We’re here! Your Winnebago Presbytery Commissioners, Staff and Observers have arrived in San Jose.  Yesterday we spent the day finding our hotels, meeting spaces, name tags and places to eat.  Today business begins.  This morning the Assembly will gather for a couple of hours to begin hearing reports but the first big event will be tonight when the Assembly elects a moderator.

There are four candidates for moderator right now.  (It is possible that someone could be nominated from the floor at the meeting tonight.)  For more information on each of the candidates click here.

News and updates as well as streaming video will be available at pcusa.org/ga218.  I’ll also post updates here as I’m able.

Meanwhile click here for pictures of the first 24 hours.

Want to keep up with all the goings on but not up to traveling to San Jose? Watch via the GA streaming video. More details at http://www.pcusa.org/ga218/schedule/streaming-schedule.htm

The Parish Papers have disappeared from the menu bar at the top of the page - but they haven’t gone far.   They can now be found at their new home on the Resources page of this website.

Bulletin Inserts are back on the menu bar with the latest one featuring information about the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance response to the Midwest storms and flooding.  Consider using it in your Sunday bulletins.

Sunday, May 18, 2008 approximately 100 people gathered in the small sanctuary of the Pembine Church to celebrate 100 years of ministry.  The 8:30 a.m. worship service celebrated the occasion with special music and  guest speakers, some who travelled from the east coast.  There were lots of stories shared as the members “extended a hand, a smile and a heartfelt welcome to all.” 

The following brief history was part of the sharing:

The First Presbyterian Church became active in Pembine in 1902 when the Reverend C.P. Andrews of the Amberg Presbyterian Church  came to conduct services in the one room schoolhouse on the north edge of town.

In the spring of 1908, a small group consisting of William Vanderlinder, George Willis, H.B. Huber and Victor Lundgren met to discuss organizing a Presbyterian Church in Pembine.

The Pembine Presbyterian Church came into official existence on May 14, 1908 when a Certificate of Organization was drawn up and filed in the office of the Secretary of State in Madison.  This certificate was signed by William Vanderlinder, George Willis, Sr. and H. B. Huber.  It was taken before Notary Public John Stoveken of Pembine who witnessed it before George Weycker and Anna Dixon (Mrs. Charles Stoveken).

The officers of the church puchased lots 25 and 26 from J. B. Goodman.  Construction began in the spring of 1913.  Most of the work was done by men and boys of the church and community who donated both time and materials freely and generously.  It did become necessry to borrow money to finish the building, and in July of the same year, three hundred dollars was borrowed to complete the project.

 The congregation moved into the new building in late 1913 or spring of 1914 where services are still held today.

In 1983, two bathrooms were added along with an addition to the basement to include a kitchen. 

During the early years, the pastors usually came from Amberg by train to hold services; but ministers were required to have a horse and buggy and many times during the summer they drove to Pembine to hold services, stayed overnight, and returned to Amberg the next day.  Records for the years 1918 to 1927 were stored in the office of the depot and burned in a fire.

Even more stories were shared following worship as everyone enjoyed refreshments.

Greetings,                                May 8, 2008

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is issuing a special appeal through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) in an effort to support recovery efforts as a result of the cyclone that has devastated Myanmar.  An appeal card is being sent to every congregation in the next few days.  In addition PDA has committed $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to provide emergency assistance to survivors of Myanmar.  The appeal card is available to download online at www.pcusa.org/pda.   A bulletin insert is being created and liturgical resources are being collected.  These items will be accessible online and we encourage your churches to use them as they become available.  Linda Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Council stated, “The PC(USA) through its disaster relief agency seeks to accompany the people of Myanmar through this catastrophe.  Our mission is to heal broken lives, as well as broken homes.”

PDA is responding in Myanmar as a member of and in partnership with Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and Church World Service.  Both entities have local partners in Myanmar and will have representatives to help in the provision of relief items to cyclone survivors.  Valentine also commented, “We have trust in our partners to help us be the hands and feet of Christ during this difficult time.”

Communication has been widely destroyed in the region, but attempts are being made to be in conversation with our partner churches in the area including the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar located in the northeast of Myanmar, our PC(USA) regional liaison located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Christian Conference of Asia, and Myanmar Council of Churches.

The situation in Myanmar is dire. As of today UN and Church World Services officials have reported that close to one million people are homeless and priority needs are for water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, basic medical kits, bed nets and food. Power and water supply have been disconnected, and the price of food has multiplied since the storm.   Current estimates indicate tens of thousands of lives have been lost, with tens of thousands still missing.

Cyclone Nargis, packing winds up to 120 miles per hour, swept through the country on Saturday. A storm surge with waves up to 12 feet high washed inland causing widespread destruction. The low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region, the country’s main agricultural area, suffered the most severe damage.

The full extent of the damage throughout the country has not yet been determined. An already marginal infrastructure has been further damaged resulting in poor communications and impassible roads. Power outages and scattered debris also hamper recovery efforts.

Our church’s generous gifts will help us stand with our brothers and sisters in long term recovery efforts as their broken lives and communities begin to heal.

Gifts for this disaster can be designated to DR000145 –Myanmar/Burma.

Donations may be sent through normal mission giving channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or online at
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/myanmarburma-index.htm .

Gifts can also be made through your churches normal giving channels.

Checks payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can also be
Mailed directly to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Central Receiving Services
Individual Remittance Processing
DR000145
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA  15264-3700

Or

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Central Receiving Services
Church Remittance Processing
DR000145
P.O. Box 643678
Pittsburgh, PA  15264-3678

Please be in prayer for those most vulnerable and so adversely affected by this catastrophe.

Grace and Peace,
Mindy Marchal
Communication Associate for Compassion, Peace and Justice
PC(USA)
888-728-7228, ext 5212
Mindy.marchal@pcusa.org