Presbytery of the Cascades Newsletter

(editor's note: I did not transfer many of the links -- please click here to view this online)

December 9, 2009                                                                             Volume 5, Number 23

Welcome to the Presbytery of the Cascades email newsletter! Please share this information with others in your congregation.  To sign up, send names, church, and email addresses for you, your church officers, staff and friends to CEE newsletter. 

Due date for submissions to next CEE: Dec. 17, 2009.

NEW IN THIS ISSUE

Attention: Church treasurers and business administrators

•Presbytery Stated Clerk position open

•OMNIBUS Presbytery newsletter to be sent by email

•A time of healing at Bethany, Dec. 21

•Cascades Lay Institute, Feb. 19-20

•Human Rights Day observed at UN, Dec. 10

•‘Green and Fair’ Holiday Celebration, Dec. 10

•Bolivia update from ‘Joining Hands’

•Giving your life away retreat at First, Corvallis, Jan. 15-18

•Youth Group projects available for summer of 2010

•New book on family spirituality available

•Alternative Gift Giving Guide, by St. Mark, Portland,

•Montreat Conference Center plans renovations

•Annual Interim Pastors’ Retreat, May 26-28 

PRESBYTERY NEWS

Attention: Church treasurers and business administrators

Salaries can be changed or confirmed online through a new feature on Benefits Connect, the Pension Board’s secure benefits website. To register, go to the Pensions.org homepage. Contact 800-773-7752 with questions.

Presbytery Stated Clerk position open

The Presbytery of the Cascades (western Oregon and southern Washington) is searching for its next stated clerk. This is a ¾ time position, working as member of a team with the three presbytery co-executives. Applicants must be ordained elders or ministers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Position description

OMNIBUS Presbytery newsletter to be sent by email

By mid-2010, the Presbytery newsletter, OMNIBUS, will be sent by email to most readers and will easily be read online. Saving mailing costs for 5,000 copies (and trees!) led to this decision by the Presbytery Communication Team.  Please send your email address and emails for church staff, officers and any church members to carolee@cascadespresbytery.org so you won’t miss an issue.  Those who do not have email may request a copy mailed to them or find copies which will be mailed to all churches. Thank you for your help in gathering email addresses!

PRESBYTERY EVENTS

Christmas concerts around the presbytery – all are invited

• Yachats Community presents Sing We Now of Christmas, a Christmas music program,

Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m., featuring chancel choir, handbells, and flute. Reception

      following and childcare available.  Poster

      •  Nestucca Valley, Pacific City’s concert is Sunday, December 20 at 3 p.m.  A variety of

       music will be presented along with carol singing. Join us at the beach as we celebrate the

       birth of the Christ child. 

•  First, Medford, hosts its Annual Christmas Bell Concert which includes bell choirs

      from First, Central Point and other local congregations.  December 20 at 7 p.m.

•  Join St. Mark, Portland in the sixth annual Sing-Along with Handel’s “Messiah.”

Soloists from the Portland Symphonic Choir are featured. Free. December 21, 7 p.m.

•  The choir of Woodburn First Presbyterian will perform "Night of Wonder, Night of Joy"

      with soloists and instruments during the Sunday morning worship service.  December 27

     at 10:30 a.m.

A time of healing at Bethany, Dec. 21

“Service of the Longest Night,” for those who have experienced a loss this year, will be Monday, December 21, 7 p.m. at Bethany, Portland. Church address: 15505 NW Springville Rd.

Cascades Lay Institute, Feb. 19-20

"Preaching" is the topic of the next Lay Institute with the Rev. Rob Elder as instructor. February 19-20, Friday noon to Saturday at 4 p.m. at First, Dallas. More - Cascades Lay Institute.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Human Rights Day observed at UN, Dec. 10

The Presbyterian United Nations Office writes, “Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.”  This is the 61st year since its adoption.  For details, worship resources and general information see Resources.

‘Green and Fair’ Holiday Celebration, Dec. 10

On Thursday, Dec. 10, join Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s (EMO) Oregon Interfaith Power & Light (OIPL) for this event featuring local snacks, fair trade coffee, hot chocolate and handicrafts from artisan cooperatives in India. First United Methodist, Portland, 5-8 p.m. Download flyer

Alternative gift ideas

• The Alternative Gift Giving Guide, by St. Mark, Portland, offers ways to encourage people to think about holiday giving (and receiving) from a more universal perspective.

• Alternative giving posters, gift cards and brochure are available to make it easy to help disaster survivors through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Read more.

• Are you looking for a way to boost mission support without impacting your church budget? Christmas gifts can help Presbyterian Medical Benevolence Foundation.

Bolivia Update

Find the latest news from Jay Gregory in La Paz, Bolivia and learn more about our presbytery’s relationship with the UMAVIDA organization. 

Giving your life away retreat at First, Corvallis, Jan. 15-18

“Compassion Teachings of Jesus and the Buddha” retreat will be led by Dr. Winston McCullough at First, Corvallis from Jan. 15, 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 18. Contact Angie Greenwood at 541-758-3775 or afgreenwood@comcast.net.

Youth Group projects available for summer of 2010

Sierra Service Project has been providing life changing service-learning experiences to youth and young adults since 1975.  Home repair projects are on Indian Reservations in western U.S. and South Los Angeles.  Please visit the website for current availability and registration information.

New book on family spirituality available

The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality, written by Presbytery member David Robinson, pastor of Community, Cannon Beach, is completely revised and updated from his previous award-winning book, The Family Cloister.  The new book includes many practical activities for deepening family spiritual life together and is written for anyone involved with children.  In bookstores and online.

Montreat Conference Center plans renovations

Montreat recently received an award of approximately $500,000 for renovations to the Left Bank building.  Belk Foundation to Underwrite State-of-the-Art Renovations

Annual Interim Pastors’ Retreat, May 26-28 

This event has been sponsored by pastors in San Francisco for the past seven years. For more information, contact George Gilchrist at 510-207-6972 or send e-mail to Geogilch@aol.com.  

Media Resource Center at Christmas

Search the Presbytery Resource Center online for tapes, DVDs and more for use at Christmas. Media Resource Center.

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Pastoral transitions in the Presbytery for October and November - Information
  

• Highlights of Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Cascades – November, 2009
  

• Joining Hands Bolivia November report from Jay Gregory - Update
  

• Cascades Presbytery in five of PCUSA Top Ten lists for giving in 2008.
  

• Minimum Terms of call for 2010
  

• Per Capita Rate for 2010: $22.55, based on church membership as of 12/31/2008.
  

• Per Capita for 2009 is $22.55 each member, based on church membership as of 12/31/07.
  

• OMNIBUS Presbytery newsletter Dec. 09-Jan. 2010
  

• OMNIBUS newsletter submission deadline: Jan.11 for Feb-Mar issue
  

• CEE archive - Cascades Electronic Express (CEE) newsletter past issues available
  

• Church staff openings:
  

• Youth Director, First, Baker City OR • St. John’s, Camas WA • First, Creswell • First, Newberg
  

• Part-time Secretary, East Woods, Vancouver
  

• Contacts: 
  

• Cascades Electronic Express (CEE)
  

• Presbytery website
  

• Presbyterian Church (USA)
  

• Moderator’s Blog on Presbytery website - join the discussion.
  

• Presbytery Nominating Committee 
  

• Presbyterian Women
  

Deadlines and due dates

Additions or changes to CEE list and Presbytery directory (or to unsubscribe):

503-227-5486 or 800-495-4114. 

CEE Staff: Shirley Hercher, Carolee Neighorn, Kathy Scott

NOTE: Cascades Electronic Express retains permission to modify submissions for clarity and length. Inclusion of an item in CEE means only that we think it's interesting and/or important, and does not constitute an endorsement of its point of view or its journalistic accuracy

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