InPrint a publication of the presbytery of the twin cities area
Birth and Re-Birth New and renewing Ministries– Urban and Suburban
March 2013
Words from the Editor
InPrint
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In This Issue
3.13 In:Focus– New and Renewing Faith Communities
In:Focus
In:Spire
4
“We are About Blessing People”
7
Called to Uptown
7
20 21
Why Ashes? By Kara Root It’s Not Fair! By Stephanie Anthony
In:Form In:sights
10
“A More Holy Way of Caring for One Another”
12
Where Two or Three Are Gathered
15
Do We Have a (Numbers) Problem Here?
15
In:Volve
16 17 18
Catching Fire in Albert Lea Knitting for a Better World in Austin
23 26 28
Around the presbytery Upcoming Events Transitions
In:Deed
29
Words from the Stated Clerk
30
Words from the Executive Presbyter
20
Working to End Homelessness in St. Paul
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In:Focus-New and Renewing Congregations
In August of 2012, Chain of Lakes, the presbytery’s newest church, celebrated the purchase of property for a church building. Pastor Paul Moore shared his dreams and hopes for the congregation.
“We are about blessing people”
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“We are about blessing people” “At Chain of Lakes New Church we want this gift to be a gift that keeps on giving. This gift is not a deposit—it’s an incubator. We want our new congregation to pay it forward down the road. We dream of being able to purchase new property for churches that we help start or other new churches that are started. With the Holy Spirit’s help we want to continue the tradition of starting new churches.”
"We are seeing something being born."
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In:Focus-New and Renewing Congregations
Teaching Elder Newell Korgmann looks on as people prepare for the Property Celebration.
Rev. Paul Moore reads from his program during the Property Celebration.
Ruling Elder John Ivers (left) sings during worship. Executive Presbyter Chaz Ruark ( right )speaks to the those gathered.
Events on the Property
1001 new worshiping communities is movement happening in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Across the PC(USA), God is raising up leaders in churches and presbyteries who are creating new worshiping communities. They are taking on new and varied forms of church for our changing culture. Primarily they are seeking to make and form new disciples of Jesus Christ, to change and transform the world.
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In:Focus-New and Renewing Congregations Three years ago, Grace-Trinity Community Church, a Presbyterian-American Baptist congregation in Uptown Minneapolis was low on money and energy. They were ready to close their doors. This is the story of how small, struggling urban congregation in the midst of one of Minneapolis’ hippest neighborhoods received help from a fellow Presbyterian congregation up the road and a young pastor-to-be from California whose sunny disposition brought warmth to Grace-Trinity. This is the story of a church getting a second chance at ministry.
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In:Focus-New and Renewing Congregations
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In:Focus-New and Renewing Congregations “I never imagined I’d be in a church like this. The church I came from is in some ways the complete opposite. It was thriving, growing — plenty of money to do things. … And yet there was something very compelling about taking a step back and imagining myself in a new role as minister.”
Grace-Trinity Launches New Worship Service
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In:Sights-Views on Mission and Ministry
Photo courtesy of iStockPhoto.
a more holy way of caring for one another The Board of Pensions Proposed Changes to the Health Care Plan for Pastors. It might make business sense, but does it make theological sense?
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In:Sights-Views on Mission and Ministry Board of Pensions goes back to the healthcare drawing board
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In:Sights-Views on Mission and Ministry
Where Two Or Three Are Gathered... How Should presbytery Meetings Change to Attract 20 and 30somethings?
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In:Sights-Views on Mission and Ministry
This next generation is action oriented. If we are going to attract younger commissioners, we need to place more emphasis on the commissioner experience. How do commissioners receive critical updates? How do we organize ourselves to allow the great work of our committees to be heard and understood by everyone? How can we prove to folks that there is energy and imagination in our work? How are we going to recognize the Spirit moving within our organization in order to fearlessly follow it? inprint/presbytery of the twin cities area/ march 2013 13
In:Sights-Views on Mission and Ministry
highlights the unofficial stated meeting highlights of the presbytery of the twin cities area Find out what happened at Presbytery meetings by reading this short summary. Download the latest issue at www.presbyterytwincities.org/ highlights/
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In:Sights-Views on Mission and Ministry Do We Have A (Numbers) Problem Here?
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In:Volve-Missional Stories
Helping Children “Catch the Faith� In Albert Lea
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In:Volve-Missional Stories
A “Tight-Knit� Mission
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In:Volve-Missional Stories
Attendees to the event on Youth Homelessness at the House of Hope pose for a picture.
House of Hope Hosts Gathering to Help Youth Find a Place to call home.
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In:Volve-Missional Stories
NEWSLETTER TITLE • Spring/Fall 20XX
It is complicated ... But I also know this: the 15-year-old kid sleeping alone in an abandoned house tonight doesn’t care about that. The 16-year-old who can’t go home tonight out of fear of her mother’s drug-dealing boyfriend doesn’t care about the rationale in allocating housing assistance funds. The 17year-old lucky enough to be sleeping tonight in one of the 8 emergency shelter beds in Saint Paul, and wondering how he’s going to make it through tomorrow, isn’t interested in someone’s elaborate process.
Homeless Youth Act Starts Journey in St. Paul
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In:Spire-Our Spiritual Walk Lent 2013
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In:Spire-Our Spiritual Walk
NEWSLETTER TITLE • Spring/Fall 20XX
Life Is Not Fair!
Lent 2013
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In:Spire-Our Spiritual Walk Life’s not fair, and God most certainly isn’t fair either. Who could ever live up to a standard of fairness? Who could ever bear enough fruit enough of the time? Who could ever be fruitful every day, every season, every harvest? None of us.
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In:Form-News and Resources March is Minnesota FoodShare Month
Around the presbytery
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In:Form-News and Resources
SDOP Committee Offers $17K in Grants to Two Minneapolis Organizations
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In:Form-News and Resources
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In:Form-News and Resources Upcoming Events
church.
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In:Form-News and Resources In the Resource Center
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In:Form-News and Resources Transitions
Critical Conversations on Human Trafficking Set for April
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In:Deed-Final Thoughts
Nine Months In
“In sharp but often neglected contrast to other branches of Christendom, we do not simply elect lay leaders. Rather, we recognize particular gifts of leadership, of teaching and of ruling or guiding, and set those persons apart for particular service. When Teaching Elders think they alone make decisions for others to implement, or when Ruling Elders see themselves as ‘filling a slot’ for a fixed time – we miss a key message of our Constitution and our Reformed identity. “
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In:Deed-Final Thoughts
Looking Back at 2012; Looking Forward to 2013 “2013 is a year in which we will deal with the changing world and changing budgets. But we are doing God's work and we know God is with us. The year of our Lord 2013 will be a good year.”
Changing Lives in God’s Woods and Waters. inprint/presbytery of the twin cities area/ march 2013 30