SPARKS from the FLINT

September 2017

DIVING into the DIVINE a few thoughts from Rev. Debra T. Bibler, Executive Presbyter

When we live in Scripture -- and when Scripture lives in us -- it changes everything! Here are a few quotes from my online daily devotional which have many layers and multiple applications for our life together. May these words bring courage and calm in a world which is sorely in need

of both. "Noah's ark is not meant to be a cute children's story; it is a mature metaphor for the People of God on the waves of time, carrying the contradictions, the opposites, the tensions, and the paradoxes of humanity -- preserving and protecting diversity inside of a safe unity created by God. God tells Noah to bring into the ark all the opposites (male and female, wild and domestic, crawling and flying, etc.) and then God a most amazing thing: God locks them together inside the ark.

God's gathering of opposites is, in fact, the very school of salvation, the school of love.

At our very best, our deepest and truest selves know that everything belongs in our life together. At our best moments, we understand that we must try to hold together -- and accept -- the good and the bad, the dark and the light, the sinner and the saint inside each of us. Only God, though, is spacious enough to truly include, accept, and love every single part of every one of us! We humans prefer to expel, exclude, deny and avoid. We simply can't hold very much on our own. God can hold the opposites/the contradictions and love -- and redeem -- them all.

Whether we realize it or not, forgiveness is a way that this holding of contradictions is overcome inside of us. When we allow God to hold together the opposites within us, it becomes possible to hold -- and forgive -- "over there" with our neighbors and even our enemies. Finally, our world view changes. We can no longer project our hatred onto another country, religion, minority group, race, or political

party. We recognize that we are all a mixed bag of blessings and burdens, strong points and stumbling blocks.” -- from Richard Rohr's Things Hidden: the Scriptures as Spirituality and True Self/False Self

**On the home front! ** We will be celebrating our presbytery's 30th anniversary on October 21st at First (Columbus). The formation of our presbytery was a time when individuals and churches from the north and the south, from eastern cultures and western cultures, from small towns and big cities, came together to become Flint River Presbytery. As God's "mini-ark" may our covenant-life together continually reflect forgiveness, forbearance, and the extravagance of hope!

AND....if you were looking for the answers to the recent Stewardship Quiz offered at our "mission and ministry" cluster celebrations during August, look no more! Click below to find 16 key facts about our presbytery to share with your congregation during September-December! Stewardship Quiz with answers

Rev. Debra T. Bibler,

Executive Presbyter

Facing Racism

Because of our biblical understanding of who God is and what God intends for humanity, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) must stand against, speak against and work against racism. In the wake of recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, the PC(USA)'s ongoing Facing Racism campaign offers tools to help assist presbyteries. The campaign shares a wealth of free resources with the greater Church at FacingRacism.org, which features studies, books, and training sessions.

May God bless your witness as you share these resources and as you equip Presbyterians to serve as members of God's beloved community. Thank you for joining together in the efforts of the Church to become the community of faith God calls us to be.

Yours in Christ, PC(USA) Communications Directors

"Ecclesia reformata semper reformanda" (prepared by Anghaarad Teague-Dees on behalf of our Committee for Education and Nurture) In 1517 Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, which sparked a reformation in the church and changed the world. As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Anabaptists and reformed brothers and sisters around the world will be commemorating this anniversary. The phrase above translates to "the church reformed and always being reformed" and is a powerful reminder of how the Holy Spirit is always at work in the church. This 500th anniversary celebration is not just an honoring of the past but looking forward to the future of the church. This fall our local churches are encouraged to find ways that they can honor this anniversary with creativity and care. Here are some helpful suggestions: Learning: There are three resources published by our denomination for children, youth and adults. (*See the block below for more information and note that one resource IS FREE!)

• Check out Religion & Ethics Newsweekly for videos and information through pbs.org.

• Check out the wonderful videos and resources produced by the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) on their website ELCA500.org about Martin Luther.

• Read Phyllis Tickle's book, The Great Emergence for a view of the church in the next 500 years.

Serving: Participate in "Stop Hunger Now" (renamed "Rise Against Hunger") on October 1, 2017 at 1/5 locations throughout our presbytery!

• Challenge your congregation to complete 500 hours of service by the end of the year.

• Donate new children's books and/or toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental to the presbytery for our neighbors at El Faro ("The Lighthouse") Hispanic Community. These supplies need to be at the presbytery office by Thursday, October 5th.

• Come to Family Day on Saturday, October 7th from 11 am to 3 pm at the presbytery office to help serve our neighbors affected by the storms last winter.

• Participate in "Ripples in the River" and find ways to increase your monetary giving to the presbytery to serve our many mission endeavors. Click here to learn more! Ripples in the River Brochure

Worshiping: Plan a special service for Reformation Sunday, October 29 • Sing some of the great songs of the Reformation in worship • Look for some suggested liturgies to be used during October as a way to

honor the 500th anniversary in the next SPARKS! • Come to our next presbytery meeting on Saturday, October 21st at First

(Columbus) and be on the look-out for Martin Luther. (Rumor has it that he'll be dropping by!)

Here's a gift from our denomination!

A FREE children's lesson on Martin Luther and the gospel of grace. Written in the format of Growing in Grace & Gratitude,

this downloadable lesson and supplemental resources are all you need

to include your children in your Reformation celebrations! Order this and other excellent resources for youth and adults

to prepare for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation!

WE ARE CONNECTED..... a CELEBRATION and a NEED in our PRESBYTERY

Something you'd like to see included? Please contact June Denney so it can be included in future editions!

Charles Register, a member of First (Donalsonville) and a former participant in our presbytery's many youth activities, is a rising senior/ forestry major at the University of Georgia. This past summer, he accepted a forestry internship job at the University of Idaho. With the help of networking with our presbytery staff, Charles was provided a family with which to live with during his time in Idaho. Norman Fowler, pastor at First (Moscow) and his wife Helen most graciously accepted Charles as one of their own into their home! What a tremendous help for Charles since he had to obtain his own living arrangements while participating in the internship. The Fowler's of Moscow, Idaho live on a farm and what an experience it was for Charles while he was there! Providentially, Charles was able to spend a great deal of time with the Fowler family during his stay and also attended worship services at First (Moscow) where Norman serves.

Not only was Charles able to gain more knowledge about forestry through the internship, but he also gained a new Presbyterian family! A huge thank you is extended to Norman Fowler and his wife, Helen, and our presbytery staff for reaching out from one presbytery to another! --submitted by

Brinson and Libby Register of First (Donalsonville) and the parents of Charles

Pictured above (from left to right) are Charles, Helen, and Norman.

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Trinity (Valdosta) is looking for a part-time Director of Christian Education,

who will serve the congregation for 15 hours/week. For more information, please

click here and send resume and faith statement to pastor.dees@trinitypresval.org

by October 1, 2017.

Stop Hunger Now

Stop Hunger Now Poster -- please note the time change for the Columbus cluster!!

John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice; I know them and they follow Me."

Featuring Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins the Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at

Columbia Theological Seminary

SAVE THE DATE! March 9 - 11, 2018

The Lodge at Lake Blackshear Resort Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park

2459-H Highway 280 West Cordele, GA 31015

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Registration will begin October 21st, 2017

Early registration 10% discount through January 5, 2018. (50% must be paid by this time.)

A $50 Non-Refundable registration fee must accompany your registration forms.

August/September 2017 Calendar plus a link to our year-long calendar including committee dates and presbytery

meeting dates!

*All events are held at the presbytery office unless otherwise noted*.

SEPTEMBER

1 - 4 New Pastor Retreat, Jekyll Island

4 Closed - Labor Day

4 - 14 Scotland Trip

7 12:00 noon NE Clergy Cluster

16 10:00 am COF

21 11:00 am

1:00 pm

Church Relations & Administration Team

AB

26 12:00 noon Central & SW Clergy Cluster

28 9:30 am CPM

OCTOBER

1 World Communion & Stop Hunger Now

6 Youth Council Planning, Americus/First

7 - 8 Fall Youth Overnight, Americus/First

7 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Family Day

13 - 17 Fall Polity Conference in KY

19 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Fresh Start Reformation Project - Lake House

21 Presbytery meeting at First (Columbus)

28 10:00 am The PresHouse Campus Ministry Board meeting, The PresHouse

**2017 ANNUAL CALENDAR (September - December) **

available here with all known meetings for the year

AmazonSmile -- an easy way to give back to FRP!

AmazonSmile Foundation Donation Disbursement

Flint River Presbytery Inc. (EIN: 58-6011891) has been issued a $48.07 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of

AmazonSmile program activity between April 1 June 30, 2017.

Click on http://smile.amazon.com/ch/58-6011891 and all

your eligible shopping will benefit Flint River Presbytery Inc. OR start

athttp://smile.amazon.comand choose Flint River Presbytery as your

charity of choice and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchase

http://smile.amazon.com

Contact: Rev. Deb Bibler, Executive Presbyter 826 Liberty Expressway, S.E. Albany, GA 31705 229-435-9726