April 30, 2007

Presbytery Meeting Focuses on Peacemaking

and Urban Violence

The Presbytery of Baltimore took another step toward addressing the issue of urban violence on Thursday, April 26, hearing from a panel of experts that included Dr. Manuel Raposo from the Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention Unit of the Baltimore City Public School System, Dr. Philip Leaf from the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence, the Rev. Heber Brown, III, from the Maryland Mentoring Partnership and Young Clergy for Social Change, and Lt. Col. Richard Hite from the newly formed Youth Division of the Baltimore City Police Department.

While the panelists all came from Baltimore City, where more than 80 murders have occurred this year, presbyters were mindful that deadly violence can strike any community. Just ten days earlier, the deadliest shooting in U.S. history had taken place at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. And much closer to home, on the very same day that the Presbytery met in Columbia, a 40-year-old woman working at a 7-Eleven store on Columbia Road was shot and killed. It was the second murder in Howard County this year.

On Thursday afternoon, Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the 216^th General Assembly (2004) and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, spoke passionately about the need for Christians to be willing to take risks to reduce violence in all its many forms. Commenting on Acts 17:1-9, he said: “We are called to turn the world upside down. Are we interested in following that kind of radical gospel?”

The panelists emphasized the important role the faith community has to play in addressing urban violence. They urged congregations to venture outside the walls of their church buildings and engage their surrounding communities. And they stressed the need for adults to reach out to children and youth with a listening ear.

Interested pastors and church members are invited to a follow-up meeting on Tuesday, May 8, at 7:00 p.m., to determine where we go from here, what are the next steps, what action will we take as churches/as a Presbytery. The meeting will take place at Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church, 4640-44 Edmondson Avenue, in Baltimore. All are welcome!

Rev. Roger Scott Powers

Pastor, Light Street Presbyterian Church
Assoc. Pastor, The First & Franklin Street Presbyterian Church

Inside this issue

Events of the Week:

Spring Regional Meetings

May 2 1:00 – 3:00pm

(bag lunch at noon)

Topic: Personnel

Good Shepherd PC, Joppa

May 3 1:00 – 3:00pm

(bag lunch at noon)

Topic: Evangelism

First PC of Howard Co., Columbia

Urban Ministry Consultation (final)

May 5 9:00am – 1:30pm

Knox PC, Baltimore

Take Note/Act Now

§ St. John United in the News

§ Seeking DCE (x 2)

§ Seeking Youth Director

§ Flea Market & Silent Auction

§ HS Gulf Coast Trips, PDA

§ Maryland Nonprofits Training

§ EI Summer Classes

§ Chaplain Training Conf.

Prayer Concerns
Cherry Hill PC

Roland Park PC

People

Please pray for Tom Morgan as he and the First PC of Barton wrestle with the aftermath of two deaths at a local coal mine.

Please pray for the family and friends of Camilla Loretta Heaggans, Donna Lea’s sister, who passed on April 20^th after a long illness. The service was held on April 28^th.

The congregation of First PC of Howard County voted to change the status of Sue Lowcock Harris and Morton Harris from designated co-pastors to installed co-pastors.

Prayer Concerns

Cherry Hill PC

asks for prayers:

· For peace in their community and an elimination of violence; particular prayers at this time of year that the violence that is normally associated with hot summer temperatures would be lessened

· For their church that they would hear God’s voice and direction within their community

· For a continuation of the increase of the Holy Spirit in their church’s life

Roland Park PC

asks for prayers:

· For the family of Sgt. John E. Allen and others killed in Iraq; for peace of mind for the families of those serving in Iraq; for impact of the new weekly practice of lighting a peace candle during worship

· For upcoming baptisms in May and confirmations in June

· For the work of the PNC as it enters the final stages in its search for a called pastor

· Of thanksgiving for the life of Ella Rowe who passed on in April at the age of 92 after years of dedicated service to RPPC and the community

Contact Information

For the Presbytery Offices:

Phone: 410-433-2012

or 800-511-0087

Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

To Unsubscribe:

email Alice McGee or call the office

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (non-dated items first; dated items in date order)

The Baltimore Sun published a very favorable article in Friday’s paper on the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center campus expansion, supported in part by St. John United Church (more).

Mt. Hebron PC is seeking a part-time Director of Christian Education, beginning in the fall of 2007 (more).

St. John United Church is seeking a part-time Director of Christian Education (more).

Northminster PC is seeking a Youth Director. 10-16 hours per week (more).

Light Street PC will be hosting a flea market and silent auction on May 19^th from 8:00am – 3:00pm (more).

Synod and General Assembly Items

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has designed a special program for groups of upper high school students (age 16-18) to participate in the Presbyterian Volunteer Village experience and the Gulf Coast recovery effort. Weeks that will be specifically for youth include the period June 17-30, and July 1-7 with the Orange Grove Presbyterian Volunteer Village (more).

Other Events and Items

The Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations has posted its May schedule of training programs (more).

The Ecumenical Institute of Theology of St. Mary’s Seminary and University offers accredited master’s-level theological education (courses, certificates, degrees) to women and men of all denominations. May 15 is the deadline for applications for the summer term, which begins June 4 (more).

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is offering a Chaplain Training Conference September 17^th – 20^th. The conference includes International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) courses recognized by FEMA (more).

Also on our website

Don’t miss all the new Local Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/announcements.html Presbytery Yearly Calendar

Past Issues of Tidings are available at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html.

Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter

pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org

Bill Millen, Associate Executive

bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org

Charles Forbes, Stated Clerk

cforbes@baltimorepresbytery.org

Deb Milcarek

Associate of Mission and Justice

dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org