E-News August 23 – They’re seeking dry ground – let’s help them find hope

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In This Issue Update on Pakistan flooding from PDA Updates from the Presbytery Changing the stories, changing ourselves New on the Mission Cafe Upcoming Events Morning Star seeking part-time musician Update from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – Pakistanis are seeking dry ground – let’s help them find hope The people of Pakistan have suffered numerous natural and human-caused disasters over the past several years. Presbyterians have been in ministry there since before the nation of Pakistan was formed. We stand with them today in their time of need. The recent floods have brought record-breaking destruction to the country, with more than 1,400 people dead and more than 1.5 million displaced. You can make a difference in bringing God’s healing to a nation torn by devastation. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding throughPresbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and working with our ecumenical partners to help meet emergency needs – providing food packages, shelter material, and non-food essentials. Emergency health services are also being provided. How Can We Respond? Give – Give to support the relief and recovery efforts through PDA. Individuals may give through their local Presbyterian congregation, on the secure PC(USA) Web site or by sending their check to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) P.O. Box 643700 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700 Please include the special designated giving account DR000038 – Pakistan. Make a donation by calling 1-800-728-7228 Act – Congregations and individuals can put together hygiene kits and baby kits to be distributed through Church World Service. Pray – Join with others in lifting up the people of Pakistan and those seeking to provide aid in this critical time. As the eyes of the world turn to Pakistan, let us join our hearts in prayer: God of compassion, please watch over the people of Pakistan, and weave out of these terrible events wonders of goodness and grace. Surround those who have been affected by tragedy with a sense of your present love, and hold them in faith. Though they are lost in grief, may they find you and be comforted; guide us as a church to find ways of providing assistance that heals and gives hope. Help us to remember that when one of your children suffers we all suffer. Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives and rules this world with you. Amen. Quick Links Monmouth Presbytery Main Website Mission Cafe Monmouth Presbytery Clerk’s Corner Hunger Action and Advocacy Monmouth E-News (archived newsletters) Monmouth Presbytery e-News August 23, 2010 Updates from the Presbytery At its November 2009 meeting, our presbytery became the 16th to accept the wonderful (!) and impossible (?) challenge of having 100% of its congregations in a relationship with at least one PCUSA mission worker. No presbytery has met that goal yet, which means that Monmouth Presbytery could be the first! Contact Sue Smith for help in getting connected or to let her know "your" mission workers. Please remember to send Terms of Call and Annual Reports to Monmouth Presbytery, PO Box 369, 446 Tennent Road, Tennent, NJ 07763-0369 Please e-mail announcements, upcoming events, and classified ads to Barbara Treasurers’ Information: The July 2010 year-to-date giving recaps of Per Capita and General Mission/Special Offerings are now available for review on the Presbytery website under "Documents" and then "Treasurers’ Information." If there is a discrepancy, please contact Howard Dunbar as soon as possible (732-446-7605). Please note that giving recaps will no longer be e-mailed or mailed. Finding stuff on the Mission Cafe – each week we put up lots of posts (new info, stories, and announcements) as they come in. It might seem overwhelming because there are so many. But you can find info in a couple of ways. One is to use the "Search It!" widget on the upper left – just type in the search terms and you will find all the related posts. We also assign one or more categories to each post. This makes it easier to find all the posts related to a particular category. Categories may be found on the right side of each page. Following is a list of categories: Adult Studies Compassion, Peace, and Justice Conferences – Workshops – Retreats Educational Ministries Environment Evangelism Events in our congregations Food for Thought GA/Synod News Homelessness/Affordable Housing Hunger Immigration Interfaith and Ecumenical Monmouth Congregations Peacemaking Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Presbyterian Women Presbytery Mission Resource Center Stewardship Water World Mission Youth What if we could change ourselves by changing the stories we tell? Each week Peter Sawtell of NCC Eco-Justice Ministries sends out a thought provoking piece. This week’s article, "Short Stories" has been posted on the Mission Cafe. Following is a small portion: Here are three of the destructive stories that we’ve told about ourselves, and some equally short and compelling alternatives. At four words each, those competing pairs of short stories are powerful beyond belief. "You are a consumer" vs. "You are a steward" "You are an individual" vs. "You are a neighbor" "Humans are completely unique" vs. "Humans are creatures, too" New on the Mission Cafe Plan now to celebrate the International Day of Peace – September 21 Upcoming Lifelong Learning Events at Columbia Theological Seminary "Resting In Our Service" – Christian Education Associates retreat – Oct. 14-16 Older Adult Education Ministry Congregation Awards from Union-PSCE A visit with Vince Patton – Presbyterian Publishing Corporation – September 28 pre-Presbytery special event An invitation from the Christian Caring Center-Village Thrift Shop Pre-Opening Celebration August 27 (The Christian Caring Center in Browns Mills is supported by the Cents-Ability initiative) One in the Spirit-Linda Valentine’s monthly email for August 2010 Calendar of Events Note: for regularly scheduled meetings of committees and other groups, please go to the Calendar page of the presbytery’s website Aug. 27, 2010 - Benefit Concert – ‘Friends Of Susan Lisle’ - Hope Presbyterian Church, 1189 Hope Rd. Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 – 7 pm with Reception to follow. Saturday, September 11, 2010, Rock Around the Clock – Trinity Presbyterian Church, East Brunswick – 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm Tuesday, September 21, 7-8:30 p.m. Forum on Ocean County homelessness – at Hope Presbyterian Church, Lakewood Saturday, September 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Hope Presbyterian Church, Tinton Falls – Annual Pumpkinfest Tuesday, September 28, 2010 – Pre-Presbytery (Monmouth Presbytery) Special Event – 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm at Lincroft Presbyterian Church Saturday, October 2, 2010 at First PC, Matawan – Spaghetti for the Soul – a conference for women Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm until Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 about 2:30 pm – "Resting In Our Service" on the ocean front in Silver Beach, Outer Island, NJ. Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Hope Presbyterian Church, Tinton Falls – Presbyterian Women of Monmouth Fall Gathering Sunday, Nov. 14 – Watchung Ave. Presbyterian Church, N. Plainfield and Monday, Nov. 15 – Drew Theological School, Madison – Ground for Hope-New Jersey – Environmental Education and Leadership for Clergy, Laity, Seminarians, and Seminaries February 15, 2011 (deadline) – aswofford or call 1-800-229-2990, ext 231. For more information and to apply for one of the Union Presbyterian Seminary Congregation Awards, you may download the April 8 – 10, 2011 – Women’s Retreat – Camp Johnsonburg Presbyterian Center Morning Star seeking part-time musician Morning Star Presbyterian Church is seeking a part-time musician for our worship services. Looking for a person with excellent keyboard skills and group leadership ability. Compensation is negotiable and depends on qualifications.Please send resume to: Revmhamil or call 732-606-9700 for more information. Ask to speak to Myrlene.

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