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Children's & Youth Ministry Music Ministry Easter Our History Activities
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July/Aug 2004 Edition
WHAT HISTORY HAS TO SAY
The lectionary offering for the summer will take us back in time,
into the world of the pre-exilic prophets for the nation of Israel. We’ll wander for a couple of weeks at a time with Amos,
Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
While the message of these prophets is sharp, it is also
timeless, and as we explore together these texts, let us prepare our
ears to hear well God’s word for our day.
If you want to get a headstart, go ahead and set aside some time
with these prophets, reading introductions to the book as well as
several chapters. For the
longer books of Isaiah and Jeremiah, our texts will stay within the
first 10 chapters, but if you get interested, keep reading!
What we’ll be especially looking for are the lessons given from
the past that speak to our day. Sometimes
it will be a metaphor that reaches into our lives.
Sometimes it will be an illustration that is amazingly
contemporary. Sometimes it
will be a sentence or phrase that could be said by the wise among us as
it was long ago.
This is one of those summer sermon series that takes us along a
path we haven’t tread often, in hopes of finding insight and wisdom as
we travel the journey of following Jesus Christ.
Together, may we glimpse God’s work among us. Grace
and Peace,
OFFICER MEETINGS for JULY (in the parlor) Deacons:
Session:
NO
MEETINGS THIS MONTH! Trustees:
Presbyterian Women:
OFFICER MEETINGS for AUGUST (in the parlor)
Deacons:
Tuesday, August 3rd @ 7:00 p.m.
Session:
Tuesday, August 10th @ 7:00 p.m.
Trustees:
Tuesday, August 17th @ 7:00 p.m.
Presbyterian
Women: Monday,
August 23rd @ 7:00 p.m.
JULY BIRTHDAYS
1st – Ray Joe Millward
19th – Jackie Houser 2nd – Richard Wood
22nd – Ryan Good 3rd – Jill Blake
23rd – Bill Richmond 7th – Mary Whitehead Gilham
24th – Tom Johnston 8th – Karen Wood
24th – Casey Blake 9th – Sally Laux
27th – Megan Eyet 9th – Beth Calvin
28th – Jamison Warg 13th – Lindsay Genesi
28th – Norman Van Cleeve 16th – Noah Jeffries
28th – Gene Broberg 17th – Sarah Holden
28th – Thomas “Eliot” Reed 18th – Gary Broberg
31st – Brian Wood 19th – Jerilin Pritchard AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
2nd – Becky Houser
19th- Megan Rummel
2nd – Hannah Holden
22nd – Joy McCliment
4th – Lynn Test
23rd – Amy Rodgers
5th – William (Wink) Richmond
24th – Kevin Gearhart
9th – Cristen Blake
25th – Todd Askey
10th – Dot Davidsen
25th – Tyler Walter
15th – Colton Harris
28th – Bernhard Warg
16th – Racquel Branthoover
30th – Lisa Holden
19th – Abby Rummel
31st – Fred Houser JUNE
ANNIVERSARIES
July
1st – Gary and Susan Broberg – 26 years July
9th – Rodger and Judy Pleskonko – 28 years July
12th – Lynn and Susan Test – 18 years AUGUST
ANNIVERSARIES August
7th – John and Ruth Kashella – 56 years August
8th – Reverend Bill and Carol Moore – 45 years August
16th – Jim and Judy Gearhart – 35 years August
19th – Chris and Nikki Rohrback – 4 years August
25th – Earnest and Dede Coleman – 20 years ____________________________________________________________________ OUR
“THANK YOU” COLUMN SUNDAY
SCHOOL THANKS
We have the joy of such a great Sunday School ministry because
many people contribute. For the last several years, three people have given time and
energy to our children and young people, and are now stepping out to
pursue other forms of ministry. For
the Youth, Joyce Kanour-Kitko and Nikki Rohrback have creatively and
faithfully walked with our teenagers.
The Youth class has maintained steady attendance and moved
through interesting Scripture and topics.
Thank you, Joyce and Nikki!
The enthusiastic and detail-oriented Colleen Viehdorfer will also
be stepping down this summer, realizing that life with one son in
college and one son in high school is going to be even crazier than this
last year. Now, she has two
sets of sports schedules to keep up with!
Colleen has been creative, flexible, and accessible as she has
worked with students and parents. Many
thanks go to her in her oversight of this vital ministry! THANKS
OF THE MONTH
Two big events in the month of June almost require that we just
print the Membership list in handing out the thanks.
First, there was the annual Yard Sale, which raised money for the
Furnace Drive. Ethel Cipollini oversees this event, and has enclosed a list
of all the helpers, but we also want to say to Ethel … thanks!
Plus, to all of you who brought items in, bought items, and
advertised the sale … thanks! To Gary Barnett, who patiently restored the Westminster Hall
and hauled the trash out … thanks!
The second big event was community-wide in the Relay for Life.
To our first-ever team … thanks!
To the Deacons, chaired by Dave Dixon and Relay Co-chairs, Mary
Gilham and Julie Jo Johnston … thanks!
To all of you who donated time, money and your legs in walking
… thanks! And then, there
were the behind-the-scenes saints who just keep finding ways to be
wonderful: To Hannah Holden for folding most of the Church notecards to
sell … thanks! To the
Pulpit Supply Preachers in Pastor Tracie’s absence (Bill Moore and Joy
Kaufmann) … thanks! To
the Bat Management Team of Gary Barnett, Don Blake, and Marty Bullis …
thanks! GARAGE
SALE THANKS
Our successful “Garage Sale” cleared $1,145.00.
A GREAT
BIG THANKS
to all of the following helpers: Ethel
Cipollini, Theresa Martha, Shirley Turner, Ray and Dot Davidsen, Pat
Milsom, Louise Blake, Helen Gill, Helen Hollis, Babs Herman, Bill and
Carol Moore, Harold and Mary Shirey, Gertie Clyde, Fred and Alice
Houser, Betty Snyder, Steve Starner, Paul Springer, Marty Bullis, Jill
Blake, Jennifer Johnston, Ilo Warg, Virginia Colley, Dede Coleman and
Joy McCliment.
Start saving your trash and treasures for next year’s sale.
Remember – this is an annual affair. RELAY
FOR LIFE THANKS
Mary Whitehead Gilham and Julie Jo Johnston, the co-Chairs of our
first team to participate in the annual “Relay for Life” event, wish
to extend their sincere thanks to everyone involved.
Thank you to Dave Dixon and the Deacons for their help in
overseeing the event… to the Storcks for finding those awesome
canopies at Dick’s … to ALL those who helped in setting up…
to ALL those who sat at our booth selling chances and baked goods
and providing moral support … to ALL those who took an hour or
two to walk in this wonderful event … and to ALL those who
helped tear down.
Our first year was a great success as we helped the Philipsburg
“Relay for Life” exceed their goal of $72,000.00.
We are still a little disorganized and learning as we go;
however, we look forward to a BIGGER
AND BETTER next year! Thank
you again to EVERYONE who helped make our first Relay a
memorable event!
MAKE
A NOTE! 1)
Summer Worship
begins at 9:30 AM
2) Mid-Summer Communion will from
Sunday, July 4, through Sunday,
be held on Sunday, July 18th. August
29!
3) Deacons will hold a Summer Picnic at Coldstream Pavilion
on Sunday, August 22nd at 12:00 p.m. Please bring
a covered dish to share. Meat
and beverage will be provided. FURNACE
DRIVE UPDATE The
Furnace Drive is continuing to grow through your faithful
gifts and the hard work behind the Yard Sale.
The
total given as of Sunday, June 20 towards our goal of
$30,000 (to be completed by December 31, 2004) is $6,701.00. SPECIAL
MUSIC FOR AUGUST Sally
Laux is in need of music for the month of August.
If
you or anyone you know of may be interested in singing or
playing an instrument as part of the worship service on any
given Sunday in August, 2004, please speak with Sally Laux KRISLUND
CAMPERS – PRAYING THEM THROUGH! This
year, we have the tremendous pleasure of seeing nine kids go to
Camp Krislund for a week of challenge, fun and renewal in Jesus
Christ. What a delight to
see the power of time at camp returning to
our kids! Pray for the
children as they head into their weeks:
June 20-23: Chelsey Henry, Ben Jeffries, Emily Kizina, and Eliot
Reed
July 11-17: Austin and Evan Eggers and Matthew Starner
August 8-14: Morgan Coble and Linni Kline
August 22-25: The Bullis family at family camp THE
BULLIS FAMILY VACATION The
Bullis Family will be heading to Oregon and Montana to see family
from June 29 through July 14. Please
pray for travel mercies
as they go. If there is a
pastoral need, Jeff Eyet (342-0317) is
available to make referrals. On
Sundays, we will have the good
fortune of two excellent preachers, with Rev. Bill Moore filling
the pulpit on July 4th, and our General Presbyter, Rev.
Joy Kaufmann preaching on July 11. HERITAGE
DAYS HAPPENINGS AT CHURCH First
Presbyterian Church is planning to be involved in Philipsburg’s Heritage
Days in a variety of ways. Below
is a listing of activities – but check local advertising as the dates
draw nearer for the specifics. Plus,
much more is going on that we don’t even know about! Tuesday,
July 6, 7 PM: Community
Vespers Service at Trinity United Methodist Church, where our children
will display art work from Sunday
School. Wednesday,
July 7, Noon: Young
at Heart Lunch at our church for those 50 and over Wednesday,
July 7, Noon to 7 PM: Quilt
Show at our church Thursday,
July 8, 7:30 PM: Valley
Voices Concert at the Rowland, $5 Saturday,
July 10: Dinner
Theater at our church (2 showings) Sunday,
July 11: Historical
Walking Tour in the afternoon, with our church as part of the tour. SUMMER
FELLOWSHIP TIME Starting
July 11, our church will be trying a new community building time after
the 9:30 worship service. We
will be setting up a canopy tent in front of the church and offering
light refreshments in hopes of encouraging some lingering and
conversation after church. It
will also remind the Philipsburg community that “something is going
on” at First Presbyterian Church.
Perhaps someone driving by will decide to stop and visit, too!
(continued on next page) The
generous folks who have offered to serve a Host for the Sundays are: July
11:
Paul and Barb Springer, Pat Milsom, Peg Capatch July
18:
Jerilin Pritchard and the Harris family July
25:
The Kitko and Rohrback families August
1:
The Dixon and Branthoover families August
8:
Don and Jill Blake and John and Louise Blake August
15:
The Good families August
22:
The Storck and Nelson families August
29:
The Bullis and Starner families VBS
– KIDS The
Philipsburg Community is pulling together once again to offer Vacation
Bible School to children. The
Elementary-age classes will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church
on August 9-10 and 16-17 in the evenings.
The classes for children ages 3 through Kindergarten will be held
August 16-20 from 9-11 AM. Pre-registration
forms will be available in mid-July.
Contact Karen Wood or Pastor Tracie for more information, or ways
you can volunteer to help! VBS
HELP – SCHOOL KIT DONATIONS Vacation
Bible School children will be embarking on their own mission project
as part of their week together. To
help them do this, we are inviting
the congregation to bring in the following articles for the “School
Kit” they will be assembling for Church World Service to
distribute. Contributions
can begin on our mid-summer Communion
Sunday, July 18 and continue through the Sunday
before VBS, August 15. Carol
Moore has also kindly agreed
to sew 25 cloth bags to hold our kits! 12
blunt children’s scissors (13 have already been donated) 25
rulers with 12 inch and 30 centimeter markings 25
pencil sharpeners 25
large erasers 20
boxes of 24-color crayons (5 have already been donated) 25
pads or notebooks of 8 ½” by 11” paper containing 150-200 sheets JULY
CALANDER OF EVENTS
AUGUST
CALANDER OF EVENTS
A
NOTE FROM BARBARA MOSCH, OUR
SEMINARY INTERN FOR THE 2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR AND
WHO IS TAKING A MISSION TRIP THIS SUMMER Dear
Friends at First Presbyterian Church of Philipsburg,
This summer I am very pleased and excited to be able to combine
my past vocation as an ESL teacher with my present/future path toward
ordination. I will be
traveling to Asia to join three other Presbyterians working through
Amity Foundation, an independent Chinese voluntary organization created
by Chinese Christians in 1985. Amity
sponsors the Summer English Program (SEP) to help Chinese middle school
English teachers to increase their proficiency in listening and speaking
English. Amity’s goals
include: 1) contributing to
China’s social development, especially the poorer, disadvantaged
areas; 2) making Christian involvement and participation in society more
visible to Chinese people; and 3) expanding China’s openness to the
outside world. While there, I can not give out Christian literature or have
any “set agenda” that can be interpreted as evangelism, but I will
be free to answer personal questions posed to me about my faith, and I
can attend Christian church there.
In working with the Chinese teachers, our goals are to give them
an opportunity to speak and listen to English with a native-speaking
person, something some have never done; increase their understanding of
Western culture; and expose them to new methods of teaching English.
This fits with Amity’s policy that one can witness through
service.
Since I’ll be traveling half-way around the world and paying
Amity for this opportunity at my own expense, minus the greatly
appreciated financial help from SCPC, I decided to take advantage of the
opportunity to see other countries.
I am fortunate that some of my past students have invited me to
visit in their homes in Tokyo, another city near Kyoto, and Seoul.
To do that, I will leave State College on June 16th,
my birthday, to visit before my time in China begins on June 28.
My schedule in China begins with arrival in Shanghai followed by
a couple of days of orientation with all Amity volunteers in Nanjing.
From Nanjing, we will split up into different teaching teams with
mine going to Ghangyuan in Sichuan province.
The area is known for its hot, spicy cuisine; so wish me luck
since I don’t like that kind of food!
After teaching there fore about a month, we will go to Beijing
for debriefing before going home on August 3.
The experience of actually living and working in an Asian country
will give a richness to my future ministry.
There will be much that I learn from them that will be valuable
to share with fellow Americans later.
If there is interest, I would be happy to try to arrange a time
for a presentation about the trip, working around my scheduled fall
parish placement in the Presbyterian Church of Philipsburg and Seminary
classes.
Sincerely,
Barbara Mosch
VOLUME
XXXIII No. 6
RUTH THE
POWER OF STORY
During the month of June, it will be my great pleasure to spend
each Sunday with you on a chapter from the book of Ruth.
Ruth’s story is rich in many ways, inviting each of us to enter
into the work of God in our lives from assorted angles.
We’ll
hear from Naomi, who is destitute and despairing by the end of the first
chapter. We’ll watch Ruth
take a tremendous leap of faith for the sake of following God.
We’ll see the place of our own responsibility in our Christian
journeys as we watch Boaz offer what he can for the sake of another.
And in the end, we hear of God’s faithfulness to King David’s
great-grandmother, one of the family tree in the line of Jesus Christ. In
preparation for this month of unfolding story, you are invited to read
the book of Ruth several times throughout the month.
Read it at least once a week before each Sunday, so we have the
larger context in mind as we dig deeply for the details of the story.
Ruth is an Old Testament book tucked in a section between the
Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and the Historical
section, beginning with 1 Samuel.
Imagine
yourself as each character of the book as you read, and then imagine
what God might be saying to you through their story.
I’m looking forward to what God has to say to all of us.
Grace and Peace, OFFICER
MEETINGS for JUNE
(in the parlor) Deacons:
Tuesday, June 1st @ 7:00 p.m. Session:
Tuesday,
June 8th @ 7:00 p.m. Trustees:
Friday, June 18th @ 7:00 p.m. Presbyterian Women:
Monday, June 21st @ 7:00 p.m.
JUNE BIRTHDAYS 1st
– Madelen Bullis
24th – Pat Milsom 5th – Robert Viehdorfer
24th – Todd Reed 10th
– Lisa Coble
25th – Colleen Sullivan Viehdorfer 13th
– Nathan Lesko
26th – Todd Jeffries 18th
– Susan Whitehead Millward
26th – David Moore 18th
– Dylan Viehdorfer
27th – Bonnie Rodgers 21st
– Ed Jones
28th – Tammy Clyde 23rd
– John Freeman
28th – Matthew Bordas 23rd
– Mary Shirey
30th – Ilo Warg 24th
– Edward K. Good JUNE
ANNIVERSARIES
June
9th – David
and Sally Laux – 20 years June
11th – Dave
and Jackie Houser – 27 years June
11th – Walt and Lisa Chorle – 16 years June
14th – Fred and Alice Houser – 57 years June
17th – Lynn and Mary Gilham – 26 years June
19th – Paul and Jean Guelich – 58 years June
23rd – Dennis and Rose Calvin – 9 years June
24th – Tom and Gigi Sayers – 31 years June
29th – Richard and Karen Wood – 30 years BEST WISHES TO REVEREND CARL GRAY CELEBRATING 61
YEARS OF ORDINATION ON JUNE 13TH! OUR “THANK YOU” PAGE THANKS
ABOUND!!! As
usual, many folks have stepped forward in generous and gracious ways to
serve the community at large. This
month, our thanks goes out to the Flower Teams (for lack of a better
name) who joyfully carried out the Easter Flower and Spring Basket
sales. With Ethel Cipollini
in the lead, you ladies (and helpful husbands!) know your stuff
…Thanks! To the Deacons
and Presbyterian Women who combined forces to organize the Mother-Child
Banquet … Thanks! To the
many men who stepped up at the Banquet to set up, serve, carry
children’s plates, wash up, decorate the Memory Tree and give a
devotion … Thanks! To the
youth of our church who led worship May 16, especially the brave
preachers of Colt and Ashley … Thanks!
To Colleen Viehdorfer, who made sure every woman in church had a
flower on Mother’s Day … Thanks!
To the helpers with the Blood Drive, including those who baked
cookies or volunteered or hung up flyers or gave blood … Thanks!
To the Holden Family for lending their cabin for the Confirmation
Retreat… Thanks! To the
many bakers and organizers out there, led by Ethel Cipollini, who gave a
beautiful reception for David Pritchard’s Memorial Service…
Thanks! THANK
YOU!!! A
big “THANK YOU” goes out to the Deacons and all the men who
helped with the Mother-Child Banquet.
It was a very pleasant
and enjoyable evening. Many
Thanks. THANKS
FROM THE BULLIS KIDS With
the safety of the Bullis children at the top of the list, the Trustees
researched and installed a beautiful fence in the back of the manse.
The
Bullis family is thrilled with the new perimeter and are thankful to
the Trustees for providing some privacy and safety for the children, especially.
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness! A
THANK YOU FROM THE DEACONS! Thank
you to all who helped make the Deacons’ Blood Drive a success by
setting up and/or tearing down equipment, etc.; preparing and serving
snacks and drinks, walking donors safely to a seat; and donating
blood. 84 pints of much
needed blood were
donated – thank you!! A
NOTE OF THANKS FROM THE DAVID PRITCHARD
FAMILY ~ ~ ~ Thank
you each and every one for your many acts of kindness ~ you
prayed, you called, you sent cards, you opened doors, you
stopped to say hello. You
made every day a better day, and we appreciate all you did. Special
thanks to Pastor Tracie, Sally, Jill, and the Choir. Jerilin,
Josiah, Susan, Tom, Colton , Jordan
SENIOR
RECOGNITION Sunday,
June 6, will include the special recognition time
for our High School Seniors, as they graduate this
year. For many of you, it
must seem like only yesterday
when Gene Broberg, Morgan Coleman, Brittany
Gonder, Sarah Holden, Ashley Laux, and Colt
Viehdorfer were toddlers here. They
have grown up,
and they have accomplished a great deal.
Let us gather
and celebrate God’s work in their lives! THE
YARD SALE IS COMING The
Annual Stewardship Yard Sale will be held on June 10, 2004 from 7:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for church member purchases only and
on June 11, 2004 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and June 12, 2004 from
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for public sale.
Items for this sale may be brought to the church basement on
Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
If you need items picked up, Paul Springer can make arrangements
to do so. Please contact
Ethel Cipollini to lend a hand in the sorting, pricing, and selling.
It’s not just about good bargains – it is a lot of fun with
friends! RELAY
FOR LIFE June 7, 2004 will be the last official meeting of the
“Relay for Life” teams before we all officially take to the track and
start walking in support of finding a cure for cancer on Saturday,
June 19th. Our first year as participants in this worthy event has
been a learning experience as well as very successful and rewarding.
To date, we have organized a team of walkers and volunteers, we
have raised money through donations, the sale of moon and star
ornaments for our Memory Tree which will be on display in the
narthex until Father’s Day weekend, and the sale of chances for
two beautiful quilts which will be awarded the day of the Relay for Life
walk. (Chances will be on sale until June 19th.)
We look forward to a great “Relay for Life 2004” and hope you will stop by to cheer us on
as we walk for the fight against cancer!
GO
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN TEAM USA!!!! VACATION/STUDY
LEAVE Pastor
Tracie and her family will be taking some Study Leave and vacation
time to go West from June 29 through July 14.
During her
absence, Jeff Eyet can be contacted for Pastoral needs.
Bill
Moore and Joy Kaufmann, the General Presbyter, will be leading
the congregation in worship. Please
pray for renewal and travel
mercies on the Bullis family while they are away. FURNACE
DRIVE UPDATE The
Session and Trustees launched a Furnace Drive to replenish
a portion of the $50,000 expense of replacing the Furnace this
summer. These replacement funds are needed for further upcoming
building maintenance projects. As
of May 23, the congregation has
contributed $2,158.00 toward the goal of $30,000, to be given by December 31, 2004. PER
CAPITA UPDATE In
January, the church sent out the offering envelopes for active members
to contribute to the per capita fee the church pays.
The per capita
fee is a designated amount that helps our Presbytery, Synod, and
National church organizations have the necessary funds for joint
projects and needs. This
year, the amount is $21.06 per member.
So
far, you have contributed $2,148 of the total $4506.84 needed.
That
is almost half of our need! If
you have not yet paid your per
capita contribution, please do so – assessing $21.06 for each active
church member in your household (so a family of 3, where each
has joined or been confirmed, would offer $63.18). JUNE CALANDER OF EVENTS
SUMMER
WORSHIP TIME During
the months of July and August, our Worship on Sunday morning
will begin at 9:30 AM. Many
thanks go out to Sunday School teachers
who have led classes for the last ten months.
We’ll be back
in Sunday School with the first Sunday in September! A
WORD FROM OUR PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN….. PHILIPSBURG
HERITAGE DAYS QUILT SHOW Our church is planning to host another Heritage Days
quilt show, but we need your help. Many of you have both old and new family quilts and
quilted wall hangings in your homes.
We would very much like to display those at a Quilt Show in
Westminster Hall during Heritage Days. The Quilt Show is scheduled for Wednesday, July 7, from
12:00 noon until 7:00 P.M. If
you are interested in participating by submitting a quilt/s or quilted
wall hangings, please contact Helen Hollis (342-3376) or Carol Moore
(342-0758). A
LOOK AT OUR SANCTUARY AT EASTER TIME. Thank
you to the Presbyterian Woman for their annual Easter Flower
Sale and to Ethel Cipollini, Jim Gearheart, and
the many others who helped with the decorating. GENERAL
ASSEMBLY General
Assembly, now a gathering held every two
years, will take place this summer from June 26 through July 4 in
Richmond, Virginia. The
article below (taken from the PC(USA) website of www.pcusa.org)
gives a thumbnail sketch of some of the key issues on the agenda. Stated Clerk’s
‘Top Ten’ Assembly issues by the Rev.
Clifton Kirkpatrick 1. General Assembly Council’s Mission
Work Plan — The GAC will bring to the Assembly a
major proposal to prioritize its mission programs into four areas:
evangelism, justice, leadership and spiritual formation. 2. Final Report on Middle Governing Body
Relations — At the
conclusion of 115 consultations over three years with synods and
presbyteries, the GAC and the Committee on the Office of the General
Assembly will be bringing a joint report on how to strengthen
partnership between our governing bodies. 3. Reviews — Review committees have completed their studies of the
Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program and National Council of
Churches and will bring to the Assembly positive reports on those two
bodies. 4. Transforming Families paper — The 215th General Assembly (2003) referred the paper now
entitled “Transforming Families” back to the Advisory Committee on
Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) with a concern that there be stronger
affirmations of the theological values of traditional patterns of family
life. The revised report will be a major item before the 216th General
Assembly. 5. Overtures on G-6.0106b — As in prior years, overtures to remove G-6.0106b from the
Book of Order will be before the 216th General Assembly. This Assembly
also will deal with additional overtures to remove all authoritative
interpretations concerning homosexuality and ordination issued prior to
the adoption of G-6.0106b in 1996. 6. Elections — As always, much attention will be given to the election of a
moderator. In addition, this is the year for the election of a Stated
Clerk and for the confirmation of the presidents of the Presbyterian
Church (USA) Foundation and the Presbyterian Investment and Loan
Program. 7. Evangelism and Jewish-Christian
Relations — Growing out of the new “messianic”
congregation in Philadelphia Presbytery, Avodat Yisrael, a number of
overtures are currently before presbyteries calling for a study and
reevaluation of policies related to Jewish-Christian relations and
evangelism. 8. Constitutional Amendments on Sexual
Misconduct — Growing out of the work of the
Independent Committee of Inquiry (into previous sexual abuse of
missionary children in the Congo), the General Assembly Council will be
bringing to the Assembly proposed constitutional amendments to prevent
sexual misconduct by church workers and to protect children. 9. Overtures Relating to Abortion — Overtures have been received to modify the actions taken by
the last two General Assemblies related to late-term abortions. 10. Issues Related to a Post-9/11 World — Both ACSWP and the General Assembly
Committee on Ecumenical Relations will be bringing proposals to the
Assembly related to advocacy for justice in relation to peacemaking,
immigration, response to terrorism, and Iraq. |
