October is PCUSA
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
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According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, on average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. That’s more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year. Nearly 1 in 4 (24.3%) women and 1 in 7 (13.8%) men aged 18 or older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime
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 Dear Friends,
So TJ and I are hittin' the road!
Stated Clerk TJ DeMarco will be meeting with Clerks of Session to do the annual minutes review at three locations in the Presbytery, and I will be joining him to meet with elders and pastors. So while the clerks are meeting doing "clerky" things, I will share with elders and pastors the exciting pieces of the Synod Grant for Presbyteries that we have received, as well as just sitting and getting to know you all!
So here is the schedule of the great 2022 TJ/Scott Road Tour:
November 1 - 6:30 PM at Midcoast Presbyterian Church
84 Main St. Topsham, ME
November 2 - 6:00 PM at Windham Presbyterian Church
1 Church Rd. Windham, NH
November 3 - 1:00 PM at Barnet Presbyterian Church
279 Main St., Barnet, VT
We look forward to seeing you all!
Joy and Peace,
Scott
And a very special PS:
Please remember PNNE Moderator John Seiders in your prayers this week. He will be having surgery on Friday to remove a benign tumor from his leg.
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Gospel reading for Friday, October 14: Luke 9:28-36
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28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" - not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
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It is as strange a scene as there is in the Gospels. Even without the voice from the cloud to explain it, they had no doubt what they were witnessing. It was Jesus of Nazareth all right, the man they'd tramped many a dusty mile with, whose mother and brothers they knew, the one they'd seen as hungry, tired, footsore as the rest of them. But it was also the Messiah, the Christ, in his glory. It was the holiness of the man shining through his humanness, his face so afire with it they were almost blinded.
Even with us something like that happens once in a while. The face of a man walking his child in the park, of a woman picking peas in the garden, of sometimes even the unlikeliest person listening to a concert, say, or standing barefoot in the sand watching the waves roll in, or just having a beer at a Saturday baseball game in July. Every once and so often, something so touching, so incandescent, so alive transfigures the human face that it's almost beyond bearing.
-- Frederick Buechner
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Please use the links in the above header to know more about
the Synod, Staff, and Leadership.
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The Leadership Team for the Synod of the Northeast meets in between Commission and Assembly meetings, for decision-making and to provide guidance to staff. The Team is comprised of the Synod Officers:
- Rev. Leslie Latham - Moderator;
- Rev. Stephen Park Choi - Moderator Elect;
- Dr. Jacinth Hanson - Moderator of the Mission and Ministries Commission;
- Rev. Nancy Talbot - Stated Clerk;
- Alan Ford - Treasurer;
- Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley - Synod Leader.
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The Synod staff works together to implement the vision and direction of the Synod Assembly and the Mission and Ministry Commission. They are located in diverse geographic areas of the Synod, while maintaining an office in East Syracuse, NY.
- Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley - Transitional Synod Leader;
- Rev. Nancy Talbot - Stated Clerk;
- Ruling Elder Lori Hylton - Administrative Coordinator;
- Fran Klaiber - Manager of Finance;
- Stacy Galloway - part-time Finance Clerk/ Administrative Support.
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Almighty God,
you have given your law to guide us in a life of love, and you have appointed leaders and helpers to interpret your will. Create in those who lead and help your people a mind to study your Word, and good understanding, so that we may all learn your truth and do it gladly;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Master.
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FROM THE COMMISSION ON MINISTRY (COM):
AN EXAMPLE OF YOUR COMMITTEES AT WORK!
"Terms Of Call"
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Three times a year, the presbytery meets to recognize the work of the pastors and churches within its bounds, to renew our commitment to common worship, and to make the “business” decisions that support the work of the pastors and help churches continue to function smoothly. These decisions often involve mundane aspects of managing church business—the kinds of things that don’t draw pastors into ministry, and which they’d often rather not worry about. One such issue is the yearly review of pastors’ salaries. Every year the Commission on Ministry (COM) reviews its recommendations of what pastors should be paid and submits new recommendations to the presbytery for approval. This year, the presbytery voted to ask churches within the presbytery to increase the pay of all who serve. It may not seem directly related to the church’s mission, but it’s essential.
Thirteen years ago, I entered ministry feeling excited to serve God and the church. Like most pastors, I wasn’t thinking much about making money. The ordination process reinforced this: mentors insisted I refer to searching for a “call” rather than a “job.” My first position was half-time, and the sense of call I’d explored since I first considered becoming a pastor came up against a fact of life: even with a call, I would have to pay rent and cover other expenses (like the seminary degree I’d earned en route to being ordained). Working other jobs helped me pay my bills and taught me how many people live when they don’t have the opportunities I’d been given, but my time and attention were often split between ministry and other things in ways that made it difficult to be the pastor I wanted to be.
It's a difficult time to be the church. Congregations were already shrinking before the pandemic began, and now many people are afraid to come to church. Congregations depend on their leaders to help them continue serving God faithfully, and paying leaders adequately helps them be available to do the work (see 1 Timothy 5 for Paul’s words on maintaining a solid relationship between a pastor and a congregation). At the September meeting, the PNNE approved new minimum compensations standards for 2023. The recommendation was for a 5% increase, half of the IRS projected cost of living increase of 10%, but an attempt to keep commitments to both those who pastor and to the congregations that they serve. These minimum terms of call apply to pastors and Commissioned Ruling Elders, whether full-time or part-time. The presbytery reviews the terms of call every year to make sure that they keep pace with the cost of living. It’s our hope that, by supporting our clergy financially, we can help them continue to support and guide congregations as we seek to serve God in our communities with faith and energy.
-- The Rev. Steve Allman, member of COM
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The presence of Moses and Elijah in the Transfiguration has been read as summarizing “the Law and the Prophets” now being fulfilled in and by Jesus’ life, the Messiah. Moses represents the Law; the Prophets are represented by Elijah.
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Registration for Confirmation Class Extended to TODAY Fri Oct 14.
New England GLOW and Good Shepherd Presbyerian Church are working together to host the second Joint Confirmation class!
MORE INFO |
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ACTIVITIES AT MID-COAST PC, TOPSHAM, ME
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 On Sunday, October 23, MCPC will be celebrating 35 years since its chartering on October 25, 1987! Worship begins at 10:10 am and we will be having a potluck meal together afterwards. Everyone in PNNE is invited – but understandably not expecting many since Sunday is a busy day for everyone!
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 ALL are invited to attend the Seventh Annual Kirkin’ of the Tartans on November 13, 10:10am. Rev. Dr. J. Barrie Shepherd will be preaching and there will be bagpipes and other special music. The day before, November 12 (9am-2pm), MCPC will have its annual Christmas Fair hosted by the Presbyterian Women of the congregation. There will be delicious preserves and relishes, yummy baked goods, hand-made crafts, and Christmas items for sale – whatever is left will be sold following the Kirkin’ service November 13.
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( If you'd like your church's activities to show up in Connections, send an email with the information to the Resource Presbyter, Rev. Scott DeBlock, or the Connections assistant, George Huggins. )
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POAMN is thrilled to offer this retreat at a significantly discounted rate! Your conference registration includes lodging, meals and retreat programming. Pastors, educators, volunteers and all of those that work with and among older adults are encouraged to attend this retreat.
- Need a change of scenery?
- Come hear the Good News!
- Live in Hope!
- Connect!
- Love to Work with Older Adults?
- This is the retreat for you!
- All meals included
- Single rooms $300 per person before October 15
- Double rooms $200 per person before October 15
- Commuters $150
- Discounted rates for POAMN or other Christian Formation Collective members (APCE, UKirk, PCCCA, PYWA).
This retreat offered in partnership with the
Office of Christian Formation of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
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PCCCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 13-18, 2022
"ABIDING PRESENCE"
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Gather with us to explore what it looks like to welcome people into God’s Abiding Presence through camp and conference ministry. No matter the shifts we continue to make in our ministries, what hasn't changed is our call and mission. Join us as we delve into how we can be conduits of this Abiding Presence of welcome, transformation, and service by doing what we do best - teaching and learning from one another as we discern what Matthew 25:31-46 is saying to us today.
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MORE STUFF IN THE CALENDAR
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We're expanding the scope of our calendar. Please review the PNNE calendar, bookmark it in your browser for subsequent reference, and consider subscribing to it to bring it to your own computer and smart devices. We'll still list assembly meetings as events about the calendar.
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CHANGES IN THE BOOK OF ORDER
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 The Presbytery of Northern New England (PNNE) will vote on the amendments to the constitution at the PNNE stated meeting on January 12, 2023. We are giving advance notice because it is a lot of reading. If you have questions as you review them, you can contact the Stated Clerk, T. J. DeMarco at sc@pnne.org. The 225th General Assembly (2022) approved 33 proposed amendments to the Book of Order—including a replacement for the entire D-section—to be considered and voted on by the 166 presbyteries prior to July 9, 2023. For an amendment to be adopted, 84 presbyteries must vote to approve it. |
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Connecting: For All Ministers
We have two weekly opportunities for ministers to connect for support and encouragement. Click here to join the Zoom meeting at the days and times, below.
- Mondays at 10:00 am
- Tuesdays at 3:00 pm
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If you're interested in serving on a PNNE Committee, contact the Nominating Committee Chair. All Committees (except the PJC) will need to fill the Class of 2025 position(s). These are current vacancies on PNNE Committees:
- Nominating Committee
- Class of 2023 (2)
- Class of 2024 (2)
- Synod Commissioners (Oct 21-22, 2022, in-person Albany)
- Ruling Elder (RE)
- Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD)
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Position Openings
FULL DETAILS OF THE OPENINGS ARE ON PNNE'S WEBSITE, HERE
First Presbyterian Church of Barre, Vermont — Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Haverhill, MA — Stated Supply Pastor
Topsham, Vermont, Presbyterian Church — Part-time Pastor
Newburyport, MA - Old South Presbyterian Church – Full Time Pastor
Nashua, NH - Nashua PC - Full Time Pastor
Wales Presbyterian Church, Wales, ME- Part-time Stated Supply Pastor
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Autumn Rainfall
Awaking to the sound of heavy rain,
that steady, more than hiss, not quite
a roar – echoing somehow its sister sound
the crash and sibilant retreat of waves
along the seashore – gurgle in the gutters,
gush of drainpipes, processing splash
of passing traffic on the liquid road below,
I welcome sound into my darkened room,
reseal the windows of the eye, become awake
to every drip, drop, tap and trickle falling
downward, ever downward, and attune myself
to the declining of the year,
the long decay of summer’s harvest,
the yearly tumble down toward the dark and damp
where warmth is an achievement,
birth a distant lantern gleam, and hope
is shaped by firesides and family tables
bright with festive candles.
J. Barrie Shepherd
10/3/85
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SYNOD OF NORTHEAST TO OFFER COACH TRAINING
3-day training (15 hours) on Nov. 14-16, 2022
Twelve 2-hour coaching classes (held every 2-3 weeks) of training and coaching
A second 3-day training (15 hours) in June 2023
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