August 20, 2007

Doug Baker Visits Presbytery of Baltimore

Offers Advice to Churches Hosting Missionary Workers

Missionary workers from all over the world share a common experience: that people divided by culture can be joined together by faith and God’s grace. “Our lives are full of different divisions,” said Rev. Doug Baker, who serves as the Presbytery Church USA’s liaison to Northern Ireland. “As missionaries, we need to somehow speak to those different situations and transcend the many barriers that divide us.”

Last week, Rev. Baker shared his ministry with members of the Presbytery of Baltimore as part of Mission Challenge 2007. The month-long campaign sponsors missionary visits with congregations nationwide to encourage church members to become personally involved with PC(USA) workers and support God’s mission abroad – both, spiritually and financially.

According to Rev. Baker, there are 250 Presbyterian mission workers partnering with local churches to serve Christian communities around the world. While many are educators, some serve as evangelists, medical personnel, community developers; as well as, those who are involved in ecumenical relations and social issues.

In Northern Ireland, a country torn by decades of sectarian violence, Rev. Baker engages Protestant and Catholic factions in programs, partnerships and activities. Although, his work focuses on building trust; Rev. Baker said missionaries all over “help create a space, a context and an atmosphere where relationships can grow and be used to increase understanding throughout society.”

Rev. Baker eagerly shares his experiences; but, sometimes, finds local congregations unsure of how to fit him and other missionaries into their church programs. “Don’t think that mission workers want a relaxing time away from home,” he exclaimed. “Mission personnel travel thousands of miles and are asked to [talk] a minute about mission instead of preach. They want a full schedule.”

Rev. Baker suggested that congregations hosting visiting workers select a specific time for mission lectures and include those discussions as part of other church programs – such as, Women’s Circle, breakfast and youth meetings – to reach a wider cross-section of members. Congregations can support workers after they leave by lifting them up in prayer and making a financial commit-ment to missions abroad. They may also follow the mission of a particular worker through interpretive letters posted on the world-wide web, and share those experiences with others in church notices, newsletters and web-links.

For more information on Mission Challenge 2007 or PC(USA)’s missionary program, click www.pcausa.org/msr or www.pcusa.org/missionconnections.

Inside this issue

Upcoming Events:

Reclaiming the Role of the Elder Oct.25^th and Oct. 27^th

Youth Leader Training Event Oct. 29^th

Take Note/Act Now

§ Presbytery Stated Meeting

§ Elder Training

§ Youth Leader Training

§ Installation & Environmental Fair

§ Oni Buchanan Recital

§ Fall Festival in Joppa

§ Mission Fair

§ Urban Pumpkin Patch

§ Domestic Violence Awareness

§ Ecumenical Instit. of Theology Seminar

§ Faith Trust Institute for JORA

Prayer Concerns

New Imani Community

People

The Roland Park Presbyterian Nominating Committee has approved the candidate sermon of Mark Hanna for Sunday, October 28^th. Pastor Hanna is looking forward to working with a con-gregation that is open to the leading of God’s spirit and excited about engaging in God’s ministry and mission. Since 2003, he has served a congregation in Flemington, New Jersey.

Prayer Concerns

Please pray for:

New Imani Community as its members continue the search for a permanent place of worship; and, praise God for blessing the church’s partnership with Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church for Operation Christmas, as well as its mission to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Contact Information

The Presbytery of Baltimore:

Phone: 410-433-2012

or 800-511-0087

Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

To Unsubscribe:

Call or email Alice McGee

Take Note/Act Now

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

The Presbytery of Baltimore will hold a Stated Meeting at 1pm on Thursday, Nov. 15^th, at Lochearn Presbyterian Church.

Training for laypersons on Reclaiming the Role of the Elder continues throughout the Presbytery. To register for the following sessions, contact Jane Johnson at 410-433-2012 or jjohnson@baltimorepresbytery.org (more)

First Presbyterian Church of Howard County – Thurs., Oct. 25^th, 7pm-9pm
Covenant Presbyterian Church – Sat., Oct 27^th, 10am-12pm

Presbyters involved in Youth Ministry are invited to attend a Youth Leader Training Event at 10am on Monday Oct. 29^th at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air (more).

Church Notices

Towson Presbyterian Church will celebrate the installation of its Associate Pastor, Roger Rice, at 4pm on Sunday, Oct. 21^st. The church will also sponsor an Environmental Fair at 11:30am on the same Sunday. The cost is $7 per person or $15 per family (more).

Acclaimed pianist Oni Buchanan will perform in a free recital at 8pm on Oct. 21^st at Woods Memorial Church in Severna Park. (more).

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church will host a Fall Festival from 9am-3pm on Saturday, Oct. 20^th . The event will feature a flea market, food and entertainment for the whole family.

Christ Our King Presbyterian Church will sponsor a Mission Fair at 9:15am on Sun., Oct. 21^st featuring representatives from more than 20 missions supported by the church. For more info., call Mike Myers, Chair of Missions Ministry at 410-569-1332 or msmyers02@comcast.net.

First & Franklin Street Presbyterian Church will host its annual Urban Pumpkin Patch from October 15^th through 31^st. The event opens Sunday through Friday from 12noon to 6pm and Saturday, from 10am to 6pm. In addition a Timeless Treasure Tag Sale will be held 10am-2pm on Saturday Oct. 27^th. For more info., click www.firstfranklin.org or call 410-728-5545.

Synod and General Assembly Items

Share the healing spirit during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. For more info., click www.pcusa.org/phewa/padvn.

Other Items and Events

The Ecumenical Institute of Theology of St. Mary’s Seminary & University will host an open house featuring a discussion on “What’s God Got to Do with It,” from 8:15am-12:15pm on Saturday, Nov. 3 at its Baltimore campus. (more)

The Faith Trust Institute for JORA, Journal of Religion & Abuse, is accepting contest entries from clergy and religious leaders for sermons that address sexual and domestic violence in a religious context. Deadline for the entries is Nov. 30^th. (more)

Also on the Presbytery of Baltimore 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

Vaughn Brown Jr., Stated Clerk

vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org

Deb Milcarek

Associate of Mission and Justice

dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org