[Members] Fwd: Synod Connections - Week of Jul 23, 2007

Mon Jul 23 20:47:24 PDT 2007

 Hello everyone.  Hope you are enjoying this wonderful weather and having a good week.  Your copy of the Synod Connections is attached.

 Gerry Franklin
Office Administrator
New Creation Presbyterian Church
O Fallon, Illinois
618-624-6860

-----Original Message-----
From: Kerry Lancaster <kerrysl at synodma.org>
To: Mary Sue Thomas <maryst at synodma.org>
Sent: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 1:43 pm
Subject: Synod Connections - Week of Jul 23, 2007

SYNOD CONNECTION

Staying in touch with the wider
church and its mission in the world

JULY 23, 2007

(For questions, comments, to submit items for Synod Connections,  or to reply to this
newsletter, contact Mary Sue Thomas,
editor, at maryst at synodma.org)

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S 2007 EFFORT RESULTS IN 77 GRANTS

Seventy-seven projects have been awarded grants from Presbyterian
Women’s 2007 Thank Offering.  The grants total $983,194 and were given to
domestic and overseas projects whose work is consistent with the mission
concerns and policies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S. A.).  Presbyterian
Children’s Services, Inc.,  St.
  Louis, MO has
received a grant of $30,000.  The funds will be used in PCS one-on-one
mentoring of children who have one or more parent(s) who are incarcerated or
recently released from prison.  The funds will also help link families to
resources and services in the community.    For a complete list of grants given
visit www.pcusa.org/pw/thank/07recipients.htm

2007 BENEFITS
 ADMINISTRATION HANDBOOK
 FOR CHURCHES
AND EMPLPOYING ORG.

The Benefits Handbook is now online and can be found at www.pensions.org .  Scroll down to
“Recent Publications” and click on the title.  Please share this
with your church treasures, clerks of session and other employing
organizations.

MIDWEST FLOODING

Over the last two months floodwaters have inundated significant areas
of Kansas, Texas,
Oklahoma and Iowa.  Thousands of families have been
displaced due to the flooding.  Some of the hardest hit residents have been
low-income families struggling to make ends meet even before they found
themselves flooded from their homes.  One Great Hour of Sharing and designated
funds from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) are at work throughout the Midwest.  $90,000 has been sent to eight different
presbyteries affected by flooding.  Six members of the PDA National Response
Team have been deployed to the affected areas to serve as resources, to provide
assistance as needed to presbyteries and congregations active in the relief and
recovery efforts, and to represent the care and concern of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.).  Please keep families who have lost loved ones, flood survivors and
the care givers in your thoughts and prayers.  Additional information will be
posted to the PDA web site www.pcusa.org/pda.  
Those wishing to provide financial assistance may do so by designating funds to
DR000015 – Disaster Response in the U.S.A.  through your normal giving
channels.   

EARTH SABBATH, EARTH JUSTICE!

This October 25-28, join people of faith from across the nation and
from all walks of life – pastors, educators, students, lay leaders,
activists, and scientists – for Presbyterians for Restoring
Creation’s national eco-justice conference.  “Earth Sabbath, Earth
Justice.  Protecting God’s Gifts of Food and Fuel” will explore
themes of just and sustainable food and energy sources for all God’s
creation through worship, workshops, plenaries, reflection groups, field trips,
and more.  The conference will be hosted by Mo-Ranch Presbyterian
 Conference Center
in Hunt, TX.   Be watching for additional information.    

REGIONAL TRAINING FOR INTERIM MINISTRY

Are you interested in being a participant in the regional training
sponsored by Synod of Mid-America and Synod of Lincoln Trails?  The next
scheduled training occurs October 29 – November 2, 2007 at the Mercy Center
in St. Louis, MO.  For a copy of the brochure and
registration form visit www.synodma.org
and click on events and look for Interim Ministry Training.  Questions –
contact Mary Sue Thomas at maryst at synodma.org or call 800-754-0671.

PRESBYTERIANS MAKING A DIFFERENCE CONFERENCE

Join the group February 17-20, 2008 in Memphis Tennessee
for the first annual Presbyterian Making a Difference Conference.  A group of
programs including National Health Ministries, Peacemaking, Self-Development of
People, the Hunger Program, and the Office of Child Advocacy have joined
together to create a unique opportunity to learn of and experience, model programs,
demonstrations and skill building for Presbyterians who are interested in
becoming more engaged in the life of the congregation or in making a difference
in your community.   Watch for more information.

SYNOD OF MID-AMERICA WEBSITE

Have you browsed through the Synod website lately? 
Did you know that the following are included on the website:

      Synod Calendar

      Committees of Synod and those serving on the
committees 

      Events

                  Synod Meeting – August 10,
2007

                  PETM (Pastoral Enrichment
Transitions in Ministry)

                  Interim Ministry Training
information

                  Senior High Summit – February 8-10, 2008

      Congregations of Synod – listed by
Presbytery

      Missions of Synod

      Synod Budget

      Photo Album - pictures Kaw Prairie
 Community Church

      Presbyterianews

      Synod Priorities

      Ministry Partners 

                  Links to Presbytery websites

      Campus Ministry

                  Sites of ministry

      Synod Receiving Agency

                  Detailed information pertaining to

      Resources

                  Helpful contact information and
links to possible resources

Visit www.synodma.org
and to see any of the above. 

________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://newcreationpc.org/pipermail/members_newcreationpc.org/attachments/20070723/9a01748e/attachment-0001.html 