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The Advocates in Ministry Committee (formerly the Sexual Misconduct Response Committee) is hosting a Level One Training Event on April 10 at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies office in Eagan. To signup for the event, please go to our signup page.
Jamie Schultz, pastor of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, asked to share this prayer request for a fellow pastor in Michigan:
I learned today of some sad news about Rev. Robert Bidwell pastor of three small churches in Michigan.. His wife, Linda Bidwell, was killed on Good Friday evening as she drove to work in the midst of snowstorm. Her car skidded into oncoming traffic and she was killed. I believe the funeral is tomorrow. Don't know if there is a way to include prayers for Bob and his family, as well as his congregations in e-merge. Just thought I would pass it along as we need to be reminded of our connection to one another. If this is not something we can do, that's fine. Just thought I would check. I learned of this because I know Bob and he now serves First Presbyterian in Blissfield MI which was my first call.Please keep Rev. Bidwell and his family in your prayers.
Thanks, Jamie
Interim Executive Presbyter, Bob Cuthill has added his reflections on Easter. To find out more, visit his blog.
March 23, 2008 (Easter Sunday)
John 20:1-18
A few years ago, I was working at a local church as a youth worker. On Easter Sunday, I decided to help the kids learn about what Easter means.Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew,* ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Continue reading "The Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- March 23, 2008" »
March 22, 2008 (Saturday in Holy Week)
Matthew 28:1-10
Be not afraid. Easy for you to say.After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
Continue reading "The Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- March 22, 2008" »
March 21, 2008 (Good Friday)
When I was a child, I didn't understand Good Friday.and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says,
‘They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.’
And that is what the soldiers did.Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Continue reading "The Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- March 21, 2008" »
Bob Cuthill, the Interim Transitional Executive Presbyter, has a brand new blog of his own called "Bob's EPSpace." Check it out!
The Rev. Larry Rasmussen, the Reinhold Niebuhr professor emeritus of social ethics at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and co-author with Daniel Maguire of "Earth Community, Earth Ethics, Ethics for a Small Planet," will deliver the United Theological Seminary's Picard Lectures in Environmental Theology and Ethics March 31 at 7:30 p.m. and April 1 at 11 a.m. in Bigelow Chapel at the seminary, 3000 5th St NW, New Brighton, Minn. The lectures will explore and investigate the Christian traditions of baptism and Eucharist with a view to Christianity's ecological phase and a planet in jeopardy at human hands. The lectures are free and open to the public.
From Nancy Grittman, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, issued March 20, 2008:
The stated clerk Synod of Lakes and Prairies has informed the Presbytery that a remedial claim against the Presbytery has been filed. The claim will be forwarded to the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod for judgment.
In accordance with Book of Order, Rules of Discipline, D-6.0302, and by rule of the Presbytery, a committee of counsel has been appointed by the Moderator, in consultation with the Interim Executive Presbyter and stated clerk, to defend the Presbytery in this judicial process.
The claim is the result of the decision of Presbytery, by vote at a special called meeting on January 26, 2008, to restore Dr. Paul Capetz to the exercise of ordained office of Minister of the Word and Sacrament, and to membership in the Presbytery of The Twin Cities Area. Claimants named in the claim are The Rev. David Bierschwale, The Rev. David Lenz, and Elder Carol Shanholtzer. The claim is as follows:
“Complainants believe that the action was irregular in the following particulars and/or the governing body exceeded its authority and failed to act as constitutionally required in the following particulars:
The PTCA determined that compliance with the behavioral requirements of G-6.0106b is non-essential; and,
The PTCA restored to the ministry of Word and Sacrament a person who admits and declares that he will not lead his life in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church, specifically the requirement contained in Section G-6.0106b.”
The Committee of Counsel appointed to defend the decision of the Presbytery are The Rev. Richard Massaro, The Rev. Gale Robb, and Elder Barbara Lutter. It will be the practice of the Presbytery to be open, sharing information as it is proper and legal to do so. Presbyters are requested to direct any questions or comments to the Interim Transitional Executive Presbyter or Stated Clerk of the Presbytery.
March 20, 2008 (Maundy Thursday)
John 13:1-15
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table,* took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
It was a Maundy Thursday several years ago. I was at a service and the pastors decided to remember this night by doing what Jesus did- wash the feet of the congregation.
Continue reading "The Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- March 20, 2008" »
