From Susan S. Penrod, APCE President
This is my last issue of the Alert so I think I'll go fishing. It's either fishing or knitting!
What a great joy and pleasure it has been to serve all 1,916 of you as president this year. It has been fun! I can't help but leave you with these suggestions for increasing creativity which appeared in a magazine for those serving the hospitality and conference field. |
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Getting from A to B: Transforming Yourself and What You Do
.There are 12 important factors involved in igniting the creative spark. They are:
- Energy - people can feel your energy
- Education - be a life-long learner
- Endurance - go the distance
- Enthusiasm - your passion sells
- E-commerce - use technology to advance
- Encourage - help others grow
- Embrace - grab hold of change
- Enhance - improve your environment
- Execute - take action
- Enough - doing all you can do
Keith Powell, Marketing Your Events: Igniting the Creative Spark Within You, "Sourcebook for Meeting Planners 2008 An HSMAI Affordable Meetings Publication" p.16-17
Wishing you a wonderful 2008!
Susan
Annual Event
February 13-16, 2008
But God Says.
As the Annual Event fast approaches, the cabinet is in high gear. Mary Mohlke, '08Annual Event chair, the Annual Event committee, workshop leaders and up front leadership are preparing in earnest. See you soon!
Go to the ACE website (www.apcenet.org) for information on the conference. You will not receive an information packet in the mail. To find information, go to Annual Event registration and scroll down to #4 "Book Your Shuttle Service Online", #5 "Reserve Time in the Spirituality Center" and #6 "Additional Conference Information".
The Spirituality Center
We are excited to share a new kind of Spirituality Center, Sacred Space: The Last Week. While this year's Spirituality Center will be quite unlike those from previous years, it will still offer a place to relax, to take a deep breath, and to experience the presence of God. If you would like to experience the Spirituality Center you MUST sign up for a start time. To avoid overcrowding and to ensure that there are enough CD players to go around, entry is limited to 15 participants each 30 minutes that the center is open. Reserve your start time by visiting www.apcenet.org/. For complete information, see Part 1: Event Theme in the APCE registration book.
RE: San Diego
We also hope you'll set aside time to enjoy our fine city. Take a look at "Come Early, Stay Late, Enjoy San Diego!" and make your plans to extend your stay, because there is so much to see and do.
What to Pack
A final word about our weather... February is winter and our rainiest month, even in Southern California. So bring a sweater, a raincoat and an umbrella. You may not need the rain gear, but don't leave home without it!
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Once again, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) invites those attending the 2008 APCE event to a complimentary breakfast at the upcoming meeting in San Diego, California. If you would like to join us on Friday, February 15, please register right away. Seating is limited, so call now. To make your reservation, please call 888-728-7228, ext. 8160 . If you have already made a reservation, there is no need to do so again.
This year's program will begin at 7:00 a.m. Participants will hear about the newest additions to The Thoughtful Christian (www.thethoughtfulchristian.com), including an innovative youth component to the site. Those who attend the breakfast will be introduced to exciting new resources that will be helpful to them in their ministries and have an opportunity to win a free book.
Don't miss this great opportunity to enjoy the company of Christian educators from across the church and to hear about a variety of resources that PPC has produced to enhance the educational ministry of your congregation.
We hope your new year is off to a wonderful start and look forward to seeing you in San Diego!
Vince Patton, Manager for Church Relations and Marketing
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
UNION-PSCE Luncheon
Union-PSCE invites all alumni/ae and friends to their luncheon during the 2008 Annual APCE Event in San Diego. The luncheon will be held in the Windsor Rose Room of the conference hotel on Friday, February 15, 2008, from 12:30 - 1:45 pm. Please join us to reconnect with friends and hear news about the exciting things going on at Union-PSCE. Ginny Holderness will bring greetings from new President Brian Blount, and share an update on the newly formed Christian Education Task Force appointed by President Blount, which is discussing Christian education in the church and at Union-PSCE. This is an event you won't want to miss! The cost for lunch is $15.
Please register online at http://www.union-psce.edu/alumni/apce/
Questions? E-mail alum@union-psce.edu
Hope to see you there!
Take advantage of an exciting opportunity to experience polity in action as you attend parts of the General Assembly while gaining knowledge of the structure, government and mission of the PC(USA).
The Polity, Program and Mission of PC(USA)
Christian Educator Certification Course
June 21-28, 2008
During the 218th General Assembly
San Jose, CA
AND... Fulfill the requirements for two certification courses.
Sponsored by The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators
Register online after February 25, 2008, at www.pcusa.org/ga218 . You must register for the General Assembly in order to take the class. The registration form will give you the option to "buy a ticket" for the APCE Certification course, which costs $100.00 (in addition to GA registration fee).
Registration deadline is May 15, 2008.
No class registrations will be accepted at General Assembly.
Once you are registered for the General Assembly, you will receive housing information directly from the PC(USA) Office of General Assembly. You are responsible for making your own reservations, but if you would like to room with someone else in the class please let us know (see contact below).
Required texts:
- Bible (preferably NRSV)
- 2007-2009 Book of Order
- Book of Confessions
For more information, please contact:
Peggy Owens
502-561-8300
owens987@bellsouth.net
This course is subject to cancellation should sufficient number of participants not enroll.
Pittsburch Theological Seminary Courses
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will host a spiritual formation certificate course Sun., Feb. 10-Fri., Feb. 15. Betty Voigt, spiritual director and pastor in the PC(USA) will lead the course. Time is spent on the program's four components: academic, communal, personal, and practical. Participants will consider Hebrew, New Testament, Monastic, and Reformed Spirituality. Registration fee is $400. Limited overnight housing and meals are available for an additional fee. The course offers four units toward the Spiritual Formation Certificate. Visit http://www.pts.edu/CE%20Immersion%20Week.pdf to learn more.
A Church Educators' Certification elective, Worship and Sacraments, will be offered Mon., April 7-Fri., April 11. This course meets one of the requirements for certification as an educator in the PC(USA). Persons from other denominations are also welcome to attend. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the biblical, theological, and liturgical roots of worship and sacraments. They will also examine the significant role they play as they interpret worship and sacraments in their congregation's educational ministries. Bill Carter, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Clark's Summit, N.J., and jazz pianist will lead the course. Fee is $200 ($225 after March 14). Three continuing education units are available.
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will sponsor a study tour of the British Isles July 1-15, 2008. The Rev. George Tutwiler will lead a limited number of participants on the tour, "The Church in the British Isles: John Knox's Scotland & John Wesley's England A Journey Through History." Fee is $3,820 from Pittsburgh and includes round trip air from Pittsburgh, superior tourist class hotels, transportation, daily breakfast, evening dinner (with few exceptions), entrance fees, and airport transfer. Visit http://www.pts.edu/CE%20British%20Isles%20Trip%20Flyer.pdf for complete details.
Contact the Office of Continuing Education at ConEd@pts.edu or 412-441-3304 ext. 2196 for more information on any of these offerings.
SCRAPCE Spring Continuing Education Event
April 7-9, 2008
Austin Theological Seminary
Families, Faith and our Family of Faith
A continual challenge for most American families is a scarcity of time. Multiple demands clamor for our attention, often-it seems-at the expense of time spent with family. Do you feel the "time bind?" What is the significance of family for Christian faith? How do Christian practices of family have bearing in a society characterized by consumerism, competition and loneliness? How are our assumptions about family nurtured and challenged by the New Testament call to be a part of the larger "family of God," the church? Come explore these questions and issues with your family of faith. Come for practical, conversational, biblically-and historically-informed discussions of family and faith.
Dr. David H. Jensen the Associate Professor of Constructive Theology at Austin Seminary, who has written on themes of theology and the family, will be our leader.
To register for this event, go to www.austinseminary.edu or contact APTS registrar Georgia Smith at gsmith@austinseminary.edu.
SCRAPCE
Certification Course
The next SCRAPCE sponsored certification class will be Presbyterian Polity, Program and Mission and it will be August 4-8, 2008. This class will take place in Irving, Texas, at the Presbyterian Mission Center. The course will be team taught by the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth J. Pense, Stated Clerk of the Synod of the Sun and Julia A. Boyce, Director of Educational Support for Grace Presbytery. For a downloadable brochure go to http://events.synodsun.com/ and download the PDF version of the brochure.
Monthly Alerts also on www.apcenet.org
The e-newsletter is sent electronically each month to the 1,735 members who have e-mail addresses! As you can well imagine, many messages bounce back since e-mails change frequently. In order to ensure that everyone will have access to The Alert, issues are being posted on the website. Click on A.P.C.E. ALERTS in the right hand column then on any of the monthly issues.
Stock Gifts to APCE
Our association received a request for information on how a member could give a gift of stock to APCE. This prompted us to initiate a process for transfer of such gifts in the future.
Stock transfers to APCE will be handled by James P. Ohlmann (Pat), Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning of The Presbyterian Foundation who will work directly with donors. The Foundation will immediately sell the stock and put the money into APCE's New Covenant Fund account.
The Foundation requires a donor to provide written gift documentation. The documentation contains delivery information a donor's broker will require to transfer stock to the Foundation's brokerage account. This is applicable to gifts of publicly traded securities (not mutual funds) held in street name at a brokerage account. Currently, The Foundation is receiving gifts of securities for APCE's benefit alone in excess of $500 for gift purposes other than adding to the existing investment account. A sample letter of direction to a stockbroker and a form for stock delivery are available from the APCE office. Donors may contact (Pat) directly.
James P. Ohlmann Assistant Vice President
Gift Planning Presbyterian Foundation
200 E. Twelfth Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
1-800-858-6127, extension 5957
fax 502-805-0466
jpo@fdn.pcusa.org
Honor a Colleague with a Gift to the Endowment
Click here to download the application form.
One way to honor a colleague as the year comes to a close is by contributing to the APCE Endowment fund which was established by the governing cabinet to provide money for future growth, advocacy and visions for ministry. An application form follows:
Who may apply for a Grant?
The APCE Cabinet, APCE's regional groups in the Reformed family of churches, and individuals who are members of APCE may apply.
What amounts are available for Grants?
In order to continue the growth of the Endowment Fund, the Endowment Committee will provide grants not to exceed the annual interest earned by the fund in the previous fiscal year.
What is the Grant process time line?
June 1 - Grant applications are due to the Endowment Fund Committee Chair
June 2-September 15 - Grants will be reviewed by the Endowment Grant Committee
Fall APCE Cabinet meeting - Recommended Grants will be presented to the Coordinating, Planning and Finance Committee and the APCE Cabinet for approval.
Late October/early November - Grant funds will be dispersed by the APCE Treasurer as instructed by the APCE Cabinet.
How does a regional group or individual apply for a Grant?
All grant requests must be submitted using the APCE Endowment Fund Grant Application, which includes a description of the project, or activity that the grant funds will support, a statement of how it will seek to fulfill the mission statement of APCE, and a budget for the project or activity. Grant applications may be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the:
APCE Endowment Fund,
PO Box 50761,
Arlington, VA 22205-5761
Or EMAIL APCEnet@aol.com
Or FAX 703-812-4555
Applicants can receive further information from the APCE Endowment Fund Committee Chair and/or the APCE Treasurer. Call: 703-812-9488 or 866-338-7737 (toll free), or visit the website: http://www.apcenet.org
Endowment Committee Chair:
Elaine Barnett
7416 20 th Avenue NW,
Bradenton , FL 34209
ewbarnet@tampabay.rr.com
Treasurer: Krista Lovell
kristalovell@aol.com
A Response from our Membership.
Val Fowler, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Honeoye Falls, NY and Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Genesee Valley sent this message after my comments in the December Alert regarding The Messiah. Thanks Val!
Some years ago, something struck me about Messiah , so I did a little "nerdy" searching.
There is only one place in the entire work where the choir sings in unison. I checked every measure of every chorus, so I know that this is true. The only place that the choir sings in unison is the first time they sing the words, "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Amazing!
Handel knew. Handel knew. |
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Another historical note about Messiah. Every time Handel produced the work to benefit the needs of others, it succeeded beyond his or anyone else's dreams. Every time Handel produced the work for his own benefit (and he tried a few times) . . . it flopped.
God knows. God knows.
The original score was willed to an orphanage in London, for their benefit. I'm guessing Handel got the message.
