Quarterly mailing for PW moderators, leadership coordinators, CCT and staff
Download this newsletter 
January–April 2009
Horizons Bible study
PW Churchwide Gathering
Mission Committee
Racial Ethnic Dialog
Justice and Peace Committee
Leadership Enhancement
Offerings
Sale
Horizons Reps
Mission of the Church
Racial Ethnic Ministries
Horizons Bible study
Be Strong and Courageous: Praying with Joshua
Available spring 2009 from PDS; $5.00 plus shipping
With stories of war, inclusion, justice and covenant, the book of Joshua is one of the most challenging in all of scripture. In this supplement to the 2009–2010 Horizons Bible study, Joshua: A Journey of Faith, Tammy Wiens-Sorge invites participants to keep a prayer journal to learn more about God, themselves and the community of faith. Order here.
Listening for God: Reflecting on the Book of Joshua
Available spring 2009; $5.00 plus shipping
Mary Elva Smith has created a retreat model, based on selected themes from Joshua: A Journey of Faith, to give participants the opportunity to reflect on Joshua in community and to examine it in an honest and loving communal space. In learning to listen for God together, participants come to a better understanding of God’s word. Order here.
Joshua Resources in Horizons
Subscribers will receive additional Bible study resources in five consecutive issues of Horizons, beginning with the July/August 2009 issue. Subscribe now.
Does your church school class or PW group enjoy time spent in God’s word? Are you already getting excited about the 2011–2012 Horizons Bible study on the Beatitudes? Are you interested in providing feedback to author Margaret Aymer, as she creates the study? Now is your chance!
We are looking for field testers. As field testers, your PW group (circle, church school class, small group) will read the first draft of the study, then record your thoughts, reactions and suggestions on evaluation forms. PW staff and the Bible study author rely on these evaluations to make the study as useful to PW as possible. Field testing is coming earlier this year, between August and February 2009, so apply now!
PW Churchwide Gathering
Gathering Registration Now Open
Registration is now open! Register online now or by mailing the form in Gathering registration booklet.
Use the registration booklet as a tool to promote attendance at the Gathering. The Gathering Planning Team is counting on PW leaders to promote the Gathering, and the promotional packet has lots of good ideas for doing so.
Mission Poster Project: PW Celebrating 20 Years in Mission
Presbyterian women always have been involved in mission. When PW was formed in 1988, it inherited strong mission programs from its predecessors, UPW and WOC. Celebrate 20 years as PW in mission. Use an 8½" x 11" or 12" x 12" scrapbook page, piece of card stock or poster board to tell the story of a successful mission project with which your PW has been involved in the last 20 years. Write a brief description, add photos and share how God has been working through your group to help others!
Mail your poster by June 1, 2009 to:
Patricia Longfellow, PW Program Assistant
100 Witherspoon St.
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
Posters will be displayed at the 2009 Churchwide Gathering; they may be picked up after the Tuesday evening plenary session. They will not be mailed back to you.
PW Needs YOU ...
... to attend the 2009 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women!
Anyone who has ever planned a gathering of any size — at home, at the church, or on a national or international scale — learns quickly that solid attendance is essential for a successful event. Promote the CWG by posting the Top Ten on a bulletin board, use as a newsletter blurb or send in an email.
10 Reasons to Attend the PW Churchwide Gathering
- Nurture your faith.
- Be in community with other women.
- Broaden your PW involvement.
- Gather resources and learn new skills as a PW leader.
- Learn about current issues in the church and the world.
- Learn about missions and mission opportunities.
- Be part of an exciting churchwide event.
- Participate in the business meeting as a voting representative.
- Meet international participants.
- Participate in Bible study.
There is an 11th reason, too. Solid attendance ensures that future Gatherings can be as robust and spiritually uplifting as Gatherings past. Unfortunately, the bottom line for event planning is the bottom line. Renting space and media equipment is not inexpensive, and future Gatherings are planned on resources available and anticipated attendance. Please continue to encourage attendance!
Live fully in a challenging economy, attend Gathering
Here are a few ways for PWs to save dollars and still attend the 2009 CWG!
- Early-bird registration!
No worms here! Early birds save $50 on their Churchwide Gathering registration! Early-bird registration (January 15–May 15, 2009) for the full event is $380 and includes 10 meals, all programs, tote bag and program book.
- Go green and save green! Carpool!
This idea may not be feasible for all, but for PWs who reside in close proximity to Louisville, carpooling makes sense! You can bond with your PW sisters and save dollars too! Check with the hotel about parking rates. At this writing, the Hyatt Regency is offering free parking (subject to change).
- Share a room!
Only one person per hotel room should send in the hotel reservation form, listing the names of others who are to occupy the same room. See the registration booklet for particulars.
- Make Louisville your vacation destination.
Make the Churchwide Gathering your vacation destination for summer 2009 — and bring your children, grandchildren and spouse! Programs for children and youth, plus golf outings and other Louisville-area attractions (don’t forget the PC(USA) headquarters and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary) can make this a truly memorable time for the whole family. Special hotel rates have been arranged for July 8–18 at downtown Louisville hotels for this purpose.
Most importantly, the Churchwide Gathering is truly about celebration, connection, Bible study, mission and prayer. Your voice and attendance is sought as PW charts a new course for the next three years and beyond.
Wonder-filled Gift Cards
Don’t forget to promote the purchase of $20 gift cards to be collected at the Gathering and donated to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children. Those not able to attend are encouraged to mail them to the PW Business Office (attn: Theresa Slaiman), 100 Witherspoon St, Louisville, KY 40202-1396).
What’s Black or White and Sweat Free?
Your Gathering t-shirt, or course! Order yours now from Presbyterian Distribution Service — (800)-524-2612 — for $12 plus shipping.
small, black
medium, black
large, black
XL, black
2XL, black
3XL, black
small, white
medium, white
large, white
XL, white
2XL, white
3XL, white
Looking Ahead 20 More Years!
Each PW in the Synod and PW in the Presbytery is invited to bring one item of special significance to be placed in a time capsule at the 2009 Churchwide Gathering. The time capsule will be part of the PW Heritage Fair (History exhibit area). The item should represent a special celebration, an honored person or a significant project that took place since Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA) came into existence in 1988. The items will be sealed and stored until the 40th anniversary celebration of Presbyterian Women.
Mission Committee
2008 Mission Trip Itineration Under Way
In April 2008, a group of 19 Presbyterian women traveled to the border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on the first domestic U.S.A. Mission Experience. In September 2008, a group of 30 Presbyterian women and staff participated in the PW Global Exchange to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Carpath Ukraine. A smaller group of six spent an additional week with PC(USA) staff and church partners in Russia. The goal of these mission trips is to renew and build relationships with women and church partners throughout the world. The Mission Experience focused on immigration and life on the border. Participants from each trip are ready to share their stories and help raise awareness about the ways people of faith confront the issues that divide us, and stories of women’s and children’s struggles in each area. They will visit circles, churches, presbyteries and synods. The March/April 2009 issue of Horizons magazine features highlights and stories from the Global Exchange trip (including contact information for the participants). The September/October 2008 issue of Horizons magazine is dedicated to the Mission Experience trip. If you are inviting a Mission Experience or Global Exchange participant to speak to your circle or congregation, you can order multiple copies of the relevant issue of Horizons for the special discounted rate of $3 each for quantities of 10 or more, plus shipping (10 percent of order total, $5.25 minimum) — a 25 percent savings.*
For just $3 each, you can provide attendees with
- helpful background reading,
- an informative post-event resource for more in-depth understanding of the areas visited
- a useful handout during your event — many of the photos, projects and subjects described by your speaker are featured in this issue, and
- a call to action. Understanding challenges is the first step in finding solutions.
* To order the mission trip magazines, contact Jung Ju Winner
or Carissa Herold. Or, send your request with a check (made payable to Horizons) to Jung Ju Winner, Presbyterian Women, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396. If you are ordering by mail, please include your telephone number, ship-to address, number of copies ordered and date needed.
New Orleans in May
The 2009 mission trip to New Orleans has been planned for May 17–23. As on past trips, members of the CCT, PW staff and women from various synods and presbyteries spend a week in partnership with RHINO, a ministry of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, New Orleans, to work for the recovery of the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. There is still much work to be done to restore lives, hopes and homes. Those interested in participating should sign up by March 5, 2009. Contact Veronica Green. The cost is $200 and checks should be made payable to Presbyterian Women, with a memo noting that the funds are for the RHINO trip. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and some meals. Learn more about St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian’s program or contact Sherry Flyr for more details.
Racial Ethnic Dialog
PW’s 2009 Racial Ethnic Dialog Meets in Louisville
The ten-year-old Racial Ethnic Dialog of Presbyterian Women met in Louisville, Kentucky, in late January, 2009. The theme for the Dialog grew out of the Women of Color Consultation Task Force theme, “Hearing and Singing New Songs to God: Shunning Old Discords and Sharing New Harmonies,” adopted by the General Assembly last year. Dialog members discussed the intersectionality of race and gender, power, cultural proficiency, inclusivity with justice, and internalized oppression in light of personal experiences.
Justice and Peace Committee
Justice and Peace Notes
- The 53rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women will be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, March 2–13, 2009. Presbyterian Women is committed to expanding its presence as a nongovernmental organization at the annual meeting. Read PW’s statement of support. The Commission will consider the theme “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS” at its 53rd session.
- A new publication from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) can deepen our understanding of the work that must be done if the Millennium Development Goals are to be met. Read “Making the MDGs Work for All,”a gender-based approach to the goals.
- Remember the Good Deed Foundation’s cell phone recycling efforts. You can request a free postage-paid envelope for one to seven phones. The project funds women’s economic development. Make this a justice project of your PW.
- Learn about the Think Outside the Bottle Campaign to combat privatization of water, plastic waste and use of fossil fuels.
- Justice and Peace Committee members want to hear from the Justice and Peace coordinators in synods! Share your stories of working for justice and peace. What questions do you have? How is the training going?
Justice and Peace Network Contacts
Synod of Alaska/Northwest : Bobbie Rubin
Synod of Puerto Rico: Hagar Benitez
Synod of the Covenant : Louise Davidson
Synod of Lakes and Prairies: Louise Howe
Synod of Lincoln Trails: Eda Nunez
Synod of Living Waters: Louise Davidson
Synod of Mid-America: Shirley Nichols
Synod of the Mid-Atlantic: Louise Howe
Synod of the Northeast: Eda Nunez
Synod of the Pacific: Hagar Benitez
Synod of the Rocky Mountains: Micah Emerson
Synod of the South Atlantic: Micah Emerson
Synod of So. Cal & Hawaii: Bobbie Rubin
Synod of the Southwest: Shirley Nichols
Synod of the Sun: Jennifer Ashbaugh
Synod of the Trinity: Jennifer Ashbaugh
Partners for Just Trade Feel Pinch of Global Recession
The economic downturn has affected many organizations. Partners for Just Trade (PJT) is among those. While PJT is a nonprofit organization, sales make up the majority of its income. For PJT’s Peruvian artisans, Cameroonian farmers and their families, rough times can mean skipping meals, taking children out of school to work, or leaving a village and culture behind in search of jobs that supposedly lie in the bigger cities. With your support, PJT provides these producers a sustainable way to improve their lives and escape the vicious cycle of poverty.
You can help PJT in many ways. You can show your support with the purchase of goods; agree to sell their goods at your gatherings or in your congregation; or make a tax deductible donation. You also may purchase the sterling silver PW logo pin/pendant, handcrafted by the PJT artisans; $35 plus shipping.
Learn more, shop or donate.
2009 Justice and Peace Calendar
March 2–13: Commission on the Status of Women
April 22: Earth Day
June 11–13: PC(USA) Big Tent
July 11–15: Churchwide Gathering
October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month (See the 16-day plan of activism) Rutgers University’s web pages.
October: Children’s Sabbath
November 15–20: United Nations Advocacy Week
Leadership Enhancement
“What are you going to do now that you are retired?”
How many women have been asked that question as they near retirement? The CCT’s Newly Retired Women’s Task Group spent several months considering how to involve newly-retired women in PW. Its report including recommendations will be presented to the February 2009 CCT through the Leadership Enhancement Committee. The task group concluded that retired women can offer a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to PW and that churches, presbyteries and synods would benefit from inviting them to participate as members and leaders for PW. Look for additional information in future newsletters.
“Hearing and Singing New Songs to God”
Order a copy of the report of the Women of Color Task Force to the 218th General Assembly, “Hearing and Singing New Songs to God.”
Offerings
2009 Birthday Offering Materials Now Available
Promotional materials for the 2009 Birthday Offering are now available. The Offering recipients are in locations visited by the 2008 Global Exchange to Central and Eastern Europe, and the 2008 U.S.A. Mission Experience to El Paso/Ciudad Juárez.
“His Kids Too!” Children’s Home for Orphans — Ukraine
“His Kids Too!” is a Christian organization committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with more than 5,000 orphans. The home provides humanitarian aid, health care and educational opportunities.
La Mujer Obrera — El Paso, Texas
La Mujer Obrera assists women in their struggles to support themselves and their children by teaching the women not only new trade skills but also how to market the fruits of their labors.
Learn more about these recipients and read thank-you letters from them.
2009 Birthday Offering Goal
To fund these projects, the Offering committee set a goal of $800,000. Please share this goal with your PWC groups. The Birthday Offering is received in the spring and may be dedicated at spring gatherings. The offering should be sent to the treasurer of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery by June 10, 2009.
Sale!
Out of the Abundance of the Heart: Buy One, Get One Free!
Now that we have your attention, Out of the Abundance of the Heart: A Jubilee Journal by Dale Lindsay Morgan is, for a limited time, now available for $2.50 each! This undated and always timely journal invites you to chronicle your own very personal walk with Jesus over forty days (or entries — this resource is designed for flexibility) as you move through the Gospel of Luke. Out of the Abundance of the Heart, aptly titled, will enrich your journey. You may also consider this resource for Lenten reflection. Order now.
Horizons rep corner
Great news! Horizons magazine is reaching more subscribers! Bucking the trend that most magazines are experiencing, the number of Horizons subscribers has increased, thanks in great part to the work that you, as Horizons reps, do!
Ordering PW and Horizons Materials?
Here’s how and where to order!
Horizons magazine subscriptions
- Mail: Horizons/ Presbyterian Women, PO Box 421, Congers NY 10920-0421
- Telephone: (866) 802-3635 or (toll) (845) 267-3042
- Online
Carissa Herold is still the PW/ Horizons staff contact for subscribers.
PW and Horizons resources
For example, PW manuals, Offering materials, single issues, older magazines, additional Bible studies, etc.
Presbyterian Distribution Service
Promotional resources for PW gatherings and PW logo apparel
Carissa Herold or Jung Ju Winner
Most PW promotional resources are free plus the cost of shipping. Please order earlier rather than later to save shipping costs and staff sanity! (Did you know? The PW marketing staff, when invited, also travels to PW events to share PW and Horizons information and sell PW and Horizons materials. The gathering planning team is only responsible for room and board. If interested, please contact Carissa or Jung Ju.)
When in doubt
Carissa Herold or Jung Ju Winner
New Horizons Subscription Brochures!
Order the brand-new, hot-off-the-press Horizons subscription brochures. The newly revised brochures include the new address and telephone number for subscribing; and have two separate business reply cards (one for regular subscriptions, the other for gift subscriptions), and are postage-paid.
To save PW postage, subscribers can use their own stamp or subscribe online. Subscribers who are paying with a credit card should use their own envelope for security reasons.
Manage Your Horizons Subscription Online
Horizons subscribers can now manage their subscription online. You may
- start a subscription,
- renew a subscription,
- pay your bill,
- contact customer service/change your address,
- give a gift, or
- order bulk subscriptions.
Please Note . . .
Add $10 per year for all foreign (non-U.S.) subscriptions. Horizons has managed to keep this rate unchanged for many years, but the cost for mailing materials has increased significantly. Unless specifically requested, subscription refunds under $10 will be donated to the publishing mission of Presbyterian Women. Why? To process a refund costs PW almost as much as a one-year subscription to the magazine, and that doesn’t include the money refunded!
Horizons Support
As Presbyterian Women celebrates its first 20 years, some of the faithful have asked for a way to go above and beyond in support of the publishing mission of Presbyterian Women. They understand that although technological advances may change the way a publication is viewed or received, planting the seeds today will enable PW to connect tomorrow with Presbyterian women living out the PW Purpose. Contributions in support of the publishing mission of Presbyterian Women are tax deductible. Send your contribution to Horizons/Presbyterian Women, PO Box 421, Congers NY 10920-0421.
Mission of the Church
Mission Yearbook Reshaped for New Generations
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, which dates back to 1892, is now available in formats never dreamed of by our Presbyterian ancestors. The 2009 Yearbook is now available as a podcast, on the web, through an RSS feed* and by email, in addition to print. “We’ve taken the heritage of the book and shaped it for new generations,” Billie Healy, editor, says.
Access the Mission Yearbook in these new ways. Visitors to the web site can view that day’s reading, or access readings for any other day of the year. The online readings include email addresses for individuals appearing on prayer lists and links to presbyteries. The PC(USA) serves approximately 2.2 million members in mission and ministry in approximately 10,800 congregations throughout the United States and around the world.
*Really Simple Syndication
Mission Coworker To Serve as Liaison for PW
Amanda Craft has been appointed to serve as a PC(USA) mission coworker, serving as facilitator for women’s work with Presbyterian Women of Guatemala. Her term begins in February. If you would like to support Amanda’s ministry with the Presbyterian Women of Guatemala, you may contribute to ECO #051830. If you would like to support her salary, you may contribute to DMS #D507508.
World Mission Events
Presbyterian Women are invited to support three key World Mission events in 2009 through their prayers and participation. Talk to your presbytery office. Be sure your presbytery is on board for all three!
Presbytery World Mission Advocate Gathering
May 7–9, 2009
This event is for presbytery-named mission advocates. They are invited to come and engage in theological reflection and discuss “best practices” with peers and experts. Topics of discussion will center on questions most commonly raised by presbytery and congregational mission committees. For details about the event for presbytery World Mission advocates, contact Lis Valle.
World Mission Challenge
September–October 2009
Similar to Mission Challenge ’07, the event will provide opportunities for congregations and presbyteries to hear the stories of how God is at work in and through our mission workers and global partners. For details about World Mission Challenge, contact Ellen Dozier.
Racial Ethnic Ministries
The Big Tent is a PC(USA) churchwide event where Presbyterians of every age, ethnicity and culture can celebrate ministry and mission together. At the Big Tent, ten different Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) partner conferences will occur concurrently. All Big Tent participants will worship together, enjoy meals together and attend a transforming Saturday night celebration. Beginning and end times vary with each conference. Information on two of the conferences is below.
The triennial Racial Ethnic Convocation will offer workshops for racial ethnic Presbyterians from across the country. There will be keynote addresses by Buddy Monahan, chaplain at the Menaul School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Magdalena García, pastor at Ravenswood Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Multimedia presentations will celebrate stories of racial ethnic members of the PC(USA). Participants will learn how to further proclaim the liberation gospel of Jesus Christ for justice and reconciliation in their home communities. Contact Hector Rodriguez with questions.
Participants in the New Immigrant Ministries Convocation will attend workshops, will be inspired by national speakers and will worship with local PC(USA) congregations. Time will be set aside for new immigrant groups’ leaders to meet. The event is sponsored by the New Immigrant Ministries office of the PC(USA). Contact Angel Suarez-Valera with questions.
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