2021 MEETING THEMES
It has become a recent custom of Albany Presbytery Moderators to choose a theme or their term of service. I will follow that new custom with the ideas below knowing that unforeseen change may alter my intentions. Exemplification of each theme will vary as appropriate to the topic. You are encouraged to be involved. Do contact me if you or your church has a related contribution to share with the membership.
“COME TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY” ANNUAL THEME
Saturday, January 23 – WOMEN OF THE PRESBYTERY
Tuesday, March 16 – CREATION CARE
Saturday, June 5 – NEW WORSHIPPING COMMUNITIES
Saturday, September 18 – CHILDREN * YOUTH * YADS
Wednesday, November 3 – SOCIAL JUSTICE
*****THANK YOU TO THE CLERGY WOMEN OF PRESBYTERY!*****
A huge, heartfelt, and official thank you to all the women of Albany Presbytery who made our worship service on January 23 a significant and impactful experience. Appreciation and respect for the honesty while interpreting their experiences. Special recognition to Rev. Kathryn Beilke, Charlotte Hasselbarth, Rev. Lynn Horan, Rev. Bonnie Orth, Rev. Kathi Jones, Rev. Miriam Leopold, and Rev. Janice West who planned and executed the video and worship service. The video may be seen again on the Albany Presbytery website.
LOOKING AHEAD we note the pandemic is not finished with us yet. We cannot even see the finish line. Let us stay alert, listen, and keep doing what we have learned to do to protect ourselves and others from spreading this virus. Let us continue being the Church: preaching the Word, celebrating the sacraments, caring for one another and our communities and more as the Great Ends of the Church proclaims.
The great ends of the church are:
the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind
the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God
the maintenance of divine worship
the preservation of the truth
the promotion of social righteousness
the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World.
My 2021 hopes for everyone include staying healthy, getting vaccinated, a smooth transition and success of our new President, and a new normal where people care more about others than before to the glory of God! May your Lenten season be full of light, peace, joy, grace, hope, and love.
JUDY HARTLEY, Moderator
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