The Link. Introducing The Rev. Donald Marsden. Rev. Donald Marsden

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1 The Link WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Ann Arbor, mi Volume 28, number 7: July-September 2014 Introducing The Rev. Donald Marsden The Rev. Donald Marsden was a classmate of mine at Princeton Theological Seminary in fact he lived down the hall from me! Donald is currently serving as an Associate Director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship (PFF). Some of you will remember the founder of PFF, Harold Kurtz who spoke at Westminster years ago and his daughter Carolyn who was here a few years ago. Donald will preach and lead a class on the ministry and work of PFF. Below is information about PFF followed by information about Rev. Donald Marsden. Peace, Stephen Carl PFF Mission Statement As part of God's mission to the world, we invite believing communities to engage people groups where the good news of Jesus and his kingdom is not yet known. PFF Vision Statement The vision which guides PFF is summarized in the following: For Every People: An Indigenous Church For Every Church: A Mission Vision PFF Core Values Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship is a missional servant community. We are... Committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Seeking the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit Rooted in Scripture and Prayer Devoted to faithful stewardship of life and possessions Boldly proclaiming the gospel to every people Serving Presbyterians Uplifting the congregation s faithfulness to God s mission calling Focusing on the congregation as a wellspring for mission initiative Calling forth People Movements to Jesus among unreached people groups Advocating the indigenous expressions of the body of Christ in all people groups Supporting the planting of indigenous churches committed to God s Mission Advocating a partnership approach to mission Committed to the unity of the global church in mission Rev. Donald Marsden BACKGROUND AND CALL Donald grew up attending a Presbyterian congregation in Connecticut. Although involved in his church youth group, and identifying with the Christian way of life, he had only the foggiest, agnostic notion of God. That changed in the summer of 1976 when God grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and became very real to him. Donald sensed God s call to faith and to ministry in the Presbyterian Church. Life has never been under control since. SERVICE Even before he came to faith, Donald became involved in mission work repairing homes and teaching gymnastics to children in rural Maine through church summer youth trips. After college he spent two years serving in youth ministry with German youth in West Berlin, Germany, visiting with Christians behind the iron curtain in East Germany, Poland and Russia. Following graduation from Princeton Seminary, Donald was ordained to the gospel ministry. He and his wife Laurie served thirteen years in two congregations in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Marsdens were then called with their three children to serve as missionaries of the PCUSA in Russia from In Russia Donald focused on training Russian church leaders for ministry and publishing books for children. He also travelled with Harold Kurtz to visit the nomadic reindeer herding Nenets in Siberia, the Roma in Ukraine, and thus was introduced to the work of frontier mission. Cont. on Page 2 in this issue Updates from our Mission Fields, 2-3 Zookeepers Wife, 4 Endowment, and community news, 5 Finances and stewardship, 6-7 Summer calendar, 8

2 MINISTRY FOCUS In PFF Donald focuses on helping congregations become involved in outreach to the Arssi Oromo of Ethiopia. He also has relationships with mission workers in West Africa, Russia, Siberia, Hungary and Ukraine. QUESTIONS DONALD CAN ANSWER How has the world of mission grown more complex and how can we best participate today? What is Islam and how can Christians share their faith meaningfully with Muslims? Does frontier mission have to be overseas or is there a frontier mission at my doorstep? Detroit Mission Trip, July 13-18: 36 Westminster adults and youth, plus 17 of their friends, partnered with Central Detroit Christian Community Development, Detroit Rescue Mission, and Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church to lead a fine arts camp, paint, garden, clean, build a wheelchair ramp, and spread God s good will in Detroit. DONALD WRITES God has led me to follow and serve Jesus Christ in ways I never expected. The call to be a pastor, to eleven years of mission service in Russia and Siberia, to serve with PFF all of these have come to me as total surprises. Sometimes I have responded reluctantly to God s call, sometimes enthusiastically. In our highly complex, fragmented and violent world it is a privilege to serve with PFF seeking to be a part of extending good news to all ethnic and religious groups in the world. I am grateful to God to be in partnership with so many wonderful people who make this possible. Donald Marsden is leading an Adult Ed class and preaching during worship on August 24th. Reaching Out in Love and Service Updates from our Mission Fields Thank you Westminster Volunteers and Donors! The Washtenaw Cluster Mercy House Workweek was a Success! Watch for updates on the deck and painting, as well as future opportunities to visit or even to work. Read these Ann Arbor News stories for words and pictures: Painting a house being restored by CDC The Haspels Constructing a wheel chair ramp for a Detroit family John and Gwen Haspels missionary work among the Suri People of Ethiopia has been supported by Westminster for many of the past years. In their reports back to us and their other sponsors they describe the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in raising up several congregations among the these people; a people who had never heard the Gospel before. The challenges have been enormous but the Holy Spirit has moved in powerful and miraculous ways to bring people to Christ, to free members from disease, to exorcize demonic spirits from many, and to raise up leaders. In these congregations, Discipling one another has been a key ingredient for their growth. PCUSA sends the Haspels and Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship provides expertise in their work to bring the Gospel to unreached peoples. Is God calling you to be a Mission Advocate? Each WPC mission cause needs a advocate to promote congregational awareness and engagement with it. Contact Bill Sharp or Katherine Simpson if you can help champion one of the following Fiscal Year 2015 mission causes: Friends of the Master, a Christian prisoner outreach; M.I.S.S.I.O.N.A2, an advocacy and support organization for the homeless, particularly those in tent communities such as the former Camp Take Notice; and the Ecumenical Center and International Residence, a home-away-from-home for college students from nearly 60 different countries, promoting hospitality, global understanding, justice, and peacemaking. Please contact: wsharp01@comcast.net and krsimpson@comcast.net for more information. 2 3

3 Funding a New (fiscal) Year of Mission Outreach! Westminster members take seriously God s call to love and serve our neighbors! In addition to generous donations of goods and service, we provide financial support to designated mission causes. Most of our outreach giving is done through either planned funding from the Mission Outreach Budget (which is a tithe of pledged offerings) or via our monthly Faith Promise (FP) Offerings. Using the blue FP envelopes from your envelope box or pew, you can let the Spirit lead you to designate a free will gift to one or more of the FP causes (or any other charitable agency), or you may make an undesignated FP offering to be divided equally among our recommended FP causes. Because these FP gifts are in addition to our pledged offerings, recipients often receive more support than we could provide if limited to a portion of budgeted spending. Altogether, our FP giving makes a huge difference! Other financial support for mission causes may also be provided via individual gifts and special fundraisers. Each budget year, the mission committee reviews and updates budgeted and Faith Promise causes. Three new causes are included in the following lists of fiscal year Items flagged also need volunteers, either locally or during WPC mission trips. Use the hyperlinks for more information, or contact a mission committee member for details! But remember! This is ONLY a list of causes which we fund through budget or Faith Promise offerings. The list of outreach causes is much longer because God s call to serve is about our hearts and hands as well as our funds! BUDGETED CAUSES: Biola University: tuition assistance for Noelle Smallish as she works on her masters degree and teaches at Sojourn Academy, an affiliate of the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica. As a Sojourn teacher, she helps children adjust to a new culture, acquire a new language and advance academically in a secure and spiritually nourishing environment. NEW! Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation, Detroit, creates opportunities through education, employment and economic development; partners with Westminster s annual Detroit Mission trip. Link: Ghana missionary support: Rachel and Maxwell Smallish-Dziku are in Ann Arbor while Maxwell pursues an educational leadership degree to better equip him to grow the Fountainhead Christian School, University, and basic schools in Ghana upon the family s return. Link: WORKS 2012.pps Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley currently focuses on refurbishing homes for low income families. Link: H.E.A.R.T. at Westminster provides a week s shelter for 25 homeless men in partnership with the Washtenaw Shelter Association Rotating Shelter Program. Link: Hope Clinic, Ypsilanti: interdenominational medical, dental and social services organization provides compassionate and practical help to those in need. In addition to funding, WPC also provides regular food donations, laundry soap, and other items. Link: International Teams missionaries (Elvira and Mike Babcock), Romania: nondenominational protestant ministry nurtures a personal relationship with Christ Jesus through practical services such as teaching English as a Second Language, tutoring, and Vacation Bible School. Link: O. C. International, David and Debbie Kornfield mentor and train pastors and lay leaders to multiply their ministries. David leads both the Brazilian Alliance for Pastoring of Pastors and MAPI (Mentoring and Accountability for Pastoral Integrity), and oversees similar movements in Bolivia, Paraguay and Colombia. Link: Presbyterian Church (USA) Shared Missions gifts go where most needed to fund many parts of the Presbyterian Mission Agency's mission and ministry, including training pastor and leader development, resources for biblical interpretation for all ages, training and sending mission workers, and training and care for Presbyterian chaplains serving in the armed forces around the world. Link: Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship stimulates congregational involvement in mission among people groups where there is no indigenous church. WPC provides designated support to PFF missionaries John and Gwen Haspel in Ethiopia and to the PFF general fund, all through PC(USA). Link: Riverside Community Gathering, Ypsilanti, provides a weekly community meal and fellowship for isolated and fragile individuals; led by WPC and sponsored by several churches in the PC(USA) Washtenaw Cluster. Link: Spanish Language Institute, Costa Rica. Former WPC Julie Chamberlain directs Spanish language programs to equip missionaries as well as supporting a ministry to incarcerated women. SLI also administers Sojourn Academy, where Noelle Smallish teaches. Westminster also sends mission teams to periodically assist at SLI. Link: Theological Education Fund supports seminary students through the PC(USA) Detroit Presbytery. Link: Westminster Garden 4 Good: Westminster grows fresh vegetables in our own north yard to be donated to community meal and food programs for the hungry, including Riverside Community Gathering. Link: Westminster local, national and international mission trips: funding helps send member teams to serve in local, national, and international mission fields. Watch for opportunities for youth, intergenerational, and adult mission experiences including the Detroit Mission Trip (in July 2014), Spanish Language Institute Trip, and Presbyterian Disaster Relief Trips. 4 5

4 FAITH PROMISE CAUSES: Ecumenical Center and International Residence (ECIR), Ann Arbors, is an intentional living-learning community for university students and visiting scholars from around the world. It offers a program of hospitality, global understanding, justice, and peacemaking, and provides opportunities for congregations, organizations, and individuals throughout SE Michigan. Link: Friends in Deed, Ypsilanti, bridges congregations and low-income families with unmet emergency needs, assisting with furniture, prescriptions and medical costs, utility bills, and transportation, as well as providing referrals to other agencies. Link: NEW! Friends of the Master, Ypsilanti, connects with people in the jails and prisons to bring God s love, encouraging them to be involved with Christian services and to grow spiritually all through their time of incarceration. Upon release, Friends of the Master receives them as friends and provides a welcoming, stable, spiritually based, family style living situation from which they can successfully re-enter the greater society. Westminster worked with FOM during our Invisible City missions. Link: House by the Side of the Road, Ann Arbor, provides used clothing and small household items to families in need. Link: NEW! M.I.S.S.I.O.N.A2/Camp Take Notice, Ann Arbor, provides a voice to the homeless, and works to make tent communities safer and better connected to services so that their citizens can more quickly make their way into more permanent housing, if desired. In Ann Arbor, M.I.S.S.I.O.N A2 supports the efforts of Camp Take Notice to build and strengthen a community through self-governance and accountability. Many Westminster members have advocated for and assisted this community, including via our recent PC(USA) Washtenaw Cluster workweek. Link: PC (USA) Medical Benevolence Foundation, worldwide, provides hope and healing to those most in need. Working with international church partners, MBF supports healing ministries in more than 100 hospitals and clinics throughout the world providing funding, medical supplies, community development, and increased world awareness. Link: Samaritan Counseling Center, Ann Arbor, provides affordable outpatient mental health services as an extension of area congregations, utilizing psychological, theological and medical disciplines to treat the whole person. Link: Staples Family Center (Salvation Army), Ann Arbor, provides a safe, drug-free shelter for homeless families. Residents and house staff work together assisting each other with meal preparations and daily chores. The program of support and spiritual guidance helps homeless families overcome the obstacles that caused their homelessness. Link: Our Life Together Womans Book Club: Zookeepers Wife The book for August is the Zookeeper s Wife: a War Story (2007) 323 pp., nonfiction, a New York Times Bestseller and winner of the 2008 Orion Award.. The author is Diane Ackerman, "best-selling naturalist and acclaimed storyteller." Linda Harnish has read the book and really liked it. The material on its cover reads in part: "After their zoo was bombed, Polish zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski managed to save over 300 people from the Nazis by hiding refugees in the empty animal cages. With animal names for these 'guests,' and human names for the animals,..." A quote from the "Washington Post Book World" states, "A lovely story about the Holocaust might seem like a grotesque oxymoron," but goes on to say it isn't for this book, calling its tone "simultaneously grave and exuberant, wise and playful." We will meet in office room number 121 on two Thursdays: August 7 from 1 to 2:30 PM for a book discussion; and August 21 at 12 noon for a potluck (we may go outside to eat) and book discussion. Spouses or a friend or grandchild are welcome to come for the lunch. At the August 21 meeting we will also finalize a book choice and meeting schedule for September. New Chef We are starting off our WNL regular meal this fall with a new chef, Meredith. We will meet in office room number 121 on two Thursdays: August 7 from 1 to 2:30 PM for a book discussion; and August 21 at 12 noon for a potluck (we may go outside to eat) and book discussion. Spouses or a friend or grandchild are welcome to come for the lunch. At the August 21 meeting we will also finalize a book choice and meeting schedule for September. Her meals have been highly received. If you have not attended WNL meals for awhile or have never been, we would like to encourage you to give it a try and receive 1 free meal voucher for your family to use. They will be available Sept 10 thru Oct 1 at the meal. Where else can you get a tasty meal for $5 or $15 max per family and enjoy such good fellowship. We hope you will make this a regular event for your family. 6 7

5 Endowment And Memorial Gifts Funds Purchase New Front Doors We celebrate the purchase of new front doors for the church. This purchase was made possible through the availability of expendable endowment and Memorial Gifts funds. The June Link Endowment Committee article provided detail by Endowment Fund of the $15,800 in expendable funds available as of March 31, At its June meeting, Session approved using the $10,608 expendable General Endowment funds and the $634 expendable Building Endowment funds along with $1,908 in Memorial Gifts funds to purchase new front doors for the church. These new doors will provide better security, better energy efficiency, handicap accessibility as well as more light into the narthex. Installation is planned for early August. This is possible through the generous gifts to the Endowment Funds. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Westminster Endowment Fund Contributions as of 06/30/14 = $188,254 Market value as of 06/30/14 = $277,158 Market valuation gain/(loss) since 05/31/14 = $7,494 Praise God for the generosity of Westminster members and friends! Called to serve BIRTHDAY CAKE! Share your time and talents by making a cake for the monthly Riverside Community first Wednesday Birthday Celebration. Sign up for one or more months in the St. Andrews hallway or by contacting Katherine Simpson, or krsimpson@comcast.net. What a great way to bring joy to lots of hungry people. 60+ group will resume on Friday, September 19 We resume with luncheon at noon in the, followed by the program. Mary Lynn Thomson will present "On Safari in Northern Tanzania," rich with pictures of animals and birds. Please sign-up with Phoebe to let her know you will be there ( or vance3223@gmail.com), and/or sign your name on the "60+ Poster" on the divider as you enter the from the Narthex. All are welcome!! Please come... June 2014 finances reported Westminster's Financial Picture for the Year ending June 30, 2014 YTD Actual Annual Percentage FY 2014 Income Received Budget Actual to Budget Pledges $512,872 $535, % Other Worship Offerings $34,011 $49, % Building Use Rental $18,168 $15, % Misc. Income/Reserve Transfers $76,836 $75, % Total Income $641,887 $675, % YTD Actual Annual Percentage FY 2014 Expenses Disbursed Budget Actual to Budget Pastors & Staff Salaries, Benefits & Office $429,345 $452, % Christian Education, Fellowship, Deacons & Worship $20,864 $24, % Mortgage, Property Costs $143,319 $143, % Mission Outreach $53,646 $54, % Total Expenses $647,173 $675, % YTD Excess (Deficit) ($5,287) Additional Mission Donations Received: Annual Donations Faith Promise Missions disbursed to Charities $64,896 Christmas Joy and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance $10,678 Memorial Gifts and Endowment Fund donations $78,588 Total Additional Donations $154,162 Mission Outreach Annual Budget disbursed to 16 Charities and Mission Trips $46,294 Please contact Marilyn Sleder, Treasurer or David Hammond, Financial Secretary with questions or concerns. 8 9

6 Stewardship through Acts of Kindness, Volunteer Time and Generosity Bread for Riverside Community Gathering 1st Sunday of each month Numerous bags of food, personal and cleaning items for Hope Clinic Pantry Books and Warm clothing for the House by the Side of the Road charity Books and Personal Items donated for H.E.A.R.T. Men's Shelter Program and Costa Rica Mission Trip Mission Trip to Costa Rica Mission Trip to PDA-New Jersey Detroit Mission Trip Youth Mission Trip to Cairo, Illinois THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS HEARTS! Fall Festival It will be that time of year again on Sunday September 7 to start our new fall season of worship, classes, and activities. Again this year we will start off the season with a fall festival that day. The activities will start with lunch following the service. Hot dogs will be provided and you are asked to bring a dish to pass.. Request that last names A - F bring dessert and G - Z bring a casserole or salad. The dishes can be brought to the kitchen prior to going to the service. The festival will run from 11:30-1:30 with lunch being served until 12:30. You can eat inside or you are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs and join others to eat outside. Kids are encouraged to go directly outside and eat there. For the young kids there will again be an inflatable and games This is an event for the whole church with activities for everyone. We hope you will plan on attending and join in on the fellowship and fun. See you there. FISCAL YEAR 2014/15 BUDGET APPROVED We began our stewardship campaign with a challenge budget of $594,673. We have received our pledges for the fiscal year 2014/15 which began July 1, 2014 totaling $474,871. After estimating other sources of receipts from miscellaneous cash gifts, building use, etc., total receipts for fiscal year 2014/15 were projected to be approximately $52,500 less than total expenses. Session approved the following expense reductions to balance the 2014/15 budget: Reduced dedicated hours to the director of youth and children s programs to a total of 40 hours per week. This reduced salaries, payroll taxes, insurance, continuing education and other professional costs. Reduced non-ordained staff salaries and payroll taxes by 1% Reduced head pastor s paid compensation and payroll taxes by 3.5%. Eliminated continuing education for all non-ordained staff. Reduced certain discretionary line items in the budget by 10% The Riverside Community Gathering cook will be paid from Mission funds Music and youth trips will be funded strictly from their respective dedicated funds The budget for mission remained at 10% of budgeted pledges These expense reductions decreased the total budget to $549,804 and represent a decrease of 18.6% from 2013/14 budgeted expenses. These decisions weren t easy ones and came after much prayer and careful consideration. Session approved a balanced budget at its July 15 meeting. Blessings, Marilyn Sleder, Treasurer Chair Stewardship / Finance Committee 10 11

7 Westminster Presbyterian Church 1500 Scio Church Road Ann Arbor, Michigan Sunday worship, 10:30 AM The Link August 2014 Sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday frıday saturday :30 AM WORSHIP - First Sunday Communion / Bread for Riverside; NO Sunday Celebration for age 4 to 2nd Grade 10:30 AM Sunday Celebration 10:30 AM Sunday Detectives 10:30 AM WORSHIP :45 PM - 5:45 PM :00 PM Women s Bible Deadline for next issue :30 AM Sunday Celebration for age 4 to 2nd Grade - Room :30 AM WORSHIP - Food for Hope Clinic Received 24 10:30 AM Sunday Celebration for age 4 to 2nd Grade - Room :30 AM Sunday Detectives 3rd through 5th grade - Room :30 AM WORSHIP 31 LABOR DAY WEEKEND 10:30 AM Sunday Celebration for age 4 to 2nd Grade - Room :30 AM WORSHIP 7:00 PM Missional Monday Riverside Community Gathering - First Presbyterian Ypsilanti Study - Lounge 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Riverside Community Gathering - First Presbyterian Ypsilanti 5:45 PM Praise and Prayer 20 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Needlecrafters - lounge 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Riverside Community Gathering - First Presbyterian Ypsilanti 27 1:00 PM Women s Bible Study - Lounge 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Riverside Community Gathering - First Presbyterian Ypsilanti 1:00 PM - 2:45 PM Thursday Book Group - Room 121 7:00 PM Finance Committee 21 1:00 PM - 2:45 PM Thursday Book Group - Room 121 and Potluck in 28 of The Link Morning prayer - PM Summer Yoga LABOR DAY WEEKEND 23 30