and we currently get to hear our pipe organ during traditional services (at a time when some churches have eliminated organ music.) We have always had talented musicians Vigilante will start in his new position on April 15. - playing a diverse range of instruments - who contribute mightily
inprint/presbytery of the twin cities area/ april-may 2012 16
squirms. Sometimes in order for children to sit still, they have to movesomething. For me, If I had to sit still, I was of worship and expect them to go into the adult space when kicking my feet or fidgeting. I was paying attention and they are adults. I have never looked at actual data about how sitting (still?), but I may have been disturbing the people in many young adults move to the adult worship space when front of me. This is another reason to get the parents and they grow up. However, this sounds like an awful idea. Parents children all in the same area. Parents are more forgiving of and other adults should be showing & teaching the children this behavior. what we do in worship. For example, in a more traditional set- 5. In Church School and Choir, teach the hymns and songs ting, we typically stand for prayers and we should show & teach that will be sung in worship. If they know the songs, they the children this habit. will be excited to We should expect chilsing them! Also, Have children participate in the dren to do the same as teach the parts of leadership. This can be as a lector, worship so they adults. Oddly, this is biblical! Train a child in know whats goacolyte, crucifer or communion the way he should go, on. If worship serverwhatever your tradition ing and when he is old he is not foreign to will not turn away from allows. If children see children as the younger, they it. ~Proverbs 22.6 leaders, they will realize that they are more likely to participate. are part of the worship service Here is a non-exhaustive 6. Use the list of ways to get or too. Church School to keep children involved participate in in worship. reading lessons. When I was in 6th grade, I learned a 1. Have children sit pseudo-rap to (with their parents) Micah 6.8. Every time that came up in the lectionary I paid closer to the FRONT. This is counter-intuitive, but somemore attention. If we teach something to the kids, like that times the kids arent interested in whats going on because rap, use it as part of the reading. Have a lector read Micah they cant see. If they cannot see, they dont feel compelled 6.1-5, then the kids start their rap. to worship. Also, if you need to leave the worship space, people will understand and not judge. So one of the rea7. Sing music with repeating choruses so that children can sons for staying in the back is moot. easily learn the chorus and sing on that part. We should teach the verses too, but this will be a nice way for the kids 2. Have children participate in the leadership. This can be as a to learn more about worship with little effort on the part of lector, acolyte, crucifer or communion serverwhatever the leadership! your tradition allows. If children see children as leaders, What have you done to get young people involved in worship? they will realize that they are part of the worship service Whats worked, what hasnt? too. 3. Get rid of the childrens bulletins! The only REAL purpose they serve is to keep the kids quiet. I know that there is Sean Johnson is the Music Ministry Director and some biblical stuff in there, but that part of the bulletin is only useful after they are literate. After they are literate Communications Specialist at North Como Presbythey should be actively participating! If you feel like you terian Church in Roseville, MN. need to have something for the children, incorporate that into the regular bulletin. 4. Make the culture of your congregation accept peeps and
Presbytery News
General Mission giving Executive Presbyter Chaz also is running behind anRuark spoke about the ticipated income as well as season of Lent, and the behind last year: $20,600 importance of selfhas been contributed; reflection. Ruark re$12,000 less than a year minded those gathered ago. This is also a single that God is with us, and digit percentage of budget gives us all that we need 9%. to continue in the work to Three Inquirers were presented as being ready to Presbytery committees which we are called. He also reminded people that be advanced to the role of Candidate: Tara Parrish have begun their work as expected, though several everyone is invited to ( Kwanzaa, Minneapolis) ; Jermaine Ross (Church of have yet to incur any exprayers at the Presbytery penditures. Mission and All Nations, Columbia Heights, pictured above) office each Tuesday at Witness and Church Devel10:00 a.m. Ruark gave the and Hanna Kim (Church of All Nations, Columbia opment represent the largPresbytery Council and est expenditures: $31,800 Heights). All three were approved by the Presbythe Presbytery high praise and $15,7000 respectively. for the hard work that has tery. Personnel and office exbeen put in on the Grapenditures continue at excious Separation policy. The original plan was to vote on the pected levels. proposed policy at the March meeting. The Presbytery did break into small groups to discuss the policy, but action on the because of the discrepancies between income and expenditures a significant short-fall has been created. At the proposed Gracious Separation Policy will take place at the May end of the second month of 2012 Presbytery has a $74k Stated Meeting in order to give the Council time to refine it deficit. after hearing all the feedback. Martin urged the Presbytery to pay their Per Capita and General Mission pledges as soon as possible. PTCA Treasurer Ed Martin expressed concern at the current
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Dan Lindh, the CEO of Presbyterian Homes came forward to ing Elder Stan Martin (Peace, St. Louis Park) were approved by talk about this very important ministry which has become a the Presbytery to serve as alternate delegates to the 220th major provider of services for the elderly in the Upper Midwest. General Assembly this summer in Pittsburgh. Three Inquirers were presented as being ready to be advanced to the role of Candidate: Tara Parrish ( Kwanzaa, Minneapolis) ; Jermaine Ross (Church of All Nations, Columbia Heights) and Hanna Kim (Church of All Nations, Columbia Heights). All three were approved by the Presbytery. The Bills and Overtures voted, by a majority vote, to present an Overture to the Presbytery for approval to send on to 220th General Assembly, 2012. Called On honoring Christ in our relationships with one another, the proposed overture was approved by the Sessions of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis and The House of Hope Presbyterian in St. Paul. The overture acknowledges the differing views within the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding same-sex relationships and asks that Presbyterians commit ourselves to continue respectful dialogue with those who hold differing convictions, to welcome one another for Gods glory, and not to vilify those whose convictions we believe to be in error. We call on all Presbyterians to join us in this commitment. The Committee on Ministry brought before the Presbytery a motion to transfer the ordination of Rev. Julie Gebbengreen from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Gebbengreen is the copastor at Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church in St. Paul with her husband, Phil Gebbengreen who is an ordained Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Presbytery approved the transfer and welcomed Julie as a newly minted Presbyterian.
The Committee on Ministry brought before the Presbytery a motion to transfer the ordination of Rev. Julie Gebbengreen from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Gebbengreen is the co-pastor at Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church in St. Paul with her husband, Phil Gebbengreen, an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Presbytery approved the transfer and welcomed Julie as a newly minted Presbyterian.
The overture was discussed, but the Presbytery ultimately voted to postpone discussion and vote on the overture until the May Presbytery meeting. The Presbytery also voted to refer the motion back to the Bills and Overtures Committee for further discussion, taking into consideration the comments made on the floor of Presbytery. After lunch and communion, all Elders and Deacons who died in 2011 were honored. These include three teaching elders: Robert Chalmers, Robert Boehlke and Myra Carroll-Pezella. Ruling Elder Barbara Freeman (Trinity, Woodbury) and Teach-
The Presbytery also voted the sale of the House of Faith property in Northeast Minneapolis to the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Minnesota. The group purchased the property for $300,000. Net proceeds to the Presbytery after deductions for realtor fees and closing costs would be approximately $275,000. Normally, the proceeds from the sale of Presbytery property would go towards new churches. Teaching Elder Tim Hart-Andersen of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis put forward an amendment to the House of Faith sale asking that the proceeds go towards urban ministry. The amendment was approved as well as the sale of the building. The meeting was closed with prayer and the members of the Presbytery went out to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon. The next meeting of Presbytery will be Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church in Rochester , MN. Nancy Grittman and Meg Newswanger contributed to this report.
Presbytery News
Teaching Elders
William Davnie, Parish Associate, Valley Community, Golden Valley : Bill brings a quite varied background, having served as a parish pastor in a rural community and then 27 years as an American Foreign Service Officer, living abroad, also working and serving in a variety of church settings, serving on local congregational councils, seeing the Church in varied cultural and denominational contexts, from both the pulpit and the pew. He brings pastoral knowledge and expertise on issues of Christianity and international and ecumenical relations. His secular work involved understanding how organizations work and how they might work better, finding his Presbyterian roots Joann Lee, Associate Pastor, The House helpful, understanding that it is not only what we do, but how of Hope Presbyterian, St. Paul: Joann, as we do it as important. He is currently chair of the PTCA Comthe daughter of Korean immigrants, recogmittee on Preparation for Ministry, a Presbytery Council memnized the church as the place where her ber, and the presbytery representative on the Minnesota Counparents had always been treated with full cil of Churches Committee on Unity and Relations. As a Parish humanity and dignity; this fostered within Associate he leads workshops, teaches adult classes, and supher a deep love for the church which has ply preaches as requested. He has taught at Synod School and grown and matured through the years. As an observer at the at various other churches and community groups, service he 218th and 219th General Assemblies, she believes that we, the expects to continue by interpreting the GA to Presbytery and in church, are at our best when we discern together the will of congregational settings. God, believing that the Holy Spirit is indeed at work in the midst of our gatherings. As a youth she served on the national level through youth councils and conference design teams, Donald Genereux, Pastor, First Presbylearning about our connectional system and also how broad terian, Belle Plaine : Don has interests and diverse our church actually is; she has learned to navigate and skills and a track record in various and even celebrate diversity, and also when it is important to settings of being involved in the organilisten and when to speak up, believing her experiences and her zations of which he is a part; he firmly journey lend her a unique perspective and voice to speak on believes in servant leadership. In the
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Presbytery News
behalf of the marginalized. She is the Associate Pastor for Family & Young Adult Ministries at the House of Hope Church, a member of Advocates for Integrity in Ministry Committee of the PTCA, a member of the Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns of the GA, a Board member of the Korean American Presbyterian Clergy Women, and a member of the Nominating Committee of McCormick Theological Seminary's Alumni Council. Mary McNamara, Honorably Retired: Mary has extensive experience in the field of theological education, having recently retired as president of United Theological Seminary here in Minnesota, following many years at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She is currently Treasurer of the Association of Theological Schools. She is interested in improving communication across theological differences within and across denominations, and between religions, concerns that will be addressed in Pittsburgh. served as part of the facilities planning team. He has been a commissioner to presbytery for 6 years and serves on the PTCA Committee on Ministry. On COM he has served on a visitation sub-committee, visiting more than 20 sessions, finding a desire for greater connections and a more nurturing presbytery. He served on the envisioning committee which led to our presbytery's Strategic Plan. As a former high school teacher, he volunteers as a teacher's assistant in the local school system. He hopes his experience at GA can be shared with others to encourage more connections with the wider church.
Paul Harkess, Community Presbyterian, Rochester: Recently retired from a position as development officer at the Mayo Clinic, Paul is anxious to once again serve in the larger church, having felt the hand of God guiding his service to Him throughout his life. Observing the 219th GA increased this desire. He has been a Presbyterian some 46 years, since meeting his then wife-to-be in a Presbyterian Church in Chile. He attended one semester at Princeton Theological Seminary. He has been both Deacon and Elder in his home churches, also a In the 1980's she served as staff to the General Assembly Miscommissioner to Synod of the Northeast when living in Princesion Council and to the reuniting GA Council, gaining knowlton. He has been a commissioner to presbytery here in the edge and understanding of a broad range of issues, policies, and viewpoints of the Presbyterian Church. In the PTCA she is a PTCA, and served a term on our Finance Work Group (pre Board member of the Committee on Ministry, a committee she served of Trustees). In his home church he as led worship and guided on for many years in her former presbytery. She is particularly stewardship campaigns. He served on the Evangelism Committee while Community PC was a New Church Development interested in learning more about how the new Form of Government is affecting the work of presbyteries across the coun- and is currently prayer liaison to the Chain of Lakes NCD. His profession as development officer has been characterized by try, especially how it enables new ways of organizing for mission and ministry, information she believes would better equip interest in others, compassion and good listening skills. He has followed the discussions of many issues in the PCUSA over the her for service here in the future. years and is good at synthesizing information to present results Ruling Elders and decisions to others which he would do after returning to Gerald Ganfield, Associated Church, the Twin Cities Area. Owatonna: Jerry found the format and business of the 219th GA in MN inspirBarbara Lutter, Arlington Hills Presing during some riveting floor discusbyterian, St. Paul: Barbara has felt sions and debate, feeling it was imporcalled anew to be a part of the church tant to really listen to individual's rain the past year, called to step forward tionale and consider how each proand serve. As an Overture Advocate posed to represent the will of Christ, for our presbytery at the 219th GA, she and so was motivated to apply as a found participation in the committee commissioner this year. He has served on the Council of his process exhilarating, and amazed at what she felt to be the home church as moderator, historian, and on the Adult Minis- Spirit of Christ in the Convention Hall, and in her own heart. try Team; has sung in the choir, played in the bell choir, delivShe was ordained an elder at North Como Presbyterian in Roseville and served several terms on session there as well as being ered home communion, been co-chair of a fund-raising team presbytery commissioner. Similar service continues at Arlingto remodel the sanctuary and expand the youth area, and
Presbytery News
ton Hills Presbyterian. Between them she has served on Personnel, Building & Grounds, Nominating, Christian Ed, a Capital Campaign, and the Eastside Children's Summer Program committees. She has taught church school and Wednesday Kids Club. In the PTCA she has served 6 years on the Committee on Preparation for Ministry and is currently our Vice Moderator. A practicing attorney, she has served on an Investigating Committee and a Committee of Counsel. Trained as a mediator, her nature is to listen and consider all sides and points of view, keeping lines of communication open and looking for ways for all voices to be heard; it is important for her to be aware of the implications of proposed changes, as well as motivations and interests of those proposing change, and that her heart and mind be open. a steering committee of parents and taxpayers to continue negotiations to resolve a 6 week strike; after the strike ended both sides thanked them for their efforts and praised their neutrality.
Rachel Hagen, Plymouth Presbyterian, Plymouth: Rachel enjoys connecting with people and listening to their ideas even if they differ from hers, feels she comprehends difficult ideas and is able to make compromises, suggesting that the ability to work closely with other Presbyterians from Katherine Martin, Westminster Presbyterian, Minneapolis: across the country would allow her to learn more about others' personal beliefs and ideas and help her grow in her own faith. Kitty has attended many GAs with her husband, and volunteered in 2010 on the Hospitality Committee, welcoming folks With the Plymouth Youth Group she has volunteered at Interat the Minneapolis Airport and helping them at departure. She faith Outreach and Community Partners, Feed My Starving Children, People Responding in Social Ministry, Maple Grove looks forward to the chance to serve on a committee that Hospital, and the 363 Days organization; also in Youth Extendwould be considering issues that affect the life of the PCUSA. As an elder at Westminster, and in her previous congregation in ing Services through her high school she has helped coordinate an elementary school winter carnival, and worked helping Pennsylvania, she has served as a Presbytery Commissioner. socialize therapy dogs. She works part time in a pet food store. Her local church service has included membership on the Social Justice Ministry Team (chair 4 years), and the Faith & Action She has taught at Plymouth's VBC four years, has been on two Council, and choir member. She was on the planning commit- youth mission trips with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance--to Iowa City and to Nashville, both doing flood repair work; these tee for the 2002 Covenant Network Conference which met at Westminster. In Redstone Presbytery, PA, she was chair of the mission trips have had a large impact on the evolution of her faith. She runs cross country and track, likes to play the guitar, Church & Society Committee which developed a groundbreaking Emergency Mortgage Assistance program to allocate piano, read, and talk with friends. She feels that through a GA 20% of Presbytery unrestricted Funds to be allocated for mort- YAAD experience she would be better equipped for her service as a Deacon; she will be ordained in January 2012. gage relief, without consideration of the recipient's religious affiliation. She is a writer, keeping attention to details, and ed- -Teaching Elder Elizabeth Raitt compiled the information for this ited a community newspaper when in Indiana (circulation article. 2000). When in Pennsylvania she was encouraged to organize
Presbytery News
or by scanning the QR code below. Davnie served as a parish -Nominees must be pastor in North Dakota from either teaching or ruling 1976-81 and then served as elders eligible for mema Foreign Service officer for bership in PTCA. 27 years, serving in various places around the world, -Nominees must be including Hong Kong, the present at the meeting. former Soviet Union and the Middle East. Davnie is currently Current PTCA Stated Clerk Nancy Grittman, a Ruling Elder at a Parish Associate at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, MN stated she would Golden Valley. As a Parish Associate he leads workshops, not seek a third term as Stated Clerk in January 2012. She has teaches adult classes, and supply preaches as requested. He served since 2006. has taught at Synod School and at various other churches and community groups, service he expects to continue by interpreting the GA to Presbytery and in congregational settings.
If there is anyone who wishes to make a nomination from the floor at the May 8, 2012 meeting please note the following conditions:
Congregational Profile
more with the gardens and also with an interest in labyrinths, or at least a curiosity. We had a number of different "field trips" exploring labyrinths around the metro area - at churches and built through the efforts of many devoted members of the religious institutions, as well as in parks and public places. In church and friends from our neighboring communities. Though the Labyrinth is new to Calvin and this community, it is time we decided there was sufficient interest in the project and got the Session's approval to go ahead. It was a process of an ancient, sacred symbol found in many religious traditions. working with some very talented gardeners, artists, and a landVarious styles of labyrinth patterns can be found in cultures scape designer from all over in the church to the world, Fast Facts: look at options dating back Name: Calvin Presbyterian and then come 5,000 years. Church up with a deThis means of sign, size, preLocation: Long Lake, MN devotion has cise location on been used Members: 161 the church since the first grounds, and Pastor: Carol Reed days of Chrischoice of matetianity. Early Founded: 1957 rials for our Christians labyrinth. Wesbite: calvinchurch.net took a vow to The bricks for visit the Holy Little Known Fact: Calvin was City at some chartered in December 1957, by our labyrinth were donated point in their the Presbytery of Minneapolis, lives, but through uniting the former Long as was the use We find many people in our neighborof the equipduring the Lake and Crystal Bay Presbytement to cut the Middle Ages hood make use of the labyrinth, in fact I rian Churches. sod. The landthe Crusades suspect it is used more by the community scape designer made travel than the congregation. There have been mapped out to Jerusalem wonderful stories I have heard of people our design, a unsafe. Inmodified fivestead, Chris- finding it a healing place in a time of crisis circuit Chartres tians built or need, and those are only the stories we Cathedral style labyrinths in have heard! labyrinth on the floors of the front lawn, the cathedral entrances. By walking the path of a labyrinth, Christians found centered in front of the sanctuary, and just off the front parking a safe means to fulfill their sacred pilgrimage vows. The center lot where it would be accessible to the larger community. Church members of all ages came out on a very hot weekend in of the labyrinth symbolized Jerusalem for these early Christians, and walking the labyrinth became an important spiritual August in 2008 to help dig and lay bricks. It proved to be a community building project and even those who were skeptipractice. cal about what this labyrinth thing was, came out to see what There are a number of avid gardeners at Calvin some of whom was happening. On May Day in 2009, we had a dedication of had hoped for some time to have a labyrinth. When I arrived at the labyrinth and gardens and invited the community to join us the church, I saw a big expansive lawn of grass and thought on what turned out to be cool but very festive celebration. what a great place it would be to have a labyrinth! I put out a In time we added memorial prayer gardens that follow the concall for people in the church who were interested in doing
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Congregational Profile
tours of the labyrinth. We also added a pergola and bench that provides a shady spot to sit and pray. We find many people in our neighborhood make use of the labyrinth, in fact I suspect it is used more by the community than the congregation. There have been wonderful stories I have heard of people finding it a healing place in a time of crisis or need, and those are only the stories we have heard! We are pleased to be hosting a World Labyrinth Day event, in part to continue to invite more of the community to discover our labyrinth and use it on their journey of faith.
Thin Places
Thin Places is an ecumenical newsletter produced by Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis with a particular interest in the contemplative spiritual journey (which is mailed free to all who request to receive it). Current and back issues are also available www.ewestminster.org/thin_places. As many will remember, thin places is an early Celtic Christian metaphor for those times or places when the boundary between the sacred and the everyday feels thin, when Gods presence is more strongly felt. We particularly welcome the opportunity to mail copies of each issue to all who ask. Now in its thirteenth year, over 2,000 readersranging from Mennonites and Quakers to Episcopalians and Catholics, including many clergy and religiousreceive Thin Places in this way or via email (both are free).
Carol Reed is the pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Long Lake, MN.
Transitions
Rev. Kim Goodman gave birth Monday, January 30 to a Benja- Deaths min Theodore Goodman at 9:22pm (2 weeks early), 5 lbs, 18 in. Rev. Phil Gebbengreen, the co-pastor of Edgcumbe PresbyRev. Andy Lindahl, the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of terian in St. Paul. Phil's father, Wen Gebben died on Sunday, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin, MN accepted a April 1. new call in the Presbytery of the Cascades (Oregon). Rev. Karen Kennerlys daughter-in-law, Robbie, died on Rev. Annika Lister-Stroope, Associate Pastor at Westminster March 24. Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Annika has been called Rev. Don Milloy died in early January. A memorial service reas Pastor at Federated Church in Columbus, Nebraska. membering Don was held on Tuesday, January 10 at WestminRev. Eily Marlow gave birth to Louise Elsbeth Wallraff on Janu- ster-Minneapolis. ary 13. Rev. Sung-Joo Park was installed as the Senior Pastor of Korean Presbyterian Church in Minnesota in Brooklyn Center, MN on Sunday, February 26. Christian Educator Joanne Shingledecker, the Director of Childrens Ministry at Presbyterian Church of the Way in Shoreview announced her retirement effective May 31, 2012.
Spotlight
Many of the stories we find in the Bible began as oral stories before they were written down. Is something lost between the telling and the reading of story? These stories need to be performed just like music needs to be played. Imagine how much we would miss if Mozart were only read off a page, but never heard. Imagine how poor the world would be if we had never heard Paul Simon, or Carole King, or Bob Dylan, or Merle Haggard. Live stories, like live music, can move, shake, scare, and delight people the way stories stuck on a page cannot.
I hear several things. I hear that people discover that the inside of these old stories is more interesting than they ever had imagined. I hear that people find it transformative to learn to play the stories, because biblical stories are not simply so much information: they are engines of transformation. And I hear from pastors that having a group involved in this shared exploration of biblical stories changes their preaching. For one thing, when they stand up to preach, they find themselves in The title of the event is Provoking the Gospel, which is the company of people who also know the inside of the also the title of book you wrote. On your website you story. For another, they find (as I have) that the Bible is best write, In order to interpret a story, sometimes you have to studied with partners who both lead and follow the explorapoke it a little, provoke it some, challenge it to a fight, just tion. After a dozen years of working with a group of actors and to see what happens. What do you mean by that? What storytellers, I can no longer imagine studying the Bible without does it mean to poke a text that was written (and told) so such a group to provoke me, to challenge me, to lead me into long ago? new discoveries. It means, first of all, that working with stories requires remembering that they are alive and will respond to provocation. My Read the entire story by going to www.presbyterytwincities.org. actors and I have found that biblical stories poke back when
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