Midweek Musings Newsletter
AUGUST 20, 2009
The Presbytery office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
Jim Moseley, Executive Presbyter
as Francis Makemie at the Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church
Welcome to OSSS!
Welcome to an OSSS-some experience for your congregation's youth, and for our community! We are so grateful for your interest and commitment to participating in this year's ONE SHOT SERVICE SUNDAY II on Sunday October 25, 2009. Learn more about OSSS here.
Important News from the Kananga Presbytery, DRC
The Rev. Lazare Tshibuabua, pastor and Executive Presbyter of Kananga Presbytery in the Congo, has written to NCP notifying us that his 77 year old father is critically ill in the hospital. Please offer up you prayers for his healing and feel free to share any thoughts to Pastor Tshibuabua directly by emailing him at laztchy@yahoo.fr . Kananga Presbytery is our “partner” presbytery in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with whom we share six sister church relationships.
Rev. Kabasale of the Lungandu Parish, sister parish to the Lewes P.C., is presently visiting in NCP for the next six weeks. You may access his schedule of preaching and speaking engagements on the front page of the NCP website.
Stated Clerk issues statement on current health care debate
"Reforming our health care system cannot wait"
LOUISVILLE - The Reverend Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, has issued the following statement in light of the national attention on health care reform:
The current public debate about health care has led several people to ask what the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has said about this issue.
Jesus Christ, who has reconciled us to God, healed all kinds of sickness (Mt. 4:23, par) as a sign of God's rule. Isaiah speaks God's word to say "No more shall there be ... an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime" (Isa. 65:20a). We, as Reformed Christians, bear witness to Jesus Christ in word, but also in deed. As followers of our Great Physician Jesus, we have a moral imperative to work to assure that everyone has full access to health care.
Our nation is in a crisis in health care, which presents an unprecedented opportunity for our nation to provide health care affordable for all. In this country there is a baby born every fifty-one seconds to a family with no health insurance. In this, the wealthiest nation in the world, our infant mortality rate is second highest in the industrialized world. Forty-seven million Americans are uninsured (50 percent employed; 25 percent children; 20 percent out of labor force as students, disabled, et al.; 5 percent unemployed). The U.S. spends nearly twice as much per capita than any other country on health care, but we rank poorly in the thirty-seven categories of health status measured by the World Health Organization. The rise in childhood obesity, asthma, diabetes, and other chronic diseases indicates that the overall health status of people of this country is declining.
We are warned by the prophets not to heal the wounds of God's people lightly; yet in 2006 the aggregate profits of the health insurance companies in the United States were $68 billion. During that same year more than 15,000 families were forced into bankruptcy because of medical expenses. Our business employers operate at a competitive disadvantage internationally because health care costs are assumed by the governments of other industrialized nations. The General Assemblies of the PC(USA) and its predecessors since 1971 have called for reform of health delivery systems in the United States to make them accessible to the entire population. Our federal government already operates efficiently and with low overhead the health delivery programs of Medicare and Medicaid; and yet at the same time insurance companies spend nearly one-third of every premium dollar on marketing and other administrative costs and in fact, several such companies spend less than 60 percent of premium dollars they receive on health care services.
The American College of Physicians, the nation's second largest physician group, has endorsed a single-payer healthcare system. Only a single-payer system of national health care coverage (privately provided; publicly financed; not socialized medicine) can save what is estimated to be $350 billion wasted annually on medical bureaucracy and redirect those funds to expanded coverage.
Since the publication of this resolution, the nation has been engaged in an escalating polarization on the issue. Consensus seems far off and the details of how to reach the goal of comprehensive health care continue to confound our country. Yet, consensus as a nation is imperative because reforming our health care system cannot wait. The General Assembly has been clear that Congress must enact comprehensive health care reform that will provide all persons with access to health care services.
I am mindful of a portion of a prayer Peter Marshall prayed in 1947 when he was chaplain of the Senate. "We know deep down in our hearts that without Thy guidance we can do nothing, but with Thee we can do all things. Let us not be frightened by the problems that confront us, but rather give Thee thanks that Thou hast matched us with this hour. May we resolve, God helping us, to be part of the answer, and not part of the problem; for Jesus' sake. Amen."
The Visitor Remix
Ask your congregation members to greet newcomers, not just the ushers or assigned greeters! Nothing says welcome like “welcome.”
Got a suggestion for the Visitor Remix? Send it in tojtaylor@ncpresbytery.org!
PCUSA@UD, our Presbytery's campus ministry at the University of Delaware, Newark campus, welcomes incoming students and their families to a free brunch, Sunday August 30, 11 - 12:30 at the campus ministry house, 157 W. Main St. Parking is available at the Trabant Student Center or at First Presbyterian, Newark.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Schererville, Indiana is currently seeking to fill two part-time positions in a new and exciting ministry within the Church and Community. The positions to be filled comprise a Preacher/Pastoral care position as well as a Children and Youth Specialist which will also be acting as the head of staff. If you may be interested in either position please contact Robert Harkins at: (219) 789-6617 or email RobertJHarkins@comcast.net. Thank You on behalf of the Search Committee at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
New Resource at the Interfaith Resource Center
(www.interfaithresourcecenter.com)
Powerful is the word that comes to mind when I try to describe my reaction to Start> Becoming a Good Samaritan, by Michael R. Seaton and hosted by John Ortberg and featuring a full compliment of todays Christian leaders. This six-session program explores such issues as poverty, social justice, pandemic disease and the environment and what Christian groups can do to impact these global problems as Jesus called us to do. Participants hear Kay Warren talk about the AIDS pandemic, Charles Colson discuss prison ministry, and Shane Claiborne discuss identifying the needy in every community. Activate the power of the Parable of the Good Samaritan in your church and watch the transformation begin. Contact the IRC staff 800.336.6152 (302.477.0910) or email resource.ctr@dol.net.
Remember! Regular hours resume at the IRC beginning September 8!
Paula W Hartzell, Interfaith Resource Center
913 Wilson Road / Wilmington, DE 19803
302.477.0910 or 800.336.6152
www.interfaithresourcecenter.com
resource.ctr1@gmail.com or resource.ctr@dol.net
Fish Dinners Sponsored by Church of our Savior
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Delivery available for three or more orders
Download flyer for more information: Flyer for Fish Fry.pdf
Healthy Steps
Healthy Steps, an exercise program to improve mobility and quality of life for cancer survivors and those with chronic immune disorders begins with a free, introductory class on September 11, from 9-10:00, at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Naamans Road in Wilmington. Please call Joy at 397-1134 or email hsjoy@comcast.net for class details. See www.gohealthysteps.com for information on the program.
Fantastic Fall at Massanetta Springs!
The Fall Family Conference October 9-11 at Massanetta Springs is a wonderful time for families to reconnect with one another, to engage in rich study, enlivening play and creative activities, and to be in community with other families of faith. This year we have a powerful speaker for adults as Wynn McGregor will join us to help parents confirm their roles as faith formers. Young adult and collegiate staff will be with our children and youth while parents are with Wynn, but for most of the weekend, families will be together. The opening Faith Fair kicks things off Friday evening and the weekend energetically unfolds from there. Don't miss this time of fellowship, faith building, and fun.....great food, making apple cider, and intergenerational worship wrap the weekend in joy.
SALT ~ Serving And Learning Together~ November 13-15 at Massanetta Springs is for all high school and young adult leaders who are motivated to lead in the life of the church AND the adults who join with them in this venture. This Synod-wide weekend event has been designed to encourage both the formational work of youth ministry and the informational, or hands-on, areas of youth ministry in which we are all engaged. Supported by Synod's Presbytery Initiative Funds, the cost is only $85 per person. SALT is being planned and supported by youth and adults from 5 Presbyteries. Shake a little SALT onto your youth ministry to enhance all that you do!
Church Professionals Respite ~ October 19-23 at Massanetta Springs. Once again we are offering lodging and quiet spaces for rest and reflection during the beauty of fall at Massanetta Springs. After all the fall programs have been launched and before Advent begins, we hope you will come for some days away--on us! DCE's, Youth Directors, Church Musicians, Administrators--this one's for you! Lodging is fully complimentary as are Tuesday breakfast and the Afternoon Tea.
Laura W. Holbrook
Director of Conference Ministries
Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center
712 Massanetta Springs Road / Harrisonburg, VA 22801 /888-627-7774
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