The National Presbyterian - Houston Presbyterian Pilgrimage

The National Presbyterian
The Newsletter of the National Council of
Presbyterian Fourth Day Movements and the
National Council of Presbyterian Cursillo
www.days3.com
July 2009
From Tubs to Trailer
Em Wright, Oklahoma Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Editor’s note: Em Wright joined the church triumphant on
April 2, 2009. He is sorely missed for all he did for Presbyterian
Cursillo/Pilgrimage.
All Pilgrimage and Cursillo communities share some common
challenges. One of those is what to do with the items that are
used for repeated weekends and how to get them to and from
the site.
The Oklahoma community was started by South Carolina in
1993, and for the first 10 years of our Cursillos our collection
of items that we wanted to take to the site and then save in
between kept growing. This resulted in a collection of 20 gallon
plastic tubs that had to be stored somewhere (in our case at the
church). Cars lined up to get the tubs to training (for inventory)
and then to and from the site.
We were very fortunate to have a generous member who,
observing the problem, bought a 16’ dual axle enclosed trailer
which he donated to the program in 2003. The full dimensions
of the trailer are 16’x6’x6.’ By putting a wire rack shelf about
half way up on each side we are able to get 44 of the 20 gal
plastic tubs arranged so that no tub has more than 1 other tub
on top of it. This still leaves enough room for banners, banner
stands, and mail boxes, along with other pieces of miscellaneous
equipment, and an aisle where expendables for the particular
weekend can also be carried.
See “Trailers” on page 2
A Shared Journey of Faith
Diane Burt, Florida Presbyterian Cursillo
A weekend of healing and grace was
experienced by all who attended this Cursillo.
Friendships were made and woes and
cares were placed in God’s hands.
It was a time for renewal of one’s faith.
Deep reverence, along with humor and fun,
made for healing the negatives found
in our everyday lives.
God bless each person who participated
in this Very special weekend.
Volume 11, No. 2
Calling As at Other Times
Danya M. Jordan, South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage
It’s such a pivotal moment of a Cursillo/Pilgrimage weekend —
hearing your name during “Samuel, Samuel” and saying, “Here
I am, Lord.” It’s a scripture passage we’ve heard so many times
before, but on a recent weekend I noticed four words of the story
I had never paid attention to before.
In 1 Samuel 3, the Bible reads, “The boy Samuel ministered
before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was
rare; there were not many visions. Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered ‘Here I am.’ And he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here
I am; you called me.’ But Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie
down.’ So he went and lay down.”
God called him again. “Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling
the boy. So Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if he calls you,
say, ‘Speak Lord for your servant is listening.’ So Samuel went and
lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, CALLING
AS AT OTHER TIMES, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said,
‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’”
Did you notice it? The Lord came and stood there, CALLING AS
AT OTHER TIMES. That phrase hit me over the head. God talks
with us all the time, and we are so distracted and do not listen,
or think it’s someone/something else, not God. It took Eli to
prepare Samuel to really listen the next time the Lord “came and
stood there” and called him. How often do we blow off the Elis
in our lives and dismiss their insight?
We are all just “extension cords” to God, the Power Source. Who
is an Eli in your life, who can help you “plug” you into God, as the
Power Source and prepare you to listen to Him calling you? The
Lord is talking to you, calling your name, calling AS AT OTHER
TIMES. Listen to Him, and Listen to “Eli,” so you can listen to Him.
Thank God for Presbyterian Cursillo/Pilgrimage, which is an
amazing vehicle to slow us down and help us hear the Lord
speaking. “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
In This Issue
Calling As at Other Times –
by Danya M. Jordan, SCPP ........................................ 1
A Shared Journey of Faith – by Diane Burt, FLPC ........ 1
From Tubs to Trailer – by Em Wright, OPP .................1
And on the Fourth Day…What? –
by Rev. David Hupp ................................................... 2
Weekend Calendar ....................................................... 3
Page 2 — July 2009
And on the Fourth Day…What?
Rev. David Hupp
I was glancing through a newsletter from a neighboring church
recently and came upon the words to a hymn by Helen Steiner
Rice. Its closing lines were:
But if you are searching to find the way
To life everlasting and eternal day –
With Faith in your heart take the path He trod,
For the way of the cross is the way to God.
This message, I suspect, is not terribly appealing to many of us.
It speaks of the way of the cross not simply as something Jesus
did, but as something we must do. It’s not a message likely to
inspire a mad rush to sign up. Though there are bound to be
valleys in life, we much prefer the mountain-tops. These we
enjoy while the others we merely endure.
Could this be the reason why, as someone once put it at a
National Council meeting, we do the weekends well but the
after-weekends not so well?
According to a recently published book, it is the valleys rather
than the mountain-tops that stimulate spiritual growth. The
Shape of Faith to Come is based upon large-scale surveys of
church-going Christians. One facet of it included questions
regarding what life experiences were connected with one’s
spiritual growth.
Virtually all of the answers focused on valleys, not mountaintops. Perhaps that is because our spiritual life tends to remain
unexamined, and our relationship with God left to atrophy
whenever we are comfortable; perhaps only the discomfort of
valley experiences is sufficient to get our attention.
Christ calls each of us to a life journey that is at once infinitely
rewarding and incredibly challenging; we must endure the
challenges if we would enjoy the rewards. (Honesty requires me
to confess that, like many of you, I would love to enjoy the
rewards without enduring the challenges. Of course, I would
love to eat as much as I want of all my favorite foods without ever
gaining any weight, and that, too, ain’t gonna happen!)
The National Presbyterian Cursillista
The weekend equips us with tools to use for our spiritual journey
on the Fourth Day precisely because we need them to face the
challenges life sends our way. We need to be sustained by
spiritual disciplines (Piety – Study – Action) and supported by the
Christian community, for example, if we are to follow Jesus.
The weekend should be a wake-up call that inspires us to make
different choices each day of our lives. The greatest challenge we
face may well be the temptation to fall right back into whatever
rut we have dug for ourselves in life, as though the weekend
never happened. As wonderful as the weekends are, the Fourth
Day is intended to be lived between the weekends, not on them.
The weekends themselves can be extremely helpful, but only if
they inspire us and equip us to follow Jesus on all the days from
one weekend to the next.
I believe the best measure of the success of our weekends is not
how people feel on Sunday, but what they’re willing to do on
Monday. This applies as much to team members as to guests. Are
we putting into practice the things we learned (or re-learned) on
the weekend? Are we re-evaluating our lives so they will be
based on what really matters most to us? Are we implementing
changes so we can lead a balanced Christian life? Are we going
it alone, or are we engaged with others in the Christian community
as we follow Jesus? Are we seeking opportunities to share the
grace of God with others in all of the many environments in
which we find ourselves? Are we fulfilling our responsibility to be
the people of God, giving freely of our time and talents to serve
rather than finding excuses to be nothing more than spectators?
Did we experience a life-changing event during those three
days, or was it just a nice weekend?
We all need to ask ourselves these questions, particularly those
of us who have served on teams. If the weekend doesn’t change
those of us who serve as team members, how can we expect it
to change the guests? If we are not willing to do what is required
to follow Jesus, how can we expect it of the guests? If we want
to see God do great things, we must be willing to act on what we
know to follow Jesus. (“If you know these things, you are blessed
if you do them.” John 13:17) Having experienced God’s grace,
we must, like Jesus, “with Faith in [our] heart[s] take the path He
trod, For the way of the cross is the way to God.”
Trailers - Continued from page 1
With careful attention to weight of the individual tubs they are
arranged to keep the tongue weight of the trailer and the center
of gravity within proper limits for towing, but are also arranged
by functional area (Palanca Cha, Table Cha, Music Cha, etc.).
Each tub is labeled by group and then by contents and a guide
to where each tub is stored in the trailer is posted on the inside
of trailer door. This allows us to put everything back in its correct
space when we repack the trailer or when we go searching for
an individual item.
The trailer and its contents are insured through one of our local
churches. The management of our trailer is handled by a
specific individual appointed by our local council who is
lovingly known as the “Trailer Cha.” That person is responsible
for getting the trailer to and from weekend, training, training
other drivers, controlling access to the trailer, and trailer security.
Recently our council had our logo placed on both sides of the
trailer so that those who saw us on the road would know “those
Presbyterians are on their way somewhere to do something.”
The trailer has been a real help to our operation and is
something you might want to consider if you are experiencing
similar frustrations.
The National Presbyterian Cursillista
Weekend Calendar
*.eps
July 2009 — Page 3
Do we have the latest information about your community’s upcoming weekends? If not, please contact John Day:
[email protected] or (269) 353-3822. (TBA=Moderator or Lay Leader to be announced)
Alabama
Georgia
Alabama Presbyterian Cursillo
Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo
www.alpresbyteriancursillo.com
#23 September 24-27 Camp Beckwith – Jack Kimsey,
moderator
#24 April 8-11, 2010 Camp Beckwith – Emily McMahan,
moderator
Community contact: Sissy Crowe [email protected]
Tennessee Valley Presbyterian Cursillo
www.cursillo.com/tvpchome.htm
#13 October 8–11 Maranatha Camp – Donnie Patterson,
moderator
Community contact: Keith Johnson [email protected]
Arkansas
Arkansas Presbyterian Cursillo
http://www.presbyteryofarkansas.org/
frmContent.aspx?PageName=Cursillo
#11 October 15–18 Ferncliff Presbyterian Center – Debbie
Cordell, moderator
#12 April 15–18, 2010 Ferncliff Presbyterian Center –
Moderator, Jeff Williams
#13 October 14 - 17, 2010, Ferncliff Presbyterian Center Moderator, Peggy Leonhard
Community contact: Dave Hamilton
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Colorado
Colorado Presbyterian Cursillo
www.coloradocursillo.com
#20 October 22-25 La Foret Conference Center – Kathy
Upton, moderator
#21 May 13-16, 2010, LaForet Conference Center - Mary
Rowe, moderator
#22 Oct. 21-24, 2010, LaForet Conference Center - Kent
Meyer, moderator
Community contact: Gail Chamley [email protected]
Florida
Florida Presbyterian Cursillo
www.floridacursillo.org
#3 November 5-8 Christian Church Conference Center –
Howard VanDenburgh, moderator
#4 April 28-May 2, 2010 Christian Church Conference
Center – Rosemarie Stadelman, moderator
Community contact: Ann VanDenburgh
[email protected]
www.georgiapresbyteriancursillo.com (Pilgrim site)
www.georgiapresbyteriancursillo.com/4thday
#32 August 27-30 Camp Fortson – Kemie Brown-Vansant,
moderator
#33 October 22-25 Camp Pinnacle – Paula Morris,
moderator
#34 April 22-25, 2010 Camp Pinnacle – Craig Clark,
moderator
Community contact: Kevin Price
[email protected] or Val Mote, secretary
[email protected]
Illinois
Chicagoland Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.chpilgrimage.org
#19 May 28-31 DeKoven Retreat Center – Doug Hood,
moderator
Community contact: Becky Beem [email protected]
Indiana
Indiana Presbyterian Cursillo
www.ipcursillo.org
Community contact: Doug Anderson
[email protected]
Louisiana
Louisiana Presbyterian Cursillo
www.louisianapresbyteriancursillo.org
#3 January 7-10, 2010 Wesley Retreat Center –
Moderator TBA
Community contact: Jani Gage [email protected]
Michigan
Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.mppilgrimage.org
#10 (Detroit #1) September 10-13 Howell Conference
Center – George Davidson, rector
#11 October 22-25 Camp Henry – Rich Yeckley, rector
Community contact: Dave Andrus [email protected]
Page 4 — July 2009
The National Presbyterian Cursillista
Mississippi
Texas
Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo
Austin Presbyterian Cursillo
www.mspresbyteriancursillo.com
Community contact: Tom McIlwain
[email protected]
Nebraska
Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage
http://www.oasischurchministries.com/opilgrimage.htm
#6 October 14-18 Calvin Crest Conference Center – Rector
TBA
#7 April 21-25, 2010 Calvin Crest Conference Center –
Rector TBA
#8 October 20-24, 2010 Calvin Crest Conference Center –
Rector TBA
Community contact: Josh Widman [email protected]
North Carolina
North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.ncpilgrimage.org
#93 September 24–27 Camp Harrison – Cindi Hofner,
rector
#94 October 8–11 Camp Hanes – Larry Hooker, rector
#95 November 5-8 Camp Dixie – Lauren Blashford, rector
Community contact: Chip Todd [email protected]
Oklahoma
Eastern Oklahoma Presbyterian Cursillo
www.geocities.com/eopcursillo/
#17 October 7-11 Dwight Mission – Margaret Martinson,
moderator
Community contact: Margaret [email protected]
Oklahoma Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.days3.com/OK.htm
#42 October 1-4 Canyon Camp – Barry Davis, moderator
Celebration #27 October 16-18 Canyon Camp Moderator TBA
Community contact: Sissy Tubb [email protected]
South Carolina
South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.presbyteriancursillosc.org
#58 September 24-27 Bethelwoods Camp & Conference
Center – Deborah Ellison, moderator
Community contact: Danya Jordan
[email protected]
www.austincursillo.org
#28 September 17-20 Camp Buckner – David Briggs,
moderator
Community contacts: Lee Weber [email protected]
Janice Llewellyn - [email protected]
Houston Presbyterian Cursillo
www.houstoncursillo.org and
www.houstonareacelebration.org
HAC #7 July 10-12 Cho-Yeh – James Davis, moderator
#57 September 10-13 Cho-Yeh – Roland Zavala,
moderator
#58 November 5-8 Palacios – Joanna Schima, moderator
HAC #8 January 16-18, 2010 – Ross Haskins, moderator
#59 February 11-14, 2010 Camp Allen – Jim Beall,
moderator
#60 April 15-18, 2010 Palacios – Robin Haring,
moderator
Community contact: Rene Murphy
[email protected]
North Texas Presbyterian Cursillo
www.ntpcursillo.com
October 8-11 – Kerry Knox, moderator
March 4-7, 2010, Kathy Greenough, moderator
Community contact: Sally Rathbun
[email protected]
Palo Duro Presbyterian Cursillo
www.days3.com/PD.htm
#23 November 5-8 Camp Butman – Dawn Kingsbery,
moderator [email protected]
#24 David Baum, moderator [email protected]
Community contact: Beckey Lipe
[email protected]
Virginia
Virginia Eastern Presbyterian Pilgrimage
#11 October 22-25 Holy Family Retreat Centre – Paul
Meitz, rector
Community contact: Kerry Goldmeyer
[email protected]
Ester Sundelin, registrar [email protected]
July 2009 — Page 5
The National Presbyterian Cursillista
James Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Shenandoah Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.pjpilgrimage.org
#27 October 15-18 – Lay coordinator, Catherine Fischer
[email protected]
Community contact:
Mitch Rowland [email protected]
www.math.jmu.edu/~sanders/spp.html
#29 October 15–18 Camp Overlook – Lay coordinator TBA
Community contacts: Doris Fredricksen
[email protected]
Mary Linda Wolfe [email protected]
Peaks Presbyterian Pilgrimage
www.peakspresbytery.org/pilgrimage.html
#43 October 15-18 – Larry Hall, lay coordinator
#44 April 15-18, 2010
#45 October 14-17, 2010
Community contact: Marie Haines
[email protected]
The National Presbyterian CURSILLISTA is the newsletter of the National Council of Presbyterian Fourth Day Movements
NATIONAL COUNCIL OFFICERS:
Moderator:
Jim Mason, North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Vice-Moderator:
Beckey Lipe - Palo Duro Presbyterian Cursillo
Secretary: Kerry
Goldmeyer - Presbytery of Eastern Virginia Pilgrimage
Treasurer:
Tom Boehmer - North Texas Presbyterian Cursillo
Music Director:
Tom Boehmer - North Texas Presbyterian Cursillo
Arkansas Presbyterian Cursillo
Austin Presbyterian Cursillo
Alabama Presbyterian Cursillo
Chicagoland Presbyterian Cursillo
Colorado Presbyterian Cursillo
Eastern Oklahoma Presbyterian Cursillo
Eastern Virginia Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo
Newsletter Editor:
John Day – Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage
[email protected] -- (269) 353-3822
Graphic Design:
Gail Drinkard - Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo
Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Houston Presbyterian Cursillo
Indiana Presbyterian Cursillo
James Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo
North Carolina Presbyterian
Pilgrimage
North Texas Presbyterian Cursillo
Oklahoma Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Palo Duro Presbyterian Cursillo
Peaks Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Shenandoah Presbyterian Pilgrimage
South Carolina Presbyterian Cursillo
Tennessee Valley Presbyterian Cursillo