4 - 6 PM
30 January 2005

First Presbyterian Church
New Haven Connecticut

Opening Sentences

Special Music                                                      Wayne Osborne

Call to Confession

For every one who asks receives,
and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Confession of Sin

Eternal God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
whose face is hidden from us by our sins,
and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts:
Cleanse us from all our offenses,
and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires,
that with reverent and humble hearts
we may draw near to you,
confessing our faults,
confiding in your grace,
and finding in you our refuge and our strength;
through Jesus Christ your Son.

Meditation

Special Music                                                     Wayne Osborne

Offering of Our Lives to God

Intercession for Healing

God, our creator,
your will for us and for all your people
is health and salvation:

have mercy on us.

Jesus Christ, Son of God,
you came that we might have life
and have it in abundance:

have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit,
dwelling within us,
you make us temples of your presence:

have mercy on us.

To the triune God,
the source of all love and all life,
let us offer our prayers.
For all who are in need of healing,

Silence.
 Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.
For all who are disabled by injury or illness,

Silence.
 Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.
For all who are troubled by confusion or pain,

Silence.
 Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.

For all whose increasing years bring weariness,

Silence.

Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.

For all about to undergo surgery,

Silence.

Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.
For all who cannot sleep,

Silence.
Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.

For all who practice the healing arts,

Silence.

Lord, in your mercy,
     hear our prayer.

Here petitions for specific needs may be offered by the people.

Into your hands, O God,
we commend all for whom we pray,
trusting in your mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Laying On of Hands 

Lord's Prayer

Blessing

A board retreat with Lisa Larges, the regional partnership coordinator, was held at the Sanctuary at Shepherdfields on March 27th. We concentrated our focus on advancing our mission and then prioritizing our goals. Janet Wade-Utay facilitated the brainstorming session and compiled the Board Advance suggestions.

The main focus of this past year has been the task force to develop a plan of action in terms of hiring someone to help us proceed with our mission. In conjunction with Rev. Carl Dudley, the task force has made magnificent progress on this goal. Many thanks to Dick Hasbany, Janet Wade-Utay, Keith Rhoden and Dan Blackford. An abbreviated version of the document is available at the annual meeting.

Presbyterian Promise participated in the Rally for Marriage Equality, spearheaded by Love Makes a Family, on May 16th near the Hartford Capitol. Previously in February, co-moderator Brian Merritt spoke at a rally in Rhode Island on the same issue. We also marched in the New York Pride Parade in June. Our presence was also evident at the Rhode Island Pride Event and the Hartford Pride Event which was held indoors due to rain. And we are visible at the presbytery meetings by having a table of informational materials available during the interactive time. As a study and advocacy group of the presbytery, we contribute a report to the annual meeting.

Educational opportunities included a YDS lunch with Diana Swancutt, professor at the Divinity School on April 22nd, David Lewicki and Jenna Tiitsman presenting to youth at New Haven on April 18th, and Chris Glaser returning in the Fall to receive an award at Yale Divinity School. Chris preached at Hartford: First and facilitated a discussion around the Turning Points video with a small group of faithful people at Janet Wade-Utay's house the same day on October 10th. Additionally, a spiritual retreat led by Rev. Cari Jackson was held at the First Presbyterian Church, Stamford on October 2nd co-hosted by Presbyterian Promise and Presbyterian Welcome.

We were visible at national meetings, too. Dick Hasbany attended the Three Sisters conference in Kansas City, MO in May, the GA held in Richmond, VA in June and the TAMFS regional meeting in Rochester, NY in September. Thank you, Dick, for reaching beyond our borders!

Several copies of the Turning Points video were purchased from the Covenant Network by Cheryl Molina and sent to all sponsoring churches. Thank you, Cheryl!  We encourage the churches to use them with their congregations. Presbyterian Promise is available to participate in discussions in conjunction with the video.

Our church membership is growing! Welcome to the First Presbyterian Church, Stamford, CT, which joined us in the Fall. We now have six sponsoring churches that are on board. However, we seek an individual from both Wilton and Crossroads Presbyterian Churches to be their representative to the board this year.

Our membership received one newsletter this year in mid-July comprising news primarily of GA activities. Several individual mailings were sent out as events occurred during the year. Please contribute any news you have to our webmaster and print editor Ralph Jones! He can be reach at ralph.jones@att.net or 203-248-7386. Check out our web site, http://presbypromise.home.att.net. Our Advent fund-raising letter in early December solicited over $6,000. Thanks very much to all who contributed. We are blessed by so many wonderful people!

Respectfully submitted,

The Board will have at least one appointed director from each Sponsoring Member."

The Nominating Committee is composed of the following three members:  Dan Blackford, Mary-Starke Wilson and Pat Wales. The committee offers the following names to fill positions on the board:
 
 

What's happening nationally                  Lisa Larges, TAMFS regional coordinator

Reconciling Dialogue                              Rev. Carl Dudley