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March 5, 2007 |
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March 5, 2007 |
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What Can Gap Clothing Teach Christians? Who
is the church’s primary audience and focus? It is God – so says
Kierkegaard. If we ask that question a second time, would you say that your
church’s focus is on its members or on those in the community who have
not yet discovered your church family? Your answer will probably determine
your church’s future. If we ask this question a third time –
things get even more uncomfortable. Who do we wish to invite in to our family
of Christians? When
I served churches I often asked them to identify their target audience
– so that we would be more effective in reaching them. Most of my
churches were uncomfortable with this request – because they wanted to
welcome all people. I
read an article a few weeks ago in the New
York Times that spoke about the decline with Gap clothing. The analysis
seemed clear. Gap had expanded broadly, lost its edge and, in fact, was
trying to sell clothing that would appeal to everyone and offend no one. On
the other hand, the clothing stores that were growing, like Chico’s or Talbots, had more narrowly defined themselves. Is there a
lesson here for the Church? I think so. If
we look at the statistics for growing churches within the Presbytery, one
thing that stands out is that these churches, whether liberal or
conservative, have narrowed their focus and become known for being comprised
of certain kinds of Christians. And those who identify with that kind of
Christianity have been finding these churches. Rather
than thinking that every individual church must suit everyone, perhaps we
need to remember that we are part of a larger church. Your church can not
meet the needs of everyone. Those
who do not feel at home in your church may well thrive in another church. And
so when we consider all the churches within the Presbytery, we can say that
all are welcome. So
let’s remember who our audience is. First, we seek to please God.
Second, our effort should not be to comfort those already in our church
family, but to use the church family as the vehicle by which we reach out to
others in our communities. And third, be clear about who you are and be not
afraid to be specific. Blessings, Peter |
Inside this issue Events of the Week: Grant Writing Workshop Mar. 6 3:00 - 5:00pm Before Presbytery meetings Presbytery Offices Take Note/Act Now § Conversations in Parables § Music and Meditation Programs § Computer Training Cancelled § Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday § Free
Books § Mir Brass Quintet § Ches. Bay
Volunteer-a-thon § The Church in the 21st Century § African American Ldshp. Retreat § Prayer & Witness, Middle East § Men’s 2007 Synod Conf. § EI Shadowing Program § Deaf and Hearing Expo Prayer
Concerns |
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People and Office The
next issue of Tidings will be released on Tuesday, March 13th. |
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Prayer Concerns New
Imani Community Church asks for prayers: ·
For growth
numerically, spiritually and financially as they move towards chartering ·
For the arrival of
their clergy and leadership coach during the month of April for a critical
meeting ·
For New Imani as
they search for the next location that God has for their congregation Contact Information For the Presbytery
Offices 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) Conversations in Parables: A
Lenten Series
is a study of God’s word and a gathering of community hosted
collaboratively by African, African American and multicultural churches
primarily on Thursdays during Lent. The next gathering will be Thursday,
March 8th at New Imani Community Church (more).
Towson
PC is offering Friday Music and
Meditation Programs during Lent, times of music, silence, prayer and
guided reflections. Fridays, 12:10pm – 12:45pm (more).
The MS Word computer
training that had been scheduled for March 7th and 14th
has been cancelled due to a lack of sufficient participants. The
Enough for Everyone program of the church helps poor farmers in Mexico and
Guatemala who grow and harvest palms
for Palm Sunday. The deadline for ordering Palms for this year is March
12th. Check out the website: www.pcusa.org/palms. Free
Books! Come out to Covenant PC in
Hagerstown to choose from nearly 200 volumes from library of Helen
Woodward. For the taking until March 15. The Mir Brass Quintet
will perform assorted works by Bach, Bartok, Ewazen
and more on Sunday, March 25th at 3:00pm at Brown Memorial Park
Ave. PC (more). Looking for an opportunity to get your congregation
involved in the effort to restore and
protect the Chesapeake Bay? Join Towson PC on Sunday, April 29th
in the Maryland Public Television Live Volunteer-a-thon from 4:30-6:00pm (more). Registration will begin this week for a National Cathedral
program on the Church in the 21st
Century, May 10-12 with the following leaders: Phyllis Tickle,
Marcus Borg, Diana Butler Bass, Tony Jones, Michael Battle and Barbara Brown
Taylor. The cost will be $250. Register at www.nationalcathedral.org An African American
Leadership Retreat is
being planned to be held on June 15-16, 2007, in a place yet to be
determined. Vanessa Hawkins, Assoc. for Black Congregational Enhancement, PC(USA) will be the retreat leader. Jane Johnson
will give updates as the particulars fall into place. Synod and General
Assembly GA
invites congregations to join in a Week
of Prayer and Witness with Christians in the Middle East during the
season of Easter 2007. Great resources are available at www.pcusa.org/worldwide/middleeast. The Presbyterian
Men’s 2007 Synod Conference will be held from July 20th
– 22nd at Massanetta Springs in Harrisonburg, VA. Contact Dave
Hodge for more information. Other items
and events The
Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will be hosting a Deaf and Hearing Expo Saturday, April
15th from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the BWI Marriott. Admission will be
free (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. |
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Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter |
Bill Millen, Associate Executive |
Charles Forbes, Stated Clerk |
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Deb Milcarek Associate of |
Jane Johnson |
Rita Walters Director of Development rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org |
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Director of Public Policy |
Judi Forrester Coordinator of Financial Services |
Alice McGee Coordinator of Information Services |
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Coordinator of Resources |
Coordinator of Communications |
Questions? Comments? |
