Here is it the first week of August, and it seems summer only began a week ago.  Maybe that’s because it took such a good, long time to warm up.

So here we are thinking about back to school and gearing up all the local church programs.  And so it is at the presbytery level as well.

The next several weeks include meetings of:

• the Mission Grants Allocation Committee reviewing and recommending all the projects submitted for 2010 funding;
• All Things Green, on August 13, looking at pursuing a green strategy for Winnebago Presbytery;
• the Global Partnership Task Group working on  plans for the early October visit of International Peacemaker, the Rev. Diego Higuita, from Colombia;
• the  Camp Task Group preparing for the the October 28-31 Presbytery-wide youth event;
• the Finance Committee taking a first look at presbytery budget requests for next year;
• the  Council in preparation for the September 15 Presbytery meeting in Wabeno;
• the Transitional/ Directional Task Force of Council continuing to look at the future course of the Presbytery;
• the Committees on Ministry and Preparation for Ministry continuing their work with the clergy, lay pastors, congregations, and seminarians.

Already scheduled for September:

• September 12 – Barbara Anne Keely is the featured presenter at a joint Presbytery/Northeast Association UCC Christian education event in Oshkosh designed for teachers, committee members, pastors and educators.   More information.
• September 15 – Presbytery Meeting at First Church, Wabeno.  The theme is “accessibility.”
• September 20-21 – Winnebago and Milwaukee Presbyteries are sponsoring a joint Christian Educator Retreat at Green Lake Conference Center.  More details coming soon.

WOW!  We’re busy, and none of this would happen without the wonderful folks from our 40 congregations who volunteer!  Thanks for ALL you do!

At the end of March ten women from around the Presbytery traveled to Perryville, Arkansas, to participate in the Women’s Lambing Extended Weekend at the Heifer Project Ranch.

Funds to underwrite the trip were requested through a Task Group proposal to the Resource and Program Coordinating Team.   The idea was germinated by Jean Hamersky (DePere First United) and Cindy Huxtable (Neenah First).

Working with the Presbytery, they sought other women who might be interested in such an experience .  The trip filled quickly (there were only enough funds to send 10 women) and nearly 10 more were placed on a waiting list!

From all accounts, the experience was very positive.  Everyone came back energized and full of ideas of for encouraging their congregations’ participation  in supporting the efforts of Heifer Project in the U.S. and internationally.

Participants are already scheduled to make presentations at two events this spring.  They will share their story with the Presbyterian Women at their Spring Gathering, April 25, at Frame Memorial in Stevens Point.

They will speak again at the Winnebago Presbytery meeting  on May 12 at the  at First Church in Manitowoc.   They are also willing to make presentations in local congregations.  The women may be contacted directly or request information from the Presbytery Office.

The trip was such a success that plans are already underway to sponsor another trip in 2010!

What

in the World is

One Great Hour of Sharing?

Click on the above link to watch the video

Gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering go to support the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the Self-Development of People Program.

The Presbytery met on February 7th at First Presbyterian Church Oshkosh.  It was a full day and in addition to all the items of business, we had an educational hour presented by Dr. Kristine Krumenauer, Professor of Art Education at Marian University.   Many of the slides were difficult to see because of the sunlight shining on the screen and so with Dr. Krumenauer’s permission, we are working to post pictures from the examples section of the presentation.

It’s not to early to plan!  Rhashell Hunger, Director of Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW writes,

“March 8, 2009 is Celebrate the gifts of Women Sunday and International Women’s Day.  By action of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly (Orlando, 1993), Celebrate the Gifts of Women appears in the planning calendar each year.  Congregations and individuals are encouraged to celebrate this day each year, recognizing the gifts women bring to God, the Church and community.”

More resources for this event can be found here