The Presbytery of Western North Carolina March 2012

Anti-Bullying

Rally

For Youth and parents

March 25, 2012

5:00 - 8:00 PM

First Presbyterian Church, Morganton, NC

Who: Middle and High School

Students AND their Parents

Topic:

Schedule

5:00 PM FREE Dinner – Mexican Fiesta!

(Vegetarian Option Available)

6:15 PM Separate Programs for Youth & Adults

7:30 PM Closing Worship

8:00 PM Departure

Youth Keynoter: Mr. Kent Patton

Adult Keynoter: Officer Joey Belanger

(See bio info on page 5.)

Youth Leaders: Register your group by March 21,

2012! Send your church name, your contact

information, and the number of YOUTH and ADULT

spots you want to reserve.

E-mail Pastor Adam: revabowling@bellsouth.net

or call 828-448-8914.

Event made possible by a grant from the Peace & Justice

Committee of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina.

From our General

Presbyter, Bobbi White

The Lent and Easter Season is a time to focus on God’s incredible love shown in

Christ Jesus. When we reflect on what God has done, it is also good to open our eyes to see what God is doing in our midst now. It is a time to be thankful, to be humble, recognizing God’s love, forgiveness and grace, and to be bold and adventurous for the Lord. These are hard times and exciting times, times of hope and joyful celebration, and of sadness. As in any time, our focus needs to be on Christ and Christ’s mission and what God is calling us to be and do. This Easter, I will again reflect on John’s second resurrection passage, John 20:19‑22. Jesus appears to his disciples in the room with locked doors. We are sometimes like those disciples, afraid, discouraged, confused. It is easy to hide behind locked doors, afraid to venture out and afraid to let others into our fellowship. However, it is the Risen Christ who comes and stands among us, showing us his wounds, giving us his peace, and sending us out to minister as he did with the power of the Holy Spirit. In verses 20 and 21, Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then Jesus breathed on them, and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." That is an awesome statement and promise. We are sent as individuals, churches, a presbytery and a denomination. My prayer is that as “sent ones”, as individuals, congregations, and presbytery, we will be about making new disciples, nurturing people in their relationship to Christ, growing apostles (sent ones), reaching out in mission and actively demonstrating God’s love. And I pray we will also give witness to Christ's reconciling love and strengthen each other by working together as a witness to Christ.

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Together in Ministry March 2012

Bobbi White is

shown here with

Keith Freeman,

pastor of the

Pineola

Presbyterian

Church. They are

standing in front

of the church's

beautiful 15’

Chrismon Tree.

Montreat Holds Earth Care Congregation

Celebration & Potluck Supper

About 80 members of the Montreat Presbyterian

Church (PCUSA) congregation and invited guests

gathered for an evening of fellowship and

celebration of its recognition as an “Earth Care

Congregation” by the national denomination. MPC

was among the first 21 congregations to be so

recognized by the Environmental Ministries office of

the Presbyterian Church (USA). This designation is

for having accomplished a specific number of

actions toward caring for God’s earth through

activities and projects in the areas of worship,

education, facilities and outreach.

The Montreat Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)

congregation held an event both to celebrate its

initial certification as an Earth Care Congregation,

and also as an educational event that counts toward

recertification in 2012. By inviting representatives of

key organizations in the area, Montreat’s Earth

Ministry Team hopes to build partnerships that reach

beyond the boundaries of town and congregation.

Thus, church committees will be considering new

Earth Care efforts that include service projects in the

Swannanoa Valley and cooperation with other

churches. “In the long run,” said Kitty Fouche, a

retired teacher, “a key focus of our work will address

the so-called ‘environmental literacy’ of our church

members and friends, so that we all can work to

solve some of the really deep and complex issues

facing our society. It’s only when we understand an

issue that we are more likely to restore and protect

the Earth of God’s creation.” The heavens are telling the

glory of God; and the

firmament proclaims His

handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

* * * *

The guest appearance of the

“Garbage Fairy,” both in a video

and in-person, was a highlight of

the evening.

Luis Mejia, a

member of the

Guatemalan

Partnership

Committee in Sur

Occidente,

presents Randall

Boggs,

representative

from PWNC, with

Malawi offerings

from their

presbytery.

Here, Edwin

Gelista,

Partnership

Coordinator in

Suchitepequez,

presents Malawi

offerings to

Randall Boggs.

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Presbytery’s Resource Center

Presbytery’s Resource Center contains over 4,000

items–books, DVDs, videos, magazines, curricula, and

AV equipment. These materials are available for your

church or personal use.

You can browse the collection during regular office

hours or access the entire collection on-line by visiting

Presbytery’s website (www.presbyterywnc.org) and

clicking on the “Resource Center” button.

Subjects include Bible study aids; congregational

needs and nurture; mission programs around the world;

theology; curricula for adults, youth, and children;

family concerns; church seasonal materials; social

justice issues, and much more.

How can you use the Center?

You can visit the Center at the Presbytery office in

Morganton, and check out items by signing the white

borrower’s card. You may reserve your items ahead

of your visit by contacting Tonya at the Presbytery

office (828-438-4217).

Resources are catalogued by title, author, and main and

secondary subjects. Choose your items and contact

Tonya at the Presbytery office (828/438-4217), and she

will mail your choices to you postage-free.

What are the guidelines?

You can borrow up to 10 items at a time. Items can be

borrowed for 30 days, with two renewals possible.

Dated curricula can be

previewed at the Center

but cannot be checked

out.

For more information

about the Presbytery’s

Resource Center, contact

Jo Gallagher at 828/669-

9213.

Together in Ministry March 2012

Above, our friend and colleague, John McCall, is

being presented aboriginal clothing. Please

remember John, and all our other missionaries who

are serving in other countries during this Lenten

season.

Share Your News With Us! We want to share the

good things that are happening in your church!

Please email Barbara Ross (bwross542@charter.net)

with your event details and pictures so that we can

share it in our newsletter! Good news travels fast!

Your Gifts are Appreciated! Gratitude and thanksgiving for those who have contributed to the campaign to improve Presbytery's Resource Center and move it to Montreat. When gifts, pledges and church budget allocations total $45,000, the move can begin. We need an accurate picture of campaign contributions and pledges to date. If they have not done so, individuals and church sessions are asked to register their intentions with Presbytery' s office right away so we can know how much still needs to be done. As many as are able are encouraged to contribute something. Let's have the Center open and operating in time for the summer conference season.

For Presbytery's Resource Committee, Eade Anderson

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A New Day at New Vision!

Sunday, February 19th, celebrated a new ministry in Catawba County. Iglesia Presbiteriano Emanuel, a Hispanic outreach

of the Presbyterian Church, has joined in ministry with New Vision Church in Conover. The Iglesia Emanuel was an

outreach to the Spanish speaking population by the Presbytery of Western North Carolina. Started at Northminister

Presbyterian Church in Hickory, for the last eight years they had worshipped in a church building near the SALT block.

Since 2011, Dr. Gary Van Brocklin has led this ministry. He and his wife Marlene were missionaries in South America

for many years, before returning to teach at Montreat College. He helped the congregation discern that it would be

healthier for them, and especially their children, to join with an English speaking congregation.

They found a home with New Vision Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian new church development in Conover.

This church was launched about three and a half years ago. It was already a multi-ethnic and multi-racial congregation.

Organizing Co-Pastors of New Vision, Ann and Frank Aichinger, have been amazed at the peace in this transition. They

say, “We are learning to dance together.” The largest challenge is to develop a worship service, which while being mainly

English, will bring in those who are not fluent. Most of the Spanish speaking congregation from Emanuel wanted to

become more comfortable in English. The visual nature of our worship and a flavoring of Spanish in music and scripture

are helping them to make this transition.

It is a time of learning for all those involved in this ministry. Those who came from Emanuel come from at least

twelve different countries in Central and South America, and each bring their own cultural traditions. We have people

from Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic,

Puerto Rico and Brazil. On Epiphany Sunday, we had a Three Kings cake, with the baby Jesus hidden in the cake. The

person who got the baby Jesus in their piece of cake were to have a very special year.

On Sunday evening, five other Presbyterian churches joined in their commitment to our ministry with the Spanish

speaking population in Catawba County. First Presbyterian in Hickory, First Presbyterian in Newton, Northminister and

Sweetwater Presbyterian Churches in Hickory and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville joined in the covenant

with New Vision Church in this commitment to reach out to the Latino population.

Dr. VanBrocklin has joined the ministry staff at New Vision. Each Sunday he leads a Spanish Bible Study

following the worship service at 11:30 am, while there are classes for children and youth, a nursery and an Adult Small

Group.

Bobbi White & Gary Van Brocklin

signing the covenant

Hispanic Ministry Steering Team Christ of the Americas

Together in Ministry March 2012

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Robinson Memorial’s

Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper

Together in Ministry March 2012

Anti-Bullying

Rally Speakers

We are excited to have two top-notch speakers for our anti

-bullying rally on Sunday, March 25, 2012 (see page 1 for

event info). This is an event that you don’t want to miss!

KENT PATTON, Youth Keynote Speaker

Kent has worked with youth for

over 25 years at Black Mountain

Presbyterian Church. Growing up being

bullied and also bullying others, he knows

the pain and harm that bullying can cause.

Cyberbullying has increased the

frequency and impact of bullying. Using video clips and

role plays, we will look together at the how and why kids

bully each other, and then we will talk about ways to

respond when we see others bullied or you yourself are

bullied.

JOEY BELANGER, Adult Keynote

Speaker

Former School Resource Officer

for Patton High School, current DARE

Instructor for Burke County, Radio Host

and Producer at 92.1 FM “The Big

Dawg,” mobile DJ, and father of a teen.

Photo: Officer Belanger appeared on “The Balanc-

ing Act,” discussing internet safety/cyberbullying

which aired on Lifetime in 2011.

Hold the Date!

Let’s Celebrate . . . Dynamic

Community

featuring

Dr. Kenneth Gergen, Jr.,

Keynoter

Saturday, August 18th

The Nominating Committee needs you!!! If you are willing to serve on a committee of Presbytery, please contact Robbin

Buchanan at the Presbytery office (828/438-4217) and express your interest. We are always needing willing participants to fill

vacancies on our committees!

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Together in Ministry March 2012

Womanless Wedding at Long Creek Benefits Missions

These pictures are from a “Womanless Wedding” done by the Long Creek Church on Sunday, March 11, 2012 for a mission fundraiser. They do so many wonderful mission projects. Dee Liss is the pastor at Long Creek. Her husband, Howard, was the bride.

Mardi Gras the Bryson City Way!

These are pictures from the Mardi Gras party for the

western cluster of PWNC churches. There were around

100 people in attendance! One of Bryson City’s members

got the baby in the King Cake, which means the party will

be hosted there again next year, with Franklin First

providing the music. What an awesome way to join in com-

munity and fellowship with one another!

What’s Happening around the Presbytery? Take a look . . .