Midweek Musings Newsletter

March 13, 2008

 

795th Stated Meeting of Presbytery

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Church of the Covenant

503 Duncan Road / Wilmington, DE  19809

Council Meeting - 9:00 am

Presbytery Meeting - 10:00 am

 

New items have been posted on the Docket Page  for the upcoming March 29 Presbytery meeting.

 

Presbyterian Women Synod Summer Gathering!  See below for more details...

 

Midweek Musings by Reid Beveridge, Stated Clerk

 

Save the dates: May 6 & 7 in Smyrna. Mark your calendar!

 

What on earth for? you ask.

 

We have now confirmed the visit of Joan Gray, the moderator of the 2006-2008 General Assembly, to New Castle Presbytery. Joan’s visit two months hence will be the first GA moderator to visit our presbytery in 10 years. Even with a two-year term these days, GA moderators do not begin to get around to all 173 presbyteries in the PCUSA. So we are honored to be hosting her for even this brief “day,” which will be from about noon on Tuesday, May 6 to the afternoon-evening of Wednesday, May 7.

 

Plans are incomplete for her visit as this is written, but we wanted to make sure all New Castle Presbytery pastors and elders know of the visit and get these dates marked on their calendars.

 

We anticipate prayer events for Tuesday afternoon and again Wednesday morning for clergy and elders. During her moderatorial year, Joan has put considerable emphasis on the prayer life of the Presbyterian Church-USA. Joan also likes to sing, so we can anticipate breaking forth into song a lot. Indeed, during lulls in the 2006 General Assembly’s plenaries, she would pick a hymn, a pianist would appear (the YAD from one of the presbyteries seated down front late in the evening) and we would strike up the band.

 

We also anticipate a larger gathering Tuesday evening at First Church in Smyrna for all New Castle Presbyterians who wish to attend. This likely may well be a prayer service with the moderator offering the meditation. None of these details is final, though, so stay tuned.

 

For those of you who didn’t know it or have forgotten, Joan Gray was elected moderator of General Assembly in June 2006 on the third ballot that evening. There were four candidates originally. As David Parke (New Castle’s minister commissioner) and I (elder-commissioner) sat in our commissioners’ seats, we looked at each other and remarked that the most amazed person in the hall was Joan herself. Coming into that election, two other candidates were viewed as more likely winners. None, though, impressed the body in the way Joan did during the several hours of remarks and Q&A.

 

Joan is a graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. and received her M.Div. degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. She received her doctorate of ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

 

After her ordination in 1978, she served churches around the Atlanta area including being pastor and head of staff of Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur, just off the seminary campus. More recently, she has been an intentional interim in various Greater Atlanta Presbytery churches. She is considered an expert in Presbyterian polity and is the author of “Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers,” a book often prescribed for new elders.

 

Joan’s husband, Bill, is a partner in a large Atlanta law firm.

 

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Deepest Condolences

 

Greetings Friends,

 

We received news that Mr. William Emery suddenly passed away on Friday, March 7th.  He was a beloved friend and talented organist to many of our congregations.  He was a Presbyterian through and through and loved the church deeply.  Most recently he had been playing the organ for New London Presbyterian Church in Donegal Presbytery, and Rock Presbyterian Church in Fair Hill.  His memorial service was held today at 11 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Newark, DE.

 

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Easter Service at Hanover PC

 

Join us for Easter Sunday Worship

March 23rd at 11:00 AM

 

The inviting face of the family of God

 

Please download the postcard here: Hanover Easter Postcard.pdf

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 A Fond Farewell to Anne Robinson - Speer Trust

 

Anne has been the face of Speer Trust for 23 years and has been a wonderful representative.  We will all miss seeing her in the office but look forward to her having a wonderful retirement.  Several well wishers gathered on March 11th at New Castle Presbytery for an open house to bid a fond farewell to Anne.  There was good food and great friends.  A good time was had by all.  We'll miss you Anne and thank you for a job well done!

 

 

 

        

 

“People” have defined my years at Speer Trust: the people I have met and the people who we have helped.  I will miss both groups but will always treasure wonderful memories.

 

-Anne Robinson

 

     

 

"Thank you for such a special time with friends reminiscing about Speer Trust" - Anne Robinson

 

         

 

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Good Resource for Elders (and pastors and others)

Great Bible Teacher Coming to Wilmington

 

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 Surplus of Task Chairs

 

The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Philadelphia has a surplus of task chairs that are Knoll Bulldog chairs in good condition.  The most they would need is a good cleaning.  They are available now through March 31^st at our office.  They are free to the churches but they will have to make arrangements to pick them up.

 

If there is any interest, please contact:

 

Jackie Besco

Coordinator, Corporate Services

The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

2000 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA  19103

215-587-7286

jbesco@pensions.org

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2008 Camp/Conference Scholarships

 

 

The Leadership Development Unit will award a $100.00 scholarship to any youth under 18 who wish to attend a Christian-based camp or conference. A member congregation of NCP must be the sponsor of each applicant. All recipients will be asked to provide a brief report on their experience, such as a few sentences and a photo or two, which may be used in Presbytery communications. Photographs may be used on the Presbytery website. Payment will be made to the sponsoring church or directly to the camp or conference. A total of 50 scholarships will be available.

 

Scholarships for adults 18 and over to attend conferences will continue to be available. Applications should be made in writing to the Leadership Unit. Adult applicants will also be asked to provide a brief report and photo on their experience.

 

For an application form, click here LDU Scholarship application.pdf. For further information, contact Jeanette Zipf, jpzipf@aol.com, or (302)475-3294.

 

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Presbyterian Women Summer Synod Gathering

 

 

 

Presbyterian Women

Synod of the Mid-Atlantic 2008 Summer Gathering

"Together in God's Love"

 

June 12-15, 2008

 

Massanetta Springs Conference Center

Harrisonburg, Virginia

 

For more information please download the brochure and registration form here: 

 

SSG REGISTRATION FORM 2008.pdf 

 

2008 SYNOD GATHERING BROCHURE.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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