february 2, 2017 - presbytery of north central...
TRANSCRIPT
North Iowa Presbyterian E-News
Presbytery Office Lakeshore Center at Okoboji
1864 Hwy. 86 Milford, IA 51351
319.233.1747
February 2, 2017
When returning your year-end forms,
or sending any correspondence to
either The Presbytery of Prospect Hill
or The Presbytery of North Central
Iowa, please remember to send it to
Lakeshore Center at Okoboji, 1864
Hwy. 86, Milford, IA 51351.
Please change your records to reflect
the new email address for the
Presbytery Office, which is:
Thank you!
This is YOUR E-News and we are
always looking for submissions and
additions! If you have anything for
future editions, please contact
Jeannie in the Presbytery Office –
319-233-1747. Thanks!
Poor Richard’s Almanac
by Richard Francis, Interim Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Prospect Hill
Greetings from the shores of Buffalo Lake, Minnesota! As I write this, it is a balmy 13° outside, which is why I’m staying inside. I’m here as your Stated Clerk, along with Lorna Peters from the Committee on Ministry and Donna Gray from the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, to attend the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Leadership Summit, formerly COM/CPM Training. The theme of the three-day event is “The
Call to Build.” So far we have had talks on topics like “The Call to Pastoral Excellence” and “Micro-aggressions: did you just say that?”; workshops on COM basics and CPM basics; and Keynote Addresses on Bi-vocational ministry. Bi-vocational ministry (sometimes called “Tentmaking Ministry” from Acts 18:1-4) refers to those who lead congregations as pastors and also pursue at least one other profession. PCUSA Associate Stated Clerk SanDawna Ashley has been leading us through a consideration of Bi-vocational ministry as a model for leadership in the 21st century, though of course the model itself goes back to apostolic times. One of the things SanDawna has been stressing to us is that Bi-vocational ministry is not a sign of failure or desperation, but may be a creative solution to limited resources and changing situations. She challenged us to ask three questions:
1. How do we help our congregations to imagine meaningful ministry during transition periods?
2. How do we help our congregations to imagine meaningful ministry when in decline? 3. How do we help our congregations to imagine meaningful ministry when they are forced to
find new ministry identities?
As I listened, I realized that we can ask the same questions with a different perspective:
1. How do we help our Presbytery to imagine meaningful ministry during transition periods? 2. How do we help our Presbytery to imagine meaningful ministry when in decline? 3. How do we help our Presbytery to imagine meaningful ministry when we are forced to find
new ministry identities?
If there’s one thing I learned in parish ministry it’s that every challenge is an opportunity. What opportunities for creative ministry is God putting in our way right now?
Blessings,
Moderator Musings
If you listen to the conversations going on around you, it seems like they are dominated by negativity: our problems are too big, we’re divided and can’t agree on anything, we’re headed in the wrong direction but don’t know how to get back on track, etc. To quote the old song from the TV show “Hee-Haw”:
Gloom, despair and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair and agony on me
The church has not been immune from this general malaise that is around us. Division, discord, shrinking numbers and budgets all seem to be weighing us down. We’re not sure where we’re headed, but it doesn’t look good. I’ve been musing about this for a while, and I’ve come to the conclusion that at the core, we are suffering from a crisis of faith. Yes, our circumstances are not “comfortable” or ideal. Yes, the church structure as we have known it is changing and will continue to change. And yes, our resources are shrinking. However, ask yourself: Does God abandon us in difficult circumstances? No, just the opposite! 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But the Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness’.” We need to remind ourselves that God is still God, that God’s agenda is still being accomplished, and that God continues to provide everything necessary for us to fulfill our role in accomplishing that agenda. It is God’s faithfulness that is the foundation of our hope. I think both the church and our world need a word of hope – to reclaim our confidence in our God – the One that is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient) and is everywhere present (omnipresent). You are invited to join me on the journey to live into the hope we have through Christ Jesus. Together, we have a message that our world needs to see and hear. Living into Hope, The Rev. Kerry Carson, Moderator Presbytery of North Central Iowa
Donn Martens Finance Manager
Lakeshore Ctr., North Central Iowa Presbytery and
Presbytery of Prospect Hill
I was born and raised in Michigan, where I still have
family. I attended Western Michigan University in
Kalamazoo, MI before moving to Iowa after my
father was transferred to the Eaton plant in Spencer.
Spencer is where I met my wife, Cindy Hart. We
moved to Ames where we both finished college at
Iowa State University. I am a CPA and have worked
in public accounting and private industry. We
moved to Spirit Lake in 1989, where we raised two
children. Cindy is employed by the Iowa DNR as an
environmental specialist. Our son Cole works as a
commercial interior designer in Sioux Falls, SD. Our
daughter Alicia Zevenbergen and her husband Justin
live in Lake Park, IA. Alicia works at the Seasons
Autumn’s Center in Spencer as a psychometrician
and Justin is head of the paint department at
Rosenbooms in Spirit Lake. They just had their first
child, a son Kiptyn Jay, our first grandchild. I enjoy
reading, biking, music, camping and walking with
our two dogs Hershey and Bentley.
Thoughts from David Feltman, Pastor to the Presbytery, North Central Iowa
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thirty-eight years later I realize what a gift it was to have three years set aside for education – theological education. I wish I would have had more of a hunger for learning back then. I have always been a type A and I was single focused to get done and get on to my call in the church. I have been a slow learner that learning is part of God’s call on my life. John Calvin taught that learning, education, growing intellectually is the calling for every Christian. The development of the mind is a significant portion of our service to God. Undoubtedly Calvin was talking about Bible Study and learning in the Christian tradition, but Calvin was also practical about education for life. It is one of the reasons there are many colleges/universities with Presbyterian roots.
I think we need to hear that word today, in our nation and world. We need to lift up
learning/education. An educated population is crucial for a democracy. Are you personally
reading a book which has some weight to it? Are you in a book study in your church? How are you
equipping yourself for the serious conversations of our day in the nation and world? How is your
church educating the children and youth of your church? How are we lifting up education? When
was the last time you invited in a speaker to help your church learn?
Please ask these questions in your session meetings, Bible Studies, PW gatherings, committee
meetings….
We hear the phrase lifelong learners these days. Most work positions these days require folks to go
on learning. True Presbyterians have always known we are to be lifelong learners.
With love in Christ,
David Feltman
Donn Martens Finance Manager
Lakeshore Ctr., North Central Iowa Presbytery and
Presbytery of Prospect Hill
I was born and raised in Michigan, where I still have
family. I attended Western Michigan University in
Kalamazoo, MI before moving to Iowa after my
father was transferred to the Eaton plant in Spencer.
Spencer is where I met my wife, Cindy Hart. We
moved to Ames where we both finished college at
Iowa State University. I am a CPA and have worked
in public accounting and private industry. We
moved to Spirit Lake in 1989, where we raised two
children. Cindy is employed by the Iowa DNR as an
environmental specialist. Our son Cole works as a
commercial interior designer in Sioux Falls, SD. Our
daughter Alicia Zevenbergen and her husband Justin
live in Lake Park, IA. Alicia works at the Seasons
Autumn’s Center in Spencer as a psychometrician
and Justin is head of the paint department at
Rosenbooms in Spirit Lake. They just had their first
child, a son Kiptyn Jay, our first grandchild. I enjoy
reading, biking, music, camping and walking with
our two dogs Hershey and Bentley.
Sixteen churches within North Central Iowa Presbytery requested a Mission & Ministry grant this year. Together we celebrate the work that is being done in Christ’s name. Here is a listing of the grants that were approved for 2017.
Church East Friesland, Ackley First Presbyterian, Ackley First Presbyterian, Algona Collegiate Presbyterian, Ames Collegiate Presbyterian, Ames Northminster Presbyterian, Ames Northminster Presbyterian, Ames First Presbyterian, Boone Burt Presbyterian, Burt First Presbyterian, Cedar Falls First Presbyterian, Cedar Falls First Presbyterian, Cedar Falls First Presbyterian, Fort Dodge First Presbyterian, Fort Dodge First Presbyterian, Fort Dodge First Presbyterian, Fort Dodge First Presbyterian, Fort Dodge First Presbyterian, Greene First Presbyterian of Irvington First Presbyterian, Jefferson First Presbyterian, Marshalltown First Presbyterian, Marshalltown First Presbyterian, Marshalltown First Presbyterian, Marshalltown First Presbyterian, Sioux City First Presbyterian, Maxwell Westminster Presbyterian, Waterloo
Grant Amount
$3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $1,920.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $ 500.00 $1,000.00 $2,500.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $1,080.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00
Mission Dominican Republic Mission Trip Ackley Youth Center Southern Sudan Education Ministry (SSEM) Living Waters The Vine Shared Blessings Haiti Tractor Friday Food Friends Kossuth CARE Team Love INC Soles for Souls UNI Students Treehouse Ministry ICKY’s Youth Center SW Café Hope Sweet Hope Studios Small Change 4 Big Change God’s Garden Parish Health/Nursing Lakeshore Center at Okoboji Partner w/ REZ MorningStar Mission Water Wells for South Sudan Miracle Makers Azerbaijan Playground Jonathan’s House for Orphans Personal Care Packages Pancakes & Pencils & Kids Christmas Store Reading/Ramps/Music
The total amount of these mission
grants is $73,000.00! Please keep
these churches and missions in your
prayers!
Prayers of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa Week of February 5 Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church – Rev. Dr. Dave Kivett and Rev. Johnny Janssen Week of February 12 First Presbyterian Church, Fort Dodge – Rev. Austin Hill and Rev. Sara Hill Week of February 19 United Presbyterian Church, Goldfield – Rev. Sara Sutter Week of February 26 First Presbyterian Church, Steamboat Rock – Rev. Mike Brost, Interim Prayers of the Presbytery of Prospect Hill Week of February 5 Faith United Presbyterian Church, Sioux City – Rev. David Koehler Week of February 12 Community Presbyterian Church, Lawton – Rev. Cyndy Ripperger Week of February 19 First Presbyterian Church, Carroll – Rev. Rikki Sorensen Week of February 26 First Presbyterian Church, Cleghorn – Rev. Margaret Hegeman Additional Prayer Concerns Please keep the NCIP 2017 Mission Trip participants in your prayers as they travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana February 4 – 11.
HR Pastor Marvin Miller of Storm Lake had back surgery mid-January and is scheduled for additional surgery (not related to his back) on Thursday, February 2 in Spencer. Thoughts and prayers are appreciated! Kathy Orcutt, a member of Central Presbyterian in Nevada, was involved in an automobile-train collision. She is undergoing physical therapy and making slow progress. Prayers are greatly appreciated. Please keep Reverend Glenn and Diane Wilson of Burt in your prayers. Their home sustained significant smoke damage in a fire. Please keep Victoria McMullen in your prayers. Victoria is the daughter of Reverend Ian McMullen of Maxwell. On Tuesday of this week she underwent abdominal surgery to correct an intestinal malrotation. She will remain in the hospital for several days and will then recover at home for a week.
Calendar Dates February 2 Nominating Committee conference call; 10:30–11:30 (NCI) February 2-11 Presbytery Mission Trip to Baton Rouge, LA (NCI) February 13 COM, First Presbyterian Church, Ackley; 5:00–7:30 (NCI) February 14 Huxley Church Conversation, First Presbyterian, Marshalltown; 11:30–12:30(NCI) February 16 SE Pastor Cluster, Bethany Presbyterian Church, Grundy Center; 11:30–1:00 (NCI) February 16-17 Macedonian Ministry Retreat, American Martyr Retreat House, Cedar Falls (NCI) February 18 Session Records Review, First Presbyterian Church, Sioux City; 10:00-noon (PH) February 20 All Iowa Conversation, Northminster Presbyterian, Ames; 9:30–3:00 (PH & NCI) February 25 Session Records Review, Lakeshore Center at Okoboji, 10:00–noon (PH) March 1 Ash Wednesday March 2 Ames Cluster, Mandarin Restaurant, Ames; 12:30–1:30 (NCI) March 4 Session Records Review, Lakeside Presbyterian, Storm Lake; 10:00–noon (PH) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMPORTANT DETAILS TO REMEMBER
CLERGY, CLERKS OF SESSION AND
TREASURERS:
HAVE YOU COMPLETED YEAR-END
FORMS, PER CAPITA & MISSION FORMS,
ANNUAL REPORTS? Please remember to send ALL reports to the
Presbytery Office at Lakeshore Center at Okoboji!
The IRS announced the 2017 mileage rate as follows: $ 0.53.5 for business
$ 0.17 for medical
$ 0.14 for charitable
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These pictures are from the NCI very well-attended Elder Training Workshop held Saturday, January 21, in Iowa Falls. Thank you to everyone who attended!
Speaker: Rev. Dr. JC Austin
Fearless Leadership in an Anxious Age" " Hastings College, Hastings, NE
REGISTER NOW!
View 2017 Winter Pastors' School
Schedule
REGISTRATION BEGINS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016
LAST DAY FOR EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017 LAST DAY TO REGISTER IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017
You may also register at the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation website (www.omahapresbyterianseminaryfoundation.org)
For more information, please visit www.omahapresbyterianseminaryfoundation.org
The Board of Directors of Lakeshore Center
at Okoboji met on Friday, January 29. It was
a beautiful day in a glorious setting.
Have you or your children been to camp
lately? If not, please consider this
wonderful opportunity to experience God in
such a beautiful place.
And as always, please keep Lakeshore
Center at Okoboji, its Director and all if its
staff members in your prayers as they begin
gearing up for a great 2017!
UPCOMING EVENTS TO ATTEND WITHIN THE
PCUSA
NEXT CHURCH 2017 NATIONAL GATHERING
March 13-15, 2017 Theme: “Wells and Walls: Well-Being in a Thirsty World”
Kansas City, MO
nextchurch.net/gatherings/theme-general-information
BIG TENT July 6-8, 2017 Be inspired - Become equipped - Get connected
St Louis, MO, Washington University
presbyterianmission.org/big tent
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