Bringing Together
Congregations, Sessions, Pastors and Leaders
to Model Christ
Glacier Presbytery resources and news -
God's ministry unfolding through
18 Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregations
and 2 new worshiping communities
in North-West-Central Montana
Many Winter Blessings Received
Rev. Steve Shive, Wyoming Executive Presbyter and Ministry Coach
Led the February Presbytery Retreat
Rev. Shive met with pastors in a morning session of encouragement. For the full gathering he explored tools for reflection, means of discernment on topics of potential conflict, and new approaches to ministry in the landscape of 2020. He preached a message on Christ's transfiguration as Rev. John Ritchie was installed as pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Great Falls, during Sunday morning worship.
1001 New Worshiping Communities Growth Grant Awarded to the Basin Ministry
With great joy Rev. Ok-Kee Kim and his wife Choonil (pictured above) learned that the ministry at Basin has received a $25,000 growth grant. This along with a grant for benefits from the Board of Pensions will provide excellent support as the ministry becomes self-sustaining over the next two years. Ok-Kee and Choonil minister to and with the residents of Basin to pilgrims who travel from around the world seeking healing in the health mines. Growth has been steady through this vital
ministry.
Rev. Andrew Smothers
Joins Glacier Presbytery
Begins Service as Interim Pastor, Conrad
Rev. Andrew (Andy) Smothers was received as a member by the Committee on Ministry on behalf of Glacier at the beginning of March. He will serve the First Presbyterian Church of Conrad as they begin their search for a pastor. Andy brings a wealth of experience from various fields, and ministry contexts as diverse as New York City, Africa, and an international expatriate congregation. He is a member of the Glacier COVID-19 Response Task Force.
"Taking Care"
Glacier Presbytery
Ministering by Caring for Members and
Neighbors During the Pandemic
As the COVID-19 crisis has grown into an pandemic, the pastors and leaders in Glacier Presbytery have prayerfully and faithfully unfolded the presbytery's response plan adopted by the Committee on Ministry, which can be found here. Each congregation has received guidance and/or adapted their own response plan for caring for our members, and reaching out to our neighbors in need. Measures to steward the health of everyone but especially those whose health is most vulnerable are provided. Plans include fresh ways to worship and care for each other - click on the Movable Feast for a model of worshiping in our homes and in concert with our congregational families. There is an urgent call to serve our communities. We are sustained by the Spirit of Christ with us.
Though we change the ways we will worship and serve during this time, we will not be taking a break or “cancelling church.” Christ’s church cannot be cancelled! People need their churches. And our communities urgently need their churches to be nourished and empowered to step forward rather than hunker down in the midst of critical needs. This is Christ’s church in mission in God’s beloved world today.
Resources During the Pandemic
Glacier Presbytery's Response Team is Leader Beth McCaw, Stated Clerk Courtney Arntzen, Moderator Rose Leavitt, and Conrad Interim Pastor Andrew Smothers. Each church will be contacted weekly for updates and support. Resources for health, worship, care and outreach, and discussion boards, are in the presbytery online office glacieroffice.crhosts.com. Contact Beth or Courtney for login information. These are among many additional resources (click to view):
Congregations are encouraged to subscribe to free conference calling or videoconferencing services as one means for groups to communicate and meet during this time.
Meeting God in our Homes
Sunday 5:00 p.m. via Zoom
and Bulletin for Home Worship
Glacier Camp Director Tim Lanham is leading a Bible Study each Sunday evening via Zoom at 5:00 p.m. This week's focus is: Exodus 14 and 15 and will be entitled: “Pathways Through the Mighty Waters." Please contact Tim at timothy@glaciercamp.org to receive a Zoom link and materials.
Each Monday a fresh order for personal or home worship will be posted by the link here. It does not require watching steaming video (though that can be added), and can be printed out to mail or share with others. Small groups by phone, families, and individuals may want to engage in it midweek or otherwise in addition to the worship offerings of their local congregation. This week: Jesus' Journey to the Cross, Matthew 21, 27.
Presbyterian Women of Helena
Swaddle God's Children in
Christ the King, Dominican Republic
With great love, the women of PW at First Presbyterian Church Helena prayed through stitches one by one - knitting, crocheting, sewing. The layettes were then distributed by a medical team to Christ the King, a village in the Dominican Republic. The church in Christ the King, and their Pastor Katia, minister with great courage and hope since their village has been cut off from main thoroughfares by a storm that destroyed their bridge. Pray God's blessing as they care for families and children, and build a commnity center. Mission co-worker Rev. Kristin Hamner is liaison there through the Foundation for Peace.
Young Adults Volunteer
Ministry Serves Community
The Chinook Young Adult Volunteer program is so very thankful for our ongoing mission partnership with Glacier Presbytery. Pastor Maggie Lewis, Chair of the Chinook YAV Board, reports that over the last eight years, we have had 13 young adults come and serve God in our mission to make known God's love in our community as we equip future leaders for Christ's church and God's world. Our site gives YAVs opportunities to foster relationships and proclaim the good news of the gospel through community outreach while inhabiting the program's core values of intentional Christian community, leadership development through faith in action, simple living, cross-cultural mission, and vocational discernment. Our current YAVS are Sophie Schreiber and Emily Osborn.
Over $500 was received in the offering at the February Presbytery meeting for this ministry. Gifts may still be sent to Glacier Presbytery Treasurer Richard SIderius.
2020 Glacier Camp
Opportunities
Glacier Camp has been following and implementing all recommendations for safety at camp. Plans continue to be underway for a season of camp, as well as other late spring and summer events. Updates will be made regularly about the events below as conditions are monitored. A statement from the camp can be found here. While the camp programming is paused, the Camp Board has pledged matches for the first $10, 370 given toward the campaign to keep Glacier Camp going during the suspension of regular operations. Be encouraged to consider an area toward which to give; see the campaign by clicking here on "Sponsor a Piece of Glacier Camp Hospitality."
April 26-28: Come to the Waters
Old Testament Professor Yolanda Norton
May 18-21: Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation Pastors' School
July 12-14: TIM Talk (Theology in Ministry)
"Not as the World Gives: Biblical Promises of Peace and Reconciliation"
September 20-22: Come to the Waters
November 1-3: Fall TIM Talk
Give thanks for God's provision for these enrichment opportunities, subsidized by the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation.
Glacier Newsletters
Find detailed updates about happenings in Glacier Presbytery, and meetings scheduled:
January 17, 2020 - Open letter, Rev. Johnson
Epiphany, 2020 - Sanctuaries, New Year News
Advent 2, 2019 - Blue Christmas; Giving Trees
Advent 1, 2019 - Hunger Grant Received
Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving Hospitality, PW
Nov. 20, 2019 - New Presbytery Leader Roles
Nov. 13, 2019 - Growth in Basin
To subscribe directly, contact Beth.glacierpresbytery@gmail.com.
Prayer and Nurture
Please pray for God's blessing and keeping for all affected by the COVID-19 crisis: Those with fragile health; the sick; families separated from loved ones; those who are homeless or unemployed. Pray guidance and unity for leaders in governments, churches, agencies serving God's beloved world. Pray for those congregations in transition and those about to enter transition: Conrad, having welcomed Interim Pastor Andrew Smothers, Great Falls Sunrise, and Dayton/Polson.
Today in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Scripture Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
Current Issue of Presbyterian Women's Horizons
Serious JuJu Selected
for Pastor in Residence Program
The 1001 New Way Podcast is in its third season capturing compelling stories of church being experienced and lived into in new ways. Season 3 includes a recently dropped podcast interview with Pastor Miriam Mauritzen of Serious JuJu. Enjoy listening to this 30 minute podcast reflecting on lessons learned in one of Glacier Presbytery's newest worshipping communities here.
Serious JuJu is one of 5 National New Worshipping Community Sites Selected to Receive a 2020-2021 Full-Time Pastor in Resident. The Pastor in Resident would work alongside Pastor Miriam Mauritzen, receive a salary of $45,000 with full-benefits thanks to a generous grant from the PCUSA. The intention is to train up promising future pastors interested in leading new worshipping communities. Read more and download the online application.
Applications are due as soon as possible. Residents receive training and coaching. Residencies begin summer 2020. Please pass on this opportunity to any you feel may be a good fit or share with those interested in other sites with 3-month, 9-month or year long residencies.
Upcoming Meetings
Per Glacier's Response Plan, all presbytery meetings are held via Zoom at this time.
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June 13-14, 2020 Presbytery retreat-meeting, Whitefish
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October 10-11, 2020 Presbytery retreat-meeting, Seeley Lake
The Presbytery office for committee work is online here. Please contact the Stated Clerk or Presbytery Leader for login information.
Rev. Beth McCaw
Presbytery Leader (EP)
Glacier Presbytery, PC(USA)
P.O. Box 4005
Missoula, Montana 59806-4005
406-871-2135
Rev. Courtney Arntzen
Stated Clerk
Glacier Presbytery, PC(USA)
P.O. Box 4005
Missoula, Montana 59806-4005
406-544-2937
Dick Siderius, Treasurer
Glacier Presbytery, PC(USA)
P.O. Box 1562
Kalispell, Montana 59903-1562
406-871-3263
Rev. Timothy Lanham
Glacier Presbyterian Center
406-844-2114
406-844-0551 (Fax)
P.O. Box 384, Lakeside, MT 59922
17482 O'Neil Rd, Lakeside, MT 59922