August 20, 2007

Hau Kola Learning Camps 3^rd Annual Celebration

Presbytery of Baltimore celebrates partnership with Native American Community in South Dakota

On a Native American reservation along an arid strip of the Dakota plains, tribal tradition and the spirit of Christ flow deeply through the Presbyterian Church. This union of beliefs takes form in the long and loving relationship between a handful of South Dakota Presbytery churches and the Presbytery of Baltimore, whose members operate the Hau Kola Learning Camp for children on the reservation each summer.

In the third annual celebration of the Hau Kola’s partnership, members of the Presbytery will gather at 7pm on Saturday, Nov. 3^rd at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park for an evening of Native American song and dance, memories shared in pictures and photographs, as well as, lots of refreshments. The event will feature the Rev. Asa Wilson and his wife, Tresita, who pastor the Makasan Presbyterian Church on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Oglala, SD. Rev. Wilson will share his reflections about how the Hau Kola (which means “Hello, Friend” in Lakota dialect) partnership between the South Dakota Presbytery and Presbytery of Baltimore has changed the Oglala community over the past decade.

According to Chrystie and Doug Adams, leaders of the Hau Kola ministry, the partnership has had a profound impact on the lives of many church-members who initially journeyed to the reservation to teach vacation bible classes; and, later, academics and computer skills. Each year, the Oglala community welcomes old and new Presbytery members to the reservation as if they were long-sought family members returning home. In one instance, two members from Perry Hall Presbyterian Church were adopted by the tribe in an elaborate and sacred ceremony.

For Pastor Andrew Connors of Brown Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, the Hau Kola experience was a “beautiful example of Native American spirituality in concert with the familial bonds that we have in Jesus Christ.” Directions to the Nov. 3^rd Hau Kola Learning Camp celebration are available at www.woodschurch.org. For more information about the Hau Kola ministry, contact Chrystie Adams at 410-788-8354 or click, dougadams@comcast.net.

Inside this issue

Upcoming Events:

Directory of Worship Overture Oct. 25^th

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

Youth Leader Training Event Oct. 29^th

Take Note/Act Now

§ Directory of Worship

§ Elder Training

§ Youth Leader Training

§ Domestic Violence Lecture

§ Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

§ Urban Pumpkin Patch

§ Blessing of the Animals

§ Domestic Violence Awareness

§ Ecumenical Institute of Theology

§ Faith Trust Institute for JORA

Prayer & Praise

Havenwood Presbyterian Church & Frederick Presbyterian Church

People

The Presbytery welcomes Reverend Tracey Davenport, who will begin her call as pastor of Harundale Presbyterian Church in Glen Burnie on Nov. 26^th. Rev. Davenport wishes to provide a caring place within the church for lifelong Presbyterians, newcomers to the denomination, as well as, all those seeking Christ in their spiritual lives for the first time. She brings to the church an excellence in preaching and teaching, experience leading both traditional and contemporary worship, compassion in pastoral care and a vision for what the church can be and should be.

Rev. Davenport is married and has two daughters.

Prayer & Praise

Please pray for:

Havenwood Presbyterian Church as it joins other churches in the Presbytery for a journey of transformation; and, praise God for the joy of fulfilling Christ’s mission to serve those in need of His grace and mercy.

Frederick Presbyterian Church as it gives thanksgiving for its OPEN DOOR program—a weekly one-on-one tutoring program for children in the local community identified with special needs. And, please pray for the church’s guidance and direction for staffing needs particularly in the area of Christian Education; and, the continued support of local missions by the congregation of FPC.

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

The Presbytery of Baltimore will host a forum on the Directory of Worship Overture regarding marriage at 7pm on Thurs., Oct. 25^th at Brown Memorial Wordbook Presbyterian Church in Baltimore.

Overtures for the 218^th General Assembly must be sent to the Presbytery by Nov. 6^th to be published in the Whitebook and later considered at the Nov. 15^th Stated Meeting. For more info., contact the stated clerk, click: vbrown@baltimorepresbytery.org.

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 Mon., Oct. 29^th at First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air (more).

Church Notices

Frederick Presbyterian Church will host a Peace & Justice series entitled, “Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence” at 7pm on Tues., Oct. 23^rdin the fellowship hall. The event features: Nancy Troy, Exec. Dir. of Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association of PC(USA) Louisville, KY; and, Barbara Martin CEO/President Heartly House, Inc. in Frederick.

Maryland Presbyterian Church in Towson will host a viewing of the HBO documentary,

The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib at 7:30pm on Sat., Oct. 27^th. For more info., call 410.825.0719.

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

Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church will offer a Blessing of the Animals at 3pm on Sun., Oct. 28th in the Prayer Garden. All pets welcomed. Call 410.377.7232 for info.

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 Sat., Nov. 3 at its Baltimore campus. (more) The Institute also announces a study tour, “The cities of Paul and John,” Feb. 14^th-24^th with Dr. Michael J. Gorman. For more info., visit www.travelillume.com/trc/tmg or call Dr. Gorman at 410-864-4200/mgorman@stmarys.edu.

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