Midweek Musings Newsletter

AUGUST 6, 2009

 

 

 

The Presbyterian Church of Dover now has a website!

Please visit them online at:  www.doverpresbyterian.org

 

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Midweek Musings by Jim Moseley, Executive Presbyter

 

Visiting Pastor from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Arrives in NCP

 

The Rev. Kabasele of the Presbyterian Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be itinerating among the congregations of New Castle Presbytery for the next six weeks.  Rev. Kabasele is pastor of Lungandu Parish which is the sister congregation of the Lewes Presbyterian Church, NCP.  The following schedule notes where he will be speaking during his time with us.  Mr. Grier White of the Lewes congregation is assisting with his travel and transpiration.  Questions and updates on Rev. Kabasele’s visit and other information regarding the sister church relationship can be directed to Grier at (302) 423-8630.  A Power Point presentation is being created to help in sharing information on the work of the church in the Congo.  New Castle Presbytery has six participating congregations involved in sister church relations through the formal partnership we have with Kananga Presbytery.  Together we pursue work in the areas of education, agricultural development, micro-loan and evangelism.

 

Ditalalane Dinanga (Peace and Love),

 

Jim Moseley

 

SCHEDULE:

 

Sunday, August 16:  Afternoon BBQ – Westminster PC, Wilmington.

 

Tuesday, August 18:  Lunch with West Nottingham PC and Elkton PC at Elkton PC.

 

Friday, August 21:  Community Kitchen at Elkton PC – 12 Noon.

 

Saturday, August 22:  Elkton PC New members picnic.

 

Sunday, August 23:  Elkton PC church service with baptism.

 

Sunday, August 30:  Westminster Rehoboth with Minute for Mission and reception.

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Former West Presbyterian Church

 

A report on the sale of the former West Presbyterian Church land, building, fixtures, equipment and supplies submitted on Wednesday August, 5, 2009, to the Trustees of New Castle Presbytery by Mark Olson, Esq. and The Rev. Douglas D. Gerdts.

 

Download report here:  Report on the sale of West - summary.pdf

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Ecumenical Forum on Health Care, by Rev. Bruce Gillette

 

 On Thursday July 30, 2009 Limestone church hosted an Ecumenical Forum on Health Care.  It was a wonderful success.  We had many key people attending-- the new Acting Director for the Delaware's Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance, Walgreens' Vice-President for Marketing and another Walgreens representative, leaders (clergy and lay) from the United Methodist Church Conference and Roman Catholic Church Diocese, Presbyterian pastors and lay people as well as a News Journal reporter.  I was happy that my expectations for attendance at this meeting that was announced on short notice were exceeded-- every chair that had been set up for the meeting was filled.

 

Bob Hall, Executive Director of the Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families, did a fine job moderating the meeting.  Walgreens VP made his presentation first, the Delaware's Medicaid followed by an hour of good questions and answers.  The Walgreens VP told me after the meeting he felt like he had been on "Face the Nation."   He simply could not explain satisfactory why Walgreens, the largest drug chain in Delaware and in the USA, could not make a profit serving Medicaid patients when all of the other drug chains and independent stores can. 

 

Both the Walgreens VP and Delaware's Medicaid Director expressed the hope that they could find an agreement before August 6th.  Rosanne Mahaney emailed me the following request the next morning asking if the churches could help if a deal is not reached (see below).  I hope our presbytery and churches would respond well if this help is needed.  Today's newspaper had a story about the talks.

 

Bob Hall is planning to bring people together in August to work on national health care concerns.  I hope New Castle Presbyterians will be part of it; our church's teachings call us to act as individuals, churches and as a Presbytery.  My two goals for the ecumenical meeting were achieved:  Walgreens clearly heard from the faith communities about our concern for the poor in our state and concerned people of faith are starting to organize around health care concerns to help in the national efforts for positive change.

 

Peace,

 

Rev. Bruce Gillette

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CLP CliP 

 

Saturday, August 2, was a special day for the 9 CLP students in Billie Brightwell’s Worship & Sacraments class.  We had each prepared 2 complete worship services  - one including the Lord’s Supper and one including Baptism.  (We didn’t have to write a sermon.)  During class we took turns explaining our service and then conducting either the Lord’s Supper or Baptism.  The form of the sacrament (cups vs intinction; infant, adult baptism; renewal of baptismal vows) was the student’s choice and we alternated between the two sacraments.  After each sacrament, we completed evaluations of the student’s service.

 

What a blessing!  For this writer, and the others I spoke with, it was a powerful experience.  Confronting the scriptures and renewing the vows ourselves in the process had a profound effect as we served each other and acted as sponsors, parents and congregation.  This is a class format that should be repeated for future classes.  Besides being a practicum for serving as Commissioned Lay Pastors, it gives a fresh and deeper understanding of both sacraments that is priceless.

 

As promised, here are a few pictures from the CLP picnic at Sally Cordry’s on July 25.

 

Until next week...

 

Carole Miles

 

Photo article above (From L-R) - Lee Johnson, Ginny Jones & husband Keithly, Buzz Adams, Bill Reed 

 

              

                  Rev. Billie Brightwell                     Rev. Neta Pringle                   Rev. John Potter, Donna Bowers           Pat Cottingham & his wife

                  Pastor, West Nottingham PC

 

                           

                         (From L-R) Pat Cottingham & wife, Judy Adams, Lee Johnson,        (From L-R) Bill Reed, Carol Johnson, Rev. Neta Pringle, Rev. John Potter,

                         Ginny Jones & Keithly, Buzz Adams                                             Carole Miles, Donna Bowers, CLP Rich Watters, Rev. Billie Brightwell 

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Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA)

 

Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA) is requesting personnel support as it begins a Department of Health Sciences. The Department of Health Sciences will begin in September of 2009 in the fields of nursing and pharmaceutics.

 

PUEA desires people with up-to-date skills in these fields to teach a semester (one academic term) at the university in Kenya.  A gift of a qualified instructor in the fields of nursing and pharmaceutics for a term of study will strengthen PUEA’s work in Health Sciences.  

 

The University will provide very adequate western style housing and the cafeteria food of students on the campus of PUEA.

 

If you know of someone who might be interested in such an opportunity within the next year to eighteen months, or if you have contacts in an appropriate educational institution, please contact Lyle or Terry Dykstra at (302) 731-1999 or (302) 383-7445 or email terrydykstra@googlemail.com.  Thank you. 

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Volunteer Opticians' Service Needed

 

(With support from the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic)

 

We need your help!  The Remote Area Medical [RAM] Massive Health Care Outreach Program will be offered in Buchanan County on October 3-4, 2009. We are in need of Opticians. If you know someone who is an optician, or if you have these skills...

 

For those who live outside of the area, we will provide housing and meals.  The place for this event is Riverview Elementary and Middle School, so the work will be done inside and air conditioned. 

 

RAM is a non-profit program which provides FREE health care services for residents of Buchanan County, as well as the surrounding counties of southwest Virginia and southeastern Kentucky.  This Massive Health CareOutreach Program assists the uninsured, unemployed, and those who cannot afford to pay for health care services.

 

For additional information please contact Frannie Baxter Minton, RN at (276) 935-2880 or Rev. Jeff Porter, pastor at Buchanan First Presbyterian Church in Grundy, VA, at (276) 935-2293 or email jesbne06@yahoo.com.

 

If you or someone whom you know can volunteer your professional services, please contact us.  Thanks!  Jeff Porter

 

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Do you have a spare laptop computer?

 

Rev. Lazare Tshibuabua Dikebele, Executive Presbyter of Kananga Presbytery (our partner Presbytery in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), is in need of a laptop computer. Rev. Tshibuabua’s communications have proven to be vital in strengthening our partnership.  He takes pride in sharing pictures, news items, and prayer requests that help to keep our brothers and sisters in Kananga close to us.  He also provides informative updates on our projects there, to include a Palm Trees Project and a MicroFinance Project.  At this time, he has to borrow computers to prepare reports and communications and his tasks would be much lighter if he were to have a computer of his own. If you or anyone you know is willing to donate a laptop (new or used!) for Rev. Tshibuabua, please contact Stephanie Clewer, Chair of the Congo Partnership Committee, at 410-620-2402 or email stephclewer@comcast.net. 

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