Monday, November 15
Cherokee Presbytery
Georgia
Cherokee Presbytery in Northwest Georgia has a membership of 10,030 in 41 congregations, 6 immigrant fellowships, and 2 new church developments. In 2008 a Vision Team discerned that God is calling the presbytery to pray the faith together, think the faith together, and live the faith together so that the whole body of Christ may be built up and grow together in Christ.
As a result, in 2009 Cherokee Presbytery began moving from program to relationship, from top-down to supporting congregations, from business to sharing faith, and from governing to discerning as a judicatory.
Working together on difficult theological and ethical issues can provide a more faithful way of struggling with questions that matter for the life of the whole church. Believing that God is sovereign over all of history, the current economic situation requires asking, “What is God doing in the midst of this time? Where is God in the midst of decreased retirement funds, home foreclosures, and unemployment?” The Vision Team discerned God is calling God’s people back to faithfulness, back to trusting in God rather than Wall Street, trusting in God’s sovereignty rather than in their own ability to control situations, trusting in God’s providence rather than in their ability to produce, and following God’s leading rather than determining their own direction.
This is done not through business meetings, but through Christ-centered worship; not through debating pros and cons, but through listening to God and one another; not through the works of their own hands, but through celebrating what God is doing; not through competing for limited resources, but through mutually supporting, respecting, and being accountable to one another; and not through individualism or congregationalism, but through united mission efforts.
Let us join in prayer for:
Presbytery Staff
The Rev. Rebecca Blackwell, stated clerk, mission coordinator
Betty Check, administrative assistant
Sarita Morris, bookkeeper
The Rev. Greg Moore, treasurer
Kelly Howington, director, Cherokee Retreat Center
Andy Hendrix, groundskeeper
PC(USA) Agencies' Staff
Gavin Stephens, PPC
Terri Stephenson, OGA
Timothy Stepp, GAMC
Prayer
O Lord, bless whatever is faithful, forgive whatever is not according to your will, and lead us into the future you have prepared for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 57, 145 and Ps. 85, 47
Hab. 2:1–4, 9–20
James 2:14–26; Luke 16:19–31
