May 14, 2007

Reformed Always Reforming

“We are perceiving in a new way. A way that just two years ago, we would not have been able. The changes we have gone through allow us to be in a very different place.”

words spoken by an Elder of

Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church

An unexpected edge to transformation is our ability to see the culture anew. With a number of churches in the presbytery making the move to transformation, I find myself excited, trying to understand what they are doing. As they make the move into the culture and become relevant to their context they are able to better see and hear the world in which we live.

I am hearing more frustration about how we are built for the Christendom Era and our methods are outdated. I hear acknowledgement that our Book of Order has us in a box. I hear how the culture has changed and we remain the same. The list goes on from church leaders who cling to the old, refusing to see their declining reality, and clergy who are weary because of how long it takes a church to change.

What is working? Here are some of the things that are working.

Alternative worship – more that half of the Christians in this country, excluding the Catholics, attend an alternative worship service. 28 churches in the presbytery have two or more types of worship.

New Church Development – by definition new churches have to be relevant for their context very quickly or they won’t make it. The saying is, “New Churches innovate and existing churches imitate.”

Emergent Church – the Big Event this year gave a pretty big taste of emergent. The Emergent Church seems to be a reaction against the surface approach of some conservative evangelicals who are saying that once you have professed your faith in Jesus Christ you’re into heaven while the Christian message to transform the world seems to have gotten lost.

The Missional Church is about sending disciples out into the world with the hope of learning the context and then contextualizing our response.

The Equipping Church is built with the focus of being on a spiritual journey of all members and small groups equipped to do the ministry of the church. Ark and Dove is making the transition.

Presbyterians are reformed always reforming. I like it.

Bill Millen

Associate Executive Presbyter

Inside this issue

Upcoming Events:

Luncheon for Retired Clergy, Spouses and Surviving Spouses

May 14 12:00pm

Patrick’s, Cockeysville

Take Note/Act Now

§ Care of Creation Task Force

§ New Online Resources

§ Seeking Organist

§ Prayer Ribbon Project

§ HS Youth Retreat Cancelled

§ Pentecost Offering

§ The Santi School Project

§ God & Gang Clergy Summit

§ Original Play Performance

§ Seeking 15-psgr van

§ MCCCB Open House

Prayer Concerns
Chestnut Grove PC

Lochearn PC

People

Prayer Concerns

Chestnut Grove PC

asks for prayers:

· For the progress of their new men’s group, JourneyMen

· For their youth and adult mission trip to Puerto Rico in June

· For their new Elders and Deacons, installed on May 13^th

· For new members who have recently joined them, that they will find their place in the CGPC family

Lochearn PC

asks for prayers:

· As they struggle with their finances and church budget

· As they strive to become a prayerful and tithing church

· As they continue to become a church for their community

· As they seek the appropriate program for their Chapel

· For the youth of their church and community, as well as their new members

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)

Effective today, May 14, 2007, USPS rates have increased. All mail rates will be affected by these changes. The way we mail will significantly change, especially due to the new regulation regarding Shape-Based Pricing. (more)

The Care of Creation Task Force will soon be calling pastors to learn how churches in the Baltimore Presbytery are involved in caring for creation and how the task group can help churches with their ministries.

Check out the freshly updated website links section of the Presbytery website for links to a wide variety of resources for churches, from adult education resources and advertising resources to youth ministry resources and website resources (more).

First PC of Westminster is seeking an Organist/Accompanist (more).

First and Franklin Street PC is doing a prayer ribbon project for American service people in Iraq, Iraqi victims of war, and peace. The ribbon project has begun on Sundays during the month of May and will culminate in the creation of a special outdoor display on May 27^th which will continue for the duration of the war in Iraq (more).

The Presbytery High School Youth Retreat, previously scheduled for May 18^th – 20^th, has been cancelled due to a lack of sufficient registrations.

The youth committee would like to remind pastors and church members that the PC(USA) Pentecost Offering to be taken up on May 27^th benefits at-risk youth, youth and children. GA suggests that congregations keep 40% of the offering to use toward ministry to at-risk youth and children in their local communities. The committee encourages congregations to show their support for the youth. Materials are available from PC(USA) (more).

On June 10^thfrom 2-5pm Catonsville PC will host a fundraising event for The Santi School Project, a project to build a primary school in Nepal. Contact Chris Heun for more information (more).

"Where the Rubber Meets the Road: God & Gang Clergy Summit" is a citywide inter-faith endeavor for pastors and clergy, particularly for ministers working with youth. It will be held on Thursday, June 14, 9am-4pm, at Israel Baptist Church of Baltimore City (more).

The Lochearn PC players are presenting an original play, “4 Walls and a Cross” on June 22^nd and 23^rd (more).

Brown Memorial Park Avenue PC, First PC of Howard and Govans PC are taking youth to Montreat for a PC (USA) event July 8^th – 14^th and are seeking a 15-passenger van. Does your church have a van available to lend in support of this youth event? Please contact Deb Milcarek at 410.433.2012.

Synod and General Assembly Items
The deadline for signing up for National Pastors’ Sabbath (June 28-July 2) is May 21^st; http://www.pcusa.org/pastorsabbath.

Other Events and Items

The Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore is celebrating the 3^rd Annual Islamic Awareness Week with an Open House, May 17^th – 20^th. For exhibit tour hours and a listing of discussions and book signings please visit www.asmib.com.

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