November 22, 2017 - Presbytery of Prospect Hill (PCUSA)prospecthillpresby.org › wp-content ›...

North Iowa Presbyterian E-News

The North Iowa Presbyterian E-News is a bi-weekly joint newsletter for the Presby-tery of North Central Iowa and the Presbytery of Prospect Hill. If you would like to contribute to the E-News, please contact Jeannie Stolee in the Presbytery office at 319-233-1747 or [email protected]

Presbytery Staff:

Rev. David Feltman, Pastor to the Presbytery, Presbytery of North Central Iowa

Rev. Dr. S. Glenn Wilson, Stated Clerk, Presbytery of North Central Iowa

Rev. Richard Francis, Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Prospect Hill

Jeannie Stolee, Administrative Assistant

Donn Martens, Financial Director

If you know of someone who would enjoy receiving this communication, please email or call Jeannie.

Please consider making copies of this E-News for your Session and also running sever-al copies to make available to your congregation on your information table.

Normal Presbytery Office hours are Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

www.presbynciowa.org www.prospecthillpresby.org

November 22, 2017


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

Novem ber 2 0 17

Presbytery of North Central Iowa

November, 2017


1 2CPs, First

Pres., Ackley, Noon

3 4

5Stated Pres-

bytery Mtg., First Pres., Conrad 3:00

6VMI, John

Calvin Room 2:30

7 8 9 10 11Ruling

Elder Cohort 9:30-2:00

12 13COM,

First Pres., Ackley, 5:00

14 15 16MM West

& East 10:00

Cluster in Grundy Ctr. Bethany Pres. 11:30

17Lakeshore

Ctr. Bd. Of Dir., Lakeshore Ctr. 11:00

18

19 20 21 22 23

Presbytery Office Closed

24Presbytery

Office Closed

25

26 27 28 29 30



December, 2017


1 2

3Christmas

Joy Offering Dec. 3-24

4All Iowa Task

Force, Northmin-ster, Ames 9:30

5VMI, John

Calvin Room 3:00

6 7Ames Clus-

ter, Mandarin, 12:30

Council, First Pres., Ackley 5:00

8 9

10 11Presbytery

Mtg. First Pres., Ackley 4:00

COM, First Pres., Ackley 5:00

12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21Cluster in

Grundy Ctr., Bethany Pres. 11:30

22 23

24 25


26 27 28 29 30

31


Presbytery of Prospect Hill

November, 2017


1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14COM,

Lakeside Pres., Storm Lake 10:00

15 16 17Lakeshore

Ctr. Bd. Of Dir., Lakeshore Ctr. 11:00

18

19 20 21 22 23


24Presbytery

Office Closed

25

26 27 28 29 30



December, 2017


1 2

3Christmas

Joy Offering Dec. 3-24

4All Iowa

Task Force, Northminster, Ames 9:30

5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12COM,

Lakeside Pres., Storm Lake 10:00

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25


26 27 28 29 30

31


Prayers of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa

Week of Nov. 26 Burt Presbyterian Church, Burt, and First Presbyterian Church, Woden—

Rev. Dr. S. Glenn Wilson

Week of Dec. 3 East Friesland Presbyterian Church, Ackley—Lynn Arends, CP

Week of Dec. 10 St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Washburn—Rev. Dr. Clemens Bartollas, Mod.

Week of Dec. 17 For those Elders and Pastors who have gone before us in 2017

Week of Dec. 31 Pray for the Presbytery Staff

Prayers of the Presbytery off Prospect Hill

Week of Nov. 12 The honorably retired pastors in the Presbytery of Prospect Hill:

Rev. Clarence Beard, Rev. Peg Brinck, Rev. Marshall Brown,

Rev. Donald Gibson, Rev. Donald Johnson, Rev. Dale Lint,

Rev. John McKinley, Rev. Marvin Miller, Rev. William Moore,

Rev. Stephen Saville, Rev. Howard Stepanek,

Rev. Robert Tollefson, Rev. B.J. Ukena, Rev. Rex Wentzel,

Rev. Ken Fells (serving as Moderator of Lakeside Pres. Church,

Storm Lake), Rev. Duane Queen (serving as Moderator of First Pres.

Church, Alta), Rev. Richard Francis (Stated Clerk, serving as Moderator of

Wheatland Pres. Church in Breda)

Week of Nov. 19 Pastors Serving in Validated Ministries Outside a Congregation:

Rev. Ken Messner, Chaplain at Buena Vista University

Rev. Cambria Kaltwasser, Ass’t. Professor at Northwestern College

Week of Nov. 26 Pastors who serve as Members-at-Large:

Rev. Molly Dowell-Baum

Rev. Donna Gray

Rev. Charles Valenti-Hein

Week of Dec. 3 Pray for the Presbytery staff


Additional Prayer Concerns

Please keep Jean Bower in your prayers as she is undergoing tests and possible surgery at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

Please pray for Tom Bower’s safe journey as he travels home from Lithuania to be with Jean.

Please pray for churches around both Presbyteries who are in the process of filling leadership roles.

Please pray for those who are dealing with metal illness and for those struggling to provide mental health care with inade-quate resources.


Churches and Pastors in Transition

The following churches are in transition:


Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Ames

First Presbyterian Church, Ackley

First Presbyterian Church, Albion

First Presbyterian Church, Grundy Center

First Presbyterian Church, Jesup

First Presbyterian Church, Reinbeck


First Presbyterian Church, Alton

Wheatland Presbyterian Church, Breda

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Carnarvon

First Presbyterian Church, Cleghorn

First Presbyterian Church, South Sioux City

Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Storm Lake

Trinity Presbyterian Church, Wall Lake

Please pray for Rev. John Pea and the Congregations of Zoar and Ebenezer Presbyterian Churches in George as they begin their ministry together. John was ordained at on November 5 and was installed at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church on November 19.

Please pray for CP Lue Baker and the congregations of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Carnarvon and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wall Lake as they begin their new ministry together. Lue was Commissioned to serve these congregations at the October 28 Presbytery meeting.


Important Announcements

For the


Called Presbytery Meeting for the


When: Monday, December 11, 2017 Time: 4:00 p.m. Location: First Presbyterian Church 1300 4th Ave. Ackley, Iowa For the purpose of completing our slate of nominations. Please make every effort to attend.

Thank You!

New Elder Training Correction

The contact person listed on the New Elder Training flier that was in the last E-News and that was handed out at the November 5th Presbytery Meeting lists an incorrect contact person. The correct person to contact is Amy Wiles at [email protected].


IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Per Capita and Annual Report Forms

Per Capita has been set by each Presbytery as follows:


General Assembly $ 7.73

Synod $ 5.40

Presbytery $20.26

Total $33.39

North Central Iowa annual report forms were handed to the churches who had representation at the November 5 Presbytery Meeting. The rest were sent in the mail the week of November 6.


General Assembly $ 7.73

Synod $ 5.40

Presbytery $24.00

Total $37.13

Prospect Hill annual report forms are in the process of being completed and will be mailed in the very near future.

It is important that all forms be completed and returned to the Presbytery Office!


IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, continued

The Clerk’s Annual Questionnaire (CAQ) has been emailed to each Clerk of Session in both Presbyteries. This year the questions deal with your church’s relationship (if any) with the Belhar Confession (the latest addition to the Book of Confessions), One Great Hour of Sharing, Presbyterian World Mission and several other areas. Each Clerk should plan to spend between 20 and 30 minutes completing the survey.

If your Clerk would prefer a paper version of the questionnaire, please let Jeannie in the Presbytery Office know and one will be mailed to you (319-233-1747 or [email protected]).

If you need, you can copy and paste the survey link in your browser: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3846763/69d352ef2371. You don’t need a password to use it. Research Services would like the survey completed by December 12, 2017.

If you have questions, please contact Susan Barnett, the Associate for Survey Research in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at [email protected] or 502-569-5161.

The Presbytery Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

The Presbytery Office will be closed on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25.


Synod of Lakes and Prairies Director of Financial Services

The Director of Financial Services reports to the Synod through the Synod Executive and the Personnel Committee, and is accountable for providing appropriate, transparent, and optimal service and finan-cial leadership to the Synod, its Finance Committee, and the Presbyteries and camps that the Synod serves. The deadline for submitting a resume and responding to supplemental questions is Nov. 28, 2017. Ma-terials must be submitted to: Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Attn: Mary Kes, DFS Search, 2115 Cliff Drive, Eagan, MN 55122-3327. Materials can also be submitted via email to mkes[at]lakesandprairies.org. Questions may be directed to Elona Street-Stewart, Synod Executive, at 651.357.1149.

Synod of Lakes and Prairies POSITION DESCRIPTION

Director of Financial Services TITLE Director of Financial Services PURPOSE To ensure that Synod financial resources and activities are managed efficiently, effectively, consistently, and transparently in order to enable the Synod and the Presbyteries, camps, and other organizations it serves to most effectively carry out their individual and collective missions. ACCOUNTABILITY The Director of Financial Services reports to the Synod through the Synod Executive and the Personnel Committee, and is accountable for providing appropriate, transparent, and optimal service and finan-cial leadership to the Synod, its Finance Committee, and the Presbyteries and camps that the Synod serves. RESPONSIBILITIES

A. STAFF SERVICES 1. Provide leadership within the Synod and its Finance Committee, and guidance and leader-

ship on financial matters across the Presbyteries and camps that the Synod serves. 2. Manage and execute/oversee all financial operating functions within the guidelines of the

Fiscal Accountability Policies of the Synod, including management of the Synod's financial systems, business support systems, loan systems, investments, and third-party financial ser-vice providers.

3. Ensure compliance with Synod policies, external regulations, accounting policies, lending regulations, personnel regulations, tax and reporting regulations, investment policies, donor guidelines, and contractual agreements.

4. Continually advance financial and management disciplines in ways that enable the Synod and the Presbyteries it serves to achieve maximum impact against their missional and growth objectives.

B. FUNCTIONS

1. Prepare, analyze, and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly and annual financial statements to the Synod Executive, Finance Com-mittee, and stakeholders as appropriate.



Director of Financial Services, continued

2. Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors, Finance Commit-tee, and the Synod Executive; assess any changes necessary.

3. Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the Synod Exec-utive and Synod leadership; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and keep Finance Committee and the Synod Executive advised of the organization’s financial status.

4. Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting, payroll services, and applicable support functions, operations, and administration.

5. Implement efficiency and efficacy in contracts management and financial management/ re-porting system, ensuring that contract billing and collection schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.

6. Update and implement all necessary business policies and accounting practices as appropri-ate to continually improve clarity and effectiveness of financial and personnel procedures.

7. Effectively communicate and present the critical financial matters to the Synod Executive, Steering Committee, and Finance Committee.

8. Provide resources and consult with presbyteries in areas such as financial counsel, technical services and supportive information development.

9. As part of the Synod staff provide resources to any unit of the Synod needing the particular skills or responsibilities of this position.

10. Manage insurance and risk mitigation efforts for the Synod to provide for full and adequate coverage for property, general liability, workers compensation, etc.

11. Manage the Capital Loan Fund according to the Loan Policies and Guidelines of the Synod. 12. Be an active participant in the Mid-Council Financial Network and its annual meeting. Pro-

mote participation by the presbyteries within the bounds of the Synod. 13. Provide for the orderly accounting and payroll services for other entities that are under con-

tract for bookkeeping services from the Synod. Provide for production of monthly reports and payment of remittances from churches to the appropriate body. Maintain relationships with these entities.

14. Promote the services that the Synod may provide to presbyteries within and outside the bounds of the Synod. Plan for expansion of these services as appropriate.

15. Other duties as assigned by the Synod Executive or requested by the Synod Finance Commit-tee.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Minimum of a BA, ideally with an MBA and/or CPA. 2. At least seven to 10 years of overall professional experience, including primary accountabil-

ity for the operational and fiscal performance of the organizations served. 3. A track record of providing leadership within faith-based and/or non-profit organizations,

preferably including experience serving on Session (or similar councils), experience with foundation and/or endowment boards, and experience on Budget and Finance Committees.

4. Ability to translate financial concepts to—and to effectively collaborate with—programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds.



Director of Financial Services, continued

5. Technology savvy with experience selecting and overseeing software installations and man-aging relationships with software vendors; knowledge of accounting and reporting software.

6. A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytic, organization and problem solv-ing skills which support and enable sound decision making.

7. Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negoti-ate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

8. Ability to multi-task and develop organizational and functional learning as necessary to ad-vance the organization in the achievement of its mission.

9. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of the organization. RELATIONSHIP The Director of Financial Services is a member of the Synod staff and is supervised by the Synod Execu-tive. This is a fulltime positon operating out of the synod office in Eagan, Minnesota. When working within the bounds of a presbytery the work will be coordinated by the presbytery staff. EVALUATION There is an annual review and evaluation and, at least every five years, a comprehensive review and evaluation in accordance with the Personnel Policies of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. TERM The person is elected by the Synod for an indefinite term. 11-14-17

Does your church pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child? If so, Gordon Siebring of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George has a deal for you: small wooden cars that you can include in your boxes. There is no charge for the cars, but Gordon would like to be reimbursed for the shipping. If you have questions or would like to talk to Gordon about including a car in your boxes, please call him at 712-470-1832.


Rev. Jennifer Olson was installed as Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in Denison on November 12.

Rev. John Pea was installed at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George on November 19. Rev. Pea will serve the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and Zoar Presbyterian Church congregations in George.


You are invited to the wedding of

Rev. Brian Camara and Abigail Stonner!

Sunday, December 3, 2017

3:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church

309 Idaho Street

Glidden, Iowa

We would love to have all of our friends from the Presbytery join us on this special day.


Christmas Joy Offering

December 3—24

The Christmas Joy Offering is traditionally received during the Advent Season. Howev-er, you can help sustain important PC(USA) ministries and programs that are supported by the Christmas Joy Offering by making an online gift (https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/PG100000/) at any time throughout the year. Checks can be mailed care of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

How Is My Gift Used?

Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor this gift by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.

For more information about the Christmas Joy Offering, including promotional materi-als and social media content, visit www.presbyterianmission.org/christmasjoy.


2018 Presbytery Mission Trip

February 3—10, 2018

Registration is now Open!

We will travel to the Beaumont, Texas area, where we will stay at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont.

The cost is $100 per participant. Participants will also be responsible for lodging and travel to Beaumont and back.

There are firm registration limits, so participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Further details for the trip will be sent to participants and offered at an orientation meeting.

To receive a registration form, please contact Jeannie in the Presbytery Office at 319-233-1747 or

[email protected].


The Young Adult Volunteer Program is now accepting applications. Encourage young adults you know to apply to a formative year of service and accompaniment. Follow @yavprogram for updates, info and more! Program benefits include a regular stipend, housing, transportation and student-loan repayment options throughout the duration of the service year. For more info, visit the FAQ tab at the top of the YAV homepage. Thanks for helping spread the word!


Update from Lithuania By Pastor Tom Bower

My time here is running out. Three months will have gone by quickly. “Winter” is turning out to be a light drizzle 24/7. As the temps drop, that will turn to snow—so I’m told. Even now, it’s plenty cold to walk around the streets. And the church is not heated! Sunday, November 12, was “Remembrance Day” for Britain and Canada. Our church (the In-ternational Church/Lutheran building) has been host of a Sunday service for that event for several years. So a church council member and I met about six weeks ago at the British Em-bassy with powers-that-be to plan the service. It included memorial “nice-ities” like reading of the poem, “Flander’s Field” and other such traditions. It included some Scriptures includ-ing Psalm 90 and I Corinthians 13. Other faith leaders were involved in addition to the Lu-therans and me. There were Catholic clergy, Russian Orthodox clergy and even a Muslim mufti. The congregation sang, “Oh God Our Help,” and “Abide With Me.” Ambassadors from various countries brought greetings (including the U.S. Ambassador) and a number of coun-tries laid wreaths It is gracious of Britain and Canada to invite participation by other coun-tries. One more thing about life in Lithuania: Vilnius has one of the largest (and becoming one of the most popular) “Gospel Music Festivals” in the world. Four nights last week there were events, each in a different church/cathedral The music was terrific. The musicianship out-of-this-world. I have never heard better. The grand finale was held on Sunday afternoon in the city’s Civic Center. There were 2,000 people there and (get this!) a 200 voice Lithuanian youth choir amongst many other musicians from Lithuania, Europe and the States. Tradi-tional gospel, like “Swing Low,” “Amazing Grace,” “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” plus a lot of newer material. They even “gospel-ed up,” “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” All was in Eng-lish, except the emcee! The event ended with “O Happy Day, When Jesus Washed My Sins Away.” On eight cylinders with twin pipes, I might add. The International Church here is still looking for a full-time pastor Anyone interested?

Tom Bower with the American

Ambassador in Lithuania


Meet the Missionaries

Dr. Douglas Tilton— Southern Africa As the regional liaison for Southern Africa, Doug facilitates the PC(USA)’s partner relationships, supports other mission per-sonnel, and works with presbytery and congregational partner-ships. He also has responsibilities for facilitating PC(USA) World Mission advocacy efforts in Africa in cooperation with the Office of Public Witness. He works in Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. “I am excited and

grateful when we are able to help each other discern and apply our respective gifts to strengthen our mutual capacity to do justice, to share the good news of the gospel and to promote reconciliation so that all may enjoy life in fullness,” Doug says.

Home presbytery: Heartland

E200416, D507200

Charles Johnson and Melissa Johnson— Zambia Charles and Melissa Johnson have been invited to help the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian’s Zambia Synod (CCAP/Z) expand its ministry of community development and food security. Charles serves as a development specialist. A major focus of his work is teaching agriculture to theological students at the CCAP/Z’s Chasefu Theological College and de-veloping the Chasefu Farm, a sister institution of the college.

The farm feeds students, provides opportunities for local subsistence farmers to learn improved agricultural techniques, and generates income to support the college and the farm. Melissa serves in the CCAP/Z’s health department as a facilitator for health edu-cation programs. She works with health stakeholders to identify important issues that need to be addressed and facilitates the development of training programs.

Home presbytery: Mission

E200534, D507589


Thoughts of David Feltman, Pastor to the Presbytery, North Central Iowa

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, What brings you joy? Rev. Sara Hill, our newly installed Moderator of North Central Io-wa Presbytery, is suggesting that our theme for 2018 will be JOY. Many of us look for-ward to family around the Thanksgiving table—children, grandchildren, parents, sib-lings . . . much joy. Nearly every picture of our grandson Hudson brings a smile. I find joy in my antique tractors. When I go into my shed it has the smell of oil and gas. My tractors take a lot of floor dry to mop up the oil leaks. The smell brings a smile and a memory of when I worked in a tractor repair shop. Someone recently gave me a wall hanging which reads “Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy tractors, which is pretty much the same.” It brings me joy when we have a gathering of pastors and commissioned pastors. After the breaks we have a hard time reconvening because the conversation in the room is so vibrant. They love each other, they enjoy being together. Giving gives me joy. Sue and I participate in the ministry of the churches in North Cen-tral Iowa Presbytery, we give to the churches on a rotating basis. And we usually sign on when there is a capital campaign. It’s hard to get at the deeper concept of joy in a short article. Many these days are seek-ing happiness. A consuming economy tells us the next best thing will make us happy . . . the new technological gadget, the new boat, car or truck. I recall the story of a couple who moved into the new beautiful, largest home of their married life and he said we had the biggest fight of our marriage. It is easier to talk about joy at the Thanksgiving table; much harder when the diagnosis is terminal, the job dried up or the relationship dissolved. I’m working on my joy sermon for 2018. I will return to the Book of Philippians. The Apostle Paul wrote the letter from prison, possibly in chains. The word which reap-pears 40 times in four chapters is JOY and Rejoice. He wrote:


Thoughts of David Feltman, continued

• I know what it is to have little and to have much. • If I live, fine, if I die all the better I go to be with Christ. • I can do all through Christ who strengthens me.

Paul had a foundation under him. He had a center—it was his relationship with God in Jesus Christ. He knew eternal life in his daily living; that is JOY. With love in Christ, David Feltman

North Central Iowa’s weight loss challenge is coming to an end! December 15 is the last day of the challenge. Don’t forget to email or call Jeannie with your final weight. Remember—all weights are strictly confidential!


Moderator’s Message

Christmas plans are in the making. The stores are jammed with shoppers looking for bargains-gifts, decorations, baking supplies. Christmas has become a stress filled string of tasks to be done, open houses/parties to attend and endless lists of whatever. Such a different climate from the peaceful, humble welcoming of the Messiah that this day is supposed to commemorate.

Christmas when I was growing up was a time of remembering that baby. The nativity was placed on top of the TV right next to the Advent wreath. We kids would take turns lighting it each Sunday night as Mother or Dad read from the Bible. On Christ-mas Eve, just before bedtime, as the Christ candle was lit one of us would read the Christmas story from Luke. Mother, whose birthday was on Christmas, celebrated it Christmas Eve so as not to detract from the birth of Christ. Yes—there were presents, decorations and special treats. The tradition of gift giving was started at that first Christmas—gifts of praise and worship from the angels and shepherds, the gifts from the Magi.

This year let us bring Christ back into Christmas. For every dollar spent on ourselves, spend a dollar on someone else—participate in the “mitten trees” we see in some stores, work places and churches. Share a meal or donate to the local food pantry. Adopt a child or adult for Christmas. Let us focus on serving God by serving others and putting Christ back into Christmas.

Let us also remember that the holidays are not always a positive time for all. For some, it is a time of grief and hurt. Remember these people in prayer and perhaps a note wishing them the peace of Christmas during a difficult time.

Peace and joy to each of you during this wonderful season.

Lue Baker

Moderator, Presbytery of Prospect Hill


David Feltman has been cleaning out the Waterloo office and these items are available. If anyone has an interest in anything, please contact Dave or Jeannie.


A Legacy of Light

A Mission for Solar Electrification

On the Mountainside of Berlin and the Valley Below

My first journey to El Salvador was in 1990. The objective for the 29-day trip was to learn about Third World poverty. I quickly learned it is a poverty that has a distinct odor and its image, especially of bloated children caused by hunger, became fodder for silent sobs in the night. For 16 days I received hospitality from the residents of the canton (dirt floor home community) El Tablon on the Berlin Mountain in eastern El Salvador. The home where I slept was the only one in the canton with a cement floor. The Civil war that lasted from 1980 to 1992 created a security-minded environment, so at night the door was securely bolted. Flickering flames of candles provided light in the darkness that when blown out amplified the scurry of the rats that made their home in the rafters above. It was an intense dark that made sleep fleeting for fear that one of those rats might fall on me. I thought about the chil-dren of the community and stories of those who had been bitten. It was an understatement to say it scared me. It was a moment in time when I promised myself and God that if I ever had an opportunity to bring light to the homes of that mountainside, I would do it.

The first 14 days of my El Tablon experience were without a translator. The experience of daily life and the distant sound of war brought poverty near. It became a learning experience that no book, no classroom could teach. A familiarity with the people’s lifestyle made me sad, broke my heart and made certain my faith journey would some way include the lives of the poor of that land.

I organized yearly delegations to visit El Salvador. Then in 1994 I was invited by the priest of the Par-ish of St. Joseph to live among them for a year. Then the clincher of my faith journey came with the Priest’s invitation for me to live and work with the Parish Team of the Parish of St. Joseph. In 2001 I moved to Berlin, El Salvador to work with the mission that took focus around water projects, educa-tion, medical care and agriculture development.

The mission, known as “Our Sister Parish Mission” grew beyond my administrative abilities which led me to retire in 2007. The Bishop, with gratitude for the mission I had brought to the people of his dio-cese, presented me with a Catholic Lay Missionary Card with his seal of office and signature.

In June of 2016, with recognition of my missionary card status, I received an invitation from Padre Jose Rameris, the priest at the Parish of St. Joseph, to work on the behalf of the Parish to develop a solar electrification project for the humble homes of the campisino families who farm the steep mountain slopes. Father Candido’s invitation reminded me of the promise I made to God and to myself that I would bring light to the homes that had none if I ever had the chance. Twenty-six years later, I had the opportunity on a platter. And so, I accepted his invitation. To date we have installed solar lighting in 65 homes and have 52 current requests. The mission project is named “A Legacy of Light.”

The Team

Milagro and Otillia organize the families who need the solar systems installed on their homes. Carlos installs the solar systems and teaches the people proper use and care. I have known all three members of the team since I lived in Berlin for a year in 1994. I serve as fundraiser to pay for the systems, labor costs, administration and transportation.


The System

The solar systems are purchased in the Capitol of San Salvador. Each one is composed of a ten-watt solar panel and three LED Lights, each charged with a four AA rechargeable battery pack. Each of the lights has the capacity to charge telephone batteries. They can also be easily disconnected from the charge wire and carried as a flash light, which provides considerable savings on the cost of flash light batteries. The dustproof, waterproof, bulb is enclosed with a heavy duty plastic to make it durable and nearly indestructible.

The Cost of Each Solar Unit

The three LED Lights, batteries, heavy-duty wiring, and Ten Watt Panel has a cost of $175 with a min-imum purchase of 45 units. There is a $10 cost for labor of organizing families to receive the light and $10 for installation. Transport of the systems from San Salvador to Berlin costs $100 and local pickup transport to family homes on the mountainside is $45 per day. We allow three days pickup transport for delivery of 50 units. Carlos uses a bicycle for transportation to the homes for installa-tion.

Accounting of Donations

To ensure proper accounting of donations, we contract with the Center for International Solidarity, CIS, a human service organization in San Salvador. The parent organization for CIS is Los Olivos CIS with an office located in Westmont, IL. The parent organization receives all donations for accounting and sends them to CIS in San Salvador, where checks are written to pay the cost. Receipts are re-quired for each check written. Los Olivos CIS also sends letters to donors to serve as tax deduction declaration. We pay a charge of 5% for the services provided by Los Olivos CIS and the Center for International Solidarity. I have known the director of CIS, Leslie Schuld since beginning their work in 1994. Donations may be made to Los Olivos CIS and sent to A Legacy of Light, United Church Westside, 200 Main Street, Westside, IA 51467. No donation is too small.

52 Homes Identified to Have Light Installed

The current project for A Legacy of Light is to install solar electricity in 52 more homes on the Berlin Mountainside. The budget to complete the project is as follows:

$9100 cost of 52 units

$1560 organizing and installation Labor costs

$ 100 Transport from San Salvador to Berlin

$ 135 Pick Up Transport of Solar Systems to homes

$10,895 SubTotal

$544.15 5% Accounting Costs

$11,439.15 Total

I serve the United Church of Westside, Iowa, and United Presbyterian Church of Vail, Iowa. Each of them has voted to include the Solar project in mission support. To date we have installed systems on 65 homes on the Berlin Mountain.


I want you to know and understand A Legacy of Light Solar Electrification Project is a mission of hope for families who have lived their nocturnal existence by the light of candles or kerosene lamps.

I know you can imagine the difference light will make on family life. Besides creating a living environ-ment of light with the flip of a switch, it will also allow children and youth to pursue a much-desired education. Every community on the mountainside has a school where morning classes are held. But, in an environment where every hand – big or small, strong or frail – is needed for most of the afternoon hours to gather wood, cook food, carry water, till the crop fields, and tend to infants, the elderly and the ailing, children hardly get to experience childhood as we know it. Yet they yearn to. And just like you and I, they hope for an education that will transcend tumultuous poverty and ignite the promise for better lives.

The demand of their chores puts students in a race with the setting sun. They’re typically forced to study as best as they can, often after dark, aided by the kerosene lantern’s dim flickering light or even candlelight.

Our prayerful request is that each church in the Presbytery of Prospect Hill will consider a $200 dona-tion to support the solar project. Even if only 50 churches donated that amount it would result in a to-tal donation of $10,000. That amount added to the $1,600 fund balance on hand would equal a total of $11,600.00, which would give us a surplus of $160.85 after purchase and installation of the 52 solar system requests we currently have.

Imagine the possibilities your mission donation would bring to the lives of the poor! Imagine also how pleased the Spirit of the Living God would be for you to shine light into the darkness of humble homes on the Berlin Mountain in eastern El Salvador.

Thank you for hearing our story of hope created by the Legacy of Light Solar Electrification Project to bring illumination to every humble, dirt-floor home on the Berlin Mountain in Eastern El Salvador. Re-member, no donation is too small. Please be as generous as you can.

Pastor Bob Cook

515-238-3105

[email protected]

For a video on “A Legacy of Light” mission, please copy and paste the following into your web browser:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5tCG196lGyXUlBvek1WaUlWQlU/view



A RULING ELDER COHORT FOR

NORTH CENTRAL IO-WA PRESBYTERY

Participation – dream goal, at least one ruling elder from each of our congregations. Participants will sign a cove-nant promising commitment to the group and placing the dates for the eight sessions on personal calendars. Cost - $100 per participant per year.

Dates

Saturdays 9:30AM – 2 PM October 8, 2016

January 21, 2017 April 29, 2017

July 15, 2017 Location – Ackley First Presbyterian October 7, 2017

January 20, 2018 April 28, 2018 June 30, 2018

Led by Dr. Joe Small.

Session 1: Origins: Calvin’s “unified plural

ministry” in Geneva

Session 2: The loss of Calvin’s vision and its

potential recovery

Session 3: Ruling elders as ministers of Word

and Sacrament: Baptism

Session 4: Ruling Elders as ministers of Word

and Sacrament: Lord’s Supper

Session 5: Ruling Elders as ministers of Word

and Sacrament: Proclamation

Session 6: Ruling elders as Ministers of Word

and Sacrament: Teaching

Session 7: Councils of the church: discernment

in session and presbytery

Session 8: Spiritual disciplines for ruling el-

ders and sessions

The goal of the cohort, Ruling Elders who are –

*Scripturally - Broader and Deeper *Theologically – Deeper with a basic understanding of the Book of Order, Confessions and Creeds *Spiritual Formation - Encouraged and resourced in the spiritual disciplines *Leadership - Understanding the role of Ruling Elder, learning how to support pastoral leadership and when to challenge it.

*Koinonia - Connecting with other Ruling Elders, sharing best practices and supporting each other.



The Instructor – Dr. Joe Small

Dr. Small retired recently from his 22 tenure at

the General Assembly Mission Council. Most re-

cently, he served at the Council as Director of

Theology, Worship and Education Ministries,

where he directed the work of the Office of Theol-

ogy and Worship, the Office of Theological Edu-

cation, and Congregational Ministries Publishing.

A graduate of Brown University, Pittsburgh Theo-

logical Seminary, Princeton Theological Semi-

nary, and Louisville, Theological Seminary. He

has served the church in roles ranging from pro-

fessor to pastor. Dr. Small is the author of To Be Reformed: Living the Tradition (2010), Let Us Reason Together: Christians and Jews in Conversation (2010), Proclaiming the Great Ends of the Church (2010), Conversations With the Confessions (2005),Preservation of the Truth (2005), Fire and Wind: The Holy Spirit in the Church Today (2002), Committed Conversation (2000), and God and Ourselves: A Brief Exercise in Reformed Theol-ogy (1997), and has written numerous journal arti-cles, study series, and theological papers. He is a core member of "Re-Forming Ministry," co-chair of the international Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue, board member of the Center for Catholic and Evan-gelical Theology, member of the Faith and

Order Commission of the National Council of

Churches, and a frequent participant in interna-

tional ecumenical consultations sponsored by the

World Council of Churches, the World Commun-

ion of Reformed Churches and the Centre Inter-

national Reformé.

Dr. Small will be in Iowa for Oct. 8, 2016, Octo-ber 7, 2017 and June 30, 2018, and teach with the aid of technology for the other gatherings. Dr. Small lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Sign me up…

I am committed!

Name:

Address

E Mail address CELL:

Church:

o $_______Check enclosed

Make Check payable to:


Return this page along with check payable to:

Presbytery of North Central Iowa Lakeshore Center at Okoboji

1864 Hwy. 86 Milford, IA 51351

November 22, 2017 - Presbytery of Prospect Hill (PCUSA)prospecthillpresby.org › wp-content ›...

Documents

Transcript of November 22, 2017 - Presbytery of Prospect Hill (PCUSA)prospecthillpresby.org › wp-content ›...