|
MESSAGE
FROM CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS
John & Pollie Morison
|
 |
|
Working
together, we can make a difference!
By now, every family within our
Presbytery
has received
a roots
& wings campaign brochure
and pledge card. This is a God inspired, huge $6.3
million vision. With 8,000 families in 65 churches and with
God’s
help, we can make a significant difference in the health and vitality
of every
church in our Presbytery. A lot of us working together can make
this
dream a reality!
Campaign
progress to date:
- We
are happy to report that through the month of May, more than 170
giving
units have pledged or given almost $862,000.
- Active
campaign pledge period is expected to be complete by the end of June.
Have
we heard from you? Please join is
in this important endeavor. We need
support from every family within our Presbytery in order to make this
project a success. We will all reap the
rewards for years to come.
God willing, this project will come to full realization and to His
glory.
IHL, John
and Pollie
|
|
PROTESTANT
TEENS
|
|
|
Offering strength to young wings
The
National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR) recently published a
report, entitled “Portraits of Protestant Teens: A Report on Teenagers
in Major U.S. Denominations”. Overall, 60% of U.S. Protestant
teens (ages 13-17) say that faith is “very or extremely important in
shaping daily life”. This figure is 55% within the Presbyterian
Church USA and was shown to be as high as 91% in some denominations.
Existing research suggests that religion and spirituality do influence
the lives of American adolescents, contrary to what we may think.
At the same time, many observers in youth ministry and elsewhere say
that American society broadly and many religious communities
specifically neglect and misunderstand our youth.
We can confront this need in our Presbytery by broadening the ministry
options and programs available at Makemie Woods. We can offer our
youth this gift of strength and security that will deepen and grow in
meaning over all the years to come!
|
|
"OUR"
MAKEMIE WOODS
|
|
|
What
does Makemie Woods mean to us?
We
asked this question to several people within our Presbytery. Here
is what Eddie Deas III, Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church,
Portsmouth shared:
1. How has your
experience at a retreat or conference made a difference in your life?
My experiences as participant, leader, and planner of retreats has
strengthened my commitment to spiritual nurture and growth as a
necessary component of discipleship. The experiences have reinforced in
me the value of being in an environment where one can reflect on God
and his or her own faith.
2. Why is it that
the transforming experience happened on a retreat or conference instead
of in another setting?
I believe that in a retreat setting our lives slow down a little, our
pace is not as hectic and so we are more attune to the divine than we
might normally be on a regular day of activities.
3. Would it make
much of a difference if you had to rent out a retreat conference center
that our Presbytery did not own?
It certainly would, as I have discovered in our use of Makemie Woods
for our Caucus Youth Retreat and for our Church Officers Training
events. The familiarity that I have with the camp from our Presbytery
and the collegial relationship I have with the Camp and Conference
Director has helped tremendously in making our experiences at Makemie
Woods enjoyable and rewarding.
|
|
PRAYER
|
|
|
Eternal
and Merciful God: You have called your people to the
wilderness in order that your people may discern your will. You call us
out of the busy world in order that you may greet us. In the
wilderness, you await our visit. In the wilderness, you give your
people guidance, direction, inspiration, and strength.
Lord, we need to go to the wilderness again in order that we may
discover anew the freshness of your call. As we arrive, we ask that you
speak to us, nurture us, and grace us. This we ask in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
~ Pastor Sel Harris, King's
Grant Presbyterian Church
|
