The SPAT Team gives a brief overview summary of the Summer Convocations: May - August 2018. Rev. Ted Wright, HR - Moderator, SPAT Rev. Katy Stenta RE Samantha Brewert Rev. Lynn Brown RE Terry Diggory * Please Note: Kim Deal, Albany Presbytery Communications Manager, is not on the SPAT however she facilitated this video using the ZOOM web conferencing platform. More information can be … [Read more...]
12 Sites for Free Images: Finding and Using Free Graphics by Kim Deal
August 8, 2018 by
If you know me, you have most likely heard me say that I am not artistic and I would even say that I am “artistically challenged!” Fortunately, there are many very talented people who have made publically available content and tools, allowing even people like me, an opportunity to create meaningful graphics to support ministry. Below is a list of sites where you can find free graphics, … [Read more...]
Dew on a Dry Land by Michael Burkley
August 2, 2018 by
Psalm 133, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 During a Tuesday evening in July, I was at a Presbytery meeting (one of the Summer Conversations sponsored by the Staffing Process Advisory Tem (SPAT), meeting at Stillwater United). Now you might think that would be a guarantee of a boring evening, but as is the usual case, I had a really good time, among friends, looking at Scripture, and talking about the … [Read more...]
The World at our Doorstep – Welcoming the Stranger by Sharon Denney Lobel
July 10, 2018 by
Did you know there are more than 60 million displaced people in the world today? These are men, women, and children who cannot return to their homeland due to war, persecution, or disaster. Less than 1% will become resettled as refugees in a handful of benevolent countries who will take them. Since the 1980s, the Capital Region has received thousands of refugees, many from Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, … [Read more...]
2018 Rensselaerville Summer Worship Series
June 25, 2018 by
The Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church announces its schedule of summer services: Every Sunday July 1 through September 2 11:00 a.m. 1454 County Route 351 (Main St), Rensselaerville, NY Everyone is welcome. Each year, clergy from different faith traditions are invited to deliver sermons on a common theme. The 2018 theme is “And Still We Rise”, after the poem “Still I Rise” by Maya … [Read more...]
#GA223: The Church is Alive! by Bill Hasselbarth
June 22, 2018 by
As a first time attendee (Observer) of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, I have been moved by this experience. It was made very clear here that we are a connectional Church! I met Presbyterians from all over the country, including teaching elders, ruling elders, national staff, and Synod and Presbytery representatives. The young adult presence here at the Assembly was impressive. I … [Read more...]
#GA223: Reflections by Charlotte Hasselbarth
June 22, 2018 by
Friday Afternoon Plenary Session of #GA223. The commissioners and the advisory delegates are acting on the overtures presented by the Committee on Environmental Issues which is the Committee Commissioner Charlotte Hasselbarth serves on. This is my first experience of being at the General Assembly. I will mention two of the many things that have impressed me. Parliamentary Procedure has … [Read more...]
#GA223: Reflections by Larry Greenwold
June 22, 2018 by
Wednesday Blog - June 20th, 2018 Here we are at the middle of the week and the midpoint in our General Assembly (GA) schedule. We began on Saturday with an awesome worship service. On Sunday we had the opportunity to attend Sunday worship at a local area church. Charlotte, Bill, and I went to First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood, MO, a larger suburb west of downtown St. Louis. We were greeted … [Read more...]
#GA223: Reflections from a YAAD by Maxine Quaye
June 20, 2018 by
My experience here at GA has exceeded my expectations. I was expecting to be unengaged and mostly bored. However! That is not the case at all. The YAADs (Young Adult Advisory Delegates) arrived in St Louis a day earlier than the commissioners where we were given an orientation on the parliamentary workings of the GA as well as the infamous Robert’s Rules. I’m serving on Committee 02 – Bills and … [Read more...]
#GA223: Ah, Yes – Committee Work!! by Laura Rogers
June 20, 2018 by
My role at GA is as an Overture Advocate. All business presented to the Assembly first goes to a committee for discussion and hopefully recommendation to the Assembly as a whole for final action. The fascinating piece of this is that an action which goes to the Assembly, therefore the entire denomination, for a decision always comes through: An overture from a presbytery or a synod, with … [Read more...]
