On July 17, Hervey Martin and I attended the Salem Presbytery meeting as representatives of Parkway Presbyterian Church. This was my first time as commissioner and I was glad that I had Hervey there to advise me.

During my new commissioner training session before the meeting began, the Clerk explained the meeting process and advised us that we were to vote not as advised by anyone in our congregation but as the Spirit led us to do. I’ve attended lots of business meetings, conferences and workshops in my work life and this advice to listen for the Spirit was the first sign to me that this meeting would be a new experience.

The meeting began with uplifting reports by representatives of churches in our Salem Presbytery who had just returned from the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). One representative quoted the statement of Commissioner John Dickinson from the General Assembly meeting in 1722 - “We should open the doors of the church as wide as Christ opens the doors of heaven and receive one another as Christ also receives us to the glory of God”. How relevant that is to us today!

We also heard a sermon by Kellie Jo-Anne Browne before approving her examination and call to John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Salisbury. In her sermon, Rev. Browne discussed the choice we have today-whether to live in fear or live in grace. If we’re living in fear, we give only when we have to do so with what’s left over; we are unable to see the value in helping those who are homeless or strangers. If we’re living in grace, we look for opportunities to serve, listen for God to speak to us, pray inter-cessionary prayers and seek peace. I know for myself, it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day dilemmas, questions, and problems and I appreciated hearing this thoughtful sermon.

Salem Presbytery is offering a great workshop “Attract, Reach, Keep” on October 16 for a second time. I attended this workshop this past spring and thought it was very helpful. The workshop leader, Lynette Hawkins, spoke about how to reach out to those in our community. Her key suggestions on meeting people’s needs and working to understand them “where they are” was good for me to hear. In today’s world, many people are looking for spiritual experiences. Many people are even using devotional materials on the Internet rather than attending traditional church services. Ms. Hawkins emphasized that people today are looking for relationships. After hearing Ms. Hawkins’ presentation, I was convinced that at Parkway, we have a lot to offer-worship for those who prefer contemporary and those who prefer traditional service, a variety of Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults, Bible Study, Presbyterian Women’s circles and Men’s prayer breakfast, and our Wednesday night fellowship program. For me, joining a group or class at Parkway has been a great way to develop deeper relationships beyond saying “hello” at worship on Sunday morning.

The Presbytery meeting was hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Mocksville and held in their beautiful old sanctuary which has been remodeled to accommodate state of the art video recording and projection equipment. If you’re interested in seeing video recordings of the reports about the General Assembly, please visit Salem Presbytery website: http://www.salempresbytery.org/

Julie Coulter

Pictures from this year's Easter Egg Hunt at the Martin's farm.

Click on a picture to see the full sized version.

Why Relay? The power of Relay is that it allows a community to grieve for those lost to cancer and to celebrate the lives of those who have survived. The Local Missions Committee invites the congregation to be a part of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on July 31-Aug. 1, in Davie County. Help us to “light up the night” with luminaries in downtown Mocksville. You can honor a loved one by ordering a luminary. To truly feel part of this important event, come and walk with us for an hour or all through the night. With so many of our friends, neighbors and loved ones afflicted with this dreaded disease, let’s try our very best to help find a cure for cancer soon. Please fill out the form below if you wish to purchase a luminary, sponsor a walker or if you are willing to walk. The event starts Friday evening at 6:30p.m., and ends Saturday morning at 9:00a.m. If you have any questions, call Lore Tromp (751-4166). May God bless your giving.

Luminaries ($10) In Memory of ______________________________________

In Honor of________________________________________

Name________________________

Phone number_________ Willing to walk Willing to sponsor a walker

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Today, in his role as pastor, Dan Wilkers proclaimed from the pulpit at Parkway Presbyterian Church, “We have the Word of Hope in a world filled with despair.” Wilkers, in his role as chair of the board of The Haiti Fund, has just returned from the Haiti Fund annual meeting where he heard a word of hope about the mission work among people struggling with poverty and despair.

Haiti Fund, Inc. is a non-profit corporation parent organization for the Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP) which benefits the Cormier and Upper Fond Boudin sections of the Léogâne commune in Haiti and is a covenant between the Episcopal Church of Haiti and the Presbyterian Church (USA). During 2008, the 650 Haitians employed by CODEP worked in several community improvement projects including the planting of trees and grasses, installation of water cisterns and construction of hurricane proof homes.

The projects include planting 750,000 trees selected specifically to suit the conditions and climate in Haiti including eucalyptus, lime and cherry. In the past, the area had become deforested as Haitians cut down trees to turn the wood into charcoal fuel. Wilkers commented that the eucalyptus trees are beneficial to Haiti because if the trees are cut down; the trees will grow back and don’t require replanting. CODEP has also supervised planting vetiver grass in a terraced landscaping plan to reduce erosion on land previously deforested. The planting projects have been so successful that the water table has increased enough to create two small lakes in the area. The Haitians can collect the beans from the vetiver grass and press the beans to yield oil that can be used for cosmetic purposes.

The 650 Haitians who work for CODEP are organized into geographically based teams. They work two days for pay and two days for volunteer hours which helps them earn credit toward a water cistern or house. The program does not allow Haitians to clear cut land and if they cut down a tree, they must replant two trees. Dan Wilkers reported meeting a man whose only means of raising money to pay for his children’s college expenses was to cut down a tree and sell the wood. CODEP construction projects during the past year included 5 hurricane proof houses and 20 water cisterns.

Also, during 2008, the Haiti Fund began serving hot lunches to students at two schools. Wilkers reported that the simple meal of beans and rice is the only meal of the day for many children.

For the people in Haiti, the work of the Haiti Fund’s Comprehensive Development Project certainly brings hope.

To contribute to The Haiti Fund and CODEP projects, please send contributions to:

The Haiti Fund, P.O. Box 1075, New Bern, NC 28563-1075 or visit the website: haitifundinc.org