August 20, 2007

Lois Kroehler: A Cuban Experience in Mission

In 2003, I began attending the Worldwide Ministries Cuba Partnerships network meetings held in Louisville, Ky. and directed by Mission Co-Worker, Rev. Tricia Lloyd Sidle. For our Baltimore group, this was an immense source of wisdom, practical resources, and opportunities to compare and contrast our experiences. A national Yahoo Group soon followed, which became the forum for all communications and issues confronting the 11 PC(USA) Presbyteries and 30 churches working with the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba.

It was there in 2007, on the heels of the World Mission ’07 Conference, I listened and talked to Lois Kroehler about her experiences living in Cuba during 30 years of embargo, failed invasion and assassination attempts. Her life shines like one of the true “thousand points of light” President George H. W. Bush was wont to speak of in his 1991 State of the Union address. Lois went to Cuba in 1949. She taught music and composition at the Presbyterian school called “La Progresiva” in Cardenas, and remained there after the 1959 Cuban Revolution, despite warnings from friends and the massive exodus of other Americans and Cubans.

She said, “I stayed because they were my family. I couldn’t abandon them or the work we are doing together.” It’s not that Lois wasn’t afraid. From time to time she wondered what the Castro government’s policy would be towards North American citizens in the post Bay of Pigs Cuba? Would they expel her; lock her up? Neither happened. She was allowed to continue with her composing and teaching in the same community as before. “Obviously I was no threat to them,” she declared, “they knew where I was living. I just kept working. This was my call.”

The sweeping themes of her life’s work moved me as I sat at her side. Her decision to remain in Cardenas despite possible retribution spoke of God’s universal and unconditional love, which speaks above ideological differences. Lois demonstrated unswerving faith in God; as well as, faith that her fellow man would recognize and honor their commonalities while respecting political differences. Lois’s life is a lesson of fidelity to family, friend and personal vision; and, through it, she has demonstrated the courage needed to contest those who fled Cuba long ago.

Our Choices do define us. The story of Lois’ life gives us the courage to live outside our comfort zone in these times -- as individuals and as a nation.

John Walter, Global Mission Committee

Inside this issue

Take Note/Act Now

§ In Brief

§ Mission Committee

§ Update Brief

§ Annapolis Day

§ The Big Event!

§ World AIDS Day

§ Advent Potluck Dinner

§ Christmas Cantata

§ “Peace Be With You” Recital

§ Benefits Talk

§ Human Rights Day

§ Developmental Disabilities Coalition Media Training

§ Presbytery seeks

volunteer videographer

Praise and Prayers:

Please pray for Anne Dale, the wife of Pastor James Dale of Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church, whose mother, Helen Hyde of Memphis, Tenn. died Friday Nov. 23rd.

Contact Information

The Presbytery of Baltimore:

Phone: 410-433-2012

or 800-511-0087

Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

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Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items

In Brief: Report on the Presbytery of Baltimore’s 826^th Stated Meeting. [more]

Update! There will be no mission committee meeting in the month of December.

Save the Date! Presbytery of Baltimore in Annapolis Day. On Monday, Feb. 4th, the Presbytery will sponsor Annapolis Day in Rm. 170 of the House of Delegates building. Everyone, including youth --

Is welcomed to participate in this event to witness state government in action.

Save the Date! The Big Event will be held Saturday, Feb. 23^rd at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park. This year’s event is entitled, “Does Presbyterianism Have A Future,” and features keynote speaker, Dr. Barbara G. Wheeler, Pres. of Auburn Theological Seminary.

Church Notices

Central Presbyterian Church will sponsor World AIDS Day 2007 from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday, Dec. 1^st. A reception will follow the 3pm service at the church, located at 7308 York Road in Baltimore. HIV/AIDS ministry exhibits are welcomed. For more info., call Tony Johnson at 410-576-5070 ext. 35 or email: tony@airshome.org.

Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church will celebrate the beginning of Advent with a potluck dinner and spirited performance by the Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf in Arbutus. The festivities will be held Saturday, Dec. 1^stat 6:30pm.

Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church will feature the Christmas cantata, “The Christmas Rose,” by Joseph Martin at 11am Sunday, Dec. 9^th.

Towson Presbyterian Church Peace and Justice Committee presents, “Peace Be With You”, an afternoon of peaceful meditation in song, scripture and readings at 4pm on Sunday, Dec. 2^nd in the church’s sanctuary. [more]

Synod and General Assembly Items

Plan to observe Human Rights Day on December 10^th, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. For worship resources and information, contact the Peacemaking Program’s UN Office by clicking: [more].

Other Items and Events

The Board of Pensions offers $3,000 for sabbaticals for ministers of churches with less than 200 members. http://www.pensions.org/library/publications/newsletters/boardbulletin/summer2007/bb.pdf

Did you know more than16 thousand people with developmental disabilities are waiting for state services or funding? Join the Maryland campaign to END THE WAIT NOW! The Developmental Disabilities Coalition will host a meeting at 9:30am on Dec. 1^st at Howard Community College to teach its constituents to use YouTube videos to lobby for disability issues. Contact Beth Munro at egmunro@aol.com to register. Nov. 27^th is the deadline.

To enhance communication services to its member churches, the Presbytery of Baltimore is seeking a volunteer to videotape short productions for the internet. Equipment will be provided. For more information, contact Deborah I. Greene at 410.433.2012 as part of its media ministry.

Also on the Presbytery of Baltimore website

Find past issues of Tidings at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html.

See new Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/announcements.html Presbytery Yearly Calendar

Tidings is provided through your support of the Presbyterian Church

Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter

pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org

Bill Millen, Associate Executive

bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org

Vaughn L. Brown Jr., Stated Clerk

vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org

Deb Milcarek

Associate of Mission and Justice