August 2009 MUP Newsletter
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August 2009 MUP Newsletter (125.0 KiB, 371 hits)
Hildebrand Grants Available for Education & Training
Hildebrand Grants (provided by the estate of Elder, and long-time Clerk of Session,
Leta May Hildebrand) are available to churches or church groups in MUP to:
1) train/equip leadership teams in the areas of discipleship, transformation, stewardship, evangelism, communication, mission strategies and other outreach ministries.
2) facilitate spiritual and numerical growth of one of more church(es) in the Presbytery.
3) develop and sponsor joint programs with other churches in the Presbytery in areas, such as multicultural outreach, ministerial alliances, and community projects.
Hildebrand grants assist teams (two or more people) from one congregation or from yoked or neighboring churches, by providing partial (25%) funding for conferences, seminars, classes or other training for increased knowledge and effectiveness in ministry. Training formats may include: attending courses, retreats, web seminars, or workshops. In addition, one or more churches may sponsor projects or events for outreach or joint ministries. Hildebrand grants help congregations (either individually or as a cluster) form a core leadership team to support one another as they engage and encourage others in expanding ministries. For more information or a grant application form, contact Presbytery at office@mupresbytery.org or 800-635-3178.
Educational Opportunities
Mid-Central APCE Conference
Oct. 18-20, 2009 - Excelsior Springs, MO
The ‘Oasis’ Conference is an opportunity for all those serving in educational ministry to be refreshed and invigorated in ministry. Register at www.churchresourcecenter.org. For more information about Missouri Union’s participation, please contact Ann Bouchard at
annb@fpccolumbia.org. Both Ann and Rev. Pat Roller, Tri-County Specialized Ministries in MUP and Moderator of the MUP CE Mission Team, are presenters. Learn from and interact with authors (and ordained ministers) Judith Todd and Valerie Isenhower. Cost $179.
Mediation Skills Training
Sept 14-18, 2009 - Kansas City, MO
This training, presented by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, is designed to equip church leaders with the skills necessary to effectively deal with interpersonal, congregational and other group conflict. The sessions emphasize hands-on skill training and real life role-plays based on the kinds of conflict faced by participants. Cost $725.
Rural Ministry Conference
September 22-24 - Decatur, GA
Has it been a while since you’ve organized or refreshed your ministry “toolbox?” Join us on the campus of Columbia Theological Seminary for two days of plenary sessions, workshops, worship and conversations among others, who have a passion for ministry in rural congregations and smaller churches. Cost $165.
What to expect at the August 27th Presbytery Meeting!
- Gracious Covenant Point Camp Hospitality! Can you smell cinnamon rolls?
- Information about Presbytery happenings and committee activities!
- Vibrant Worship! Have a psummer psip of the psalms during worship as we experience Calvin’s Geneva Jigs, which were lively and spirited pieces and were very popular among the gentry.
- Special Report from Church & Society Mission Team.
- Marvelous Presbyterian Fellowship!
Registration: 8:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 9:30!
Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin!
2009 is the 500th birthday year for John Calvin, who is considered to be the Father of the Presbyterian branch of Christianity. He was born on July 10, in Noyon, France (birth name: Jean Cauvin) and was educated as a lawyer. He advocated for reform in the church and gave himself fully to it, especially after the slaughter of the Huguenots in France in the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. He founded the Consistoire de Genève (Presbytery of Geneva), from which his ideas spread across the continent, especially to Scotland and England.
Most of the metered psalm paraphrases produced for Calvin’s Geneva congregation were written by court poet Louis Bourgeois and composed by court musician Clément Marot. They were lively and spirited pieces and were very popular among the gentry. When they were imported into England and Scotland, they were sometimes referred to as “Geneva Jigs”!
The psalms have been in continuous liturgical use for three thousand years. In Reformed congregations they have been used since the beginning days of John Calvin’s Geneva. They were translated from Latin into the French vernacular then arranged into metered versions for singing. Some are still used to this day in Presbyterian worship, the most familiar being Psalm 100 and its tune Old Hundredth, (probably know to you as the Doxology).
Even though Calvin is often portrayed as very stern, he once wrote, “ It is nowhere forbidden to laugh or to eat one’s fill or gain new possessions or enjoy oneself with musical instruments or drink wine.”
Anniversaries and Celebrations!
Both Big Creek Presbyterian Church and FPC-Jefferson City have celebrated their 175 anniversaries this summer! Congratulations on such marvelous legacies of ministry!
TWO MUP-DAT MISSION TRIPS
Now is the time to sign up for mission trips to Iowa and Texas in response to natural disasters in these areas in 2008. A team will work in Cedar Rapids on September 27-Oct. 2. Additionally, a team will work Jan.10-16, 2010 in Texas City, Texas. The cost to participate is $150, but scholarships are available. Contact Kathy Montgomery at 573/814-1023 for more information.
Spotlight on Mission
Two churches of Macon County Larger Parish, which includes New Cambria and Ethel increased their combined One Mission Giving total by over 20% over their 2007 gifts. Your generous spirit is beautiful.
Nathan Love of Elmwood PC has collected old cell phones under the “Cell phone for soldiers” program. Each used cell phone is exchanged for 60 minutes of calling time. To date, Nathan has collected 7020 minutes of calling time for troops in the Middle East.
Stewardship
FPC-Fulton’s Environmental Stewardship Committee has started posting “green tips” in the church’s monthly newsletter to assist their congregation to use our Earth’s resources in a more responsible way.
MUP Calendar
Aug 20 – Criminal Justice MT-Trinity PC-7 pm
Aug. 27 – Presbytery Meeting-Cov. Point Camp
Sept. 8 – COM-9:30 am- Trinity PC
Sept 12 – Open Gates, Open Hearts
Sept 12 – Camp Committee-10 am-Cov. Point
Sept 25-27 – MUP Family Retreat WKD-Cov. Point
Sept 27-Oct 2 – Iowa Mission Trip –MUP-DAT
Sept 29 – Mission Teams-9 am -Trinity PC
Sept 29 – Council -10 am-Trinity PC
Oct 1 – PW Fall Workshop-10-3 pm-FPC Columbia
Oct 16-17 – Festival of Sharing-Sedalia
Oct 31 – Presbytery Meeting-LaPlata PC