TC Presbytery Meeting

[Bob McQ]

Came home with enthusiasm and the good feeling of new energy for our
presbytery. Thanks to all who helped shape the meeting and
contributed to the development of some new directions. I believe we
will continue to "make contact" with one another - through the variety
of possibilities which were explored. I have had conversations with
Andy, Shelaine and Becky regarding a "Gathering of Elders" which will
be planned for June. Maybe a few other area congregations will join
in. Heard good conversations about the possibility of having support
for a "soup kitchen" in our area. (I think LOVE, Inc has already
started one in our county. Our church could support that.) There is
also interest expressed for providing volunteers to mentor families in
poverty, and receive some training from those involved in the Traverse
City Church.

Curt Karns, the Exec from Yukon, spoke at the St. Andrews Church this
morning - and his message underlined the need for us to "be
connected". To me it comes under the category of "wasting good time
together." Good things can happen if we can structure a variety of
opportunities for congregations to "share their stories". Tina Robb
is promoting such a good opportunity in her area. Maureen Owen, from
our Stewardship and Mission Committee, is inviting some elders to meet
with her this coming Saturday to discuss "stewardship and mission"
ideas. We don't have to do the same things - but we can discover the
"gifts" of the Holy Spirit when we have the chance to meet together
and invite God's good guidance.

As you can tell, I felt good about this initial effort to be a
different kind of presbytery.

P.S. Did you read the OUTLOOK article about the San Diego
Presbytery?

Bob

[Steven Hammond, Pastor, Alpena]

The atmosphere in our van riding back to Alpena was also energetic.
There was an appreciation for the emphasis on mission and the
activities that might be accomplished through cooperative efforts and
the idea that we don't always ned to re-invent the wheel or attempt to
create something exclusively. Cooperative efforts with other
churches, other denominations, other non=church organizations should
be encouraged. Why duplicate progams and dilute resources? In
response to Bob's question about San Diego Presbytery, I not only read
it, I responded to it. I was a member of San Diego Presbytery in the
1970's and when there was a big emphasis on mission. There was strong
leadership by Casper Glenn and Keith Mithchell through what was known
as The Greater Parish Ministry to be involved in reaching out to
people the folks that Shelaine mentioned in her sermon. As a
Volunteer in Mission during the summers of 1969 and 1971 in San Diego,
I got my first introduction to Free Clinics, intercity churches,
racial tension, farm workers, and the efforts of church people to be
with them. It was a formative period. This generation may need to
find its own way to be introduced to such things - but the way
"church" was done by some of those leaders and communities of faith in
San Diego Presbytery then will always be remembered by me.
Steven H.