Additional
Tending the Flame
Links:
Fire and Flame
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Tending the Flame
Celebrating the Ordination of Women
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Read Fire and Flame, the Midwest Tending the Flame
newsletter, July 2005
TENDING
THE FLAME—Notes to Planning Committees
in Congregations
Remember that this
celebration covers both 2005 and 2006.
Some points to remember:
 | Work
together with the groups in your church, encouraging each of them to honor the
past, recognize leaders in the present, and encourage youth for future
ministry.
Work
with your pastor for worship emphases, liturgical materials, special
celebrations, sermon themes, resources, and encouragement. |
| Include
young people in all your planning and design special educational programs and
classes for children and youth. |
| Have
youth take responsibility for some projects and activities. |
| Identify
sources of income, if necessary. |
| If
your plans need session approval, get the dates of their monthly meetings and
allow enough time to get on their agenda and for them to make a decision. |
| Plan
to participate in the Celebration in Chicago, November 5-7, 2005 by attendance
and helping prepare your presbytery’s exhibit of women “Firsts.” |
Resources
| Check
your presbytery Resource Center or your congregation’s library. |
| Publications
with help:
Horizons, Presbyterians Today, Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society,
your PW newsletter or presbytery
newsletter. |
| Congregations
often have anniversary booklets and pictures. Ask members for memories,
pictures, and stories. Check local historical societies. |
For More Information
| Check with your presbytery
Planning Team. |
| For contact with the
Chicago-based Planning Team email Betty McGinnis, staff person for this
Celebration, at
betty@chicagopresbytery.org or Eunice Poethig, chair of the planning team,
at ebpoethig@earthlink.net. |
Suggestions for Teams and Celebration on the theme “Tending the Flame”
Past: “Kindling the Fire: Re-membering our Community of Leaders”
Present: “Living the Light: Celebrating our Calling Today”
Future: “Igniting new Torches: Lighting up the Future”
Past: Kindling the Fire: Re-membering our Community of Leaders”
| Identify “Firsts” in congregations—deacons, elders, clergywomen. |
| Identify leaders and officers in the presbytery, synod, General Assembly,
Presbyterian Women, and seminaries and leaders in your community, regionally,
and nationally. |
| Find ways to reintroduce these women—posters, dramas, pamphlets, pictures. |
| Participate in the national Biography Project of the Presbyterian
Historical Society and Women’s Ministries (GAC program area). |
Present: “Living the Light: Celebrating our Calling Today”
| Develop celebrations in congregations recognizing women today and their
contributions. |
| Try a Recognition Sunday with special liturgical materials, music, and
sermon. |
| Have an Advent or Lenten series led by special “light bearers” in your
community or congregation. |
| Tie ribbons on a tree with the names of the women in your congregation or
special women you want to recognize. |
| Participate in the Biography Project of the Presbyterian Historical
Society. (Details coming). |
| Participate in the Igniting New Torches Relay (more description to
follow). |
| Select a mission project to support in recognition or in memory of someone
or participate in the Undergarment Offering for abused women and children
shelters. |
| Attend one of the national celebrations. We invite you to the Chicago
gathering in Nov. 6-7, 2005. |
Future: “Igniting New Torches: Lighting up the Future”
| Involve younger women in all your planning and projects. |
| Have both younger and older women in dramatizations of women yesterday and
today. |
| Highlight youth who are leaders now in your congregation, school, and
community. |
| Connect your youth with presbytery and national youth activities. |
| Elect youth deacons and elders. |
| Encourage youth and young women to be involved in a mission project that
helps women. |
| Use stories and activities of leading women with children. Develop a
Sunday School curriculum, a Vacation Church School project or a celebration
day. |
| Encourage storytelling at home about family women. |
| Involve children and youth in the Igniting New Torches Relay. |
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