Presbytery Office will be closed for the Labor Day Holiday

Monday, September 2nd

August 29, 2024

Note from Erin

In the previous issue of our newsletter, I shared the exciting news that I am forming a strategic planning team for our Presbytery. That team is nearly in place and will start its work in a few weeks. (I'll share the names of our team in an upcoming newsletter.)

Today, I want to share the four themes that your Assembly moderators and I think will be apt guides in this strategic planning process. We intend to use each theme as a focus for the next four Presbytery meetings. They are:

Expansive as God's Kingdom; God's Kingdom is wide and broad and welcomes all. We seek our Presbytery to be a place where all are welcome and invited in to serve.
Collaborative as the Priesthood of All Believers; God created the church out of individuals with different strengths and viewpoints and called each to serve side by side. Collaborating together, each sharing their gifts, we are able to more clearly discern and carry out the call of God. Or as a long-serving Presbyterian elder in a former congregation often said, "All of us, is a whole lot smarter than one of us."
Creative as the Spirit; God is far more creative and imaginative than any of us humans. Just look at creation and see God's creativity! At this time in the life of the church and our Presbytery, let's join with God in being creative to respond to the needs of God's people and God's churches as we continue to reform.
Innovative as God's dreams; Acts 2:17 proclaims: "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." While we may not be in the "last days" as in the final days of human existence, we are in the "last days" of doing things in the same way as we have always done them in the Christian church. The church is not dying. This is God's church, and God will sustain it. But we are living in a time where God is calling us to do things a bit differently, and it is time to join with God in those new dreams as a Presbytery.

This is an exciting time, one filled with hope and expectation. I look forward to seeing you next week in Bluffton!

Where is Erin on Sundays?

September 8 - Joy Edeker's Installation, First, Anderson

September 15 - First, Tipton and First, Elwood

September 22 - Second, Indianapolis

September 29 - Fairview, Indianapolis and Greg Steible's Installation, New Hope, Fishers

God's grace and peace,

Erin

Don't Forget To Register!!

The Whitewater Valley Presbytery will gather for its stated meeting on Saturday, September 7, 2024, convening at 10:00 a.m.

This meeting will be in person at Bluffton First Presbyterian Church, 215 E Dustman Rd, Bluffton, IN 46714. Please note that the accompanying link for registration will give you the choice to register as a voting member, a voting member via zoom or a guest non-voting.

Registration for Assembly is a little different this time. We are using a new program.

Click the button below "Click to Register Here!"
Select the box to add one ticket
The follow information is required:
Name and email
It will ask your Church; select from the drop down
It will ask "I Am"; select from the drop down
It will ask "Attending" please check box that applies
It will ask about Lunch; select from the drop down

This assembly meeting is docketed to conclude following lunch. Menu below:

Pulled pork bar-b-que, Turkey & Ham Sandwiches

Baked beans

Fruit kabobs

Pasta salad

Chips

Assorted pies (old Dutch Mill pie recipes, you will like).

There will be assorted condiments too and veggie and cheese trays.

REGISTRATION CLOSES ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD AT 10AM.

SAVE THE DATE!!!

September Scheduled Meetings of the Presbytery

Presbytery Assembly September 7th at 10am Bluffton First
Rev. Joy Edeker Installation September 8th at Anderson First at 4:00pm
Reid Center Board Meeting September 16th at 2:30pm
Retired Pastors Luncheon September 17th at noon MCL Castleton
COM Leadership Zoom September 18th 3pm
Assembly Planning Meeting September 19th at 10:30am Zoom
Commission on Ministry (COM): September 25th @ 10am at Second Presbyterian Indianapolis
Council Mission and Partnership: September 25th at 4:30pm Zoom
Rev. Greg Steible Installation September 29th at New Hope, Fishers 3:00pm
Living Abundantly BOP, September 30, 10am-11am IIC, Dining Room For Finance/Personnel Chairs

September 12

4–6 PM, Shelton Auditorium, CTS

CTS Talks: Hannah L. Maxey, PhD

Mental Health: The Crisis and a Call to Action for People of Faith

Learn More

This fall, the Princeton Seminar Series invites you on a transformative journey of intellectual and faithful exploration guided by distinguished scholars. Designed for spiritual seekers, church leaders, and humanities enthusiasts alike, these seminars offer a unique combination of theological depth and ethical engagement. Our first seminar explores Augustine’s City of God in the context of today’s world, and our second seminar delves into ecotheology to understand how we can responsibly steward our planet.

Thinking Politically with Augustine

Faithful Political Engagement in Difficult Times

In this pivotal election year, explore Augustine's (354 - 430 C.E.) perspectives on citizenship, political humility, and the Christian journey as a pilgrimage. Dr. Heather C. Ohaneson, a passionate advocate of the Great Books tradition, leads this seminar, diving into City of God, Augustine's sermons, and contemporary scholarship. This series offers a unique lens to understand political engagement through historical and theological insights.

Seminar Highlights:

Develop familiarity with Augustine: Explore the historical and theological aspects of Augustine’s political thought, focusing on his lesser-known sermons.
Deepen articulation: Understand the "two cities" schema foundational to City of God.
Refine a faithful framework: Approach modern political challenges with insights drawn from Augustine's thought, including contemporary interpretations by scholars like Eric Gregory.

Program Details:

Duration: Mondays, Sept. 16 - Oct. 7 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET
Format: Virtual Live Sessions
Cost: $399 for four sessionsINTO AUGUSTINE

Dive into Augustine

Are you Celebrating a Milestone in your church? Please let us know!!!

Fairview Indianapolis Presbyterian Church

During the month of July we have been exploring the theme of "Sing a New Song." This past Sunday for our Second Hour program we indulged our creative side with hymn collages and artwork!

Prayers of the Presbytery

Our hearts overflow with praise and thanksgiving, God, our God! Your Beloved's voice spoke to chaos, calling forth the flowers of grace which bloom in our hearts. Because you love righteousness, you would anoint us with the oil of joy and clothe us in the robes of mercy and goodness. But we break your heart by embracing the very wickedness you hate, staining our lives with sin and death. Still, you love us and seek us out, for in Christ your grace has defeated sin

and the Risen Lord has opened the way to life in your kingdom. So, we lift our voices in joy and hope, singing with the choirs of angels in heaven, and with all the faithful of every place and time,

singing of your glory forever

from Lectionary Liturgies

Please Hold in Prayer:

Jim Crismore who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. He is currently at rehab hospital on the west side. Lisa has set up a Caring Bridge account to provide updates. Decisions on treatment will be made shortly. Crismore address :5817 Jamestown Square Lane, Indianapolis IN 46234

Our Whitewater Valley Presbytery churches in pastoral search or transition:

Grace, Fort Wayne
Kingston and Springhill, Greensburg
Korean, Indianapolis
Orchard Park, Indianapolis
Tabernacle, Indianapolis
First, New Castle
First, Rushville
First, Shelbyville
CrossRoads, Westfield

Hear our prayers, O Lord!

AMEN!

Quick Links

Whitewater Valley Presbytery www.whitewatervalley.org