THE HAPPENINGS

Newsletter of Presbyterian Women of Middle Tennessee Presbytery

Fall 2007

Greetings from the Moderator:

“This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24, NKJV)…Easy to say when the weather is pleasant, the lawn is green, and family and friends are around to share a cold iced tea!

But I am learning that gratitude is a skill, developed through intentional practice. The recent passing of two remarkable women has caused me to reflect on all of the women who have shaped my life with examples of faith, hard work, determination and (yes), stubbornness.

This week, our family said farewell to my Great-aunt, Aline. “Auntie”, as she’s known to us, was a fiercely independent woman, and in many respects ahead of her time. She loved her church and her home in West Nashville, but she especially loved to ‘go’ ….to lunch or on trips, long or short, with family and friends. Our family rejoices- truly joyful– that her spirit’s journey has culminated at her greatest destination yet…that which has led her into God’s glory and peace.

Our Middle TN community also bid farewell to Ruth Elliott, a life-long Presbyterian Woman and member of Woodland Presbyterian Church. Ruth is remembered as giving tirelessly of her time and effort to many causes, and was especially devoted to Monroe Harding Children’s Home. We are grateful for her years of leadership on our Middle Tennessee PW Coordinating Team. Recently, many of those who loved her gathered to share memories, and to thank God for her remarkable love and service to others.

We have each been touched by women with hearts for such love and service. We may not be able to ‘fill their shoes’ but we can honor their legacies through service to others, and bridge the gaps left by their parting. I am thankful for the remarkable women in my life. Today, I will rejoice! - Mary Ellen Ausenbaugh, Moderator, PW of Middle TN

Thanks to You!

Speaking of gratitude, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Presbyterian Women and many other supporters throughout Middle Tennessee for helping us sponsor two successful gatherings. The Spring Gathering was hosted in April by First Presbyterian Church of Cookeville where an offering of $683 was collected to benefit Mississippi Disaster relief. Our Synod Gathering and Training event was held in June at Franklin 1^st. We had well over 100 in attendance and raised $3,526 from offerings to benefit Living Waters for the World. We were also excited to see the premier of the new Living Waters for the World video, and be the first to purchase “Watermarks”- a book of devotional poems written by Rev. Phil Leftwich.

Two Synod Gathering scholarships were provided to women from Middle TN attending the Synod Gathering. Additionally, leaders from each Presbytery – Moderators, Treasurers, Historians, Secretaries and Cluster Leaders – were trained during this event. Pictures and other information can be found at our website, www.presbyterymidtn.org/preswomen.html . Again, thanks also to all of those who contributed to the success of these events.

Upcoming Events – PW of MIDDLE TN FALL GATHERING, OCTOBER 6, 2007!!!

Fall Gathering will be hosted by Donelson Presbyterian Church. Highlights include:

Ö Horizons Bible Study Review by Dee Koza, Author and Certified PC (USA) Educator

Ö Collection of Offerings and paper products for the Domestic Violence Intervention Center of Nashville

Ö Election of Officers

Ö Lunch and Fellowship

Ö Leadership Training for all PW Congregation Leaders – Moderators, Treasurers, Secretaries, Historians, Mission Coordinators, and all others interested in the work and mission of PW.

Special Note: PW-Churchwide Leadership has asked that we provide leadership training to women in each church in our Presbytery, in order to spread the exciting news of mission and programs. We recognize that PW groups come in all shapes, sizes and levels of organization. Even if your church does not have an “organized” PW group, please join us to learn about our new resources, approaches to service and how PW of Middle TN can offer support.

A Registration Form can be found in this mailing, and also on our website: www.presbyterymidtn.org/preswomen.html

Nurturing Faith – “Little Ways of Serving Christ” by Carrie Mabry, Spiritual Growth Representative, PW of Middle TN

“Christ has no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ is to look out on a hurting world”, wrote Teresa of Avila in the Sixteenth Century. Many of us find it difficult to see ourselves as individuals sent by God on behalf of the world. We may think that only acts of great self-sacrifice and extraordinary giving are worth of notice. But another holy woman, Therese of Lisieux, wrote of a ‘little way’ of serving Christ, urging believers to look around them for opportunities to serve others.

Both of these women remind us that in small, daily acts we have the opportunity to offer Christ to those around us; to be Christ’s’ ambassadors. The love we show may be the only expressions of God’s love that some people witness on any given day. This may feel like a heavy burden, but God does not call any of us to do everything. We are, however, meant to respond to the Holy Spirit’s small nudges, to serve God not in the multitude of things we cannot do, but in the small things that we can do.

Supporting Mission – “Together in Service”

PW Birthday Offering Produces "Domino-effect" of Awareness for Living Waters for the World, 

Presbyterian Women have played a unique role in supporting Living Waters for the World. Steve Young, Administrator, recently provided his thoughts about how LWW has benefited from the Birthday Offering Grant, and the special synergy through which both his organization and PW have been blessed.

When Living Waters for the World announced to its supporters that the organization was a recipient of the 2007 PW Birthday Offering, committee moderator Bill Williams wrote, "The amount of the contribution is impressive ... but the larger impact is the information about our organization that will be shared with women's groups across the nation. For the first time, a nationwide unit of the PC(USA) will be promoting Living Waters for the World, making Presbyterians from coast to coast aware of the life-saving mission to bring clean water to those in need." 

And indeed, awareness has increased rapidly - with a wonderful ripple effect. "The announcement and promotion of the 2007 Birthday Offering was the first domino to fall for us," says Steve Young, Administrator of LWW. "One thing has led to another in amazing ways."
 
Since becoming a Birthday Offering recipient, Living Waters for the World:
Ö …is being featured as a resource in the Fall 2007 “We Believe” curriculum for older
   elementary children
Ö …has been featured in an article in “Presbyterian Outlook”
Ö …is receiving widespread interest in its public service announcement on YouTube.com –
  more than 2400 have viewed it thus far
Ö …has been selected to be the mission project of the 2008 PC(USA) Vacation Bible School
   curriculum
Ö …was recently covered in a feature article by Presbyterian News Service
Ö …has just learned that “Presbyterians Today” Magazine will feature Living Waters for the
  World in an issue later this year
 
“The effects of all of this exposure we can only begin to imagine", says Steve.  "Our entire focus is to train more and more volunteers at our Clean Water U program, and this increased exposure will surely help make that happen. The equation is simple - more volunteers trained means that more clean water will flow in the world. We thank God for our wonderful partnership with Presbyterian Women." Find more information on Living Waters for the World at: http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/, or call 615-261-4008. 
 

Donelson PW supports Nashville’s Domestic Violence Intervention Center

The adoption of the Domestic Violence Intervention Center (DVIC) on Woodmont Boulevard in Nashville by members of the two circles at Donelson Presbyterian Church in Nashville began with one member’s long time interest in the issue of domestic violence. Through leadership and much additional research, this interest evolved into action, with the two circles collecting several bags of personal care items, miscellaneous linens, etc., for the ladies served by the Center.

Donelson Church’s Outreach Committee then adopted the DVIC as one of its projects, donating its July Hunger and Help Offering to the Center. The church and circles have partnered in promoting the Center’s work by posting DVIC’s emergency phone numbers outside of the church and at the local Second Harvest Food Bank satellite. This August, the two circles will pool their August donations to buy bedding for the Center’s transitional housing units.

Editor’s Note: The DVIC will receive the mission offering of the Presbyterian Women’s Fall Gathering on October 6, 2007. We will also be collecting paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels for their use.

Project Joy Once Again Sponsored by Priest Lake Presbyterian Church

Project JOY is a mission project at Priest Lake Presbyterian Church in Nashville founded by the youth in 1999.  The project offers assistance to residents in and around Harlan, Kentucky. Over the years many churches within the Middle Tennessee Presbytery and many individuals have joined in this project so today it is a multi-church mission.

Harlan is a small town northeast of Knoxville. Due to several years of decline in the coal mining industry and without a steady job-base, life for many residents of Harlan is a struggle. Within the current population of approximately 32,000, almost 40% of the county’s children live in poverty.

The first trip to Harlan was organized in December of 1999, when church members delivered food boxes, winter coats, clothes and Christmas gift boxes for the children. Recognizing the extreme poverty and needs of the community for basis necessities such as blankets and toiletries, Priest Lake members felt their mission was clear – “we have to go back to Harlan”.

In October 2006 over 1000 residents were served. The church distributed 400 food/toiletry boxes, 1200 blankets and linens, over 800 gift boxes with Bibles for the children, and a mountain of coats, clothes, and shoes. The goals for the trip scheduled for October 12-13, 2007, are 400 food boxes, 400 family toiletry bags, 800 “learning bags” and a large selection of linens, coats, clothes and shoes.

For information on how your PW group or church can help, visit the church website at: http://www.priestlakepresbyterian.org/projectjoy.php , contact the church office at 615-366-0247, or Belle Dahlman, PW Moderator at 615-847-3891.

Let Us Hear from You!

So many of your circles have knitting ministries, prayer circles, casserole caravans, or participate in projects sponsored by your churches or our Presbytery. Many others encourage ‘second-mile’ giving based on the long heritage of PW. Please share your stories and ideas with us at pwmidtn@aim.com , so that others may be blessed to learn of God’s love being shared through the hands of women!!

“The King will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." Matthew 25:40, (CEV)

Working for Justice and Peace

Claudia Torrey, serves as Justice for Women and Peacemaking Rep, Middle TN PW Coordinating Team and Vice Moderator for Issues for PW Synod of Living Water.

Least Coin Offering - Presbyterian Women usually collect an offering in the fall for The Fellowship of the Least Coin, wherein women from every continent come together in prayer for concerns regarding reconciliation, justice, and peace. The goal of The Fellowship of the Least Coin is to have “the least coin” from each praying person’s country put forth as each prayer is offered. The “least coins” are contributed annually to a common fund from which grants are given in the name of women all over the world; the grants support programs that enhance work for justice and peace. Thus, The Fellowship of the Least Coin necessarily creates a community of women from different racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds who act as prayer intercessors for those in need of God’s grace. Editor’s note: As is our annual tradition, we will be receiving and dedicating the Least Coin offerings at the 2007 Fall Gathering.

World Communion (“WC”) Sunday is October 7, 2007! WC Sunday is also the day Peacemaking Offering is received—twenty-five percent of the offering is used by the congregation for peacemaking activities, and seventy-five percent is disbursed among the Presbytery, Synod , and the National Office in support of peacemaking activities. The biblical verse for WC this year is Revelation 22:2---“The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” This verse reflects the “New Jerusalem” revealed to the apostle John (who had been exiled to the Island of Patmos), wherein there will be a healing peace among all peoples of the earth.

Regarding this biblical verse, our National Office has asked all of us to pray for the following areas of the world each day: Monday---Australia & The Pacific Islands; Tuesday---Africa; Wednesday---Asia; Thursday---Europe; Friday---North America; Saturday---Latin America; and Sunday---The Middle East.

Presbyterian Women Palm Project - The National Office of Presbyterian Women has a new project known as the Presbyterian Women Palm Project (“sowing seeds of hope in the Congo”). This project developed due to the destruction of agricultural capabilities in the Congo (once the world’s largest producer of palm oil), forcing the country to import palm oil for domestic use from Malaysia. New varieties of Costa Rican palms will produce three times more palm oil than what is currently available. The income generated from selling the oil produced by these new varieties of palms will allow women’s groups and hospitals of the Presbyterian Community of Congo to subsidize funds for hospitals, clinics, and educational programs (one twenty dollar gift will purchase about ten plants). One can give on-line at www.pcusa.org/pw/giving.

“…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Build Community through Celebration Giving

Thank Offering - We were thrilled to learn of the $25,000 Thank Offering grant awarded to the Southminster Presbyterian Church daycare program for playground equipment upgrades.

The Thank Offering is collected in the fall in churches and PW circles and is considered an extension of, and separate from, Presbyterian Women’s Mission Pledge support. It began in 1888 when women were urged to give one dollar over her usual contribution to the Women’s General Missionary Society. Today, the Thank Offering benefits hospitals, schools, women’s’ health programs, shelters, hunger programs and many other programs.

Thank Offering information and promotional materials are available through Cindy Goodman, PW Associate, 1-888-728-7228, ext 5387, or at www.pcusa.org/pw . Thank Offering funds should be sent to the Middle Tennessee PW Treasurer, Marilyn Hoge, 200 Sanders Ferry Rd, Apt # 1412, Hendersonville TN 37075, by December 10, 2007.

Prayers and Pledges – Please be on the watch for the 2008 PW Pledge Forms, to be sent in September. Thanks to each of the PW groups who have lovingly chosen to support PW at the Presbytery, Synod and Churchwide levels in some form – through prayer, time, talents and through the pledge process.

Odds and Ends -Don’t Forget……

***Fall Gathering and Leadership Training, October 6, 2007 at Donelson Church***

2008 Bible Study Review “Above and Beyond: Hearing God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth”

Dee Koza, Keynote Speaker

Afternoon Leadership Training

PW Synod of Living Waters Website

Our PW Synod Coordinating Team has established a new website with information on missions, devotions and other items of interest to Presbyterian Women.

Check it out at: www.pwslivingwaters.org

Join the Ministry of Presbyterian Women – YOUR UNIQUE GIFTS ARE NEEDED!!! Please consider service on the Middle TN PW Coordinating team, and be in prayer for our team as we continue to call for women to join us in the ministry PW. The Mission of PW is one of inclusion, of hands-on service and mission giving. God empowers the church to do Christ’s work by giving every Christian special gifts for ministry. Please consider using your spiritual gifts in the ministry work of PW in the Presbytery. The following Coordinating Team Positions remain open: Vice Moderator, Missions / Together in Service Coordinator, Search Committee Moderator, Historian, Recording Secretary, Cluster Leaders and on various committees. For more information, contact any member of the Coordinating Team, Mary Ellen Ausenbaugh (931-858-5277) or Diane Thurston (615-444-8668).

“ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” I Corinthians 12:4-7 (NLV)

How can the Middle TN Coordinating Team serve your church? – By providing resources and support for new and existing circles, mission interpretation and ideas, assistance with new officer installation, and more! Please contact your Cluster Leader or any member of the Coordinating Team for more information.

Starting new Circles? Want to share success stories? Drop us a line or a call, so we can get the word out. We are all blessed and inspired to learn of the work being done by Presbyterian Women in other churches. Contact you PW Cluster Leader, Mary Ellen Ausenbaugh, 931-858-5277, pwmidtn@aim.com, Diane Thurston 615-444-8668, dtkatt@charter.net or other PW Coordinating Team members.