Mission in Action - Mission Presbytery

Saturday, September 05, 2009

PEACEMAKING OFFERING, 2009


The Peacemaking Offering was created in 1980 to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to God. It is one of four special offerings designated by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly. The theme for 2009 is taken from Psalm 85:10, “Justice and peace shall kiss each other.” Go to the Peacemaking Offering home page for more information and click here to watch a short video.

The congregations of Mission Presbytery respond generously and graciously to the denomination’s peacemaking offering, received by most churches on World Communion Sunday (Oct 4, this year). Churches retain 25% of this offering for peacemaking uses within their congregations, another 25% is used by the presbytery, and 50% is funneled on to General Assembly in support of the denomination’s peacemaking program.

The MISSION OUTREACH & SERVICE DIVISION has voted to use the Presbytery’s portion of this offering (25%) related to the issue of IMMIGRATION, specifically for providing educational opportunities for our people to become better informed about issues touching on this important matter. Workshops in a three tier educational process will be presented as a basis and working model for creating constructive and informed dialog around immigration matters within Mission Presbytery.


Tier 1: For commissioners and all interested: Regional workshops
in two or three areas of the presbytery led by Julia Thorne,
PCUSA Assoc. for Immigration Concerns and an
immigration attorney.

Tier 2: Workshop for leaders from our immigrant churches,
also led by Julia Thorne

Tier 3: Matching funds to assist congregations to replicate
this model in their Community to foster informed dialog
at a local level.

We ask that on October 4th you please GIVE GENEROUSLY
to support this worthy and timely cause.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

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MOSD Supports Young Adult Volunteers (YAV)
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This fall three young people will go out in mission from our Presbytery to serve one year as YAVs - Young Adult Volunteers. These were chosen to be three of 60+ YAVs from all over the General Assembly. Two of these volunteers are of good Scottish Presbyterian descent!! Read about the YAV program at www.pcusa.org/yav. Each has to raise part/all of their support. MOSD is supporting these young people by giving $300 to Nathaniel McQueen and Megan McCarty and $200 to Sarah Lynn Jones from our "New Initiatives" line item in our budget. Those on international missions received $300 and $200 was allocated for domestic missions. This will not be much - 3% of what they need, but will help. We encourage donations from churches and individuals to support these dedicated and courageous young people.

Nathaniel McQueen is a member of John Calvin Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. He is set to go to North Ireland and will be working in Belfast. Megan McCarty is a member of Wimberley Presbyterian church. Jim Beall describes her as "an absolutely wonderful young lady." She will be working in Miami, FL. This summer she helped out at John Knox Ranch. From her letter it sounds as though she will be working with various immigrant and refugee populations. Sarah Lynn Jones will be leaving shortly for India for a year's service.

We have received letters of thank you from Megan and Sarah. They are posted separately. Remember to include Nathanial, Megan and Sarah in your prayers as they further God's work.

Thank you letter from Sarah Lyn Jones, YAV

Here is what Sarah Lyn Jones had to say:

"Mission, Outreach and Service Division,

Thank you all so much for your $300 contribution to my Young Adult Volunteer year in South India. Your spiritual and financial support makes it possible for me to answer God's call and do God's work in the world.

"I have been assigned to Bishop Moore College in the city of Mavelikara about 15 miles from the Southwest coast. There I will teach conversational English to college and primary school students, work with the college newspaper, volunteer at the community counseling center, assist at the local Church of South India and offer free lessons to children in the Dulit ("untouchable") community. I'm very excited! I can think of no better way to spend this year than helping to live out God's message of love and service to those who need it most.

"Thank you all again for your support, for me and for the people of Mavelikara.

Sarah Jones

"P.S. You can follow my journey on my blog.

Thank you letter from Megan McCarty, YAV

Hey Moneta,

First of all, I have to say I am so thankful for the money you were able to send to me. It was so helpful and unexpected and I really can't say thank you enough. I am sorry this email has taken me so long to get out, the summer has been a little busy, to say the least. I just returned from a short training in Miami and have a few days to catch up on rest before I have to leave for YAV orientation in New York. I have already fallen in love with Miami, even only haven been there for four days! I am actually working in Florida City, a smaller community about 45 minutes south of Miami. I got the chance to meet a few of the children and youth I will be working with and it really pumped me up and got me excited to start the upcoming year.

Here's a small excerpt from a letter I wrote to my home church, with some new information. I kind of got a little carried away because I could talk for hours on the subject! :) Feel free to edit down as much as you need to. I hope it will be helpful in inspiring other churches in the Presbytery to support this worthy cause. If you would like, I am keeping a blog this year about my experiences, which I would invite you to read and follow along during this incredible upcoming journey. http://megancolleentravel.blogspot.com/. I really can't say thank you enough for your prayers and financial support in my endeavors.

Blessings and peace! Megan

Megan's letter to her church:

My name is Megan McCarty and I have decided to dedicate the next year of my life to serving others in need through the YAV (Young Adult Volunteer) Program. This is a fantastic opportunity in my life and I am very excited for the year ahead. I have chosen to live in Miami, FL this year and devote my time to an after school program called Branches. Miami is an amazingly unique city; in the United States, it is ranked as the fifth wealthiest city, however, it also has the third highest poverty rate. Various immigrant and refugee populations have shaped Miami, making it a very diverse culture. The YAV site in Miami is a program designed to help inform, educate, challenge, and motivate individuals to respond to the issues and concerns facing urban America and to challenge individuals to consider ministry and service as a daily part of their life.

Branches is a program that really helps children and youth stay off the streets and out of the dangers and realities that they face in their daily lives. It is a Christian based ministry that teaches kids that there is a different way of life than what they know. It gives them a place to go and a home where they can feel safe and loved. However, it is so much more than an after school program. While the majority of what is offered is tutoring, it is a program that functions 100% on relationships. We may not be able to transform a child's poor grades into A's, however, we can give them a friend and confidant that they will find no where else in their lives. Not to mention, the fact that Branches offers other services such as free tax services, free parenting clinics, and lots of other free services for families, children, and young adults. I am very excited for the upcoming year and cannot wait to see how my life will be transformed by these experiences and by these youth. God is doing good work down in Miami and I am excited to see how he will use me and mold me in this adventure!

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ENGAGING IN GOD'S MISSION
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“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NRSV)

On the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) MissionCrossroads website, the "Equipping the Church for Mission Involvement (EMI)" office seeks to bring Presbyterians together as branches of the same vine, connecting people with resources and tools for engaging with each other and with God’s mission in the world. Two lists of resources have been brought to our attention on this page. Under the title Resources for Mission Advocates is a link to The Faithful and Effective Short-Term Mission that provides a 7 page list of resources. Under the heading Resource Library there is an article, "Engaging in Mission", that examines mistakes made by well-meaning Presbyterians on short term mission trips and presents new approaches for more meaningful missionary work. We recommend both resources to our readers.