This Thursday, May 17 th, from 10:00 am-2:00 pm (Eastern),  the North Central Region will host a workshop to introduce the hymnbook at First Presbyterian Church, 221 E Sixth Street, in Bloomington.

Representatives from the Louisville offices will be present to share some of the songs in the new book and hear our questions and concerns.   Folks outside the region are invited.   Please notify the Church (812-332-1514) if you plan to attend.

There will be other events throughout the coming year to introduce the Hymnbook in your area.  Please stay tuned, and get ready to sing!
Tim Jessen, Hymnal advocate

Community Prayer Service for Tornado Survivors

The First Presbyterian Church of Scottsburg, IN continues its prayer services for survivors of the March 2 tornado on Friday, May 18th at 3:00 PM.

The prayer service will be held in downtown Scottsburg at the church: 396 McClain Ave.

Please mark your calendars as well for the following month’s prayer service on Friday, June 1 at 3 PM.

May 11, 2012

Ordinary time doesn’t have to be ordinary.  Check out upcoming events this summer, “save the date” info for January seminars, and the S3 Project Proposal announcement. Subscribe to  Journeying Together, Follow us on Twitter (LLatCTSeminary)  or like us on Facebook  (Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary and Spiritual Formation at CTS)

Coming Events

July 16-19 The Global Shift of Mission (Presbyterian History and Reformed Theology Lecture Series at Montreat Conference Center) The global shift of mission is the topic of the week during the Presbyterian History and Reformed Theology Lecture Series at Montreat Conference Center. This series will focus on global Christianity and features experts from Africa, South America, Asia and the field of missiology. Read more.…

July 16-19 – Confluence 2012 (Korean Worship and Music Conference) Worship Educationally ~ Educate Worshipfully is the theme for the 2012 Korean Worship and Music Conference. To celebrate the third and final year of the Confluence educational research project for Asian American congregations, the Worship Conference and Confluence Project are holding their conference together. This conference will explore the educational significance of Christian worship experience, as well as how spirituality is nurtured during educational experiences. Read more…

July 22 – 27 Immersion Experience: An Invitation to a Deeper Spiritual Life (CSF) This course will explore the origins of the Christian Spiritual Tradition. Participants will study the formative elements of Biblical Spirituality, Monastic Spirituality, and Reformed Spirituality. This course is the starting place for the Certificate in Spiritual Formation. Participants not enrolled in the Certificate in Spiritual Formation are welcome! Read More…

August 6-8 Dispatches to God’s  Household: 1 & 2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude ~ Presbyterian Women’s WEEKDAY training course The six books of the New Testament explored in this study teach us what it means to live in community, what it means to belong to the household of God. Led by Nancy Benson-Nicol, author of the study, we will explore family as a guiding and powerful metaphor in these epistles Read More…

August 10-11 Dispatches to God’s  Household: 1 & 2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude ~ Presbyterian Women’s WEEKEND training course This is the weekend version of the course described, above, and will be led by Sharol Hayner, who led the weekend version of the course last summer. Read More…

August 23-26 Growing in Wholeness:  Spiritual Formation and the Adult Life-Span (CSF) Across cultures, adulthood is understood as a time to fulfill roles and responsibilities to family, community, and society as a contributing member. Yet, there are many nuances during the sixty or so years that make up the adulthood. This course will observe the research in the field of adult developmental psychology, and how the patterns of adult development can lead to a deeper appreciation of natural movements in spiritual formation for adults. Read more…

September 20-23 Embodied Spirituality: Embracing the Fullness of Life

(CSF) St. Irenaeus wrote, “The Glory of God is the human person fully alive.” What does it mean? Is it possible to be fully human and to live fully alive? In this course we will consider the body as primary instrument of learning and knowing and as central to our connection and experience of God. Read more.

SAVE THE DATE January 28-30, 2013: Explore Eastertide through worship, education, music, and scripture

What can worship committees, musicians, and pastoral staff do to shape coherent, faithful worship, week after week, season after season? How can Christian Education for children of God of all ages complement Sunday worship? When the focus is on the liturgical season and the biblical texts, how can we engage the ongoing work of mission and fellowship in the midst of these seasons?

Join us for January seminars 2013 to explore these and other questions with scholars and practitioners in the field  Through the lens of the liturgical season of Eastertide, preachers, teachers, music directors, worship, education and liturgical arts committee members will focus  resources to invigorate and inspire their ministries throughout the year. Participants will write liturgy, craft the proclamation of the Word, create the order of service, and write hymns that will shape closing worship during extended workshop sessions.

Workshop leaders confirmed as of this date include Glory To God Presbyterian Hymnal committee members Mel Bringle and Paul Huh and marketing coordinator Meg Flannagan; Kimberly Bracken Long, editor and contributor to the new Feasting On The Word Worship Companion; Michael Morgan, author of the Psalter For Christian Worship and contributor to the new CRC Psalter, Psalms For All Seasons; and William P. Brown, editor of the upcoming Oxford Companion To The Psalms.

Additional speakers, the event schedule and registration fee options will be announced soon. There will be discounts for groups of two or more persons from the same congregation or council/judicatory attending as a team.

Special Learning Opportunities

The S3 (Sabbath, Study and Service) Project is accepting proposals for peer learning group projects to begin in February 2013.  Groups (4-6 members) accepted will receive $500 per person to help underwrite a year-long project of their own design incorporating elements of Sabbath, Study and Service.  Application deadline is September 21. For additional information, including brochure and application, click HERE.  Questions?  Contact project coordinator/director of lifelong learning Sarah Erickson at 404-687-4526 or ude.tenstcnull@snoskcire.

CERTIFICATE in SPIRITUAL FORMATION COURSES (CSF) are open to all interested participants, not only those actively pursuing the Certificate in Spiritual Formation.

For additional information, please contact us at 404.687.4587 or ude.tenstcnull@gninraelgnolefil.  Visit us on the web at for the full course listing at http://www.ctsnet.edu/LifelongLearning.aspx.

The Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary

P.O. Box 520/701 S. Columbia Drive,  Decatur, GA  30031

Registration will begin at 9:00am.

Reports for the Packet must be submitted via email by noon on Monday, May 21st to Stephanie Worden.

The packet, driving directions, and the minutes from the March meeting will be available for download from the assembly webpage after 4:00pm (EST) on Thursday, May 24th.

Coming to the meeting? Let us know by registering!

The Vernon Presbyterian Church is about the celebrate 187 years of Christian service to the community.

Homecoming will be held on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The day’s events will begin a 10:00am with visitation before the 10:30am church service.

A potluck luncheon will follow the worship service, about 12:00pm in the church basement.

RSVP to Sandy Bussell.

From Re. Sarah:

Last year we had such a good time. Now it is 187 years. I would like to invite all of you from last year, and anyone who has been any part of the history of the Vernon Presbyterian Church to come and share your stories with us. Looking forward to seeing you on May 2, 2012. Blessings.

Request for History:

We are doing research for a Vernon Presbyterian Church History book. We would like to receive any family history information, stories passed down from your ancestors who settled in or near the Vernon Presbyterian Church community, names of Sunday school teachers or preachers. 

During our research, we have found some wonderful records, photographs of ministers, teachers, Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible School, Vernon School classes that held their graduations in the church, or pioneer families sho were early settlers in Fennings County and may have attended the church.

If you would like a picture of your immediate family and various other generations included, please identify persons in the photograph and send in with your information. We will have them copied and returned to you.

Vernon Presbyterian Church
69 Washington Street
Vernon, IN 47282
(812) 346-2850

If you already have an established campus ministry, you will want to have it listed on the Campus Ministry Locator which is maintained by PACHEM.

The Locator can be viewed at http://www.pachem.org/index.php/find-a-ministry Once a representative sample of ministries are listed it will be linked from www.pcusa.org

In order to have your ministry listed on the PCUSA Campus Ministry Locator the following criteria must be met:

I. The ministry shows a welcoming presence and an active ministry specifically for college students.

• Has a web site with directions and basic ministry information.
• Demonstrates a public college ministry on the web site by
• Specifically mentioning college students or campus ministry.
• Having a name and contact person for college ministry (staff, lay person, student leader).
• Showing evidence of at least one program for college students.

II. The ministry is accountable to some entity / council of the PCUSA [session, presbytery, synod.  There may be multiple lines of accountability, such as an ecumenical ministry, but one of the lines must be an entity of the PCUSA.]

III. The ministry has procedures in place for annual review of the Locator information.

Once these criteria have been met, then you can register your ministry by becoming a Ministry Member of PACHEM. Once approved, you will be ready to tailor your Locator information and to participate in the resource sharing of the PACHEM community.

For questions about PACHEM, email us atgro.mehcapnull@tsovorp or call Adrian McMullen, Associate for Collegiate Ministries, PC(USA) at (800) 728-7228, x5639.

Who Jesus is, Where Jesus is,

& That Jesus is Right Here With Us

at the

St. John Presbyterian Church Revival:

Discovering Jesus

May 17-19, 2012

PUBLIC INVITED – RAIN OR SHINE – CHILDCARE PROVIDED –

MUSIC & PRAYER – GUEST SPEAKERS

THURSDAY, MAY 17 | 7 – 9pm

Tony Alstott, pastor – Wesley Chapel UMC

Brian L. Carpenter, asst. pastor – Casting Crowns Bible Church (Indianapolis)

music by Foundation

FRIDAY, MAY 18 | 7 – 9pm

Jack Pitzer , pastor Lampstand Pres. Church (Decatur, IL)

and founder of The Great Banquet

John Sumner, the youth of St. John, & the First Praiz Band!

SATURDAY, MAY 19 | 5:30 – 9pm

beginning with a light meal and music & including communion

Jack Pitzer & Pastor Allen Colwell, speakers

music by Marilyn Klington Rodgers, Joyful Noise,

& the St. John Choir (led by Dr. Charlie Mitchell)

ST. JOHN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

13^th & Elm Streets | New Albany | 812-945-3531 | www.stjohnpres.org

‘Restorers of Streets to Live in’

July 11-15, 2012

Join us in the sacred space of Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico as peacemakers gather to explore the vision of God’s community in Isaiah 58. Together we will engage in contextual bible study and small group reflections, gather for prayer and worship, take part in peace advocacy and training workshops, hear briefings and experience hands-on expressions of peace. For a complete conference brochure, schedule, leader list, housing information and registration link, please visit the Peacemaking Conference web pages

Apply now for a 2012 International Peacemaker visit

This fall we will welcome International Peacemakers from Colombia, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon/Syria, Madagascar, Northern Ireland, the Philippines, Russia, and South Sudan.  They will be available from September 21 – October 15, 2012.  Visit the Peacemaking website do download a brochure and application form. Please note that as a cost-savings measure, brochures are not being mailed this year.

Sign up for one of the 2013 Travel Study Seminars

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is pleased to be leading two international travel study seminars in 2013.

Peacemaking in the Philippines
Environmental Devastation and Human Trafficking Connection
February 12-22, 2013

Northern Ireland
Peacemaking and Reconciliation in the Celtic Context
April 1-12, 2013

Apply by August 1, 2012.

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The program will be a presentation on “Glory to God”, the upcoming New Presbyterian Hymnal.

We will hear from leaders from Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, Meg Flannigan and David Eicher (the hymnal editor).  They will have samplers of the songs that will be featured in the new hymnal (to be released Fall 2013), will answer any questions that congregations might have concerning the publication of our new hymnal.  We will be singing a number of the hymns to be included.

All congregations of the Presbytery are welcome to attend this special presentation held by the North Central Region.

For questions, please call Rev. Brad Napier, NC region convener, at 812-358-4198

For small membership congregations

October 2-4, 2012

Potawatomi Inn, Pokagon State Park,
Angola, Indiana

The purpose of this conference is to inspire, equip, motivate, encourage and provide rest and refreshment for pastors, REC’s and leaders of small Presbyterian congregations. Provided at a modest cost, this Conference is designed as a gift from individuals, larger congregations, and governing bodies in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Download the Brochure for more information.

Click Here to register online.

A Ministry of: Presbyterians for Renewal
co-sponsored by the Synod of Lincoln Trails