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Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 1 of 18
Midweek Musings December 20, 2017 edition
Published the second and fourth
Wednesday of the month
Approaching Fourth Sunday
Advent
”..On earth peace to those on
whom his favor rests.” ~Luke
2:14
New Castle Presbytery
A Christmas Message: A Season of Gratitude
The year of 2017 is quickly coming to a close and for New
Castle Presbytery it has been a year of many transitions.
Twenty-eight of our fifty-one congregations are in the midst
of searching for pastoral leadership whether it be a call to a
full time, part-time, quarter time or other form of shared
ministry. We presently have three congregations being
served by preaching cohorts who rotate preaching and
pastoral responsibilities on Sunday mornings. We have ten
Commissioned Ruling Elders serving amongst our
congregations and are most grateful for their joyful spirits and
dedication.
Upcoming Events 3/2-3/17 – Beach Retreat and
839th Stated Meeting
View Presbytery calendar:
http://www.ncpresbytery.org/news/calendar
Midweek Contents
Advocacy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Beach Retreat “Teaser” . . . . . . 4
Board of Pensions . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Christmas Service Info . . . . . . . 3
Comm. Announcements . . . 17
Employment Opportunities . . 16
Guatemala Partnership . . . . . 12
Health Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Interfaith Peacemaker . . . . . 11
Mission Advocate . . . . . . . . . 13
Our Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Our Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . 9
PCUSA News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Photo Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Presbyterian Mission Agency . . 7
Related Organizations. . . . . . . 18
Share the Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Social Security . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Witness in Washington . . . . . . . 6
Rourke Moore (Community), Mawuna Gardesey (Olivet), Tim Arnold
(Delaware City & Hanover), Mark Douyard, Anne Gunn, Lee Johnson
(Manokin), Ginny Jones (EDGE Ministries), Pam Ruarke (Faith Chapel), David
Norton and Rich Watters
Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 2 of 18
The Balcony II design for presbytery staffing and committee structures is fully underway.
Two search committees are meeting regularly, one to identify a candidate for the new
Connectional Presbyter and the other for the new position of a Missional Presbyter.
As we have made this journey through assessments, mission studies and discernment, we
have been blessed by leadership that continues to “rise to the occasion” prayerfully
guiding and directing our decision making. Throughout all the change we have
continued to labor in good faith with one another. Meetings of presbytery are cordial, in
good order and always noted for our beautiful voices and hymn singing. Our church
doors are open. Our members are
serving across our communities. Our
generosity to those in need is constant
and growing. God is good!
Now Christmas approaches. It is a
season for gratitude, which we
observe most keenly at the manger
and share most sincerely by
welcoming friends and family back to
church at Christmastide. God, forever
with us, has provided for our every
need and calls us anew to be
peacemakers in a world too often
torn by wars in which the innocent are
the first victims of violence.
May the Lord usher us into a New Year with fresh call upon our hearts to be agents of
reconciliation and messengers of hope to all nations!
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to us all!
Jim
James L. Moseley, NCP Executive Presbyter
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OUR CHURCHES
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY and
ASSOCIATES!
The Christmas service webpage on the Presbytery website is
now “live” (http://www.ncpresbytery.org/christmas-services/)
and will be featured in the News Journal Holiday Worship
Pages on Sunday, December 17th and Friday, December 24th.
There will also be 20,000 online impressions of the ad with
target zip codes through lower Delaware and the Eastern
Shore of Maryland. Click here to view the online impression
which will “phase in” during web browsing.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from the staff of New Castle Presbytery!
Call to Action
You are looking forward
to your church’s
Christmas services, but
have you encouraged
your friend, family
and/or neighbors to join
you?
“Prepare the way of the
Lord.”
~Mark 1:3
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2018 Beach Retreat Registration opens December 22nd!
This year’s beach retreat beckons “All Aboard!” with registration opening this Friday, December
22nd. The link to registration will be on the home page of our website and an email will be sent to
all distributions with New Castle Presbytery. Looking for a “teaser”? View the preliminary
schedule below and plan to join us!
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PCUSA – This Week’s News –
December 20th
This week in PCUSA News:
Putting “energy” into mission
Early American Bibles
Community Tenant Association makes inroads for low income housing residents
New Book of Common Worship coming in 2018
Nelson honors Michael Lukens on retirement
Kids holiday books: Christ, candelabras – and critters
Presbyterian ministries realize major increase in #GivingTuesday contributions
And more!
Click here to view full articles.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days for
Global Peace with Justice:
“A World Uprooted”
New Director Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune and the Leadership Team of Ecumencial Advocacy
Days for Global Peace with Justice, have announced the theme for the organization’s 16th annual
National Gathering in Washington, D.C. slated for
April 20-23, 2018. Discounted early bird registration
is now open at the Doubletree Hotel in Arlington,
Virginia.
Register and book now to save! Speakers and
workshops will be available in the coming weeks.
For more information, click here.
Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 6 of 18
Witness in Washington Briefing Series
January 23, 10 am - 12pm
100 Maryland NE
Washington, DC
To RSVP click here.
Come hear policy experts discuss the pressing justice issues facing our country
and the world. Learn how you can lift your voice with other people of faith and
speak truth to power!
More information on speakers and specific issues to be addressed will be
announced in January. This is the launch of our new quarterly briefing series -
we are also planning future in-person briefings for May, September, and
December.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
We encourage participants to make appointments to meet with their members
of congress in the afternoon after the briefing.
If you need assistance please feel free to contact us at 202 543 1126.
To RSVP and save your space click here.
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Click here or on the
banner to the left to
read this month’s
edition.
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Our Partnerships (Kananga Presbytery, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Wishes of a Warm Merry Christmas and 2018 year
Dears all in Christ,
This is to present to you all, my sisters and brothers in Christ, the best wishes for the new coming new
year 2018 and Merry Christmas 2017 from Dinanga, my Church, my wife and I. Let the peace and
love of Christ be with you all.
LET'S MEDITATE TOGETHER THE FOLLOWING:
We are entering the holiday season. Lights, gifts, good meals, family time ... Christmas is a time of
rejoicing for most of us. A time when we love to recharge our batteries!
Still, the first Christmas was not a comfortable day. In fact, it was a day of great weakness. Imagine
the scenery: a compulsory census ordered by the Roman occupant, a lost and steep village in the
middle of the countryside, a shelter for animals, a young woman exhausted by a long journey, and
apart from a few shepherds, no one to welcome the King of Kings…
I love this Christmas carol that so aptly depicts this night of the
birth of Jesus, where the greatest of miracles came in the
greatest of weaknesses:
"Bethlehem, you the slightest
Small cities,
The world in you is coming
Divine clarity
A new star
Shines in your places,
And tear the veil,
Who hid the heavens from us. "
Bethlehem was not "the place to be" or a fashionable place!
This small city was neither a commercial capital, nor a cultural
capital, let alone a tourist place. It was a lost village in the
middle of nowhere ... an insignificant place.
But do you know, brothers et sisters that God likes to use insignificant things to boast? Do you
know that he likes to manifest himself in places that no one sees, and make himself known through
people that no one applauds?
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1.27)
Brother or sister do you feel weak? Tired? Insignificant? Do not be discouraged. God is not surprised
by your weakness. It is precisely the means by which He will boast in you and through you.
Christmas is the feast of weakness ...
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It is God who becomes man, an insignificant and vulnerable man.
It is Jesus, King of glory, who comes to join us in our weakness.
It is the Prince of Peace who comes to show us the example of a life where we
are strong … when we are weak.
Happy holidays and thank you for existing!
Pastor Lazare Tshibuabua, Executive Presbyter, Kananga Presbytery
“Let me share with you a report and photos on the activity of December 13, 2017.”
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INTERFAITH PEACEMAKER, New Castle Presbytery
Rev. Tom Davis
Interfaith Veterans’ Workgroup 2017 End-of-Year Progress Report
Dear Interfaith Veterans' Workgroup members and supporters,
Below is a progress report on IVW programs and initiatives in 2017:
Our Facebook group page, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/237928829966077, has 102
members. There we have been posting videos and web articles of interest to veterans and
their families, and educating the public about post traumatic stress and moral injury, and
treatments for these conditions.
Since its launching in February of 2016 the
IVW website, at http://ivw.website, has
had over 3000 views. The best
performance for any post was 50 views.
IVW has filed for certification as a 501C3
organization and is awaiting the status of
that application.
Over the past year I have preached at Limestone Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian
Church of the Covenant, relating my sermons to veterans' transitioning challenges and
undertaking a new purpose: peacemaking. I also led an adults' Sunday school class at
Westminster Presbyterian Church on the same concerns.
The weekly hiking program, led by Jack Sanders, has continued, weather permitting, and the
number of hikers is increasing. Hiking is one of the mind-body activities that have proved
helpful for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress.
An IVW Writers group has formed, comprising the following members: Al Mills, Lynn Miller, Rob
Goldberg, Sidney Jacobs, Tim Bayard, and Tom Davis. A dinner meeting was held at the
Bellefonte Cafe on October 25th. Several members announced plans for personal writing
projects. Al Mills, an Iraq veteran, has already published a poem relating his experience of
post-traumatic stress and moral injury, entitled "How Ironic." This poem grew out of an IVW
meeting where vets shared stories for a podcast produced by IVW members, Debra and
David Trevino. The Brandywine Writers' Circle has made two generous contributions to IVW
Writers to help meet startup expenses. Four IVW Writers attended
the end-of-year retreat of the Brandywine Writers Circle to meet
their members.
On November 10th, in celebration of Veterans Day on the 11th, a
dance performance honoring veterans was given at the Baby
Grand in Wilmington. I and several other veterans assisted the
planners. The purpose of this performance was to portray both the
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pride and the pain of veterans returning from combat. The performance was very well
attended, and received high praise.
A new member of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Bill Trueman, is a national chess
champion. He has volunteered to help veterans who want to use chess as a way to calm the
mind. Web research indicates that some veterans have found chess to be very helpful.
Alice Davis, a local certified yoga instructor, welcomes veterans to attend the free yoga
sessions open to the public at Hanover Street Presbyterian Church, 1801 North Jefferson Street
in Wilmington, on Friday evenings at 6 pm. Wear loose fitting clothing. If you don't own a
yoga mat, the group will provide one. Yoga is another mind-body discipline that has helped
some veterans with post traumatic stress.
Last week, I attended a free mindfulness meditation workshop for veterans, offered at the
V.A. Hospital in Elsmere. Three IVW members report very good results from mindfulness
meditation, so I want to experience it for myself.
A group is forming in Wilmington to promote a vision for a non-violent city (partly to counter
the depiction of Wilmington as "murder town USA.") This group is inspired by the model of
Carbondale. See http://www.nonviolentcarbondale.org/. I have recommended to the
organizers that IVW be among the groups invited to participate, because veterans are well
acquainted with the consequences of violence, and IVW members want to use their warrior
wisdom for peacemaking.
Peace, Tom
TCDavis
President, Interfaith Veterans Workgroup
302-507-6012 mobile; E-mail: [email protected]
Guatemala Partnership – Year-End Report
Friends,
How do Mam women in rural Guatemala develop themselves
and their families?
Family vegetable gardens, in-home water filters, and resilience
in the face of a crisis are some of the ways. Read more in the
year-end report by clicking here to learn more about the
women's activities in 2017!
Thanks, everyone, for your ongoing interest and support for
Rosario and the women! (View all reports on the NCP webpage here)
Submitted by Cynthia (Cindie) L. Moore
Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 13 of 18
MISSION ADVOCATE, New Castle Presbytery
Terry Lee Dykstra
Young Adult Volunteer learns about the Presbyterian Church’s
role on the international stage
I am so happy to share with you news about the wonderful work that the Presbyterian Church is
doing to provide training for our youth and opportunities for Christian service. Remember to support
the World Mission work of our church.
Blessings and peace, Terry Dykstra, Mission Advocate
Young Adult Volunteers November 22, 2017
Simon Doong to spend a year with Presbyterian
Ministry at the United Nations
by Rick Jones | Presbyterian News Service
Simon Doong is spending his second year as a YAV with the
Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. (Photo provided)
LOUISVILLE — Simon Doong has always had an interest in
international life. The Beltsville, Maryland native graduated from
the College of Wooster with a major in International Relations and
a focus on economics, minoring in Spanish and Latin American
studies.
Upon graduation, he spent a year in Pittsburgh in a fellowship with a Mennonite Service Program.
“Then I found out about the YAV (Young Adult Volunteer) Program from the director of Christian
Education at my church,” he said. “I applied for and was offered an opportunity to spend a year in
South Korea. I was a little hesitant at first, but I have no regrets.”
While in the city of Daejeon, Doong worked with children in education and learned the Korean
history, culture and U.S. involvement in the Korean War.
“While there, I sort of thought about doing a second year, hopefully at the Presbyterian Ministry at
the UN,” he said. “Economic development and mission are similar in that both are trying to help
people and lift up the oppressed. I had seen the church do the work on the ground in another
country, but I also wanted to know how to advocate positive change at the highest level in the
international arena.”
That’s when Doong applied for and received approval for a second year. He started with the office
at the U.N. in September and has had a front-row seat at the goings on in New York, including sitting
in on working group meetings on Syria, Israel/Palestine and the Security Council.
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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Health Ministry
November – National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Happy National Safe Toys and Gifts Month! Did you know that in 2011,
188,400 children under the age of 15 years were seen in emergency departments for toy-
related injuries? That's 516 kids every day! More than a third of those injured were children
5 and under. Toy-related injuries send about 180,000 kids to the ER every year. With
careful selection and storage, you can make your home a safer place to play.
Be safe, be well!
Stephanie Scully Eskridge, RN, BSN Questions? [email protected]
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PHOTO PRAYER
I feel at home on this dirt road
a few miles east of the Pacific Ocean
and just north of the Mexican border.
My parents lived here.
I remember Thanksgivings and Christmases here.
That only begins to explain my affinity for this
dry mountain place that keeps calling me back
to walk among giant granite boulders under
flaming skies.
I think of this place as mine.
This land is my land?
I have no legal claim, yet this place
always welcomes me and calls me its own.
What then should I say to the illegals walking north
on this road,
walking into this land their nation lost to mine in
1848?
Lord, I have no ready answer.
Photo of sunset skies over Mother Grundy Truck Trail near Jamul, California
Photograph copyright 2015 and prayer 2017 by Danny N. Schweers http://www.photoprayer.com/
Social Security
On November 17th the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services
announced 2018 Medicare Parts A & B
premiums and deductibles, including
more health coverage choices, improved
access to high-quality health choices and
decreased premiums in 2018. For more information and
to read the full article, click here.
Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 16 of 18
Position Church/Organization Contact Missional
Presbyter
New Castle Presbytery
In our re-structured model, our new Missional
Presbyter serves the presbytery in ministry that
brings enthusiasm and hope to our churches,
engages the churches in connecting with
one another and works with the Committee
on Coordination and the Committee on
Leadership. This is a newly created position
with the position description here.
Send PIF/resume no later than
1/31/18 to:
missionalpresbyter@
ncpresbytery.org
Program
Assistant
The In Trust Center
The In Trust Center for Theological Schools is a
membership organization serving seminaries,
theological colleges and other seimilar
institutions that repare students for Christian
service and scholarship.
This full-time position is a non-exempt position
reporting directly to the Program Manager
and includes benefits
100 W. 10th Street, Suite 703
Wilmington, DE 19801-6614
For more information, click
here.
Organist Limestone Presbyterian Church
3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE
This part-time position reports to the Head of Staff
(as well as the Worship Committee) and, under
the director of the pastor and in coordination with
other music leaders, is responsible for selecting,
preparing and performing weekly at two church
services (one Sunday contemporary and one
Sunday traditional service, except one service
during the summer), in addition to special services
during the church year. Some accompaniment
will be on piano rather than organ.
3-1/2 hours/week, 45 weeks/year. Salary
negotiable.
For more information and a
full position description,
contact Ann Miller, Human
Resources, at
Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 17 of 18
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS
(Submit your information and provide the link to your flyer on your webpage/Facebook for inclusion
in subsequent editions. Click on each event for additional information)
Life is full of interesting opportunities … embrace, celebrate and share!
1/09/18,
12:00 noon Chestertown Presbyterian Church
905 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD
You are invited to meet and greet PCUSA Mission Co-Worker Dr. Martha Sommers,
lecturer and family medicine practitioner in
Malawi. Lunch will be provided, however please
RSVP to the church office as soon as possible
(410-778-6057).
Visit PMA online to connect
with Martha’s ministry here.
1/12/18,
12:30p Westminster Presbyterian Church
1502 W. 13th Street, Wilmington, DE 19806
Peace Drums Steel Drum Band
What schools are involved now? Are the kids’ Muslim,
Jewish and Christian parents still getting along? How
did the European Tour go?
All are invited to a BYO Brown Bag lunch at
Westminster Presbyterian Church to hear the latest
news about the Peace Drums Project direct from
project founder and musical director Harvey
Price. Harvey will come prepared to answer all
these and any other questions you may have, so
please plan to pack a sandwich and join us at
WPC on January 12. Coffee and tea will be
provided. All we need in advance from you is an
R.S.V.P. by reply to [email protected].
Midweek submissions: [email protected] Page 18 of 18
NCP HOLIDAY HOURS: The
office will be closed 12/21/17-
1/01/18 in observance of the
Christmas/New Year
holiday/staff vacations.
New Castle Presbytery
1102 W. Church Road Newark, DE 19711–2506
(302) 366-0595 office ● (302) 366-0714 fax
www.ncpresbytery.org Hours: Monday-Thursday
8:30 am—4:00pm
Friday (Office closed)
Staff · Rev. James L. Moseley, Executive Presbyter
· Bob Schminkey, Stated Clerk
· Donna L. Scully, Office Manager
Officers (2018) Jeff Howard, Moderator
Dianne Deming, Vice Moderator
NCP Resource Personnel (2018) · Rev. Tom Davis, Interfaith Peacemaker
· Lynette Kenton, Treasurer
· Rev. Nona Holy, LUMOS Campus Minister
· Emma Blair, Bookkeeper
· Terry Dykstra, Mission Advocate
· Pam Ruarke, Disaster Recovery Coordinator
· Martha Reisner, Board Of Pensions, Church
Consultant
PCUSA Communications
Presbyterians Today
Related Organizations
· Presbyterian Church (USA)
· Synod of the Mid-Atlantic PC(USA)
- Board of Pensions
· Administrative Personnel Association
PC(USA)
· Lumos/Presbyterian Campus Ministry
(UD)
· Interfaith Resource Center
· Meeting Ground Inc.
· New Hope Pastoral Counseling
· Pacem In Terris
· PCUSA Investment & Loan Program
- Pilgrimage Ministries
· Presbyterian Foundation
· Presbyterian Men
· Presbyterian Women
· Teledavis
· Westminster Village
Presbyterian Outlook
Presbyterian News Service
Presbyterian Mission Yearbook