If there are any questions about the March committee meetings, please contact your committee chair.

Transcription

1 FIRST MONDAY March 2019 First Monday is a monthly posting to Church Professionals and committee members in The Presbytery of the Miami Valley from the Presbytery Staff including information of events and news of interest as submitted by appropriate Presbytery entities. Publication of such information does not imply presbytery endorsement of the views and opinions expressed or implied. This month we have included: 1. The Prayer List 2. The March Calendar 3. Presbytery News What s Happening Around The Presbytery. Job listings, articles, flyers and brochures take a close look for news affecting you and your church community! If there are any questions about the March committee meetings, please contact your committee chair. Submissions must usually be ed by the 25 th of the month or the last working day prior in order to be placed in the packet. copy ready submissions to Tom Oxley at the Presbytery, tom.oxley@miamipresbytery.org.

2 MIAMI PRESBYTERY PRAYER LIST March, March Reily Presbyterian Church, located at 6370 Peoria/Reily Road, Oxford. Pastor Tom Ramsey. 10 March Good Shepherd United Presbyterian Church, located at 524 Park Avenue, Piqua. Moderator Jocelyn. 17 March Trinity Presbyterian Church located at 3211 Lakeview Avenue, Dayton. Moderator Marge Morgan. 24 March Monroe Presbyterian Church, located at 57 West Elm Street, Monroe. Pastor Jeri Baker. 31 March Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 415 North Main Street, Springboro. Pastor Sarah Sparks-Franklin. 7 April Oxford Presbyterian Church, located at 101 North Main Street, Oxford. Pastor Lawrence Bartel. The Presbytery committee or group we ask you to pray for: For the month of March please keep the Trustees in your prayers. Thank you.

3 Presbytery of the Miami Valley Mar 2019 (Eastern Time - New York) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Please keep Dayton: 4:30pm - CoM Please keep Reily in your Ash Wednesday 9:30am - Nominating 12pm - Staff 1:30pm - LC Agenda 5pm - Network Spt Daylight Saving Time 12pm - Educators at 9am - Leadership Council Please keep Piqua: Good Please keep Dayton: Trinity 9:30am - CPM St. Patrick's Day Please keep Monroe in 4:30pm - CoM Please keep Springboro: April Fool's Day

4 First Monday Job Corner: Drop us a line if there is a job opening you need to fill at your church (and please let us know if you want it continued in future months we are only running ads month by month, so need to know if your church wants it continued). Please note that the Presbytery website also lists some area job hunting assistance. If you know of somebody in your congregation that needs some help looking for their next job, please share that information with them Churches are invited to share programs, job openings, and news with other churches of the presbytery. Just print ready information to tom.oxley@miamipresbytery.org. An Invitation to a Book Discussion Group The Book Discussion Group of Southminster Presbyterian Church, Centerville, Ohio, invites you to participate in monthly discussions of books, both fiction and nonfiction, that focus on social justice issues such as racism, immigration, homelessness, etc. Members share in leading the discussions. We welcome different voices, experiences, and ideas to broaden and deepen our understanding of the issues, and we look forward to making new friends from different areas of the Presbytery. We meet the third Friday of the month from 10 11:30 A.M. in the Hospitality Room at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 7001 Far Hills Ave., Centerville, Ohio. All are welcome, but an RSVP will aid in planning the sessions. For more information, directions and to RSPV, contact Pat Elliott at pelliott1@woh.rr.com, or contact the church at Our schedule for discussion follows. Each person arranges to borrow or buy their copy of the book. Mar. 15 The 57 bus Dashika Slater Apr. 19 The Street Ann Petry May December, 2019 To Be Determined

5 THE PARISH PAPER IDEAS AND INSIGHTS FOR ACTIVE CONGREGATIONS EDITORS: DANA HORRELL AND CYNTHIA WOOLEVER March 2019 Volume 27, Number 3 Copyright 2019 by Dana Horrell Media Technology for Worship Recent advances in media technology have brought sweeping changes to many aspects of everyday life, including church. In 2012, 35 percent of US congregations were using video projection equipment, a number that has surely increased since that time. 1 Using technology to enhance the ministry and message of your congregation takes practice, but with some planning and intentional effort, you can reap great benefits. New Technologies Expand Options Media technology has increased the options for making worship more visually accessible and inviting. Worship leaders may project song lyrics on a screen in order to free worshippers from the use of hymnals or show a single graphic design to illustrate the worship service s central theme. Preachers may display the sermon s key points to make it easier to follow or include a video clip instead of telling a story orally. Churches that have the resources or in-house volunteer talent may develop their own videos or project the image of the preacher and the band on multiple screens using image magnification so that worshippers can see their faces close up. 2 How to Get Started To get started, assemble a worship design team that includes the preacher and a variety of creative and technically oriented individuals. Creatives could be professionals in the arts, but also anyone who reads or is involved with art in the community, writes or crafts as a hobby, or watches movies for enjoyment. Techies could include professionals or anyone able to work with or willing to learn computers, projectors, digital cameras, or video cameras. To arrive at a visual metaphor for the sermon and worship service, team members can look individually and collectively to television, movies, and the internet for tangible objects or events that become the basis for the primary metaphor of the day. One method is to first develop a single idea as the focus and then search for an image that communicates it. Brainstorming with the small group can often be the most effective way to arrive at this. 3 Ultimately, effective worship design requires attention not only to technology but the use of metaphor. Metaphor, the tangible representation of an abstract idea, has long been used in the language of sermons and written prayers. By using media technology, worship designers can represent this metaphor visually. Len Wilson, a worship consultant, thinks it s helpful to make a distinction between the theme, the main message that worship leaders want to get across, and the metaphor itself, which can be visually represented by an object or a combination of text and object. 4 This Is Hard Work! Developing computer graphics and videos for worship can be time consuming. It takes about five to ten hours to produce basic graphics, including announcements, song lyrics, Scripture lessons, and images to illustrate the sermon. Developing a video from scratch takes even longer. A video with simple graphics and no special effects takes about ten to fifteen hours per

6 finished minute to produce, not counting time spent brainstorming. Luckily, videos must be brief: one minute for most topics, three minutes for special projects, and five minutes maximum. 5 Doing media projects on a regular basis for worship can be compared to riding a roller coaster. Once the work on a project finishes and the team is ready to breathe a sigh of relief, they are asked to do something else, and the excitement and fear begin again. 6 While it can be challenging to develop and implement new ideas week after week, advance planning can help. Worship teams can lay out a detailed, color-coded production schedule using an Excel spreadsheet and assign a different project to each color. Note the person responsible to carry it out and keep track of deadlines. Update weekly if necessary. Creative Ways to Expand the Media Palette A common trap is to think of the projection screen primarily as a place for printed words such as song lyrics or announcements, rather than thinking of visual imagery as important in its own right. Here are several ways to expand the media palette in worship and beyond. Instead of leaving the screen empty between song sets or announcements, revert to a default image such as the worship service s central graphic, allowing worshippers to meditate on its meaning. At the beginning of the service, consider projecting a series of still images in a continuous loop for worshippers waiting for the service to begin, a technique borrowed from movie theaters. Design an image as a visual representation of the Scripture lesson. For example, to illustrate the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch on the road to Jerusalem, one worship team created an image of a long road leading to a city far off in the distance. In gazing at the image, worshippers could imagine themselves in the story during the Scripture reading and throughout the service. 7 Outside of worship, images and videos can be used as a visual marketing tool in the church s social media and website presence, ensuring that the work is being put to full use. Pitching a Tent in Electronic Culture Some people may object that media technology in worship represents an attempt to be relevant at all costs. Yet Tex Sample, who lectures widely on the church and popular culture, points out that Jesus accommodated himself to contemporary culture by using the vernacular language of Aramaic and telling parables, though he also selectively resisted the culture by breaking purity code to heal persons who were thought to be impure. In this way the Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1:14), with the Greek word translated to live meaning to live or camp in a tent or to pitch or inhabit a tent. In a similar way, the church can pitch its tent in an electronic culture by using sound, video, and lighting practices taken from the entertainment industry without being crass or shallow. 8 Resources Technologies for Worship ( and Church Production ( are online magazines addressing the technical needs of church worship. TFW is available free in print in the North America, while Church Production is free in the US only. Capterra, an online resource for business software buyers, provides a list of reviews of worship presentation software at -software/. The Work of the People ( is an ecumenical platform that produces videos and looped images for use in worship. Internet Movie Database ( is a web resource that offers a searchable database of millions of movies and television programs. YouTube ( is a collection of user-generated videos, many of which can be useful in services. You can use the free service, ClipGrab ( to download these videos so you don t need a browser open to show them. 1. Swee Hong Lim and Lester Ruth, Lovin On Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2017), Ibid., Len Wilson and Jason Moore, Taking Flight With Creativity: Worship Design Teams that Work (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009), Len Wilson with Jason Moore, The Wired Church 2.0 (Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press, 2008), Ibid., 32, Constance E. Stella, Video Ministry: Using Media in Worship Without Going Hollywood (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2006), 35, Wilson and Moore, The Wired Church, Tex Sample, Powerful Persuasion: Multimedia Witness in Christian Worship (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2003), Copyright 2019 by dana horrell

7 Schedule of Events: Friday, July 12, p.m. Registration, Mission Project, Spirituality Center 6:00 Welcome and Dinner 6:45 Singing: What Does the Lord Require of You 7:00 Opening Devotions and Business Meeting 7:30 Keynote: Eugenia Gamble, Love Carved in Stone, Horizons Bible Study of the Ten Commandments 8:15 Evening Prayers Saturday, July 13, :00 a.m. Registration 8:30 Singing Welcome, Devotions, Candle Lighting Business Meeting 9:30 Keynote: Presbyterian Mission Today, Diane Moffett 10:45 Keynote: PW in Today s World, Carol Winkler 12 p.m. Lunch 1:15 Workshops, Session One 3:00 Keynote: Hannah Estabrook, Addressing Human Trafficking 4:00 Workshops, Session Two 5:15 Dinner 6:00 Closing Worship and Communion, Desiree Youngblood, Charon Barconey Sunday, July 20, :30, 10:00* or 11:00 a.m. Worship with the congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church *Informal Worship Accommodations: Women are to arrange for housing for themselves. The Gathering Team has arranged special rates with the motels listed below. Call all hotels and identify as PWSOC reservation block. Only one person in a room call for reservation. Cut off date for group rate is June 12, 2019 for all hotels except Staybridge which is May 1, La Quinta Inn Columbus-Dublin 6145 Parkcenter Circle Dublin, OH Call Option 5 Group confirmation number is with 2 beds standard 1 Handicap 1 king standard $81 plus tax Red Roof Plus 5125 Post Road Dublin, OH Call standard rooms (1-4 persons) $85 plus tax No Continental breakfast (Restaurants close by) Accommodations, continued WORKSHOPS Workshop Session One: #1 Bible Study Eugenia Gamble will provide resources and ideas for Bible study leaders. #2 Earth Stewardship Keith Mills and John McCumber will address environmental issues and ideas for earth care. #3 Substance Abuse Panel Panelists Officer Ed Chung, Beth Morrison and Tracy Plouck will provide information about substance abuse from several perspectives. Workshop Session Two: #4 - Bible Study - Eugenia Gamble will provide resources and ideas for Bible study leaders. #5 Leadership Martha Pool will discuss leadership roles with Presbyterian Women today and offer ideas and resources for leading. #6 Global Exchange to Indonesia Rev. Desiree Youngblood and Erin Foche will offer stories and perspectives on their Global Exchange experiences. In addition to the singing, daily prayers and worship and the business of our PW in the Synod, there will be some surprises during the Gathering, worship and communion on Saturday evening, and the opportunity to worship with the congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning. Register now for the best rate and plan to renew friendships and make new friends during our time together. Accommodations, continued Four Points by Sheraton 8505 Pulsar Place Columbus, OH Call King rooms $109 plus tax Staybridge Suites OSU 3121 Olentangy Road Columbus,OH Call King rooms $ plus tax $ plus tax if only 1 night Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc. Moderator, Patricia McBride Gathering Coordinator, Betty Kennedy

8 REGISTRATION FORM Registration fee includes dinner on Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturday and programs. June 10, 2019: Deadline for early registration, fee: $90 or Saturday only, $75. After June 10 until June 28, registration fee is $110 or Saturday only $85. June 30: Cancellation Deadline, 50% refund until this date. No refund after June 30. Registration closes June 30, Please Print Name Address City Phone Presbytery Church Name to be printed on name tag Meals needed Friday dinner Saturday lunch Saturday dinner Special diet Vegetarian Gluten free Other Emergency contact person Phone WORKSHOP REGISTRATION Session One Saturday, 1:15 2:30 p.m. 1 st Choice 2 nd Choice Session Two Saturday, 4:00 5:15 p.m. 1 st Choice 2 nd Choice Make check payable to PWSOC and send them to: Joan Lockard, Registrar Aynesley Clinton Township, MI Presbyterian Women In the Synod of the Covenant 2019 Gathering July 12-13, 2019 Covenant Presbyterian Church 2070 RidgecliffRoad Columbus, OH Diane Moffett, Presbyterian Mission Agency president and executive director will speak about the mission of the PC(USA) today. Eugenia Gamble, author of the Horizons Bible Study, Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments will provide an overview of the study. In two workshops she will offer ideas and resources for study leaders. Carol Winkler, former Moderator of Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc. will share the latest from Churchwide PW where she serves ex officio.

9 Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen 2019 Spring Retreat March 9, :00 a.m. until Noon Rev. Allen currently serves as the Assistant to the Superintendent for the Ohio River Valley District of the United Methodist Church. She was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2000 and has served churches in Defiance, Milford, and Springboro Ohio. She received her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She completed her Doctor of Ministry at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in the area of Theology and Leadership. Finding Your Why Retreat is sponsored by the Stephen Ministries of Lindenwald United Methodist Church and The Presbyterian Church of Hamilton. Location: Lindenwald United Methodist Church 3501 Pleasant Avenue Hamilton, OH Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with a light breakfast provided. There is a cost of $10.00 per person. Reservations and payment required by Monday, March 4, What are the core values that have formed and shaped you as a person? What are the deepest hopes you have for those you love and the world around you? What kind of legacy are you creating? Often we find it challenging to share our faith, values, and hopes, with those we love in a way that has positive impact. What we are often missing is the ability to name the why that has made these ideals so important to us. Join us for this retreat as we find our why so that we can more effectively share our faith, values, and hopes with those we love. In this retreat we will: -discuss what motivates us as human beings -identify our core values and the why behind them -learn how to communicate the why along with our core values -consider how finding our why leads to transformation in our relationships For more information or to make your reservation, contact Susan Stephenson At or ; or stsmsteph@aol.com

10 Please return this portion with your payment of $10 made payable to The Presbyterian Church Mail to Susan Stephenson, 251 Heathwood Lane, Hamilton, OH Name Phone Address Payment enclosed (Cash ) or (Check )

11 Slifers Presbyterian Church 200 th Anniversary Antique Appraisal See what your family heirlooms and auction finds are worth! March 9, p.m. $5 for every two items Refreshment stand available Appraisals by Smith Auctioneers Slifers Presbyterian Church 2999 S. Clayton Road, Farmersville

12 LENTEN BIBLE STUDY with Memorial and Corinth Presbyterian Churches Friends in Christ, The Lenten season of the Chris<an year is a 40-day period in which we are invited to reflect deeply on our walk with Christ as we journey with him toward Jerusalem, the cross, and what will be the empty tomb. As you walk this Lenten path, we invite you to join our churches in a shared Bible study. The book we ll use for our study is Divine Friendship: Reflec1ons for Lent, which contains daily devo<ons for the season (sample chapter here: hlps://goo.gl/vpzyzk). Each Bible study will be led either by Dave or Herbie, and will have as its focus one of the devo<ons of the week. We have purchased a limited number of copies. If you would like one, please let Dave know. Each copy is $14. Or you can purchase a hardcopy or Kindle version on Amazon. See the full schedule of events for the Lenten season, which includes shared Holy Week services between the two churches. Mark your calendars and plan to alend some or all of what s going on. Blessings in Christ, Dave and Herbie Rev. David Foubert Memorial Presbyterian Church 1541 S Smithville Road, Dayton, OH dfoubert@woh.rr.com, (937) Rev. Herbie Miller Corinth Presbyterian Church 4269 Corinth Boulevard, Dayton, OH herbiemiller@gmail.com, (423) Events of the Lenten Season Wednesday, March 6, 7pm Ash Wednesday at Memorial Tuesday, March 12, 11am Bible study at Corinth Tuesday, March 19, 11am Bible study at Memorial Tuesday, March 26, 11am Bible study at Corinth Tuesday, April 2, 11am Bible study at Memorial Tuesday, April 9, 11am Bible study at Corinth Tuesday, April 16, 11am Bible study at Memorial Thursday, April 18, 7pm Maundy Thursday at Memorial Friday, April 19, 7pm Good Friday at Corinth