Topics in this eDIGEST:

 

  1. WATCH: Shared Mission video available for stewardship programs
  2. CONSIDER: Movement . . . physical and spiritual
  3. LEARN: Ideas about “Empowering Servant Leadership” in VCI program
  4. REFLECT: 10 questions to ask when moving from reactivity to reflection
  5. NEWS & NOTES: Details about life in the presbytery

 

WATCH: Shared Mission video available for stewardship programs

 

A short video explaining the connectional idea of Presbyterian Shared Mission Support is available for congregations to use during their stewardship campaigns.

The video was created by Rosemary C. Mitchell, Senior Director for Mission Engagement and Support of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, for use during the annual Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference earlier this fall.

Running about 2.5 minutes long, the video encourages people to recognize and acknowledge the needs in their community and how to respond as the Body of Christ. The video is based around the Matthew 25 Ministries program.

Click here to access the video, and visit https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ to access more information and resources about the Presbyterian Mission Agency.  

 


 

CONSIDER: Movement . . . physical and spiritual

 

Posted September 28, 2020  
A compilation of essays | The Christian Century

Readers of The Christian Century were invited earlier this year to respond to a one-word writing prompt: “movement.”

Rev. Laurie Hartzell, a Presbytery of Lake Michigan member currently serving as interim executive pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, took the challenge.

Her piece reflects about how growing up she was always doing physical activities like running, downhill skiing, sports or tackling waves with her father and how that movement enabled them to establish intimate connections. 

“We loved each other, and doing activities requiring movement kept us connected when we couldn’t talk about things,” Laurie wrote. “Then Parkinson’s disease struck.” The disease robbed her father of many things, including “his ability to relate to the world and to me through physical movement. I felt lost for a while.”

Click here to read Laurie’s complete essay, including how a new kind of movement began in the relationship with her dad that led to a powerful connection around God’s grace.

 


 

LEARN: Ideas about “Empowering Servant Leadership” in VCI program

 

Ideas about “Empowering Servant Leadership” are the focus of a three-week series being presented by the Vital Congregations Initiative.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Weekly Wednesday Vital Conversations from 3 to 4 p.m. October 21, October 28 and November 4. Join the program via https://zoom.us/j/91835284525.

Special guests include Stephanie Vasquez, Alonzo Johnson and Jewel McRae.

 


 

REMINDER: Complete ‘Call to Health’ by 11/13 to save on medical costs

A little more than three weeks remain to answer the “Call to Health” offered by the Board of Pensions to help members save on medical costs next year.

Any activities completed before Friday, November 13, by employees and their spouses with medical coverage through the Board of Pensions can help participants save as much as one-third on their 2021 medical deductibles and earn Tango gift cards.

Activities include listening and watching educational programs, completing specific physical exercises, reading articles, and getting preventive exams.

Visit the Call to Health website to learn more.

 More Information


 

SOUGHT: Information for the 2019-20 Celebration of Saints report

 

SOUGHT: Information for the 2019-20 Celebration of Saints report

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Preparations are being made for the annual Celebration of Saints when the names of all Elders who have gone to eternal glory during the past year will be reported and honored during the presbytery’s next Stated Meeting.

We need your help compiling a list of any elders from your congregation who joined the Church Triumphant between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. The information must be submitted by Thursday, November 12, 2020 to be included in the 2019-20 necrology report.

Please gather a list of any elders who should be included in the Celebration of Saints and the dates of their deaths. Then, click here to enter the information online. If no elders died in the past year, simply record “NONE” in the field where you are asked to name individuals so it can be reported that your church did respond.

You also may use the attached fillable .pdf form or click here to find it online. After entering your information, either send it as an e-mail attachment to office@lakemichiganpresbytery.org or return it via postal mail to the presbytery at 1511 Helen Avenue, Portage, MI 49002. 

Online Form

PDF Form