Welcome!
As I write this welcome, we are watching (from the west coast) a week of hurricanes Helene and Milton powerfully move from the Gulf of Mexico through Florida and the Southeast, with wind, rain, and flooding affecting many parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. The numbers and stories are staggering. Millions without power, a once-in-a-thousand-years storm, hundreds of deaths, and tens of thousands of aid workers responding.
So, when you read this, would you pray for our sisters and brothers in those areas still reeling from the storms? Find those still missing. Comfort those who are grieving. Empower those who are serving. Embolden leaders to lead. Rebuild homes, communities, businesses, roads, bridges. Know how to assist neighboring communities.
We are a network of churches and leaders committed to proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom of God, the good news that we are not alone, but that God has come to be with us in our brokenness, pain, grief, and suffering, and to come alongside each other. We worship a God "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God" (2 Corinthians 1), who became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1) and who hears our lament, "How long O Lord?" (Psalm 6).
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are in the midst of the devastation, or are nearby to help, how can we pray for you and support you? How can we trust God with you? Where do you see God at work? Would you please send us an email? Our board meets next week, and we would like to pray for you or support in any way we can.
Together in Christ, |
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Mike McClenahan, TFC Board President |
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Details, speakers, and registration coming soon! For now, save the date! |
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Regional Connections Opportunities to Connect with TFC and our Partner Organizations |
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Zoom Gathering Third Thursday of each month 10:00 - 11:00 am eastern |
| Zoom Gathering for DFW area leaders Third Thursday of each month 2:00 pm central |
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If your region is not listed, we are working on plans for something in your area. If you'd like to help organize a TFC event in your area, please email us at office@fellowship.community. |
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The Word According to the Bulletin Board |
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Several decades ago, I attended a Christian discipleship seminar. The leader challenged us to think hard about what kind of music we listened to, so as not to be unaware of things which subtly influenced us. I still remember his litany of caution: “Anything held constantly before the mind becomes a part of you.” For the sake of the seminar he meant that the music one chooses, even if we barely notice it is on, has an impact. Words do not spin out over and over with no effect. It was a good encouragement, actually, and certainly it could apply to many things besides music: books, television, movies, p0rn, news, social media or sports.
I thought about that while working at my desk at home this week, and my eyes wandered up to my little bulletin board. It’s full of images– pictures of our family, Anne, a mentor, a beautiful Norwegian hiking spot, a painting, a couple of cards. All of them are meaningful to me in some way, and I often look at various ones and recall a special time or person. But then I noticed all the words.
TFC Board secretary Dan Baumgartner shares the words on his bulletin board. |
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How do you explain an experience to someone, with concrete, factual, tangible and tactile language? How do you share that which you experienced in a way that communicates the great value and the riches you found in it?
This is exactly the situation I find myself in every week as I seek to respond to the flurry of questions and inquiries that we receive at TFC. Weekly, I find myself answering questions from pastors and congregations who are wondering why they might consider joining The Fellowship Community. They ask questions like these: What is the value of joining The Fellowship? Who is The Fellowship? Where does The Fellowship live? If I join The Fellowship, what will that mean for my congregation? Can we be a part of The Fellowship while remaining a part of the PCUSA? While this is not an exhaustive list of the questions, it does represent a fair number of my weekly conversations.
TFC Coordinator for Connections and Recruitment Ray Garcia reflects on The Fellowship Community. |
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New Board Member Spotlight |
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Paul Cunningham serves as head of staff at La Jolla Presbyterian Church in La Jolla, CA. Something that you may not know about Paul is that he is a big fan of Formula 1 Racing!
Tell about a time when you felt lonely or discouraged in ministry. In what ways did a community of believers or other pastors lift you up? I am a part of a covenant group that gathers once a year and connects most weeks on Zoom. Many of us are pastors and church leaders. We have been gathering for over 25 years and our shared history is such a gift. Our church went through a very difficult season a year ago where we lost four members who were under the age of 45. It was probably the most emotionally difficult and spiritually draining year of ministry I have ever had. Our covenant group was a huge support in helping me process that loss and grief. They really helped to “bear” the burden that I was feeling as I walked through this shadow of death. Their encouragement was a gift, and they reminded me that they would walk with me, just as I was walking through grief and loss with others. What excites you most about the future of TFC? I think the word “fellowship” says it all. We will go further together. TFC is doing a great job of helping to create intentional community across the US, as well as in our own regions. This is a gift to me. I feel that post-pandemic it was easy to feel isolated and disconnected. TFC is helping pastors and congregations remember what holds us together and the encouragement we can draw from one another as we stay focused on Jesus and the mission that he has called us to.
Welcome, Paul! Thank you for serving TFC! |
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Reflections on the Theology Matters Conference |
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What a delight to see so many friends from The Fellowship Community at the 2024 Theology Matters Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina! Ray, Cynthia, and Jim – all TFC board members – thank you for making the trek! It was wonderful to catch up and hear about ministry in your contexts, and to talk about our common challenges, going forward.
Former Board member James Cubie reflects on his time at the Theology Matters conference earlier this month. |
| I attended the Theology Matters conference in Hiton Head, SC earlier in October to gather with about 135 of my brothers and sisters in Christ. This was my first time at this conference. I was delighted to be reminded of the connectionism of the PCUSA. I bumped into the pastor who served at my church when I was in college 20 years ago! A nice surprise reunion. I also especially enjoyed one of the presenters at the event since she and I had not seen one anther since we graduated together in 2008 from Princeton Theological Seminary. There were also my colleagues from our TFC Board as well as other friends in Christ I have known over the years in different ministries.
Current Board member Cynthia Betz-Bogoly reflects on her time at the Theology Matters conference earlier this month. |
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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!
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. |
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by Kate Bowler
Blessed are the wounded healers, those who serve others in the midst of their own fear and pain, doubt and loss. God, may they know that they are not alone, that you are here. May they feel your love poured out for them so profusely, so personally, that love overflows to you in return. Grant them the encouragement they need that will set them on a joyful path of service.
Provide rest for their bodies, nourishment for their souls, and a trusted friend for life’s most perplexing questions. Guide them in practical ways as they seek to lead in uncertainty, comfort people in their sickness, console them in their grief, and celebrate life’s greatest joys. Grant them grace to know, somehow, yours is an economy of compounding love, of more-than-enoughness. May it be so. |
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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!
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