Together September 2021

September 2021 A word of welcome Friends,   Welcome to the September edition of Together, the enewsletter that connects us to one another in The Fellowship Community.   Each month we highlight a TFC value statement with articles and an interview. This month the value is    Jesus-shaped Identity: We believe Jesus Christ must be at the center of our lives, and making disciples of Jesus at the core of our ministry. In this month’s video interview, Dan Baumgartner and I talk about ways to keep Jesus at the center of our lives as leaders. I share about my experience of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the experience of pilgrimage for solitude, prayer, and reflection on scripture.   Psalm 84 says, “Blessed are those whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” We continue on a journey of re-gathering our churches and ministries in the midst of uncertainties. TFC wants to join you on that adventure a network of churches and leaders called together to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by growing in Christ’s likeness, living by God’s word, and joining in God’s mission in the world.   To that end, we are excited to announce two gatherings. This fall, we will have a conversation with Tod Bolsinger around Tempered Resilience (October 28), and next spring we will be in Washington DC for our first national gathering in two years (May 17-19). See below for more information on both!   We are praying for you and your ministries.  In Christ, Rev. Dr. Michael McClenahan, TFC Board President Life in fellowship In this month's episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC Board Secretary Dan Baumgartner talks with TFC President Mike McClenahan about Mike's recent experience on the Camino in Spain and how it relates to TFC's value of Jesus-shaped Identity.. watch the video Online Gathering Registration Join us October 28 online for an afternoon with Tod Bolsinger on his latest book, Tempered Resilience. Includes time for discussion and prayer. There is no cost to attend. Register here Church Characters "Harold...is a character. He’s 62 years old, a large and tall man who is part of our church family and recognizably needy in a number of ways. He lives in a subsidized apartment half an hour from the church and is on disability. Harold shows up for volunteer landscape duty every Wednesday at the church, with a foot of extra belt length hanging from his old pants, wearing a white t-shirt and badly stained baseball cap. He rides the bus on Wednesdays to come and rake the grass after someone mows it. His thick glasses may preclude him from doing a perfect job, but he does the job. Every week." Dan Baumgartner reflects on the unique individuals who make up the church. read more in English 한국어로 더 읽기 Find a call TFC is committed to helping churches find compatible leaders - and vice versa! To that end, we invite you to check out the "Find a Call" page on our website, where you can see a variety of open positions throughout the country. We have received quite a few new postings recently, so be sure to stay connected! If you would like to post a position on our site, please send us an email. We are also looking for ways to improve this feature, so please think about how we might serve best in this area and send us any ideas or feedback. Find a Call Save the date We are excited to be planning an in-person National Gathering for May 17-19, 2022 at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. Details regarding theme, cost, registration, speakers, etc. will be available soon! We can't wait to see you! Prayer Father, you have made each of us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son. We pray that you look with compassion on the whole human family. Extend your grace, love, and strength to those who are struggling with losses endured resulting from natural disasters. Continue to provide wisdom and good judgment in our ongoing struggle with Covid-19 and its variants as we pray for those dealing with the ravages of this disease in their lives and in society. Strengthen and bless the frontline healthcare workers as they meet the seemingly insatiable demands of this pandemic among all the other health issues that must be tended to as well. Make the power of your presence felt among the peoples and nations who are living with violence and oppression especially in Afghanistan. Do not let threats multiply or power be used without compassion and may the peace that surpasses understanding through Jesus Christ prevail over misguided human willfulness. In our relationships, our communities, our country, and throughout the world take away any arrogance and hatred that infect our hearts, break down the walls that separate us, and unite us in bonds of love. May we see the day when all of us regardless of race or country or politics serve you in harmony so that your purposes alone are accomplished. We ask that you send the healing power of Jesus Christ into every life where there is brokenness, loneliness, sickness, or despair. May Jesus bring wholeness and healing to all these needs through the infinite power of his love and grace and inspire and enable us to make a difference anywhere and to everyone we can as his faithful disciples. Amen. Contributed by Jim Witherow share the prayer 한국어로 더 읽기 Connect with us! Do you have an idea for a future story? Are you involved in a ministry others need to know about? Let us know, and we'll include it in a future month's Together! Are you interested in learning more or becoming part of the Fellowship Community? Click here for more information.  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌

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