Recap of Synod School 2011 from the Keeping In Touch News

The following stories are from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies newsletter, Keeping In Touch, August 11, 2011 issue. The story links are found on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s News Service website at www.pcusa.org.

Two of the articles below are of special importance to the Des Moines Presbytery and are about our own Director of Communications Kim Coulter (Clive, Heartland) and another story of a former member of the Knox United Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, the Rev. Burns Stanfield family.

Consider attending Synod School next year at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, July 22-27, 2012. (Thanks to Synod Communications Editor Duane Sweep for permission to repost.)

• Hands down, Mr. Methuselah was the crankiest man at the Synod School held the last week of July at Buena Vista University. www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/3/presbyterian-puppetry.
• Synod schoolers learn about Rock ‘n’ Roll faith connection:
www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/2/not-fade-away.

Synod school teacher demonstrates new media role in evangelism: A short video, a little bit of show and tell, and a lot of discussion – it’s the way Kim Coulter led her class on social media here at Buena Vista University during the 58th Synod of Lakes and Prairies' Synod School. With an opening video that proclaimed, “If Facebook were a country, it’d be the world’s third largest,” Coulter made the argument that social media can play a role in the church. The complete PNS story is at: www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/9/friending-church.

• Synod schoolers learn that science is both theoretical, concrete:www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/5/world-changing-ideas.
• Drama takes many forms, multiple roles in congregations:www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/10/all-churchs-stage.

Presbyterian family share stories of Kenya during Synod School: When Lorraine Stanfield turned 50 last spring, she didn’t want a party. She wanted her family to go with her to Kenya to serve people – and maybe take in a safari near the end of the two-week visit, which the family did. The Stanfields, of Milton, Mass., offered a workshop describing highlights of their trip during Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ Synod School, held during the last week of July at Buena Vista University. The complete PNS story is at: www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/4/teaching-what-they-learned.

• Synod schoolers urged to join ‘Each One Reach One’ anti-poverty initiative: www.pcusa.org/news/2011/7/28/no-more-mommy-voice.

Church Mission Giving Resource Packet Coming in September to You

Each church in the Des Moines Presbytery will receive a packet for pastors, Mission committee chairpersons, and clerks of Session in late September from the General Assembly Mission Council of the PC(USA). This packet will have materials to help sessions make decisions about their mission giving in 2011.

Included in this year’s stewardship promotional materials are:

• a printed World Mission Giving Opportunities catalog
• a flier promoting Shared Mission Support at all levels of the church, which also explains how the General Assembly Mission Council uses its portion of Shared Mission Support
• a flier promoting resources for congregational giving campaigns from our partners at the Ecumenical Stewardship Center
• a flier with information from the Presbyterian Foundation on long-term giving opportunities
• a cover letter explaining the packet and providing instructions on accessing the online searchable listing of giving opportunities.

Watch the Seconds for Stewardship box weekly in The Wider Circle E-news, and pray for ways you can help the church ministry and mission, both regionally and nationally.

Midweek at Synod School 2010

By now, the attendees of Synod of School are learning everyone's names and feeling a sense of community. Both within their classes and every day activities like worship, meal time, the Art Share Tent, the Coffee House, the Game Room, the movie theatre, etc.
We are staying in the double dorm rooms of White this year at Buena Vista University. Which has lended to our family meeting several new friends. We normally stay in the studio suites with a personal shower and bathroom. My daughter even got to room with a young girl from Colorado, who is here with her Grandmother and mom.
The food dining service is good for a college. Choices include a salad bar, grilled items, a main course and dessert each day. Having gone to Purdue last week with the Presbytery's Triennium delegation, we found a little more variety. But the food at Buena Vista is fresh and hot. Though the lunch room is a tade noisy, there are good feelings of fellowship with the ocassional break to join in song for a friends birthday.
The evening worship is centered around the theme of "Grace Notes." Leaders the Rev. Mark Davis and the Rev. Barbara Nish have been instructing and guiding us to hear our worship with different tones and building upon a component with several layers of sound or worship elements.
On Wednesday evening, we organize a Tweet-up for those peeps that are logging their Synod School experiences on the social network Twitter.com. Six people showed up to learn more about getting the 140 character submission to come into our phones automatically and to meet face-to-face with our fellow Tweets.
Obviously, there are many ways to connect with our Synod's various church and presbytery members across the six states and beyond.
Kim Coulter,
director of communications
Presbytery of Des Moines

Monday at Synod School 2010

School is normally not a place you want to spend much time at. Once you've learned you are accomplished and can make your way in the world. However, here at Synod School, I find I want to make it last forever. the wealth of learning opportunities is unlimited. And the Monday is the start of classes... each person can take as many as four 1-hour classes during the week. Each day you go to these same four classes, hopefully finding an education or something that makes your heart sing (as one of my teachers said).

My classes this year at Synod School 2010 are: China and the Church, Aging Well, Memoir Writing and Emerging Church. I'm not teaching this year, which is an interesting feeling to sit back and watch more of the interaction between the 600 attendees from the different states in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.

Each morning we begin the day with a 30 minute worship time, then our convocation speaker Rev. Dr. Roger Nishioka, professor at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., gives his presentation discussing reformed theology. As I head to my first class, I say "Hi," to many friends that I've met through out the 5 years I've been attending this event at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.

My first class on China and the Church, is lead by Rev. Heidi Vardeman, pastor at Macalester Plymouth United Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Today we had a treat from the Rev. Calvin Hsu (Guthrie Center, First) who gave us a short lesson on speaking Chinese.

After that I went to my Aging Well class lead by the Rev. Richard and Jean Ann Buller (Golden Valley, MN). It is probably the most well attended of my classes. Each seat is full and everyone is energetic to get there and experiment with the different activities each day. All are meant to help keep your brain active. Today's games were stacking cups and juggling - both increase your mind's capacity and agility.

My afternoon classes are Memoir Writing and Emerging Church. The instructors are Tamara Cox Burnett, CLP, (Merrill, WI) and the Rev. Susan Phillips (Shawano, WI). These are great teachers and wonderful classes too, unfortunately, I've not been as faithful in my personal writing and journaling as in my blogging and tweeting for the Presbytery. But maybe that just means I'm living my faith in a different way right now.

Kim Coulter
director of communications
Presbytery of Des Moines

Communicators Learn about Google Tools

For the next few days the Presbyterian Communicators Network will be meeting in Eagan, Minn., for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies conference on Doing More with Less. There are nearly 40 of us: pastors, administrative assistants, lay volunteers, and communicators meeting here at the Hilton Garden Inn.

After introductions, we shared a devotion time with Synod of the Sun Director of Communications the Rev. Shane Whisler leading us. He shared with us U2 music and lyrics to dive into what is important to Christians. Shane used reflections from Greg Garrett's book, We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2, one of the world's well known bands, which has used lyrics from Bible scriptures like the song "40" from Psalms 40, 13, and 6.

When our meal was over, the Rev. Sarah Moore-Nokes, associate executive director from the Winnebago Presbytery, gave us a great glimpse at using Google Tools to simplify our personal and at work life. One thing I am excited to take home is the use of making iGoogle my desktop view or homepage when my Internet Browser is opened each day. This might even make a good Lunch & Learn session once I get acclimated to this tools. I currently use Docs, Reader, Calendar, Analytics and Search.

Tomorrow there will be training on the Presbyterian Neighbor News and the Presbyterian News Service and a session on Writing for the Web. Until then...

Kim Coulter, Director of Communications

Doing More with Less: Synod-wide Communicators Conference

Presbyterian communicators, pastors, congregation leaders, staff and volunteers – mark your calendars! You are invited to the attend the second Synod-wide Communicators Conference, Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 2-4, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Eagan, Minn.

The Rev. Sarah Moore-Nokes, associate executive presbyter in Winnebago Presbytery, opens the conference's first session – Google Tools – Wednesday evening. Participants are asked to bring their own laptop computer since WiFi will be available during the conference.

The Rev. Shane Whisler, communications director in the Synod of the Sun, will provide details about working with Presbyterian Neighbor News on Thursday morning, and Bethany Furkin will also address the conference about the Presbyterian News Service during that time. There is also a possibility that the executive director for the Committee on Local Arrangements for the 2010 General Assembly in Minneapolis will be on hand before Thursday's lunch.

Full registration is $100 and includes all sessions, accommodations, opening dinner, two breakfasts and a lunch. For those who do not need accommodations, registration is $40 for all sessions. Registration is easy, simply send an email to Duane Sweep, associate for communications at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The e-mail should include name and position for name tags. The registration fee can be mailed to Duane Sweep, Synod of Lakes and Prairies, 2115 Cliff Drive, Eagan, MN 55122. For conference details, you can read the complete brochure.

If you are interested in car-pooling from the Des Moines area, contact Presbytery of Des Moines Director of Communications Kim Coulter at 515-276-4991 as soon as possible to make arrangements.

Synod School, Final Day

Another successful Synod School 2009 for the 584 participants. There were 141 faculty that helped make this year possible - thank you. 168 children were present and can you believe there were 141 first timers. Good proof that you should consider attending next year. Pictured here (LtoR): Erica Coulter (DM, Westminster, Hannah Maxa (Lenox), Sarah Yeazel (Middleton, Wi.) Paige Klinkenborg and Emma Williams (Clive, Heartland).

Speaking of 2010, plans are already taking shape for July 25-30, when we will have Convocation Speaker Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. Another exciting development, the evening Worship Leaders will be the Rev. Mark Davis and Rev. Barbara Nish of Heartland Presbyterian Chuch in Clive.

Our final count was over 90 members attending this year from the Des Moines Presbytery and most are pictured here. (Not picture: Rev. Scott Vandenhuevel - Creston, First; Rev. Ken Stuber - DM, First; Rev. Bill LeMosy and Paul Stanfield - DM, Knox United; Diane and Dirk Brinkmeyer - Clive, Heartland; and KayLynn Coulter - DM Westminster.)

The theme this week was "Building a Culture of Peace." And it carried through the program and worship bulletins, the t-shirt silk screens, the morning and evening worship and the convocation speakers for both adults and Junior and Senior high students. How will we take back this message to our churches? Only time will tell how we will share this spirituality of reconcilication. Using the convocation speaker, Sara Lisherness's scripture reading of 2 Corinthians 5:16-21:

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his
appeak through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God
made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God."

Thought's will continue throughout the coming weeks and year, how can we be more attentive to God's in-breaking, reconciling activity in your life? What do you need to let go of in order to have open hands that can receive the new gifts of new creation? Who do you need to regard as a child of God, beloved and cherished, with a sacred birth right? Coming together for the sake of peace is worth it. The ministry of reconciliation is not easy and sometimes can be messy. Bravery will get you through this brokenness and on to healing. Only together will we make a difference in the conflict and move towards peace.

Synod School does a lot to help start this process - now the question is how can we continue the quest for building a culture of peace in our lives, homes and churches?

Peace, Kim

Synod School, here we come!

Editor's Note: This week, our Presbytery blogs will focus on Director of Communication Kim Coulter's experience at Synod School. This annual event is sponsored by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies each year and over 600 people attend from all over the country. Kim is attending not only as a part of her family's vacation, but she will also be teaching a class "What are Web 1.0 and Web. 2.0? The Computer Revolution and How to Keep Up with the Kids". Each day, class participants will learn about various Internet tools and how to connect with their kids and network with other Presbyterians. This blog will give you a glimpse of Kim's daily activities. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Enjoy!

Day 1, July 26
My Sunday began with worship at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. The sermon was given by the Interim Pastor Rev. Stu Ritter, on "More than we can Imagine". Afterwards, the Senior High class members and leaders presented a slide show of their recent summer mission trip to Montana. They had a great time working on site improvements at the Glacier Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center, located on Flathead Lake. They finished the 9-day trip by white-water rafting and camping along Flathead River. After lunch, the Coulter family headed to northwest Iowa, stopping along the way in Dallas Center at the First Presbyterian Church, to pick up another participant.

Synod School is held at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Each year, registration and check in is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, followed by dinner at 4:45-6:30 p.m., with worship from 6:30-7:15 p.m. Afterwards, free time can be filled by attending a mini-course of a weekly class offering or a movie and fellowship. Then it's off to bed in the campus dormitories. More tomorrow...

Kim Coulter, Director of Communication
Presbytery of Des Moines

Connections

One of the great things about the PW Churchwide Gathering was the opportunity to make connections. Of course I got to spend time with women from the Presbytery of Des Moines--women I don't get to see all the time. Most of us were able to join Presbyterian Women from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies at a luncheon on Tuesday. I was pleased to see familiar faces there as well. Our Synod Moderator and the speaker both served on the Synod SDOP Committee with me!

Later that afternoon the Presbyterian Hunger Program celebrated our 40th Anniversary with Presbyterian Women in the Great Room. My fellow Hunger Action Enablers were recognized, along with PHP staff. HAE's were created by Presbyterian Women so I have a special appreciation for that relationship! We also celebrated with partner organizations: Bread for the World, Alternatives for Simple Living, Partners for Just Trade, and others. It was wonderful to see old friends and colleagues all together again!

Tuesday evening's plenary included the installation of officers for the next PW triennium. Our new Moderator from the Presbytery of Puerto Rico, Marta Rodríguezis, the first Hispanic woman to serve in that capacity. She and her vice moderators are a powerful trio and I look forward to a great three years ahead. When the plenary session was over, with its fabulous music and worship and ceremony, I knew I had been a part of something big--connected to a great group of women all over the country and into the world. I'm already looking forward to 2012.

Wednesday morning, bright and early, I was off to the Flaget Retreat Center in Louisville for the Hunger Action Enablers' Gathering. I'll write about that too...

Get Presbyterian News through the Online News Service

The Synod of Lakes and Prairies has been participating in a news service called Presbyterian Neighbor News. This is an online news service produced cooperatively by the 16 synods of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Rev. Shane Whisler, Synod of the Sun, is the managing PNN editor. This news service is still in test phase but has begun carrying news updates from around the synod with update e-mail alerts going out weekly. You may sign up to receive these weekly updates by going to www.pnnews.org, clicking on the Lakes and Prairies Edition and “Learn more/join”. You may also keep up with news from other synods, our Presbyterian neighbors from around the country.

One stream of information flowing through every Presbyterian neighborhood!