From Susan S. Penrod, APCE President
Greetings this Lenten season! The following poem, "Lent is for Listening" by Rev D. Jay Losher, Jr., pastor of First 1793 Church in Washington, PA, appears in The Presbyterian Outlook March 19, 2007. (Used by permission)
Lent is for listening.
A season of hushed voices and uncomfortable silences;
of hearing and overhearing ~
hearing the creak and groan of the church building;
overhearing the muffled cough, the stifled sigh ~
in worship, the silenced infant's cry.
Outside the oblivious, uncooperative, noisy world goes on,
white noise distracting.
Lent is for listening ~ forty days of listening.
Jesus' forty days in the wilderness
ministered by angels ~ tempted by evil itself.
After days upon days of being alone but not lonely,
after days upon days of opened-up silence,
the white noise fades,
and then, even its memories.
And Jesus heard, really heard
beyond the hunger, past the thirst
behind the silence, under the soundless,
the voice of the calm within.
Lent is for listening ~ our forty days of listening
moving us over, under, around, and through
all the noisome distractions encumbering our lives,
engulfing us ~
For us to hear, really hear
behind the silence, beyond the wordless,
the calm, compelling call of God.
Lent is for listening.
Straining to hear the change of beat in the pulse of liturgy ~
changing the "we's" to "I's"
confessing "my" sin, not "our" sins any longer.
Absorbing the change of colors in our banners ~
the purple mood of royal mourning.
Surprised by a dark wreath of candles
wrapped in a crown of thorns ~
a candle extinguished each week closer to the cross.
Lent is for listening.
longingly, lovingly with great expectation
to hear the very voice of God in the early dawn
pronouncing victory over the ancient enemy:
"Death, where is your victory?!"
"Death, where is your sting?!"
Lent is for listening.
"Transforming Faith Practices," Christian Education Conference
For complete information and to register go to http://www.montreat.org/current/CE
Are there Reformed spiritual practices which are transforming lives and renewing the church community? Participants will explore the role of education in developing disciples and encouraging spiritual maturity. Leadership includes:
- Cynthia Rigby, Austin , TX (Keynote Speaker)
- Jon Brown, Louisville , KY (Preacher)
- Dianna Wright, Charlotte , NC (Worship Leader)
- Kinley Lange, Houston , TX (Music Leader)
Enroll for the Certification Course held during the Montreat CE Conference
Reformed Theology: An Introduction
Thomas W. Currie, Charlotte, NC
A certification course held during the Montreat CE Conference (30 on-site contact hours; additional $75 conference fee applies for this course). For complete information and to register,visit http://www.montreat.org/current/CE
There is still room at THE APCE HOUSE
APCE establishes an "APCE House" during the conference. This year's accommodation will be the Glen Rock Inn. Won't you join in on the fun? Stay with your APCE colleagues, enjoy family style meals and help host the traditional APCE Open House. This housing option is open to all APCE members. The total cost for meals and lodging is $225. Contact Peggy Owens owens987@bellsouth.net for information or go to www.apcenet.org for a registration form.
Soliciting Suggestions For Annual Event 2009
Judy Ferguson, chair of Annual Event 2009 asks your help in identifying quality leadership and topics for the workshops. Please submit the following form by August 31st 2007.
Click Here to download the 2009 workshop order form.
Reverend Kirsty DePree Joins the APCE Cabinet
I wish to thank Jeff Japinga for his service as RCA representative to the cabinet and welcome Kirsty DePree. Kirsty began serving as the Coordinator of Discipleship for the Reformed Church in America in January and joined the cabinet at the same time. In her own words..
As I venture into this new calling in my life; I'd like to tell you a little about myself. I was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, to a Presbyterian minister and a mother who also attended seminary and served as a religious educator in a myriad of ways. We moved back to the states when I was three and I have lived in New York, Texas, Michigan, Connecticut and New Hampshire. It is truly hard to detect what kind of accent I have. Each of the places I have lived has helped me to embrace diversity of thought and practice that is exhibited in different regions and in numerous ways. I went to Hope College and received a degree in education, and spent some time teaching, subbing, counseling and working as a youth leader and Christian education director. I have been married almost twenty years to my husband Tim and I have a sixteen year old son Joshua and a twelve year old son Jeremy.
In 1998, I was called to attend Western Seminary in the MRE program. I had a passion for life-long learning and Christian education. During seminary, I realized that God was calling me to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament and I moved into the MDIV program. I always maintained my passion for discipleship and education as I integrated my passion with my practice as a pastor serving in a local congregation. The first congregation I served was Haven Shores, a church start in Grand Haven, MI. Serving in a new church start was energizing. This opportunity equipped me with tools and a love for people who were looking for new ways to be followers of Jesus Christ. When I graduated from seminary, I served at Faith Reformed in Zeeland as the Christian Education Minister. I worked with children and adults in the areas of discipleship, spiritual formation and education. I just said goodbye to my congregation at Orchard Hill where I served as pastor of Engagement. A pastor of Engagement is a title to express someone who is committed to shaping and forming disciples who engage a lifestyle of discipleship in all they think, say and do. I have a wide array of experiences that I bring to this position, but more importantly I bring the knowledge, the wisdom, the compassion, the generosity, the love, the teachings and the prayers of the people that I have served with, learned with and lived with my whole life long."
Kirsty DePree
Eastern Region of APCE Announces their Educator of the Year
Mary Lou Ferris was recently named educator of the year for the Eastern Region of APCE. They will be celebrating Mary Lou's faithfulness and ministry at the EAPCE conference April 30- May 2. If anyone would like to send a note or response to Mary Lou, Debby Madden, cabinet representative, would be glad to share it. Or for Mary Lou's address, e-mail Debby at dmadden.fpcarf@pa.net Congrats Mary Lou!!
Continuing Education Opportunities
Growing Disciples: Inspiring Adult Spiritual Formation in Your Congregations
Friday, May 18 th
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hopewell Reformed Church, Hopewell Junction, New York
Leadership Includes Rev Kirsty DePree and Dr. Leonard Vander zee
Sponsored by The Reformed Church of America, The Christian Reformed Church of America And Faith Alive
"Leadership and Anxiety in the Church"
March 2 in Warren, Michigan
March 22 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 20 in Columbia, South Carolina
Sponsored by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center More information: http://www.lmpeacecenter.org/schedule.html
"Spiritual Depth in Life and Leadership"
April 16-18, 2007
Princeton, New Jersey
Sponsored by Princeton Theological Seminary
More information: http://www.ptsem.edu/CE/Course-SpiritualDepthinLife.php
Young Children and Worship Training
The training partnership of the Reformed Church in America, Christian Reformed Church, and The Presbyterian Church in Canada are joining with Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, to sponsor this international event June 19-22, 2007. For further details, contact Jane Schuyler at jschuyler@rca.org or (800) 968-6065.
SCRAPCE Certification Courses in 2008
January 7-11
Faith & Human Development
Rev. Dr. Paul Thompson
Licensed Pastoral & Family Counselor
Pastor, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth
Presbyterian Worship & Sacraments
Rev. Dr. Michael Waschevski,
Assoc. Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth
Adjunct Professor at Austin Seminary and Brite Divinity School
August 4-8
Presbyterian Polity, Program & Mission
Rev. Elizabeth John son Pense, Stated Clerk for Synod of the Sun
Julia A. Boyce, Director of Educational Support, Grace Presbytery
For more information contact Julia A. Boyce at julia@gracepresbytery.org or to register contact Valerie Knox at vknox@synodsun.com
APCE Endowment Fund
An endowment fund was established in 2004 to provide the needed funding for the future of educational ministry. The current balance stands at $80,292.10. The governing cabinet wishes to thank you for your generosity! Many of you made contributions during the Annual Event in Philadelphia as a way to honor Pat Murphy who has taken early retirement from PC(USA). Pat served as our Annual Event registrar for 14 years. Others of you gave to the fund in memory of a colleague or in honor of a newly certified educator. What can the endowment fund do?
- Spark new ideas and imagination in education ministry through publications and resources
- Ignite energy in educators through exciting keynote speakers who are on the cutting edge in ministry
- Re-kindle passion for ministry through high quality events designed to inspire and invigorate
- Light the way for future educators through scholarships and grants.
- Shine as a bright light for educators through continuing advocacy and support.
Won't you fan the flame? Here are some ways you can help.
- Provide a one time gift in honor or memory of an educator
- Provide an ongoing line item in your congregation's CE budget
- Talk to those in your congregation who can provide special funding
- Be willing to make the APCE Endowment Fund a part of your will
