Midweek Musings Newsletter
June 25, 2009
NOTE
Documents have been posted on the docket page for the upcoming Stated Meeting of New Castle Presbytery on September 22, 2009, at Trinity PC: http://ncpresby.pbworks.com/Docket+Packet
In Remembrance
Evening Service Held to Remember Rev. Chad Miller
Wednesday evening in the chapel at Westminster PC, Wilmington, a service of remembrance led by Jenny Warren and Tom Stout was held for Chad Miller.
Approximately 20 minister members of NCP and others participated in a time of scripture readings, prayers, singing and sharing reflections on Chad’s brief time with us. The Rev. Dr. Greg Jones traveled to Iowa last week to conduct a memorial service in the family’s home church.
Please continue to keep the congregation of Westminster, Wilmington, in your thoughts and prayers, as well as Chad’s family. Thank you and God Bless.
Midweek Musings by Jim Moseley, Executive Presbyter
In a church which begs for the energy and idealism of younger adults the loss of a bright, talented and often testy spirit such as Chad Miller is a double tragedy.
Chad and his brother, Chris, drowned when their kayaks were pulled under by the rising waters of the Brandywine River spilling over a low water dam. This all took place early last Tuesday afternoon. The news media and local papers have documented at length the events of the day as described by witness at the site.
Chad was having a ball. After days of overcast skies the sun had finally broken through. The river current was accelerated by the recent rain fall and he was relishing the company his brother who had driven down from New York for the day.
As a former camp director and frequent paddler I know the rush of a perfect day on the water. Part of the thrill is to challenge oneself to negotiate more and more difficult passages and rapids and spill ways.
Chad loved to challenge himself and he challenged just about anybody with whom he had any contact. He certainly challenged me.
One Sunday when he was filling the pulpit, the opening lines of his sermon began by bemoaning the fact that he had, on the previous day, wasted a perfectly good Saturday attending a meeting of the presbytery. He proceeded to note how long the meeting had been and how long winded were the speakers. I suspect I was one of them.
His pronouncement got under my skin right away, and I had to struggle mightily to hear him out in order to discover what point he intended to make. Though I don’t remember the particulars of the exegesis I do recall the impression he left with me that day. It’s one worthy to share with any who love the church and long for its renewal in a time when it seems unable to break out of old patterns of church business.
Beneath the obvious irritations about boring meetings, I believe Chad was expressing a deeply felt though diminishing hope that the Church of Jesus Christ might one day live up to its calling to love the world into a new reality… A reality where healing and justice and goodness and godliness and loving kindness would overshadow all other concerns of propriety, paychecks and church politics. The urgency in his preaching and restlessness in his demeanor seemed to reflect such frustrations.
What Chad may not have realized is that all of us who love and serve in the Body of Christ have the same hopes and experience many of the same frustrations.
Chad was one of those young whippersnappers we hope will push the institution to do more and be more than it has ever done before. It is a lot to ask.
Whatever it is we admired about Chad, whatever we hope for from the other young clergy, must be something we find inside ourselves.
No one keeps us from living fervently and from hoping and praying and working for a radical, Jesus loving, people serving church. We dare not place such hopes on the generations following. It is our work.
If we wish to honor young hearts and minds such as Chad Miller's we need to make more room for their voices in the assemblies of our church. And, as they sound off, we need to listen for what is fearful and fresh.
Chad, thank you for challenging us to want more and to expect more from ourselves as those who follow the path of the one whose extravagant love redeems us all.
This Sunday at the Westminster, Wilmington Church a service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held for Chad and his brother Chris during morning worship. Please remember the Miller family, the church staff and the congregation of Westminster in your personal and corporate prayers.
In Christ’s Peace,
- Jim
Deepets Condolences
It is with deep regret and sadness and regret that we inform you of the passing of Frank S. Deming, Sr., father of the Rev. Frank S. Deming, Jr., and father-in-law of the Rev. Dianne Deming, on Thursday, June 18. The memorial service was scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, at 11 a.m. at the Wallingford (PA) Presbyterian Church. God Bless.
Faith and Health Care Concern - Walgreens And Medicaid in Delaware
The Christian Faith and Health Care Concerns: Medicaid Patients and Happy Harry’s in Delaware
Walgreens (Happy Harry’s in Delaware) announced on June 4th that it would no longer serve the poor in Delaware who can only pay for their needed medicines with Medicaid. Over 160,000 of our neighbors in need will be impacted by this decision on July 6th.
Presbyterians are encouraged to pray about this health care concern that is impacting so many in our state and everyone involved in it: Delaware’s elected leaders and public health administrators, Walgreens corporate leaders and employees, health care professionals, the Church, and especially the poor individuals and families who are concerned about how they will be able to get needed medicines when the largest drug chain in Delaware will no longer serve them.
We Presbyterians believe “effective preaching, teaching, and personal witness require disciplined study of both the Bible and the contemporary world” (Book of Confessions, 9.49). The following information can help in such study.
The following .PDF file contains valuable background information in discerning how to respond to this most important issue.
Download file here: Faith and HC Concern - Walgreens and Medicaid in DE.pdf
Council Highlights:
Presbytery Council took the following actions at its regular June 3, 2009 meeting. These actions are final actions of presbytery based on paragraph 2.002(k) of the Presbytery Manual:
- Dismissed the Rev. Kimberly Brinckmeyer LeVert to the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. She was ordained a minister of the Word and Sacrament at Westminster church in Rehoboth Beach on June 6. Kim is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary and now is director of international programs at Columbia seminary.
- Dismissed the Rev. SanDawna Ashley to the Presbytery of Chicago. She has been called to be pastor and head of staff at Morgan Park Presbyterian Church in Chicago effective July 16.
- Voted to reduce the expense items of the budget by $40,000, as follows: Church Development by $12,000; Resource Development by $5,000, Mission Development by $5,000, administrative by $3,000, and Challenge Funds by $15,000. Presbytery Treasurer Doug Gerdts had reported earlier that receipts into the “mission” portion of anticipated revenues were projected to be down by about $40,000 in 2009.
- Adopted the Personnel Manual as proposed by the Human Relations Committee of Council.
- Approved the Event Planning Committee’s proposal that the March 2010 presbytery retreat be a VESSEL training event with no major presenter.
- Made additional changes in the proposed Clergy Sexual Misconduct Policy, most particularly its enforcement provisions. The policy will be before presbytery on “first reading” at its next meeting.
- Reid K. Beveridge, Stated Clerk
The Return of the Visitor
Some of you "old timers" might remember how the Visitor provided useful information weekly to congregations wishing to improve their evangelism to newcomers. These tips came from the Visitor's experience worshiping with our congregations. In this day of the fast paced information age, the several paragraph column will be replaced by a one or two sentence counsel designed to help your church welcome new people. In the spirit of this new generation, watch for the Visitor Remix!!!!!
The visitor Remix!!!! Put your worship times on your churches voice mail.
People may actually want to come to church!
Mission Yearbooks
2010 MISSION YEARBOOK ORDERS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED
Orders for the 2010 Mission Yearbook, titled “Out of the Believer’s Heart Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water” are now being accepted through August 15th. Please utilize the following link to an order form with further details. Mission Yearbook Order Forms 2010.pdf. Thank you!
REMINDER
Attention Pastors: Please be advised that all 2008 MedWrap claims must be submitted before June 30, 2009.
West Presbyterian Church Piano for Sale
Below, please find a document regarding the purchase of West PC’s Chickering Grand Piano. A photo and appraisal of the piano are included, as well as contact information. Bids need to be submitted by no later than June 30, 2009. Thank you.
Download detailed information here: West piano for sale flyer.pdf
West Presbyterian Church Baptismal Font needs a Home
One of the few artifacts from the original West church that survived the fire in the 1990s is the white stone baptismal font. It bears the marks of that survival and was placed in the new sanctuary when the rebuilding was completed. Generations have been baptized in its water and it has greeted countless people as they entered the sanctuary for worship.
It now needs a new home.
There is no charge for the font other than the cost to have it moved. It's solid stone and is consequently fairly heavy. As you can see from the picture, it's approximately 40 - 48 inches high and is a remarkable piece.
If you're interested in the font, please contact Doug Gerdts (gerdts@fandc.org) to make arrangements to have it moved or to see it.
Thank you,
Doug
--
Douglas D. Gerdts, Pastor/Head of Staff
First & Central Presbyterian Church
Rodney Square / 1101 N. Market Street / Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 654-5371 ext. 16 / FAX: (302) 654-5932
gerdts@fandc.org / www.fandc.org
For Sale -- Worship Chairs
The worship chairs from the former West Presbyterian Church are for sale. There are 100 available without arms (priced at $40 each), and 18 with arms ($50). Also, connecting pieces that hold two books (hymnal/Bible size) and one communion cup, are included.
Please see attached pictures.
If interested, please contact Doug Gerdts gerdts@fandc.org prior to June 30th, 2009.
Thank you!
Doug
Douglas D. Gerdts, Pastor/Head of Staff
First & Central Presbyterian Church
(Please see contact info above)
Former pastor of five NCP churches to speak June 28
Arch Woodruff and Linnis Cook, PCUSA missionaries in Brazil since 1986, will speak at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Penn at 10:30 a.m., this Sunday, June 28. The public is invited to attend. Arch was the pastor of five small churches in the New Castle Presbytery from 1974-1979, serving congregations in Port Penn, Delaware City, Forrest, Pencader and St. Georges, then united as the Presbyterian Cooperative Parish.
A profile of the couple can be read on the PCUSA website at: www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/woodruffa.htm
A luncheon will follow the service and to aid in planning reservations are requested. Those planning to attend the luncheon are asked to contact Jewel Blansfield at (302) 834-4483 or send e-mail to jewelb48@verizon.net; or call the church at (302) 379-0590.
An invitation from
The Mission Development Unit
of New Castle Presbytery
to a conversation with
the Rev. Arch Woodruff and Ms. Linnis Cook,
recently returned from Brazil as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church, USA.
Date: Wednesday, July 1
Time: 12 noon
(Bring a lunch, drinks will be provided.)
Place: Christiana Presbyterian Church
15 Old North Baltimore Pike
Newark, DE 19702
Telephone: 302-368-0515
Arch Woodruff has been a member of New Castle Presbytery since the mid 1970s when he served the churches of Delaware City , Forrest, Pencader, Port Penn and St. Georges. He has been a missionary New Testament Professor at two schools in São Paulo for more than 25 years. His wife, Linnis Cook, an attorney, has also served as a missionary on several projects to help some of the poorest and most needy people in São Paulo. Arch and Linnis have recently returned to the U.S. and after some time doing mission interpretation, they will officially retire.
Come join us for a time of conversation to learn about their work, and the ongoing work of
the PCUSA in Brazil.
Please contact Lisa Diller, temporary MDU chair for more information at ncpmission@yahoo.com or 302-369-6756 (home). Mission Development Unit of New Castle Presbytery
2008-09 Leadership Team:
Sara Holben: Chair / Mary Field: Minutes / Joyce Johnson: Budget
Featured Resource from the Interfaith Resource Center
(www.interfaithresourcecenter.com)
Originally produced in the last years of the 20th century, Faces on Faith is a classic series of interviews with some of the greatest theologians, social activists, and faith leaders of the modern world. Originally produced in VHS, some of the best of these 25-minute interviews are now being produced in DVD format. Joan Chittester, Marcus Borg, Frederick Buechner, and Desmond Tutu are just some of the distinguished authors included in the series. The IRC has over 60 separate VHS interviews and 12 interviews on DVD. Great as a single filler program between series or ideal as a supplement to self-contained series on any one of a number of topics. To reserve any of these programs, phone: 800.336.6152 or locally 302.477-0910 or e-mail: resource.ctr@dol.net.
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
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