The National Presbyterian - NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Transcription
The National Presbyterian - NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage
Magazine of the National Council February, 2014 Volume A 17,News Number 1 Page 1 The National Presbyterian of Presbyterian Fourth Day Movements The National Presbyterian and the National Council of Presbyterian Cursillo Volume 17, No 1 www.cursillo.us www.cursillo.us/4thday.htm A Little Bit of History Back in the early days of our movement, one far sighted man from Oklahoma—Jim Cahalan— suggested something that has made quite a difference to us. Jim, the first national moderator of our national council, suggested a small but critical change to our license from the Roman Catholics. The license then read that you had to be a member of a PC(USA) church to attend or staff a Presbyterian Cursillo weekend. Jim recognized that some PC(USA) churches might leave that denomination and that there were many Presbyterians who belong to churches that are not part of the PC(USA). He suggested that we seek to have the license changed to read simply that you had to be a member of a Presbyterian Church. As a national council, we are not tied to any particular Presbyterian denomination, despite the fact that at one time we were an “affinity group” of the PC(USA), which did away with such groups several years ago. We are still committed to adhere to the standards of the PC(USA) in the event of disputes. We did that to make sure that we could not be pressured to ban female clergy or elders at our weekends. You might say that we have Our national councils were preceded by a national advisory board which was intended to advise South Carolina Presbyterian Cursillo in its oversight of the national license it held at that time. Mike Allen was the last national head of that body, which gave way to our national council in 1998. Mike is still active today, running youth weekends for our now South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage community. Tom a nc la Our Cursillo communities therefore may now accept members of any Presbyterian church. There are about ten different Presbyterian denominations in this country as well as a number of independent Presbyterian churches. “grandmothered” the use of female clergy into our movement. Pa I was initially opposed to the idea—probably because of my naturally curmudgeon-istic nature [“How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?” “Change!?!“] - but soon came to appreciate it and agree with it. The Roman Catholic Cursillo Secretariat agreed—they have always been gracious in allowing us to use the title “Cursillo”. February, 2014 “Yes, it’s palanca—a box full of Fluffy’s kittys—one for each of the first seven pilgrims to arrive.” Don’t forget to sign up on the Prayer Banner for your upcoming weekends. Go To www.prayerbanner.org And just follow directions. The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Page 2 The National Presbyterian February, 2014 A Publication of The National Council of Presbyterian Fourth Day Movements and The National Council of Presbyterian Cursillo “The Sunday wake-up in this February weekend sure is a great idea!” Contents 1. 1. 2. 2. 2 3. 4. 5. 5. 6. 7. 8. 8. 8. 8. 8. 9. 9. 10. 11. 11. 12. 12. 13. 14. A Little Bit of History Cartoon Cartoon Contents Your Very Own Angel: Evangelizing the Environment Your Choice Tributes and Memorials Cartoon A Note From a Michigan Pilgrim More Notes From Michigan Who Was St. Valentine? And What Does It Mean To Us? Remember the Tornado? Rita and Roy 2014 National Council Meetings National Training Program Cartoon National Training Program Application Celebration and Cross Training If you are... Planning List of Special Dates Web Sites Weekends Currently Scheduled Contacts—Who to e-mail or call for information and pilgrim or staff applications The Communities: Alabama Presbyterian Cursillo Arkansas Presbyterian Pilgrimage Austin (Texas) Presbyterian Pilgrimage Chicagoland Presbyterian Pilgrimage Colorado Presbyterian Pilgrimage Eastern Oklahoma Presbyterian Cursillo Eastern Virginia Presbyterian Pilgrimage Florida Presbyterian Cursillo Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo Houston Presbyterian Pilgrimage Indiana Presbyterian Cursillo James (Virginia) Presbyterian Pilgrimage Louisiana Presbyterian Pilgrimage Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage-Detroit Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage-Lake Michigan Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo Nebraska/Iowa Presbyterian Pilgrimage North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage—East North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage—Piedmont North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage—West North Texas Presbyterian Pilgrimage Oklahoma Presbyterian Pilgrimage Palo Duro (Texas) Presbyterian Cursillo Peaks (Virginia) Presbyterian Pilgrimage Shenandoah (Virginia) Presbyterian Pilgrimage South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage Tennessee Valley Presbyterian Cursillo Editor—Tom Fox [email protected] Your very own angel reminds you that this is a very good time to mend broken hearts...so put that booboo strip on your hurt heart and make up with your loved ones. The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Evangelizing The Environment Yes, that is the official purpose of our movement—even though I argued with Tom Bullock for years that Cursillo and Pilgrimage simply aren’t evangelism. I was right, but I was wrong—Cursillo exists to prepare, train and provide Christians to go back to their home environments and take up the ministry of Jesus Christ evangelizing the community there. The original Roman Catholic model of Cursillo specified that participants were to be chosen from among people who have influence in the environments-communities which have been selected for evangelism by diocesan authorities. Our Presbyterian version of the Cursillo method has never gone to this extreme—quite the opposite, we seem to have taken the attitude that the Holy Spirit will provide us participants of his own choosing—presumably neatly packaged in complete and convenient table groupings. In point of fact, some have argued that if the Holy Spirit does not carry out this responsibility, it’s not our fault that we have fewer participants than we should have. We then conduct our weekend spiritual retreats blithely unaware of the pilgrims who should have been occupying the empty seats at our camp or conference center. I admit that expecting Presbyterians—the Frozen Chosen—to recruit prospective pilgrims for our weekends is a bit of a reach, but many of our prospective pilgrims are a bit hard of listening, and we need to help them hear and heed the call of the Holy Spirit. Before entering seminary, my wife was interested in taking up some ministry of evangelism in our local church. The pastor advised her to attend the next meeting of the Evangelism Committee and make her willingness known to them. At the appointed time, she arrived for the meeting—but not a single member of the Evangelism Committee showed up! The “E” word—Evangelism—is not popular among our species of Presbyterians. That’s probably one of the reasons I prefer to think in terms of ‘reforming our communities’ instead of ‘evangelizing the environment’ (which sounds a Page 3 bit like some form of global warming). Presbyterians do have evangelistic credentials, however—among the most prevalent is the “Evangelism Explosion” program of D. James Kennedy. I think it has been adopted by more Baptist churches than Presbyterian, ironically. In fact, my wife later became involved with that program at one of our local Baptist mega-churches. None the less, call it what you will, it’s the same thing—reforming, evangelizing. It’s the proverbial rose-of-any-other-name that will still produce the same olfactory outcome. More and more, it seems that much of our leadership simply hasn’t been given a solid understanding of the purpose of our movement. Our Cursillo method weekend retreats are wonderfully fun and emotionally satisfying. They provide a great time for our pilgrims—both Cursillo and Pilgrimage participants—and that’s good. But that alone is not enough. Most of our communities lack adequate fourth day follow-up, after having failed to get across to the participants—the pilgrims—the real purpose of the weekend during the retreat. I’m in no position to blame our current leadership for this. If the other old timers and I had done our job, we might not be having problems of poor attendance, poor follow-up and failure to understand the purpose of our movement. Not surprisingly, the New Years Eve worship service at our church concerned setting aside old concerns and burdens, and taking up the necessary issues for the future. I have resolved to try to help things that need improving in our movement: An understanding of the absolute need to assist the Holy Spirit in the effort to recruit participants for our movement. An understanding of the Method and Purpose—the service to Christ’s ministry of reform and reconciliation—of evangelization of the environment. The continued need in the fourth day to help prepare people to take up this ministry. I hope this effort will be helpful in strengthening your own fourth day community. Tom The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Your Choice: You can: 1. Happily embrace the belief that our Cursillo/ Pilgrimage weekends are merely a warm and fuzzy fun time—from which our pilgrims take home only happy memories, Or, You can: 2. Accept the complete, true purpose of the Cursillo/Pilgrimage weekend retreat you attended and have probably staffed—to evangelize your environment—and thus accept the obligation actively to help make it so. So, which shall it be? On the one hand, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a spiritually enriching—warm and fuzzy weekend with a bunch of church friends. On the other hand, we are expected to take part in the ministry of Jesus Christ—in the work of the church. Yes, Presbyterian Cursillo and Pilgrimage are works of the church. They are programs that are supposed to lead to reform in our local communities—to lead to evangelizing our environments. They are programs that are expected to train us and to support us in this ministry. We are expected to do this ministry. Maybe the right choice is to take some of option 1. and all of option 2. There is nothing at all wrong with enjoying the happy aspects of our weekends, while involving ourselves whole heartedly in the ministry of evangelizing our environments—of reforming our communities. The fact is, however, that we are where we are. We have what we have, and that does not include a fairy godmother’s magic wand which we can use to help every member of the fourth day have a full understanding of our method and purpose, or to inspire the fourth day folks to Piety, Study and Action. So, what can we do? How can we instill a real understanding of the need actively to recruit pilgrims? How can we help the fourth day gain a better understanding of our method and purpose? And how can we develop an adequate support Page 4 ministry that will influence the fourth day to participate in reunion accountability groups and to support our weekend retreats and other events? This of course is up to our leadership groups to decide—the councils of each of our communities and our national councils. Some of the opportunities that might present themselves could include: - Teaching opportunities - A fifteen minute talk at Ultreyas about - The purpose of our movement - The methods we use to achieve our purpose. - How best to select and recruit pilgrims - A lesson taught at council meetings about - Governing our community - Selecting & developing leaders for the future - Training the fourth day - Leading a weekend retreat - Fund raising - Fiscal responsibilities - A lesson spelled out in each edition of your community newsletter - Establish work groups/committees under the leadership of council members to deal with specific issues, such as: - How to get more fourth day folks involved in reunion groups. - Outreach activities - Recruiting pilgrims - Communicating with the fourth day by preparing a community newsletter. This is only a bare smattering of the nearly endless possibilities which a properly active council can use to help improve the ministry of its fourth day— and thus improve the ministry— the reform—the evangelism of its environments. In the months to come, please let me know what steps your council has taken so that I may pass them along in these pages to our other communities. Tom The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Tributes & Memorials What does your community do to recognize the illness or passing of one of the fourth day folks? In our community. Georgia, we don’t seem to have any set policy, but some of the things we have done have been truly impressive. I’ve participated in three serenades we’ve done at the homes of folks who were considered terminal—all three events were truly blessed and very moving– and quite well attended. The thing that was particularly good about them is that they were done when the honoree was still able to listen and enjoy. In at least one case, neighbors who were not part of our Presbyterian fourth day joined in the singing. Page 5 It seems reasonable for our communities to establish standard measures for deceased and seriously ill fourth day members. Among such standards might be setting a specific budget for flowers, requesting a musical tribute, asking someone to take charge of the effort to honor each fourth day member, etc. Perhaps clusters of churches among the fourth day memberships could be asked to oversee each tribute or memorial. It might be well to appoint a committee chaired by a council member to be responsible for honoring ailing and deceased fourth day members. Tom In one of those cases, the honoree has survived to this day. Several times, we have sung at memorial and funeral services. We have provided meals and support for the family from time to time. Flowers are often sent to the funeral home—but we have no fixed policy on this—though we do need such a policy. For one thing, we need to budget for such tributes—at least in part to be able to ask for contributions when the budget item is exhausted. Such tributes are often inspired by individual members of the fourth day—friends and/or relatives of the person being honored. This is fine, but when it’s done in the name of the Cursillo or Pilgrimage community it can easily be misinterpreted in terms of the relative standing of members of the fourth day. The relative standing of all members of the fourth day is, of course, equal. For this reason, it makes sense to have a policy regarding tributes and memorials sponsored by the community and to be sure that efforts of family and friends are acknowledged as such, rather than as efforts of our fourth day community. Many, if not all, of our communities publish prayer requests by e-mail to the fourth day when their members are ill or have passed on. If your community does not do so, I suggest you consider starting this practice. “Hi there! I’m your new hug therapist.” The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 This is a note reproduced from the Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage newsletter for December: From an MPP 27 Pilgrim To Her Fourth Day Sisters and Brothers Dear Friends in Christ, It is I, Cyndee Dirkse, table of St James, MPP#27, by the grace of God, writing to you from a plane departing for Texas. I am sorry I am not celebrating with you… As I sit here I can't help but think back to last week... My "fourth day" began with a desire to share the story of God's Grace but day two of my "fourth day" I had a stroke! Let me say that again because I, too, am still in denial. I had a stroke and yet I am only 55! Those initial few minutes when I had no control over my body were some of the scariest moments in my life. As I lay there, I felt as if Christ were holding me in His arms. We had just talked about this as we sat at Pilgrimage two days earlier and little did I know I would ever know this feeling, little did I know how all the Bible verses I had read from all of you in my goodie bag would come back to me so clearly-the tissues that shared "God wipes away tears" and the M&M's wishing for me many more blessings than the number of M&M's in the bag, and the packet that held a candle and a packet of salt to remind me that God is the salt and light of the world, just to name a few. And little did I know how all of the songs we sang, including the line from De Colores "All in color and so must all love be of every bright color to make my heart cry" would fill my ears and heart as I lay in the MRI tube for 45 minutes, arms crossed over my chest...some of you may know how scary that feeling is?!? You see I was one of those who came to the weekend wondering why I was being led to attend MPP#27. Carol Doubblestein had been inviting me now for a couple years and each time there was something keeping me from attending. I had been hearing that small still voice tell me for a while now "Be still and know that I am God." So I thought I just might find the answer by attending. I did find the answer! And along the way, found the most caring group of Chris- Page 6 tians I have been with for a long time! Not only did MPP#27 give me the strength to get through my ordeal but it reminded me of the importance of a church family--something I had been avoiding for some time! Now, as I sit waiting to depart from the airport, I overheard a flight attendant asking for a verbal agreement as to whether the folks sitting in the emergency row behind me were willing and able to assist in case of an emergency when I was reminded of our Christian duties, serving others, uplifting and praying for those in need, and sharing God's love... My new, dear friends I wish to say Thank You for serving me at Pilgrimage, uplifting me in prayer and sharing God's love by writing so many notes, cards and emails! The battle is not over--there are so many broken souls in this world. We must be "stilI" so we can hear God tell us what armor he wants us to pick up as we fight this battle. I realized this as I witnessed to a nurse who had never heard of a Pilgrimage OR what is was to be a child of God. Be assured I would have never had the courage to do so if it had not been for MPP#27 and God's grace! God is calling us. Are you listening? I am happy to report that my body has been healed! Amazingly, I have but one small remaining effect and that is a slight left foot drop. I have my speech, I have my memory and I have the ability to walk without any aids. I am soooo blessed! We still don't know what may have caused the stroke. I have the lowest cholesterol you could imagine, cleanest arteries. The docs were stumped and thought It could have been a genetic predisposition but results this week showed that is not the case. I am not going to worry about the possibility of another stroke because God Is Good no matter what! We just have to trust him! I am excited to join the Lakeshore Reunion group when I get back from visiting my daughter! I love all of you and remember God loves all of you! And a special shoutout to the table of St. James! Cyndee Dirkse, MPP #27 The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 More Notes From Michigan From A Presbytery Exec Why I support Presbyterian Pilgrimage The church I served in Evanston, IL started a Pilgrimage Chapter in the Chicago area. To this date, numbers of participants found new life in Christ, and a renewed call to service outside of the local church. The weekend balances worship, learning, and small group interaction. Participants hear examples of how Christ touched their life and led them to a deeper walk with them. I urge pastors and elders to take a few folk on this weekend to see for yourself what a weekend on a guided pilgrimage can do for your spiritual life. If you have questions, please call me. I love to talk about it. The Rev. Dr. Allen D. Timm Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Detroit After the Weekend . . . Living Your Fourth Day Page 7 review our finances and make some recommendations, as our coffers were running below a comfortable position. George Davidson, Anna Kruse, Carol Pierce and I had several meetings and made some recommendations to our Leadership Council for our future financial wellness. We reviewed a number of items, including our existence as a community for ten years having held to our original team and guest fees. We also looked at how we run the weekends, where we could cut expenses, other camp alternatives, etc. We reviewed other community’s fees and realized that we were on the low end of the scale and that with rising costs of putting on a weekend it was making it increasingly difficult to maintain a workable financial picture. After several months of review and discussion we made a final draft proposal that we felt comfortable with and presented it to Leadership. Our recommendations to the Leadership Council that were passed in August include: You may attend a Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage (MPP) weekend only once in your lifetime. MPP is not a retreat, or a substitute for a retreat. MPP does not end when the weekend ends. 1. Team fees will go from $200.00 per Pilgrimage to $225.00. After you have attended a Pilgrmage weekend, you are considered to be living your Fourth Day – the rest of your life. After attending your weekend, you are asked to do two things in your Fourth Day: 3. At team meetings and Celebrations we will still have Donation Baskets available but the money collected at these functions will go to Financial Aid for those team and guests that have difficulty with their fees…. 1. Expand your inner spiritual life through study and church participation, and We feel that we will be in a much better financial position to move forward with a program that makes such an impact on people’s lives. 2. Become a more active witness for Christ in your daily life. An effective Fourth Day is the fulfillment of the MPP method - It is the tree that produces the fruit. Cyndi Geis-LaFata Communication Director MPP Detroit MPP - Lake Michigan Council News Dear Sisters and Brothers, Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage – Lake Michigan has had a wonderful year and it is almost hard to put everything into words…. Early this year I was asked, as finance person, by our moderator, Sue Ann if I would put together a committee to 2. Guest fees will go from $150.00 per Pilgrimage to $175.00. We will continue to have our annual financial appeal for assistance with Financial Aid which has helped so many people be able to attend Pilgrimage that otherwise would not be able to. For that I want to say Thank You to everyone that has and continues to help with this important Ministry. In closing from the Financial person of your community, I want to thank everyone that contributes, not only money but with prayers, help with various projects, works on Pilgrimage weekends as well as continues to encourage those they come in contact with to be Guests. Grace & Peace, Rich Yeckley, MPP - Lake Michigan Treasurer The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Who Was Saint Valentine? According to various sources, there were several saints who were named Valentine. Page 8 Remember the Tornado? The one for whom the holiday—a holy day—was named was a priest in Rome in the third century, AD. He pastored and aided Christians during their persecution by the emperor Claudius II. This was still nearly 50 years before the emperor Constantine made the Christian church legal and recognized it as the state religion. Very little is known about Valentine—other than that he was beaten and martyred—reportedly on February 14, 269 AD. Archaeologists have unearthed a catacomb and an ancient church in Rome dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius I established St. Valentine’s day on February 14 as a holy day. And What Does It Mean To Us? Valentine was tortured and killed for ministering to his flock. We are asked to make much smaller sacrifices and care for our pilgrims and others of God’s children. The one word most bound up in our Valentine’s Day celebration is very familiar to us—Love. Nowadays, more often than not, we think of it in terms of romantic love, but it‘s useful for us to remember that St. Valentine himself was about love—agape love—caring, if you wish. Maybe we can honor his legacy this Valentine’s Day by doing some service in his name, perhaps aiding someone in need of help as a reflection of God’s love. Any simple kindness will do… maybe just taking a neighbor’s children for a few hours to allow them time alone. “Wanna be mine?” Happy Valentine’s Day. Tom Remember the disastrous tornado that hit Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on February 10? Well, they’re still dealing with it! If you would like to contribute to the recovery effort: BancorpSouth Attn: Debbie Hudson, Westminster Relief Fund, 124 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Thanks and God Bless You. Tom Rita, why do we call it the fourth day? Well, Roy, it follows the third day, it’s forever, and we sure wouldn’t want to call it the last day! 2014 National Council Meetings March 28 and 29, 2014—Edmond, OK August 22 and 23, 2014—Grand Rapids. MI The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Dave Hamilton reports on the next scheduled offering of our national training program. National Cursillo/Pilgrimage Training Program Edmond, OK – March 27/28, 2014 The Presbyterian Cursillo/Pilgrimage National Training Program will be presented in Edmond, OK on March 27/28, 2014, immediately prior to the National Council Meetings. The Training is designed to communicate to the 4th Day and its leaders a consistent and broad understanding of the theology and methodology of the Presbyterian Cursillo and Pilgrimage Programs and to do so consistently across all communities. It is also designed to focus 4th Day attention on the fact that the purpose of the Programs is in the 4th Day, not the Weekends. Unfortunately, the 72 hour Weekend does not provide time to provide an adequate understanding of the importance of the 4th Day. Page 9 or indicate to us that you may be interested in attending as soon as possible. Dave Hamilton National Training Coordinator [email protected] Please note than an application for this training program is printed on the next page. It may be submitted in a variety of ways—you can print out the form, fill it in and snail mail it to: Linda Champlin, 18604 Sunny Hollow Rd Edmond, OK 73012 Or you can scan it into an e-mail and send it to the Spahrs at [email protected] The National Training program was also recently presented to the Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo Council at their annual retreat. Tom Christ has called us, through the Great Commission “to make Disciples of all men …”, and through His two greatest Commandments “to Love the Lord your God …” and “to love your neighbor …”. We learned during the Weekend and as Presbyterians that we do not normally “hear” and “fulfill” God’s call as individuals, but in a supportive and nurturing community (the Cursillo/Pilgrimage 4th Day Communities being prime examples). The Weekends are the “springboards” that open us to God’s call, but a successful 4th Day Community is where these calls are realized and where the true purpose of the Programs is realized. Thus, this National Training Program provides us with a perspective of the “whole” Cursillo and Pilgrimage Programs. Come and join us for this opportunity to look beyond the Weekend. This will be the 10th presentation of this Training Program and it has been very well received. The Training takes one day, beginning mid – day on March 27 and ending mid – day March 28, when the semi – annual meeting of the National Councils of Presbyterian 4th Day Movements and of Cursillo begins. Please contact Greg and Robyn Spahr, ([email protected]). Note that “pre – reading” material will be sent to you electronically in 4 easy installments beginning March 1, so either sign up “...so you think this outfit might be a bit much for me to wear for the Sunday wake-up?” The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Page 10 th National Council of Presbyterian 4 Day Movements National Council of Presbyterian Cursillo Application for National Training March 27 & 28, 2014 Santa Fe Presbyterian Church, Edmond, OK. Name______________________________________________ Preferred Name __________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________ Telephone (Home) ( )____________________ Work/Cell ( ) ____________________________ E-mail__________________________________________ When/where did you attend a Pilgrimage, Cursillo, Emmaus or other ’Fourth Day’ weekend? _________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Previous Training Experience (Please list trainings) ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Role in 4th Day Community Activities (If any) _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Why do you want to attend training? ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ How do you feel that you could benefit from this Training? ________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Are you a representative or observer to the National Council meeting March 28 and 29?_____________ Would you prefer housing in the home of a 4th Day member? __________________________________ Are there any special conditions (health, diet, etc.) requiring consideration? _______________________ Please explain _______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Please mail all training applications and fees to: Linda Champlin 16604 Sunny Hollow Rd, Edmond OK, 73012 Spaces are limited. The fee is $35.00 payable to Santa Fe Presbyterian Church. This includes four meals, training materials, instructor expenses and a token gift to the host church. Housing may be available without charge in 4th Day homes. Transportation to Edmond and hotel charges, if desired, will be at your own expense. Local transportation may be arranged by the Fourth Day. Santa Fe Presbyterian Church is located at 1603 North Santa Fe Avenue, Edmond, OK 73003-3661. The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 SC Presbyterian Pilgrimage still faithfully carries on its ministry to youth. This is Mike Allen’s note to the community—you might want to consider starting such a ministry in your own community. Celebration and Cross Training This winter is going to be a busy time for the Celebration and Cross Training ministries which are operated under the Pilgrimage Council and part of the Pilgrimage ministry. February 7-8 we are providing a new opportunity for the Celebration teens to re-unite and re-visit the amazing spiritual growth they experienced at the last retreat in October. This is our Second Annual Folly in February overnight reunion retreat held at First Baptist Church’s beach house on Folly Beach. This is a casual gathering but with purpose and structure. The theme is “Our Identity In God”. We start around 7 Friday and end around 4 on Saturday. Volunteers provide dinner Friday, and breakfast and lunch Saturday. At the end of this event, our college-age friends will come in for our only Staff Meeting for the upcoming Cross Training retreat. Volunteers will provide dinner for this gathering. Cross Training #8 will be February 21-23 at Bonnie Doone Plantation. This is a Celebration-type two-day retreat, only a bit more mature and lifesituation-specific to address issues faced by college-age young adults as they try to figure out life without so much parental supervision and guidance. Facilities information for Bonnie Doone can be found at http://www.bonniedoone.org. AND Celebration #39 will be April 4-6 at Bonnie Doone Plantation. Celebration is a rockin’ and rollin’ teen retreat ministry for High School age seekers. It is full of teen energy, excitement, enthu -siasm, and hope. God’s light is shining so strongly on this ministry as evidenced by its fruit. The past several years, we have witnessed overwhelming interest in serving on staff, with numbers exceeding 70 teens and adults hosting the event, and capacity First-Timer groups, totaling over a hundred attendees. The facilities at Bonnie Doone are barely able to contain this group! Please go to our website at www.sccelebration.weebly.com for information and applications for these events. For God’s Sake, Mike Allen, SCPC#10 Celebration, Folly in Feb. & Cross Training Dir. Page 11 And a note from the SC Presbyterian Pilgrimage #66 moderator– about service on a weekend. If you are… …feeling a need to strengthen your bond with our Lord, …feeling the need to share your gifts in a different setting, or …concerned that your church has become ‘lukewarm’ (Revelation 3:16) to living the 4th day life, then this may be your call to serve on Pilgrimage #66. The theme for the upcoming May weekend comes from Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” One of the Lord’s plans to prosper me was Pilgrimage #57. I was joyfully overwhelmed by the love and commitment of newfound brothers and sisters in Christ. It was and is a love that defies description and one that I share with each of you. As the Lord continues to call both staff and participants to 66... if you have… SERVED BEFORE on staff, we need YOU to share your gifts and your experience with this evolving #66 staff. NOT SERVED IN A LONG TIME, we need YOU to revitalize your branch of our Lord’s Church into a more active 4th day community. NOT YET SERVED on staff, we need YOU to share your vitality and to help build up a more resonant 4th day community. To each of you, I extend an invitation to prayerfully consider serving our Lord, Jesus Christ either on staff or as a sponsor for new participants. To-gether we can refocus our devotion to the Lord’s work and His people. The dates for Pilgrimage #66 are printed below and applications for staff and participants can be found at www.scpresbyterianpilgrimage.org. If you are hearing the Lord’s “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) calling you to Pilgrimage but your calendar rules out a May weekend, then look forward to October and a second opYour sister in Christ, Merze French Moderator, Pilgrimage #66 jenmarbran@hotmail. The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Web Sites Planning List of Special Dates Special Day Page 12 About Presbyterian Cursillo and Pilgrimage in General 2014 2015 2016 2017 1/20 1/19 1/18 1/16 Fri Sat Sun Tues President’s Day 2/17 2/16 2/15 2/20 Ash Wednesday 3/5 2/18 2/10 3/1 Web sites of specific communities: Daylight Savings Begins 3/9 3/8 3/13 3/12 St. Patrick’s Day (3/17) Mon Tues Thurs Fri Palm Sunday 4/13 3/29 3/20 4/9 Passover 4/15 4/4 4/23 4/11 Easter Sunday 4/20 4/5 3/27 4/16 Orthodox Easter 4/20 4/12 5/1 4/16 Mother’s Day 5/11 5/10 5/8 5/7 Memorial Day (Monday) 5/26 5/25 5/30 5/29 Pentecost 6/8 5/24 5/15 6/4 Father’s Day 6/15 6/21 6/19 6/18 Independence Day (7/4) Fri Sat Mon Tues Labor Day 9/1 9/7 9/5 9/4 World Communion Sunday 10/5 10/4 10/2 10/1 Daylight Savings Ends 11/2 11/1 11/6 11/5 Thanksgiving 11/27 11/26 11/24 11/23 Advent 1st Sunday 11/30 11/29 11/27 12/3 Chanukah Begins 12/17 12/7 Christmas Day (12/25) Thurs Fri Alabama www.alpresbyteriancursillo.com Arkansas www.pilgrimage-arkansas.org Austin www.austinpresbyterianpilgrimage.org Chicagoland www.chpilgrimage.org Colorado www.coloradopilgrimage.org Eastern Oklahoma www.geocities.com/eopcursillo *** Eastern Virginia www.days3.com/EV.htm Florida www.floridacursillo.org Georgia www.georgiapresbyteriancursillo.com Great Plains (Omaha) www.gpppilgrimage.org Houston www.houstonpilgrimage.org Indiana www.ipcursillo.org James Virginia www.PJPilgrimage.org Louisiana www.louisianapresbyteriancursillo.org Michigan www.mppilgrimage.org Mississippi www.mspresbyteriancursillo.com North Carolina www.ncpilgrimage.org North Texas Adult: www.ntpp.org Youth: www.northtexascelebration.com Oklahoma www.days3.com/OK.htm Palo Duro www.paloduropresbytery.org Peaks Virginia - www.peakspresbytery.org/ pilgrimage.html Shenandoah Virginia - www.math.jmu.edu/ ~sanders/SPP.html South Carolina www.scpresbyterianpilgrimage.org Tennessee Valley www.tvpcursillo.com MLK Day Valentine’s Day (2/14) 12/25 12/13 Sun Mon www.days3.com or www.cursillo.us - for prospective pilgrims www.days3.com/4thday.htm or www.cursillo.us/4thday.htm - for the fourth day www.cursillo.com - of general interest *** The community does not yet have it's own separate web site. This will take you to the community web page in our national web site. The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Weekends Currently Scheduled: Adult Weekends Dates Feb 13 to 16, 2014 Feb 20 to 23, 2014 Feb 21 to 23, 2014 Feb 27 to Mar 2, 2014 Feb 27 to Mar 2, 2014 Mar 13 to 16, 2014 Mar 20 to 23, 2014 Mar 27 to 30, 2014 Apr 3 to 6, 2014 Apr 3 to 6, 2014 Apr 3 to 6, 2014 Apr 3 to 6, 2014 Apr 4 to 6, 2014 May 1 to 4, 2014 May 1 to 4, 2014 May 1 to 4, 2014 May 1 to 4, 2014 May 1 to 4, 2014 May 15 to 18, 2014 Jun 19 to 22, 2014 Aug 30 to Sep 1, 2014 Sep 18 to 21, 2014 Sep 18 to 21, 2014 Sep 18 to 21, 2014 Sep 25 to 28, 2014 Sep , 2014 Oct 2 to 5, 2014 Oct 2 to 5, 2014 Oct 2 to 5, 2014 Oct 9 to 12, 2014 Oct 9 to 12, 2014 Oct 9 to 12, 2014 Oct 9 to 12, 2014 Oct 16 to 19, 2014 Oct 30 to Nov 2, 2014 Nov 23 to 26, 2014 Nov , 2014 Apr 16 to 19, 2015 Apr 30 to May 3, 2015 Sep 24 to 27, 2015 Oct 1 to 4, 2015 Apr 7 to 10, 2016 Sep 29 to Oct 2, 2016 Page 13 High School Age Weekends College Age Weekends Weekend Houston Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 72 North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Hanes) # 124 South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage Cross Training # 8 North Texas Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 36 Austin Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 37 North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Dixie) # 125 Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 28 (Detroit) Nebraska/Iowa Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 15 Alabama Presbyterian Cursillo # 32 Tennessee Valley Presbyterian Cursillo # 21 Arkansas Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 20 North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Harrison) # 126 South Carolina Celebration # 39 Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo # 13 South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 66 Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo # 44 Houston Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 73 Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 29 (Lake Michigan) North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Hanes) # 127 Louisiana Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 10 Austin Presbyterian Celebration # 16 Alabama Presbyterian Cursillo # 33 Austin Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 38 Colorado Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 26 Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo # 14 North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Harrison) # 128 Nebraska/Iowa Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 16 Arkansas Presbyterian Cursillo # 21 South Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 67 North Texas Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 37 North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Hanes) # 129 Tennessee Valley Presbyterian Cursillo # 22 Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 30 (Detroit) Michigan Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 31 (Lake Michigan) Georgia Presbyterian Cursillo # 45 Florida Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 9 North Carolina Presbyterian Pilgrimage (Camp Dixie) # 130 Nebraska/Iowa Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 17 Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo # 15 Mississippi Presbyterian Cursillo # 16 Nebraska/Iowa Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 18 Nebraska/Iowa Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 19 Nebraska/Iowa Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage # 20 Lay Leader TBA Micki Fischer TBA Dwight Nichols TBA Carlton Mansfield Tom Davies Lynda Shafer David Matheny TBA Patty Minga Jody Kerns TBA Pam Love Merze French Debi Elkins TBA Fred Cortright Hugh Black Amanda Thorne TBA TBA TBA Sylvia Goroski Lee Kvidahl Rocky Hoffner George Dudley Vicky Davis Steve Dukes Portia Stephens Jeane Batten TBA TBA Dru Wrasse Becky Laughlin TBA TBA Kristen Tay TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA The names of the lay leaders are listed so that you can pray for them, for their staff teams and for their pilgrims. There will be a prayer banner for each and every single one of these weekends. Sign up early at: ww.prayerbanner.org The National Presbyterian February, 2014 Volume 17, Number 1 Page 14 Contacts Alabama Sissy Crowe [email protected] Terry Skinner [email protected] Arkansas Ron David [email protected] (479) 330-0035 Jen Payne [email protected] (479) 238-8764 Austin Texas Adult Weekends: Tom Wilson [email protected] Youth Weekends: Teresa Ward [email protected] Chicagoland Joanne Storm [email protected] (847) 679-0318 Colorado Sylvia Goroski [email protected] (303) 986-3242 Eastern Oklahoma Janie Blake [email protected] (918) 367-9714 Co Edwards [email protected] Eastern Virginia Esther Sundelin [email protected] (757) 898-3523 Florida Rose Marie Stadelman [email protected] Georgia Debi Elkins [email protected] (770) 458-6415 Dane Gazaway [email protected] Houston Adult: Kathleen Vivian [email protected] (713) 661-8488 Youth: Trish McElroy [email protected] (281) 277-1706 Rene Murphy [email protected] Indiana Holly Stoiche on the website - www.ipcursillo.org Jay Farlow [email protected] Doug Anderson [email protected] James Virginia - Claudia Dickerson [email protected] (804) 550-0841 Mitch Rowland [email protected] Louisiana Joyce Sasser [email protected] Sandy Broussard [email protected] Michigan-Detroit Cyndi Geis-LaFata [email protected] (586) 457-6921 Michigan-Lake Michigan Sue Ann Clark [email protected] Mississippi Lea Ann McElroy mspresbyteriancursillo.com Nebraska/Iowa- Great Plains Jennifer Bennett [email protected] (402) 980-3002 North Carolina Adult: Jim Mason [email protected] (336) 491-9970 Arise Youth: Nancy Alderson [email protected] (910) 515-4170 (cell) Mary Ann & Bill Kopp [email protected] Chip Todd [email protected] North Texas Adult: Karen Harris [email protected] (903) 235-6763, Youth: Nikki Thompson [email protected] (817) 261-2477 Oklahoma Adult: Amy Mason [email protected] Bob Bentley [email protected] Palo Duro Texas - Shannon Brooks [email protected] (806) 872-6333 Chuck Nester [email protected] (806) 655-1971 Peaks Virginia - Bill Cowen [email protected] P O Box1024, Buchanan,VA 24066 Susan Caldwell [email protected] Shenandoah - Virginia - Jeanette McCloud [email protected] Linda Mohler [email protected] South Carolina Adult: Barrie Hinson [email protected] Youth & Cross Training: Mike Allen [email protected] (843) 200-1899 Tennessee Valley Mary Snyder [email protected] (256) 558-5956 Don Payne [email protected] (256) 729-6934