March for Our Lives and Resource to Address Gun Violence

Sandy Hook. Orlando. Las Vegas. Sutherland Springs. And Now Parkland. Mass shootings are quickly becoming a deadly pattern in American life, a pattern which we as Presbyterians must faithfully interrupt.  In the midst of this movement moment, we also recognize that students in communities of color have been organizing to stop every day gun violence for decades but often receive little media acclaim. We offer prayers of comfort to grieving families of all of these massacres and acts of everyday violence, and accompany those prayers with a renewed commitment to action.

It is heartening to see the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School share their broad platform to insist the movement to end gun violence must center Black and Brown students. “People of color in inner-cities and everywhere have been dealing with this for a despicably long time,” said Emma González, a survivor of the Parkland shooting. These young people are inviting the Church into the movement, and we have every reason to join them.

The 219th General Assembly (2010) adopted the resolution, “Gun Violence, Gospel Values: Mobilizing in Response to God’s Call.” That document “Encourage[s] the church at every level… to become informed and active in preventing gun violence, to provide pastoral care for victims of gun violence, and to seek a spiritual response of grief and repentance, grace and courage to resist that violence and celebrate the Lord and Giver of Life.” Learn more about Social Witness Policy and available resources through the PC(USA) here.  

Given this charge, The Office of Public Witness invites you to participate in the March For our Lives in Washington DC or in your own community.

• Find out about sibling marches in your own community
• Join us in DC:

1) Interfaith Prayer Vigil March 23rd at 7-9pm, Washington National Cathedral RSVPs requested on Eventbrite

Facebook event here

2) March 24th Join us as we gather at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m., 1313 New York Ave NW, and then march together to the noon rally on Pennsylvania Avenue. For more information, contact Karen at kchamis@thepresbytery.org. Register at www.marchforourlives.com

There are a limited number of housing options available for people traveling to DC. Please contact Nora Leccese, nora.leccese@pcusa.org to inquire

Harvest Time - Zimbabwe

Friends,

The Central Fund project, supported through the Partnership of Zimbabwe and Denver Presbyteries, continues to develop sustainable business in support of their pastors and congregations.  They are well into the second season of their greenhouse project and anticipating harvesting cauliflower near the first of April.  Their cattle herd continues to expand, numbering 30 head. Please pray that God may continue to provide direction and energy to these projects.

Here is a photo of cauliflower that will be harvested soon.

Installation of Rev. Jordan Warntjes

Congratulations to New Hope Presbyterian Church and Rev. Jordan Warntjes who was installed as their Associate Pastor.

Short Term Service in Zimbabwe

The wonderful news now is that nearly every church in the Presbytery of Zimbabwe has a pastor!  When our Partnership began there were many pastoral openings in their churches.  The Short Term Service Program was developed to help fill those vacancies, as well as give Denver Presbytery ministers the opportunity to live and serve in Zimbabwe.

As a result, Short Term Service is changing.  The Partnership is now encouraging lay people to apply.  Pastors and lay people who travel to Zimbabwe will now be spending their time building relationships: pastor to pastor, pastor to lay person, lay person to lay person.  We will be sharing, learning, preaching, teaching, growing together, building bridges, and complementing one another as colleagues in ministry.

Please give this opportunity thought and prayer and see if you are being led into sharing in ministry with a Zimbabwe minister.

Click here for complete information and printable brochure. 

To apply:
Contact a member of the Short Term Service Committee, receive an application, submit it, and have an interview with us!  Any of us would be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you might have.

Frances McWilliams, Chair 970-547-0989 patrickfrances@msn.com

Parker Smith 720-979-1158 smithsparker@comcast.net

Susan Graham 303-335-8119 suz.d.graham@gmail.com

Tax Resources Available for Clergy

The Tax Guide for Ministers for 2017 Returns and Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches: What You Need To Know for 2018 are now available through Benefits Connect (see Quick Links on your home page when you log on). The Tax Guide will also be mailed to active and retired ministers of the Word and Sacrament this month.

Included with the Tax Guide is the housing allowance letter, which is available on pensions.org.

The Tax Tips for Members and Employers – Tax Year 2017 tutorial is now available in the Tax Resource Center at Board University. This annual resource helps plan members and employers (including church treasurers and administrators) understand tax law changes that affect 2017 income tax reporting and filing. The tutorial contains links to other helpful resources, including the Clergy Housing Allowance tutorial.

January 23, 2018 Presbytery Assembly

Traveling Together in Exile - Sermon from January Assembly

For those who were unable to attend and for those who would like to hear it again, please click the button below to listen to the sermon from the January Assembly Meeting, preached by Rev. John Anderson of Trinity Presbyterian Church.