The Presbytery of Carlisle Meets
Saturday, February 27th 9 a.m. - 12:00 noon
via Zoom
In 1995, not knowing what would happen, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. As it turned out, the introduction of the wolves allowed parts of the park’s eco-system to regenerate. The deer population diminished, and changes in their grazing patterns created niches for other species to flourish. Trees grew and birds started moving in. The activity of beavers increased. Rabbits and mice drew hawks and bald eagles. Most surprising of all, the presence of wolves eventually changed the behavior of the rivers.
Today, our presbytery is an eco-system that includes churches, but also homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, government agencies, natural resources, arts and entertainment venues, and neighbors. There is much we could name, that threatens our survival. Sometimes we think, what can we do?
Might there also be forces carving out new spaces for the gospel to flourish, today? And what critical role might we play, as God transforms not just our churches, but the whole of our eco-system, so LIFE in Christ may thrive? The wolves, though small in number, transformed the vast eco-system of Yellowstone National Park. Come to think of it, the disciples of Jesus, also few in number, ignited a movement that reached around the world and across time, to transform us.
Join us Saturday, February 27th, as the Presbytery of Carlisle prepares for our post-pandemic life. Included in our Zoom gathering will be several break-out rooms for pastors, elders, and deacons to engage in learning for their roles as church officers. There are choices for those who are new to the role and want the basics. And, there are options for those who are ready for a deeper dive.
We welcome pastors and elder commissioners along with any Ruling Elders and Deacons who wish to attend. The line-up of workshops is below. Please use this link to pre-register so we can assign Zoom break-out rooms. Once registered you will be redirected to a webpage providing the Zoom link. Feel free to forward this to Sessions and Boards of Deacons!
Church Officer Training Workshops
Tableware & Tendrils in Tempest Tossed Days
Deacons faithfully share Christ’s love in concrete ways. While not the only Presbyterians called to provide ministries of sympathy and caring for neighbors and one another, deacons provide organized ways of bringing Christ’s love to the church and community. Join us for background on the office of Deacon and collaboration on ways to organize deacon ministries (delving a bit into how Deacons may have pivoted in this pandemic). Facilitated by Rev. Lou Nyiri, Associate Pastor, Gettysburg.
Post Pandemic Priorities: Serving Christ in “the Least of These”
As a church leader are you feeling stuck in survival mode and wanting a renewed sense of purpose? Please join us as we look into and beyond the current crisis to see how God is calling and equipping our congregations to serve Christ in the world. We will reflect on Jesus’ call to discipleship in Matthew 25, the ways our churches currently practice reaching out to “the least of these,” and dream together about how we can more fully lean into that vision. We will briefly discuss the Matthew 25 initiative developed by the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies as a means for further engagement in this ministry. Facilitated by Rev. Kristal Smith, Moderator-Elect.
Ruling Elders 101 – Living Into Our Ordination Vows
Whether born into or adopted into the Presbyterian tradition, often it’s not until we are called by God to ordained ministry in our congregation that we face what it takes to lead in ways that are faithful to our Reformed heritage. Good news: we don't have to re-create the wheel! We have our Book of Order. This interactive workshop will guide new ruling elders through basic responsibilities relating to worship, education, mission, and administration. We’ll explore duties that are mandated, strongly recommended, suitable, and permissible. Please supply your own copy of the 2019-2021 Book of Order ($10) from the PC(USA) on-line store, or download it (for free). In the age of COVID-19, Church Officers can adapt their work toward the Great Ends of the Church in creative and dynamic ways. Facilitated by the Rev. Katy Yates Brungraber, Member-at-Large.
Meltdown: Leadership Skills to Maintain Sanity in Stressful Times
The pastoral call of leadership has always been stressful. If it weren’t hard enough in normal times, these days our congregations have been infected by inflamed distrust of leadership across most of our social institutions combined with declining civility. No wonder most pastors wrestle with feelings such as self-doubt, anxiety, stress, depression, fears of incompetence. This seminar explores a few leadership skills to help us step back from the generalized anxiety in order to stay strong through our demanding times which require adaptive change. Facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Bruce Humphrey, Honorably Retired.
Faith Once Delivered…And Recorded…And Properly Maintained!
In this workshop, we’ll handle some of the nuts and bolts of how Clerks of Session maintain orderly records and correspondence in faithful witness to the local congregation’s participation in Christ’s ministry to the world. This is a good place for new clerks to stop by, but all are most welcome. There will be space for conversation as well as questions or concerns that arise from pandemic related limits and opportunities. Facilitated by the Rev. Meg Shoeman, Temporary Stated Clerk.
How Wolves Change Rivers
For pastors or elders who wish to think creatively about the forces carving out new spaces for the gospel to flourish, today. Using a video about the story of wolves, reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after being absent nearly 70 years, we’ll consider our leadership roles and purpose, that we may expand our imaginations for meeting the adaptive challenges of our time. Facilitated by the Rev. Cheryl Galan, Interim Executive Presbyter.
Reminder re: Year-End Reports
Please remember that Year-End reports are due NOW. Minister Terms of Call report forms can be completed once your congregational meeting has taken place. All of the remaining reports should be completed as soon as possible. The reports are found here on the Clerks of Session page of our website.
- Minister Terms of Call Report Form (after congregational meeting)
- Necrology Report Form (Ruling Elders who died in 2020)
- Insurance and Indebtedness Form (All churches are required to submit)
- Church Pledge Form (Your Per Capita and Mission intentions for 2021)
- Directory Update Online Form (Tell us only what’s changed; we’ll update)
On this page, Clerks of Session will also find the instructions for filing your church’s Statistical Report with the Office of the General Assembly. If you have questions, please contact Temporary Stated Clerk, Meg Shoeman sclerk@carlislepby.org
The forms found on the website are fillable, so you can enter the information, save the form to your computer and email it to us. Or, you can print the form, complete it manually and mail it to the presbytery office. Thank you!
Request from the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is currently seeking those with skill and interest in serving as Treasurer of the Presbytery. The Treasurer is an officer elected by the presbytery, with fiduciary responsibility for the assets of the Presbytery. The treasurer works collaboratively with the Bookkeeper, in record keeping and reporting. In consultation with the Administration Committee and the Interim/Executive Presbyter, the Treasurer serves as a conduit of communication with congregations, seeking to interpret and guide the stewardship of funds entrusted to the presbytery.
Qualifications include understanding of generally accepted accounting procedures, basic investment matters, and tax and insurance issues as they pertain to congregations and pastors. The treasurer must also be competent with Microsoft Excel or Mac Numbers spreadsheets in order to provide appropriate reports.
If you or someone known to you is interested in consideration by the Nominating Committee, please contact Donna Wenger, dfwenger@comcast.net by Friday, February 12, 2021.
Celebrating an Ordiversary
Paxton Presbyterian Church would like the presbytery to know that their pastor, John Green, celebrates 40 years of ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament this month. The church is planning a couple of surprises for John. Those who know John are welcome to participate:
- Card shower with cards to be mailed to John’s home the week of February 15th
Rev John W. Green, 10 Park Terrace, Harrisburg, PA 17111
- Pray for John throughout the year
- Honor John with a donation to one of his favorite charities.
(Please note that your donation the gift is in honor of Rev. John W. Green;
You and John will receive an acknowledgement of your gift.)
