Instant in Season Or Not in Season
II Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.
I’m so tired after Presbytery. It was an inspiring time. So, I needed this little quiet time gem today. I spent time with Paul’s last words to Timothy …and to us. I’m always taken with last words spoken. Seems Shakespeare was too: ‘More are man’s ends marke’d than their life before’ from Richard II. Some of Paul’s last words are to “be instant in season and out.”
Sometimes I feel ready and ‘on’ like the John Singer Sargent’s painting above. Sometimes I feel a mess like the Picasso. Well, I’m to be a Christian leader with the Word when it suits me or when it doesn’t. To myself I say, “Don’t be ready just for a Presbytery Meeting” but even more so for those times I’m not quite ready for what may walk in the door. Be ready for those times I’m not motivated or even when I have a bad attitude. Paul to me this morning says that Christ isn’t mine to share only when I’m at my best. So perhaps the proof that I am in alignment with God above is that I do the faithful work even when I’m inspired in season or not inspired out of season.
145th Stated Meeting of Palo Duro Presbytery Friday Offering
$676.00 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and
$210.00 to PDA tagged specifically for Puerto Rico Earthquake
Total $886.00.
NOROC gained commitments for an additional $3,000.00 toward their new van for the NOROC ministry. Almost there; not yet. An additional $5,000.00 will meet the goal.
After we read the overtures Saturday morning at the Presbytery Meeting,
Scott read a poem by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Many of you have asked for a copy:
Scott read a poem by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Many of you have asked for a copy:
Action (written from his prison cell, 1944)
Choose and do what is right, not what fancy takes,
Not weighing the possibilities, but bravely grasping the real,
Not in the flight of ideas, but only in action is there freedom.
Come away from your anxious hesitations into the storm of events,
Carried by God’s command and your faith alone.
Then freedom will embrace your spirit with rejoicing.
Wondrous is the change. The strong active hands
Are bound now. Powerless and alone, you see the end
Of your action. Yet, you breathe a sigh of relief and lay it aside
Quietly trusting to stronger hands and are content.
Only for a moment did you touch the bliss of freedom,
Then you gave it back to God that He might gloriously fulfill it.
Vital Congregations event to help churches develop resilience
LOUISVILLE — Registration has begun for the 2020 Vital Congregations Gathering in Austin, Texas. Dr. Tod Bolsinger, author of “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory” (InterVarsity Press, 2015), will be the keynote speaker for the April 27–30 event, which is open to anyone interested in learning more about Vital Congregations.
“This conference is an opportunity to experience the hope and joy of the Vital Congregations initiative for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A),” said the Rev. Dr. Kathryn Threadgill, coordinator of Vital Congregations for the PC(USA). “We hope people will come join national staff, seminary leaders, vital congregation coaches and others as we explore what it means to be a Vital Congregation that is transforming through the power of the Holy Spirit!”
The Vital Congregations Gathering is expected to attract pastors, presbytery leaders, officers of the church and lay leaders who “are aware that the church in 21st century North American contexts and communities is changing, and they are awakened to the fact that Christ is doing a new thing in the church,” Threadgill said.
The Office of Congregational Vitality, which is part of PC(USA)’s Theology, Formation & Evangelism ministry, started a Revitalization Initiative in 2017 to help existing congregations increase vitality through intentional spiritual practices that take them deeper into following Jesus Christ.
As part of the Revitalization Initiative, congregations focus on 7 Marks of Congregational Vitality: lifelong discipleship formation; intentional, authentic evangelism; outward incarnational focus; empowering servant leadership; spirit-inspired worship; caring relationships; and ecclesial health. Click for FULL ARTICLE
Abuse Prevention and Boundary Awareness Training
As individuals involved in ministry, we play an important role in providing safe gathering places for all of God’s children. Our desire is also to maintain an environment that protects the integrity of all who serve. These are spiritual, moral and legal responsibilities. We must to do all in our power to prevent physical, emotional and sexual abuse against children, youth and vulnerable adults in our ministries. It is our hope that this training and information will equip us to make wise decisions about our own and others’ behavior when caring for and serving these populations.
Palo Duro Presbytery is offering two options to complete this mandatory training this year for ministers and Lay Pastors; others are welcomed too. One option will provide access to online training that would be available from your own computer at your own schedule. The course is approximately 1 ½ -2 hours in length and costs $24 to be paid by participant.
Another choice for this training would be a group session for approximately the same length of time but would include the opportunity to discuss the ideas presented and answer questions of participants. This training could be conducted at various sites in the presbytery on a schedule to be decided by churches and presenter.
Course objectives include: Prevent abuse within ministry settings, Raise awareness of the importance of abuse prevention, Establish and communicate transparency and accountability, Provide training and best practices guidelines and Equip those serving in ministry settings with information to make responsible decisions regarding their own and others’ behavior around vulnerable populations.
The Palo Duro Presbytery Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found here using this link: sexual-misconduct-policy-talking-points