August 2016, Volume 29, Issue 1 PRISM A Publication of the Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Detroit Prism Subscriptions: Mailed to home - $6.00/year Contact Ruth McKinnon (248-476-3855), 29615 Meadowridge, N. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 O R Emailed free of charge - http://presbyteryofdetroit.org/pwpd Directions to New Life Presbyterian: 11300 Nineteen Mile Road Sterling Heights, MI 48314 Any Questions call Joan Lockard 586-295-6861 (cell) From 696 take Hoover/Schoenherr exit. North on Schoenherr to 19 Mile Go west. From 275/96 take 696 toward Port Huron to Hoover/Schoenherr exit and go to 19 Mile west From North 75 take M59/Utica exit to Schoenherr and go South to 19 Mile west From South 75 take Metro Parkway (16 Mile) to Schoenherr and go North to 19 mile west Your GPS may tell you otherwise; but these are the easiest ways if you don't have such a gadget. All Cluster Gathering to Build Up Our Presbytery Women in Our Churches September 7, 2016 Welcome Back Fair P W Moderators, we are encouraging and challenging each of you to bring at least 2-3 ladies if not more from your church to this All Cluster Gathering Place: New Life Presbyterian Church Time is 9:30 AM-9:45 AM Check-in 9:45 AM -10:00 AM Social Time (Light Refreshments will be Served) 10:00 AM-11:30 AM: Something Different Happining Come and See No reservations Needed Inside This Issue: September Gathering 1 Justice & Peace 3 Directions to New Life 1 Mission 4 Moderator s Letter 2 Second Mile 5 Studies/Spiritual Development 6
Moderator s Letter: Summer is moving at break neck speed. At the beginning of summer l had to gear up for the Synod of the Covenant Gathering in June. As you may or may not know I am the Registrar for 3 years and this was my first at the Synod. We had to switch the venue from Tecumseh, Mi to Findlay, OH right off the bat, because I could only secure 6 rooms for about 80 women. Also, I could not find a caterer that had delivery persons for that particular weekend. There was a NASCAR race scheduled in the area and hotel rooms were booked way in advance as far away as Ann Arbor. Evaluations received by the Moderator, Judy Oeder, indicated that things went well at the Gathering. I don't have any details about the 2017 Synod Gathering yet. The 2018 Churchwide Gathering is beginning to stream on the Internet. If you are planning that far in advance just go to PC(USA). We are looking for leaders at all levels of the Presbyterian Women. Being the Moderator of the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Detroit has been an amazing experience. I have met so many great friends, members of this PW on CT and committees, so many helpful Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders. I have met so many women from areas around the state and out of state. If you are willing to step up to fill a vacant position I will definitely help you out. Check the upcoming Directory to see open positions. And I am sure there are some past members that also would be willing to give you ideas. The one major position we need to fill is Moderator Elect. This will be my 4th year. We had to change the By-Laws to allow this. I definitely don't want this to be a lifetime position, for your sake. So let us make it an all-out campaign to find a Ruling or Teaching Elder and an excellent replacement. In addition Pat McBride is searching to fill positions at the National level. The Ingathering Ladies have been getting ready for October. Check out the dates in this Prism article. I am sure they are looking for volunteers, both men and women. You will more than likely see me at the registration desk since my "standing" and "walking" days are pretty much in the past. If your church or PW has not gotten involved in the past check with Emily or Sherry and they can answer your questions. I am looking forward to seeing you at the next Gathering Until next time may God Bless each of you and keep you safe. Your sister in Christ, Joan Dear Sisters, PRISM Page 2
JUSTICE & PEACE COMMITTEE SAVE THE DATE TO ATTEND EVENT ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING Coming up on Sept. 29 will be an event jointly called by attorney general Bill Schuette and the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission to raise awareness and combat the problem of human trafficking. Invited to attend the event in Ann Arbor are law enforcement and legal professionals, protective service providers, judiciary staff, and other groups concerned with human trafficking. There's a greater effort in Michigan to protect victims and crack down on criminals involved in human trafficking by posting notices in rest stops, airports, and bus stations to educate the public and offer help to victims. For more details on the human trafficking forum Sept. 29 go to http://on.freep.com/2aeyyj0. VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE RECEIVE ATTENTION AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION Gun violence in America was definitely brought up at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia July 18 to 21 when victims spoke to the delegates. It's hopeful that sensible prevention measures will be forthcoming. It's hard to believe that Congress isn't concerned that, according to the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, in the USA since 1968 more Americans have been killed by guns than in all our country's wars combined. FOCUS HOPE'S MISSION STATEMENT OF 1968 WORTH REPEATING The year after the riots in Detroit in 1967, Project Hope composed a mission statement worth repeating in 2016 and recently published in a full-page ad in the Detroit Free Press: "Recognizing the dignity and beauty of every person, we pledge intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty, injustice and to build a metropolitan community where all people may live in freedom, harmony, trust, and affection. Black and white, yellow, brown, and red from Detroit and its suburbs of every economic status, national origin and religious persuasion..." Pamela A. Frucci, Vice-Moderator Justice & Peace Committee PRISM Page 3
MISSION: PWPD MISSION INGATHERING 2016 WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DETROIT The 2016 Ingathering will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday October 17, 18 and 19. The hours for delivery to Westminster Church will be Monday 9 am-2 pm. On Tuesday, we will be sorting, counting, and repacking the donations for delivery. We will especially need volunteers on Tuesday. Wednesday we will be loading cars for delivery to 35 local agencies all over metro Detroit. Please give one of the Ingathering chairs a call if you are able to deliver items on Wednesday. It is such a rewarding feeling to visit an agency we support and see how our donations are being used. The 2016 Ingathering will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17575 Hubbell Ave., Detroit. The 2016 assignment for your church is the same as what you were assigned for 2015. Even if your church does not send items to the Ingathering, We welcome you to come and volunteer to help unpack, sort, count, repack and deliver all our donations. We look forward to having you join us at the 2016 Ingathering! We welcome any questions or concerns. Your PWPD Ingathering Coordinators, Emily Nietering 313-278-9269 Sherry Brown 313-561-6787 Note from the Prism Editor: For the 2016-2017 Prisms, please send all articles to the Moderator, Joan Lockard, at dnjlockard@sbcglobal.net. Thank you, Dorothy Harrington PRISM Page 4
Letter from Battle Creek to Second Mile Center Hi Ruth, Left you a phone message, but wanted to share a little more detail. We brought those dirty, dusty sherbet dishes back to Battle Creek with us (about 100+)! As we talked, none of us really like to do garage sales and we were certain that Goodwill, Bibles for Missions or Habitat had lots of glassware!! We joked around in the kitchen that day as we cleaned, that they could be used for an ice cream social, etc. When we got back they rode in my trunk for several weeks! Julie, who was with us on the trip shared with Pastor Pat and Francie, a member of our congregation at Prayer time, the idea of why not have an ice cream social. Well the idea took shape, I gave a little speel about our trip to 2nd Mile on the 18th last Sunday to prepare the congregation for ice cream today/ Well, we served lots of ice cream, different toppings had been donated, our congregations thoroughly enjoyed the ice cream and fellowship and the deal was that after they ate the ice cream in the little sherbet glass that we rinsed it out for them and they were to take it home, to remind them of our connection and partnership with the Second Mile Center and leave a donation if they chose. All those that were part of the team that day were in the kitchen this morning scooping ice cream, washing sherbets, and putting out toppings. A great team! Needless, to say, I had and many others had tears when we learned that we will be sending you a check for $1,036.00 from the loving hearts of our congregation. They shared their love with the Center and the mission you all are doing this morning. God is so good! Blessings, Jean Parker Save the Date for the Churchwide Gathering Please check out Presbyterian Church USA website to get upcoming information on the Gathering to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, on August 2-5, 2018. PRISM Page 5
Studies and Spiritual Development Study and Spiritual Development greets you and hopes that your summer is being enjoyed. In 2 Peter 3:18 the Bible tells us to, Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior, Jesus Christ. This indicates a process that takes time. There is no shortcut to spiritual growth. It takes an intentional pursuit. As we begin our new year of gatherings with programs and devotions to help you in your quest for spiritual growth, the Committee on Study and Spiritual Development asks that we work together with an intentional pursuit. How can this be accomplished? Participate in Bible Studies from Horizons. Share your already read items with the PWPD Resource Library. We have received donations from members in PW as well as friends of PW and would appreciate you sharing with us also. We meet and make an effort to reach out to our members so that we can come together, so please come out and express what kinds of meetings will work for you and your members as we seek to commit to the habits that will lead to spiritual maturity. Instinct by TD Jakes Once you embrace your instinct, you will understand how you re designed for destiny. You will realize why you were rejected in some places, grew bored in other roles, and why you ve been haunted by the possibility that your elephant eludes you. If you re ready to unlock the confines of where you are to discover the freedom of where you were meant to be, then INSTINCT is your key! Destiny by TD Jakes We all have a destiny. Finding the courage to drive past the challenges, pains, and even the shortcuts of life to deeper purpose of living is to thrive in one's divine destiny. Most people have sensed destiny pulling them to just the right place or person. Whether it is the spouse you meet, or the children you bear, or the promotion you receive, everyone has a purpose to pursue. Sometimes it is understanding our destiny that helps us accept what on the surface appears to be failure. In, DESTINY, T.D. Jakes shares insight to help readers play the roles they were designed for. Expanding on his #1 bestseller Instinct, Jakes reveals that instinct is the first step to the destiny that awaits. PRISM Page 6