A return to Birchwood Presbyterian Church

This Sunday (2.19.12) I will be speaking (preaching) at Birchwood Presbyterian http://www.bpchurch.org/in Bellingham. Speaking at Birchwood is no small thing for me. Birchwood became a church home for Connie and me in the early 80’s. We raised our sons there. I served on staff from 1985 to 1997. In many ways we grew up and built our family in the context of Birchwood Presbyterian. Our days were at the old site (the new site is now almost fifteen years down the road).

I am very thankful for those who walked alongside us those years. Each time I go back I enjoy the renewed connections. There is always a bit of sadness when I realize those who have passed away. So many who were a generation or two older than me were gracious and kind as I stumbled my way through ministry, life and faith. There were great times and hard times. Family brings both and Birchwood was family for us in many ways.

It will be an honor and joy to share Sunday morning with the Birchwood family.

College Conference for ministry leaders

in January i will be at Montreat conference center near Asheville North Carolina for a time of focused learning for college ministry leaders https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dEZaMl8xV2FmTG1fWXVEcTB5aUlGR0E6MQ#gid=0

below is information about the event:

 

TIME FOR YOU

An Event for Leaders

The College Conference at Montreat is an amazing time to deepen relationships and forge new bonds with your students. It can also be an exhausting time right after the holidays when you would really like some time to fellowship with friends and colleagues.

The PCUSA Office of Collegiate Ministries and Mission Immersion Asheville are teaming up to offer you the afternoon of January 4th as a time to spend enjoying some professional time with friends. Jim Schmotzer, a long time college pastor, will be with us to facilitate some learning and conversation. Adrian McMullen will be on hand from the General Assembly Offices to talk about the direction of Collegiate Ministry in the PCUSA. And the good folks from Mission Immersion Asheville will help us to recreate and focus.

Jim has served as the Executive Director of University Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Bellingham, WA. He has also been a camp and conference program director and an elementary public school teacher in Oregon. He has a M.Ed., Adult Education from WWU and a B.S. from Western Oregon University. Jim has been an instructor for City University Graduate School of Education and a community parent educator. He has written for numerous publications including: Leadership, Group, Christian Camp and Conference Journal, Church Administration, Journal of Adult Training, and Youthworker.

 

SCHEDULE FOR THE AFTEROON

 

12:00 PM  Lunch together (lunch will be provided)

12:45 PM  Community Building and Devotions

1:30 PM Session One: The future of campus ministry: The impact of post-Christian and/or post-church culture, shifts in family structures and parenting styles, extended adolescence, financial realities, shifts in campus systems, post-modernism, Biblical illiteracy and other current issues and their impact on campus ministries (and young adult ministry) will be discussed.

3:00 PM Break (Beverages & light snacks)

3:30 PM Session Two: Maximizing staff teams: Staff teams can be a source of strength or a drain on your ministry. This session will address how to build an organizational structure that learns, grows and serves together. Will also include recruiting, training, supporting and directing student leaders and interns to help support daily ministry while training young adults for faithful futures.

5:00 PM Done

back to vancouver (washington, that is)

after a few quick nights home in bellingham i’m back in vancouver (wa) for the essentials of development seminar http://www.murdock-trust.org/enrichment-programs/essentials-development-seminar.php with the M. J. Murdock Trust. i am designated as a “back bencher,” observing the process, gaining valuable insights and making connections with those participating. another benefit will be growing connections with Murdock staff members and side work on the Trust’s vision and call internship program. additionally, i have ministry history with all three of the seminar facilitators and look forward to ongoing connections with them. next week i’m off to dallas, tx for the refresh college ministry conference http://collegeunion.org/refresh/. i’ll post more about that in the coming days.