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PRESBYTERY CONNECTION A Bi-Weekly Newsletter of the Presbyteries of North Central Iowa and Prospect Hill June 7, 2018

To see North Central Iowa’s calendar of events, please click

here.

To see Prospect Hill’s calendar of events, please click here.

The Presbytery Connection is a

bi-weekly joint newsletter for the

Presbyteries of North Central

Iowa and Prospect Hill. If you

would like to contribute to the

Presbytery Connection, please

contact Jeannie Stolee in the

Presbytery office at 319-233-1747

or northiowapresby@gmail.com.

If you know of someone who

would enjoy receiving this

communication, please email or

call Jeannie.

Please consider making copies of

this newsletter for your Session

and running several copies to

make available to your

congregation.

Normal Presbytery office hours

are Monday through Friday,

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Presbyteries Dinner at General Assembly The Presbyteries of North Central Iowa and Prospect Hill plan to gather for dinner together during the General Assembly at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, at Copia Restaurant and Wine Garden, 1122 Washington Ave., St. Louis. If you are planning to be at General Assembly and would like to attend the dinner, please let Jeannie in the Presbytery office know by Wednesday, June 13, so she can get a firm reservation number to the restaurant. You may call Jeannie at 319-233-1747 or email northiowapresby@gmail.com.

Presbytery Office Schedule The Presbytery office will close at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 11. The Presbytery office will be closed July 4, 5 and 6 for the 4th of July holiday.

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Prayers of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa Week of June 10 Pray for the General Assembly, which will meet June 16 – June 23 Week of June 17 Pray for honorably retired pastors of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa (not currently serving churches): Rev. Bruce Baillie, Rev. John Bates, Rev. Fran Beyea, Rev. Susan Cluts, Rev. Dan Emmert, Rev. Robert EnTin, Rev. Jerry Evelsizer, Rev. John Hanna, Rev. Richard Harken, Rev. Wesley Harker, Rev. Jack Mauldin, Rev. Harold Martin, Rev. Marian “Pete” McCart, Rev. Larry Mitchell, Rev. Charles Orr, Rev. John Osborn, Rev. Mark Pell, Rev. Charles Quirk, Rev. Robert Roof, Rev. LaVern Seth, Rev. Mary Wilber, Rev. Cathy Young Pray for those who have served as Commissioned Pastors and are now retired: Clair Hein, Donna Steven, Marcia Rich, John Butler Week of June 24 First Presbyterian Church, Greene, and First Presbyterian Church, Rudd – Rev. Catherine Belles Week of July 1 Pray for chaplains in the military Week of July 8 First Presbyterian Church, Boone – Rev. Denise Group

Prayers of the Presbytery of Prospect Hill Week of June 10 Pray for the General Assembly, which will meet June 16 – June 23 Week of June 17 Faith United Presbyterian Church, Sioux City – Rev. David Koehler Week of June 24 First Presbyterian Church, Paullina – Rev. Angel de la Cruz Week of July 1 Pray for chaplains in the military Week of July 8 First Presbyterian Church, Sioux City – Rev. Dr. Tom Murray

Additional Prayer Concerns Please pray for Rev. Bob Cook, his wife, Eva Alejandra, and their daughters, Angela Ariel and Gabriela Aurora, on the death of Eva’s mother, Milagro. Please remember Rev. Dr. Barbara Gaddis in your prayers as Moderator of Committee on Office of General Assembly. Please continue to keep Angie Reemtsma, daughter-in-law of Walt and Jan Reemtsma, in your prayers as she remains hospitalized. Please continue to remember Rev. Dr. Rich and Val King and family in your prayers as they transition to a new home after the April 27 fire.

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Churches and Pastors in Transition

The following churches and pastors are in transition: Presbytery of North Central Iowa Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Ames First Presbyterian Church, Toledo

Presbytery of Prospect Hill Wheatland Presbyterian Church, Breda Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church, Bronson First Presbyterian Church, Cleghorn Union Church, Lake City Community Presbyterian Church, Lawton First Presbyterian Church, Sac City Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Storm Lake First Presbyterian Church, South Sioux City

Thoughts of Rev. David Feltman, Pastor to the Presbytery,

Presbytery of North Central Iowa

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, When I was younger, and in the parish, I often listened to great preachers on cassette tapes. I’m sure it aided my preaching and it needed assistance. Rev. Dr. Ernie Campbell was one of those preachers. I have probably shared this with you before, I remember driving from Chicago to Fort Dodge engulfed in the preaching of Dr. Campbell. Traveling north on Interstate 90 I missed the exit to go west on Highway 20. I woke up at the sign, WELCOME TO WISCONSIN. A sermon that stays with me is his sermon on Luke 20:25, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (RSV). I wish I could find the old tape and quote his words exactly because they were powerful. Let my memory and paraphrase suffice. Campbell said usually when we hear this text, the preacher rails that we are not giving what is due to God. Campbell took a different approach and dared to suggest perhaps we have been cheating Caesar. Then he went on to say –

− I have been educated in schools I did not build

− Granted scholarships from benefactors who went before me

− I have been healed in hospitals, equipped by others

− Opportunities provided . . . He concludes, “I have done a lot of taking, it is time to give back.” Some may say this column is too political at the time of an election. This verse showed up in my devotional reading this morning inviting me to retell Campbell’s interpretation of Luke 20:25. The amount of need in the time in which we live is overwhelming. The brokenness of many families which spills into the challenges of our schools. The environmental concerns which are crying for our serious attention. Our social structures are frayed to the point of riot. I agree with Campbell that we have been cheating Caesar and the consequence of our neglect is all before us.

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God has placed the church in the community for the sake of the community. Christians are to live out the teachings of Jesus which have so much to say about the vulnerable, those in need and those who need help with a second chance. Biblical scholars remind us the scriptures teach God is compassionate. God feels the pain of a suffering world. Compassion is nearly absent in much of the conversation these days, even in the church. Joyce Rupp writes about compassion in her book, THE CUP OF OUR LIFE. I quote,

Mary Jo Meadows defines compassion as “the quivering of the heart in response to another’s suffering” and notes that “compassionate beings . . . cannot bear to see suffering and remain unengaged. Compassion is the quality of being able to “get inside the skin of another” in order to respond with loving concern and care. Jack Kornfield writes about the truly loving person breathing in the pain of the world and breathing out compassion. That is how compassion is, and how closely connected to others. Each life influences and affects the other in some way. The more we see our world as a vast interconnectedness of all beings, the more drawn we will be to compassion because we will see how much one life is related to and affected by another . . . Probably no quality more identifies a Christian than that of compassion (p. 110).

With Love in Christ, Dave Feltman

A Word from Rev. Dr. Glenn Wilson, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa

Recently the Presbytery of North Central Iowa hosted Rev. Adam Mixon, a bi-vocational pastor from Birmingham, Alabama, who led a seminar on tentmaking that was quite thought-provoking. In sharing about being a tentmaking pastor with another full-time job, he emphasized some ideas for ministry that are good for all pastors and churches to remember. He proclaimed that pastors must plan their work. He said that pastors must empower their laity and promote good discipleship. He suggested that pastors must lose their ego in pursuing good discipleship and empowering the laity. The idea of empowering the laity is one that we have embraced in the Presbytery of North Central Iowa. Our Elder training with Dr. Joe Small has been effective in promoting lay leadership. Good churches need strong lay leaders working in their midst. It goes to the heart of the Great Commission: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’.” Matthew 28:18-20. We are to “make disciples” and one of the best places to start is in our own churches. By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more Christlike. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the

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Word of God. This requires that we be in the Word daily – studying it, praying over it, and obeying it. In addition, we should always be ready to give testimony of the reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and to disciple others to walk in His way. According to Scripture, being a Christian disciple involves personal growth characterized by the following:

1. Putting Jesus first in all things (Mark 8:34-38). 2. Following Jesus’ teachings (John 8:31-32). 3. Fruitfulness (John 15:5-8). Our job is not producing fruit. Our job is to abide in Christ, and if

we do, the Holy Spirit will produce the fruit, and this fruit is the result of our obedience. 4. Love for other disciples (John 1:34-35). We are told that love of other believers is the

evidence of our being a member of God’s family (1 John 3:10). Love is defined and elaborated in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

5. Evangelism – making disciples of others (Matthew 28:18-20). We are to share our faith and tell nonbelievers about the wonderful changes Jesus Christ has made in our lives.

Mixon talked of equipping the saints for the ministry. He said, “When our laity demonstrates the maturity and capability to serve in some particular capacity, or even at least shows some potential, we must trust them and free them to serve with us!” This is good, healthy and biblical! It is how the church flourishes. Mixon also talked about practicing the presence of God. We can hear God if we are listening. And we can see God at work in greater ways. He is always there with us in all situations. “Let us thus think often that we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD; which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him. The only business in this life is to please GOD, that perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity.” – Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. Mixon ended with the truth that times are changing, and the church must adapt to those changes. We must keep attempting to do good work. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9. Rev. Dr. Glenn Wilson

A Word from Rev. Sara Hill, Moderator of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa Grace and Peace to You! This summer is the second season of First Presbyterian Church’s Community Garden. This was a dream in my mind back in 2016 and I still pinch myself that it is a reality. Truly, it’s been a joy to see this dream to fruition. Thanks to our denomination’s retreat for ordained ministers called CREDO, I had the space to dream about this garden in depth and make plans for it. Another church member helped me sketch out the garden and continue to dream and plan. Our Deacons enthusiastically set aside some memorial money to fund the project (“seed money”). A $500 Presbytery Mission & Ministry grant helped financially, too.

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Church members donated their labor to build our raised beds, our preschoolers began seeds in cups on the windowsill, and families signed up to be “Master Gardeners” for a week throughout the summer to water, weed and harvest. I am looking forward to seeing what grows this summer. We donate the produce to ministries around town such as the men’s homeless shelter and the food pantry. It’s always a joy to see the church community come together in a new way with new energy. It’s always a joy to see dreams become reality. Where have you seen joy in your daily living and in your ministry lately? Joy, Rev. Sara Hill

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Prospect Hill’s June COM meeting has been rescheduled from June 12 to June 26, 2018. It will start

at 10:00 a.m. and will be held at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. Please be sure to make

this change on your calendar.

The Presbytery of North Central Iowa will NOT hold a called presbytery meeting on June 11, 2018.

PRESBYTERIES WORKING TOGETHER

Four of the presbyteries in Iowa are involved in conversation about our common ministry; a shared

mission concern is mental health/mental illness and the shortage of services available to the citizens

of our state. Our churches are on the front lines of meeting the needs of our members and residents

of our communities. We are encouraging church leaders to receive training in Mental Health First Aid

and will post when this training is offered in our presbyteries.

North Central Iowa

Mission Partnership Grant Applications

REMINDER: August 25, 2018 is the submission deadline for the North Central Iowa Mission

Partnership Grant Applications. Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Applications have been sent to all churches in the Presbytery of North Central Iowa. You may also find

the application here.

Job Postings Director of Campus Ministry and Adult Spiritual Formation, Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Ames, Iowa. For more information, please click here. Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Ames is seeking a Head of Staff. Persons interested in this pastoral position may send their PIF to Selden Spencer at seldenes@gmail.com. Ordained Minister, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, please click here.

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Women of the Presbyterian Church

The Women of the Presbyterian Church invite you to their

Summer Program on Wednesday, June 27th at the

1st Presbyterian Church at 812 Audubon Street, Sac City, Iowa.

We will feature Sammie Bruce as she “Tickles the Ivories”

with some “Fun with Musical Notes” for our program.

We begin the evening at 6:30 pm with a light dessert & drink.

This program is open to the public and there will be a free-will

offering.

Please bring a couple friends with you for a fun-filled evening.

This is a night You Will NOT Want to Miss!

Please RSVP to 662-4304

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Meet the Missionaries

Rev. Dr. Victor Makari and Sara Makari – Israel-Palestine As a liaison for ecumenical partnership, most of Victor’s time is spent providing consultative support for the witness of the Christian community in the Middle East to issues of religion and state in the Arab world. “Maintaining the bonds of relationship with the churches and giving substance to the fellowship we have together in the body of Christ are very important,” say Sara and Victor. Sara

edits English-language publications produced by the Diyar Consortium, an ecumenically oriented organization initiated by the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bethlehem. Home presbytery: Scioto Valley/Shenango E200525, D507586

Rev. Leslie Vogel – Guatemala Leslie works as facilitator for the Intercultural Encounters program of the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA). She helps CEDEPCA provide people from the U.S. with immersion opportunities in which they work alongside Guatemalans and experience everyday life in the country. It’s a position that draws on her passion to build relationships with

people who are suffering, marginalized, and seeking justice and to offer them presence, accompaniment, and solidarity. Leslie is uniquely placed to help partners in the two countries explore the opportunities and challenges of working together in God’s mission. Home presbytery: Grand Canyon E200483, D507562

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Synod of Lakes and Prairies

Racial Ethnic Student Preparation for Leadership

Scholarship Fund The Racial Ethnic Scholarship Fund is an educational assistance program designed to encourage Racial Ethnic students in their preparation for service in the Presbyterian Church USA. Funds for this program are provided by the Committee on Racial Ethnic Ministry. Applicants must be: 1. Racial Ethnic students whose

permanent residence is within the bounds of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.

2. Active member in a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

3. Enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing.

4. Making progress toward a degree. 5. Able to demonstrate financial need. Applications will be evaluated and awards selected on the basis of information supplied on this form and the pastor’s and teacher’s recommendations. Students must be able to demonstrate their preparation for service as a church professional or community leadership role. Winning consideration will focus on personal qualities reflected in school, church and community activities, and academic achievement. If you are interested in this scholarship program, all necessary admissions and financial aid forms for the school to which you

are a current student must be completed. It is your responsibility to be sure that all forms, including the required transcript, financial aid statement and letters of recommendation are submitted to our committee by the deadline with your scholarship application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to return a completed application. All applicants will be notified by the committee if they have been chosen as a finalist or not. The scholarship awards may only be used toward educational costs and will be paid directly to the school. The grant is a supplement to any other financial aid received by the student and becomes a part of the total financial aid package. Please direct your questions to: Committee on Racial Ethnic Ministry Synod of Lakes and Prairies 2115 Cliff Drive Eagan, MN 55122-3327 Phone: 1-800-328-1880, x 204 or x 202 Fax: 651-357-1141 mkes@lakesandprairies.org Deadline: September 30, 2018

The Scholarships are made available through funds provided by Committee on Racial Ethnic Ministry, Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Presbyterian Church (USA). If you would like an application, please contact Jeannie in the Presbytery office (319-233-1747 or northiowapresby@gmail.com).

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Being Proactive Rather than Reactive: Planning for the Future

Where: Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church, Cedar Falls When: Saturday, July 21, 2018 9:45 a.m. Registration and Coffee 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (lunch will be provided at no cost) How: Email Jeannie Stolee at northiowapresby@gmail.com by Monday, July 9, indicating the number attending from your church For more information, please click here.

Washington Island Forum

“Reading the Verbs:

Finding the Scripture in the Scripture” with Dr. Anna Carter Florence

June 25 – 29, 2018

For more information, please click here.

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Visit www.lakeshorecenteratokoboji.org to see a full brochure of camps and to register online!

GA News Subscription for

GA 223 June 16-23, 2018 in St. Louis

Attention Pastors and Congregational Leaders! What’s happening at General Assembly this year? When GA 223 meets in St. Louis June 16-23, the General Assembly Newsroom will publish the GA Newspaper every day. A team of crackerjack reporters will fan out through the committees and events, to bring all the news to your inbox. Subscription is easy and FREE! As congregational leaders, you are the “front line” responders to help your people understand what the Assembly ACTUALLY did, and the whole scope of news. What we hear repeatedly is that pastors who can’t be at the Assembly are frequently asked questions about GA that they are not prepared to answer – by subscribing to the daily paper, they will be well-equipped to respond when parishioners (and others) ask. Here’s the deal: click on the link and it will take you to the sign-up page to receive the GA NEWS delivered free to your inbox each morning of the Assembly. What you will receive is a pdf of the actual newspaper printed each day at the Assembly.

https://ga-pcusa.org/#Anchor-EmailSignup

For any questions, be in touch with Jerry Van Marter, General Assembly Newsroom director: jerry.vanmarter@pcusa.org.

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Commissioned Hymn for June 17 Draw the Welcome Circle Wider

The Committee on Local Arrangements (COLA) has commissioned Mary Louise Bringle to write a hymn text for General Assembly 223. The new hymn Draw the Circle Wider incorporates the GA’s theme “Renewing the Vision: Kingdom Building for the Twenty-first Century” with biblical metaphors, social justice themes, and even a surprising nod to the GA’s location in St. Louis. The hymn will be sung to the pentatonic shape-note tune BEACH SPRING. Through an arrangement with GIA Publications, Inc., the copyright holder of the hymn, arrangements have been made for local congregations to be able to download, print and use the hymn in worship services on Sunday, June 17, 2018 while the General Assembly is in session. Churches wishing to use Draw the Welcome Circle Wider after June 17 are asked to secure permission through ONE LICESE (https://onelicense.net) for congregational reprints. GIA will publish the hymn in an anthology later this year. Accompaniment for the tune BEACH SPRING may be found at #490, 498 or 716 in Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal. We hope that you will be able to connect with General Assembly by using this hymn in your worship services on June 17! See the hymn below, or click on the link for full details: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/c5003d_269c0b37c511449ea63c22e5c15bca01.pdf

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The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will be held August 2-5, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. 2018 is also the year that PW celebrates its 30th anniversary! Advance registration for the Gathering will close on July 7. Register online or by mail! If you’re not sure if you can attend or can’t convince your friend to join you, no worries! On-site registration will be available, so continue to promote the Gathering and tell your friends they can register there!

For a summary of the Spring Meeting of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies held at Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center in Farmington, Minnesota, April 29-30 and May 1, 2018, please click here.

Please click here for information on Presbytery of North Central Iowa Ruling Elder Cohort led by Dr. Joe Small.

Please click here for information on The Academy.