PWJCP CONNECTION May/June, 2012 Thank You! Thank You! And Thank You Again! A heartfelt thanks to the PW of First Presbyterian Church, Mountain View, MO, for hosting the PWJCP 2012 Spring Gathering. I am still hearing about how beautiful everything was and how warm and welcoming the PW were to all who attended. The theme for the gathering was Celebrating Our Gifts and we did! A special thanks is offered to our keynote speaker, John Calvin Pastoral Presbyter Rev. Susan Rosenbaum, who presented a power point/group discussion on the topic Using Our Gifts Together. We also offer special thanks to Rev. Diane Cooke, pastor of the church and current Moderator of John Calvin Presbytery, who led us in celebrating communion and even went the extra mile to lead the commissioning service for our PW attending the Churchwide Gathering. Lunch included table discussions leading to some very connecting ideas on sharing our God-given talents and gifts. Just before extinguishing the Christ Candle, each participant came forward to select a small gift box containing a special word on which to meditate and pray. Several PW have commented on what a moving experience it was. Joyce Skinner was elected as our new secretary. We welcome her to the team of officers with thanksgiving for her willingness to serve. She also presented an update on Joplin. Let us remember our sisters and brothers in the Joplin area (and others also) who still need our prayers and support as they continue to recover and move forward. The CCT has asked that donations of $20 gift cards from Target, Kmart, Lowe s, Walgreens, Costco, CVS/pharmacy, and Publix (or a$20 Visa gift card) be brought to the Churchwide Gathering for the Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry (www.beth-el.info). This ministry helps migrant farm workers in three Florida communities. Migrant farm workers assisted by Beth-El are among the poorest of the working poor and have trouble even feeding their families. Gift cards totaling $140 were collected at our Gathering and will be brought to the Churchwide Gathering from PWJCP. Plan NOW to Attend WHAT: The PWJCP Fall Workshop WHEN: Sept.15, 2012 Registration begins at 9:00AM WHERE: Community Presbyterian Church 271 Main Street Forsyth, MO 65653 (417)546-2584 Pray for your PWJCP Coordinating Team as we meet on June 28. Details for this event and other new information will be sent your way in the August PWJCP CONNECTION! For now, save the date and plan to participate. PW Churchwide Gathering on July 18-22, 2012 Early registration dates have passed and the scholarships have been given. However, you may still register and attend the July 18-22, 2012 PW Churchwide Gathering in Florida. Our PW synod meeting will be at lunch on Saturday, July21. Do let me know if you are planning to attend the Churchwide Gathering. As of now, these are the PW form JCP that I know plan to attend: Amanda Bayless Connie Branwart Debbie Esselman (Voting Delegate) Joyce Skinner Toni Spieth (Voting Delegate) Please keep this Gathering and all of these representatives of PWJCP in your prayers.
Unto These Hills USA Mission Experience 2013 Unto These Hills is the theme for the 2013 USA Mission Experience. This year the dates are June 18-26, 2013. During this time PW participants will visit our sisters living in Appalachia to learn about the realities of their day to day life, challenges they face, and concerns they have. Participants will learn about life in Appalachia and visit church-related and sponsored ministries that respond to the needs of the people living in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. At least one participant will be chosen from each of the 16 Synods. The cost of the trip is $1,600. (This does not include travel to and from Appalachia. ) There is some money set aside from the Synod PW for expenses. Other PW groups and congregations are encouraged to help cover expenses. Applications need to be sent to the PW Synod of Mid-America Moderator by August 1, 2012. Mona Ajans 2304 Deer Creek Ct. Columbia, MO 65201 msajans@hotmail.com (573)875-1694 To learn more about Presbyterian Women s USA Mission Experience or receive an application, visit www.presbyterianwomen.org/missionmatters or call the PW associate for mission at 502/569-5402. Something New is on the Horizons! For generations, Presbyterian women have understood that communication is the foundation of ministry. Faithful women have stayed connected through the most current communication technology available. It is in this can-do spirit that a new digital day has dawned for Horizons, the magazine by and for Presbyterian Women! Subscribers to the print publication now have access to a digital version of the magazine accessible on their ipad, iphone, BlackBerry Torch, Playbook, Android, Mac or PC (with select back issues added every other month!). Here s how to get started! Go to www.pcusa.org/horizons and click on the Digital Edition button on the left-hand side of the page. On the new page, select the issue you d like to read. If you re a print subscriber, you ll be prompted to register a username and password. Remember these to access future issues. (Or, if you re on a personal phone or computer, click the remember me box.) If you re not a subscriber, you ll be prompted to start a new print or digital subscription. You also can call toll-free 866/802-3635 to subscribe! Print subscribers get free access to the digital edition, plus six issues of the magazine in print format AND the annual Horizons Bible study (only in print) for $24.95. Digital-only subscribers get access to six fully digital issues of the magazine and select back issues (This does not include the annual Bible study) for $15. You ll receive a link by email when a new digital issue is ready; you also can access it via www.pcusa.org/horizons! Non-subscribers May Receive a Free Horizons Magazine! Here is a new way to share your excitement about Horizons magazine. Simply collect names and addresses of anyone you know who would like to receive a sample issue of the magazine, and send them to Carissa Herold at Presbyterian Women, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville KY 40202-1396; or email carissa.herold@pcusa.org. Carissa will send a free sample issue to each PW. Include the full name(s) of the recipient(s), their mailing address(es) and (optionally) an email address and telephone number. If you are not a subscriber this is your chance to receive a copy with no obligation! Send Carissa your own information.
NEWS FROM THE TREASURER Mary Lynne Grimes, 417-365-0060 bob-mary@tri-lakes.net The budget for John Calvin Presbyterian Women was approved at our spring meeting held in Mountain View last month. It is on Page 14 of the PWJCP Handbook and Directory which each moderator received either by mail or at the Spring Gathering. If you have a question, please do not hesitate to call. Thank you very much to those congregational PW groups who have sent in the 2012 assessment for John Calvin PW and Synod of Mid-America PW. I have sent the check to the Synod for our assessment. PWJCP must pay for each Presbyterian woman in the Presbytery whether or not she actively participates in a PW group. Every three years John Calvin PW participates in the Churchwide Gathering. Our membership has voted to help pay the registration and travel costs for those participating. Each year a portion of our funds are set aside so that these scholarships may be made available. This summer the Gathering is being held in Orlando, Florida which creates extra expenses and the scholarships are greatly appreciated. We appreciate the participation by the following congregations who have paid their 2012 assessment: Ash Grove, Aurora, Branson, Carthage, Crane, Ebenezer, Forsyth, Fort Scott, Girard, Golden City, Hollister, Iola, Joplin First, Lockwood, Monett First, Mount Vernon First, Mount Vernon Ozark Prairie, Mountain View, Neosho, Nevada, Oswego, Rolla, Sarcoxie, Springfield 1 st and Calvary, Springfield Gibson, Springfield Korean, Springfield Southminster, Springfield Westminster, Springfield Woodland Heights, St. Andrews, and Stockton. That s 31 paid 24 congregational groups remain unpaid for 2012. It is a pleasure serving as John Calvin Presbyterian Women Treasurer. Please call or e-mail if you have a question. The Coordinating Team has decided to be more assertive in working toward collecting assessment monies to fund our budget which includes operating expenses and mission work. We appreciate the support of all congregational groups and realize this is especially difficult for those groups who do not meet on a regular basis. What Has Happened in PWJCP? Our historian, Alberta O Day, is collecting as much information as she can from each of our congregations about the history of PW in each church. Please gather as much information as you can from your PW records and your congregation s history and send it to her. She will be glad to discuss this with you and answer your questions. Contact Alberta at: (417) 272-0288 or (417) 239-4602 mapa_doodah@yahoo.com 1805 Rock Church Road, Galena, MO 65656 JCP Offers Creative Ministry Grants PW are frequently leading the way when it comes to spreading God s love and message to the community. Therefore, I want to make sure that all of you hear about the new grant from John Calvin Presbytery. PW may certainly lead the way in their local congregations by applying for a grant. It could be a resource to help PW groups get connected and cooperate on a ministry or project. Check the JCP web page for more details and an application. (I have included the basic definition/explanation below.) The Creative Ministry Grants are a way in which JCP churches can seek to do new and different missions in their own communities that they might not try on their own because of financial constraints. The name of the grants says it all they are creative ideas which will likely challenge congregations to do things that they may not have considered in the past and is also a challenge to do ministry with another congregation. One of the main focuses of the grants will be churches working together to serve Christ in ways that have not been tried before. What is a creative ministry? It is a ministry that reaches out to the community or communities served by the congregation(s) who apply for the grant. This ministry could be something new and different from what has been tried before and it is encouraged that churches work together with one another for this ministry. While working with another Presbyterian church would be desired, we realize that some communities do not have that option so ecumenical endeavors would be acceptable. The grant application also needs to include a budget to provide an idea of how the monies will be utilized for mission.
Volunteer Opportunities Available to Serve PWJCP It is our desire for the Nominating Committee to maintain a list of perspective officers. Each year we elect at least one officer and there is always the possibility of needing to replace an officer before a term expires.. Therefore, PLEASE feel free to contact the committee with nominations at any time. This year we will need to elect a new PWJCP Moderator and a new Vice Moderator. Please give this your prayerful consideration and submit names to the Nominating Committee by contacting the committee moderator, Judy Wyrick at jwyrick54@gmail.com or (417) 883-0706. If you are interested (or know of others who are interested) in serving as an officer or on the PWJCP Coordinating Team please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thanks for the Directory Updates! I offer a big thank you to each and every one of you who has sent me an update regarding a change in your officers. Officers are elected at different times of the year throughout the presbytery so there is no way I can stay updated without your help. The change will be made on my list as soon as I receive notification of a new moderator/contact. (It would also be helpful to know if the previous moderator/contact would like to stay on the e-mail news list or be deleted from my files.) Remember the information I have on January 15th of each year will be the information printed in the directory. It will be as accurate as the information that you provide! (If you could also inform me about changes in a minister, secretary, or clerk of session it will help the information printed to be accurate.) Mission Reports for 2012 Do not forget to send your Mission Report for 2012 to our Mission Consultant Jane Foval by Jan. 15, 2013. This will allow her time to complete a combined report to present to us at our Spring Gathering on April 27, 2013. Yes, this is a very early reminder! However, if you begin now to make your list for the year 2012, by Dec. 31, 2012 your report will be ready to turn over to Jane. You will be less likely to forget any projects and will probably be amazed at how much you are doing. Remember, these should be projects that your women are involved with and supporting, but do not have to be projects that only PW do. Did you have a fund raiser to support a mission trip for your youth? Do you provide meals to the ill? Did you auction a quilt to support the Regional Girls Shelter? Let Jane know! You may contact Jane at: (417) 239-4602 janefoval@hotmail.com 308 Murrell, Mountain View, MO 65548 Save the Date- Upcoming Events July 18-22, 2012 - Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Orlando, Florida Sept. 15, 2012 - PWJCP Fall Workshop - Community Presbyterian Church, Forsyth, MO April 27, 2013 - PWJCP Spring Gathering First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, KS Honorary Life Membership Remember that every PW may award an Honorary Life membership to honor the service of faithful disciples (women and men) who have supported the work of Presbyterian Women. The $95 received for each award is an investment in the future of Presbyterian Women and the wider Church. Contact our PWJCP treasurer Mary Lynne Grimes Bob-mary@tri-lakes.net or (417) 332-2054 for more information. You may download a form from the PW PC(USA) web page. www.pcusa.org/pw
This Could Be Your Article! I remind you that this is your newsletter and I welcome your input. I would love for you to send me articles about what is happening with your PW. The best way to stay connected is to communicate with each other. We can be an encouragement and inspiration to each other. Let s share ideas and lessons learned along the way. Send me an article and I will include it in a newsletter. News from Our National PW: Wanted: Field testers for 2014 2015 Horizons Bible study! Does your church school class or PW group enjoy time spent in God s word? Are you already getting excited about the 2014 2015 Horizons Bible study on 2 Corinthians? Are you interested in providing feedback to author Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, as she creates the study? Now is your chance to be a field tester. As field testers, your PW group will read the first draft of the study, then record your thoughts, reactions and suggestions on evaluation forms. PW staff and the Bible study author rely on those evaluations to make the study as useful to PW as possible. Field testing will take place between August and December 2012, so apply today! Applications are available online, http://horizons.pcusa.org/bibleupcome.htm, or contact Betsy Ensign-George at 888/728-7228, ext. 5366, betsy.ensign-george@pcusa.org. An Oldie but a Goodie Can Be Yours! The perennially popular Good News Women Bible study is being made available as a free download. Visit the Bible study section at www.pcusa.org/horizons. While there, look for a full range of 2013 2014 Bible study materials, too! Process Change for PW Memorial and Recognition Gifts Announced The Churchwide Coordinating Team (CCT) recently approved a change to the process around receipt and acknowledgement of memorial and recognition gifts made to PW. This change reflects current work practices and best standards in giving. Former process: Up until recently, blank recognition and memorial certificates were sent to treasurers at least once a year and upon request. At any time a memorial or recognition gift was made, the treasurer sent the check to PW and completed the blank certificate. There was no way of ensuring that gifts were made to PW and no way of confirming who had received the memorial/recognition honor. A receipt/thank you was sent based on the gifts received; it was sent to the treasurer. New process: Blank certificates will no longer be sent. Instead, when memorial and recognition gifts are received, a completed form (available at www.presbyterianwomen.org/giving, or available by request by phone at 888/728-7228, ext. 8014) should accompany the gift; it should include the addresses of both the donor(s) and the honoree and a choice as to preferred person to sign the certificate national or local PW leaders. A receipt for the donation will be sent to the donor(s), along with a certificate including the honoree s name, and signatures from national leaders provided or a space left blank for local leaders signatures. The new process will allow PW to better track donors, honorees and gifts, and acknowledge them appropriately. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Jen Lenard-Benson, jen.lenard-benson@pcusa.org or 888/569-5308. Global Mission: PW Continues Conversations with Churches in Sudan By Mary Cook Jorgenson (reprinted from the Quarterly News April-July 2012) In March of this year, I participated as a representative of Presbyterian Women on a PC(USA) led trip to South Sudan. The purpose of this trip was to continue conversations with our brothers and sisters in the Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) headquartered in Khartoum, Sudan, and with the Presbyterian Church of Sudan (PCOS) headquartered in Malakal, South Sudan. As they struggle daily with the aftermath of a continuing civil war, interethnic violence, and food and water insecurity, it is important that we hear their stories of faith and hope and stand with them as a community of believers. We also had the opportunity to speak with the women from Pibor and Akobo who were involved in the 2010 workshop conducted by RECONCILE, an ecumenical peace building organization initiated by the New Sudan Council of Churches (and a 2009 Thank Offering recipient). The workshop was financed in part through the generosity of Presbyterian Women. It is disheartening to know that just a few months after the workshop that offered so much promise for peacemaking among the Nuer and Murle tribes, violence is once again a too-common occurrence. But the women from both communities voiced a strong desire to continue the work of reconciliation and hoped to be able to continue their work to build a peace together. This was the most difficult trip that I have taken physically, emotionally and spiritually. I hope I ll have the opportunity to return. Read more in an upcoming issue of Horizons magazine.
Justice & Peace Issues: Presbyterian Women Participates in UN Commission on the Status of Women (I do not know that any of you actually applied to serve as a delegate for this event. However, since a number of you showed an interest in it, I am including some information from the report in the April-July 2012 Quarterly News. Our delegate was Lisa Hemphill from Aton, IL. You can read her personal storey on page 19 of the May/June 2012 Horizons.) The 2012 CSW theme was The empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges. Every year, thousands of members of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) both faith-based and not gather during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW). Groups exert tremendous amounts of energy to influence Commission outcome documents, and to enforce the resolutions and conventions on which UN member states have agreed. Members of these groups work to impact political processes, tell their stories and share their lives. Presbyterian Women and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) participate in the UN CSW through the office of Presbyterian Ministry at the UN (PMUN) (www.pcusa.org/un). The CCT s Justice and Peace Committee and PW s churchwide moderator keep CSW before PW at the national level and work to include women throughout the organization. Meagan Manas, PW justice and peace program specialist, staffs the committee and supports this national effort. Ecumenical Women PW and the PC(USA) are part of a coalition called Ecumenical Women at the United Nations. Ecumenical Women is an international coalition of church denominations and ecumenical organizations that have status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Grounded in faith and a commitment to global justice, Ecumenical Women trains and empowers an expanding network to advocate for gender equality at the United Nations. Ecumenical Women not only provides a network of collaborators who amplify all of our voices, it also provides critical theological reflection on how faith and justice interact, and why we advocate at the UN as people of faith. Through Ecumenical Women, arrangements are made for worship services that occur every morning during the two weeks of CSW. At these worship services, daily debriefings and group dinners, women of faith experience traditions from around the world, get to know one another and strategize about how best to advocate. For more information, visit www.ecumenicalwomen.org. PW s future with UN CSW In July, voting representatives to the Churchwide Business Meeting of Presbyterian Women will consider a resolution to recommend that Presbyterian Women apply to the UN for association status and consultative status, which combined would allow PW to gain increased access to official CSW meetings as a registered nongovernmental organization, and effectively double the PC(USA) s presence at CSW. Updates will be reported as information becomes available. More in Horizons magazine and Justice & Peace Links For a full report, as well as participant reflections on the 56 th CSW, read the 2012:1 issue of Justice & Peace Links at www.presbyterianwomen.org (click on the justice and peace link at the left-hand side of the page). Also see Fearful Realities, Hopeful Advocates on page 16 in the May/June 2012 issue of Horizons magazine. For more information, contact Meagan Manas, Presbyterian Women, meagan.manas@pcusa.org, 718/839 3782. Last BUT NOT Least Please keep your PWJCP officers and coordinating team in your prayers. We want to serve our Lord faithfully. Let us hear from you. What do you want that you are not getting? What is working well for you that you can share with the rest of us? As always, please let me know if you would like to be removed from the email list or if there are others in your PW that should be added. One of our goals is to communicate as effectively as possible. We'd love your input! What works best for you? Please contact me with any and all ideas to improve our communication. As always, the items of highest interest are those from the local PWs. Please let us know what successes you have had, joys and concerns, etc. Sharing keeps us all connected. We are constantly updating the PW page on the JCP website. You can keep up with our news and events there. You will find a link there to the PWSMA scholarship application for young ladies and women wishing financial assistance to attend PC(USA) sponsored events. Blessings to you and to your PW, Debbie Esselman PWJCP Moderator