Courtesy of Presbyterian News Service

By Jerry Van Marter

FRANKLIN, Tenn.–Looking for the best Mother’s Day card ever?

In celebration of the May 13 observance, Living Waters for the World, a humanitarian clean water organization, has launched a unique donor e-card. Using Flash-based technology in a slideshow format, the system allows donors to personalize the card in honor of the mothers in their lives, while donating to Living Waters for the World in their honor.

The card, which acknowledges the nurturing of mothers around the world, features a photo uploaded by the donor as the final image of the card. The system then sends the card to the recipient by email on the date and time specified.

The Living Waters for the World “train, equip, sustain” model of mission outreach has created 442 clean water partnerships in 24 nations around the globe, providing clean water systems to communities in need.

Living Waters for the World is a ministry related to the Synod of Living Waters of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

by Bob Smietana

Religion News Service

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–Allan Doyle used to have big dreams and little faith.

“When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries: May Jesus Christ be praised!” So sang the teaching and ruling elders here yesterday, gathered to worship, and to prepare for the upcoming 220^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

The meeting will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 30 through July 7.The Synod of Living Waters arranged the training for those commissioned to attend GA from the Synod’s twelve presbyteries. Held at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, training included orientation to the online business, briefing on Roberts’ Rules of Order, and review of the convention center and schedule for Pittsburgh.

Organized by Warner Durnell, Greg Goodwiller, and Ken Hockenberry, the event prepared commissioners for both the wonderful worship life and the rigors of the General Assembly meeting this summer.

by Pat McGeachy

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Middle Tennessee Presbytery is greatly blessed these days in having Linda Badger Becker as our interim while we search for a permanent Executive Presbyter. That was particularly apparent to our Stewardship and Mission Interpretation unit during January and February as we began our year. (In case you have forgotten, that’s the group. currently chaired by Emily Townes of Glen Leven Church, Nashville, that has the responsibly “to interpret the mission of the church, to develop effective means of communication between the presbytery and its member churches, and to encourage and promote the grace of liberality within our congregations.”

In the initial meeting of 2012, it was clear that the unit first needed to look at our own understanding of stewardship and mission before we start trying to explain it to our sisters and brothers! It was then that it dawned on us that we have one of the leading experts in Christian giving right in our midst. At our next meeting, in response to our cry for help, Linda led us in a two-hour intensive course on the biblical, theological, and practical ways to discover true stewardship. It was an eye opener!

Our church does not have money problems; it has spiritual problems. We must begin by refreshing not our pocket books but our faith. We first allowed key stewardship passages from the Bible to drift over us as we took turns reading aloud. There are hundreds of such texts. Here are a few that we chose. If you have time, read them right now before you finish this article! 2 Chronicles 31:1-11, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. I especially liked the way Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51-16:2 [the chapter divisions were added in relatively modern times] jumps immediately from the glory of the Resurrection to the generosity of the Corinthians.

In short, lets begin our stewardship with thanksgiving. Times are hard for us all, individuals, businesses, and churches, but how richly blessed we are here in America! And how broadly God’s abundance spreads throughout these rolling hills of central Tennessee. As the children of Israel gladly poured out their sacrifices in response to their deliverance from Egypt, and as the early Church gave in joyful gratitude for their salvation in Jesus, let us be good stewards, not because the church needs our money, but because we need to be grateful. Not to raise a budget, but to lift up our hearts.

More to follow with practical ways to cultivate this attitude of gratitude.

The Rev. Pat McGeachy is honorably retired from the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee and is Pastor Emeritus of Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville.

By Carie Turner

FRANKLIN, Tenn.–Refundable credit is now available to churches through the Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums.  This credit on federal taxes can provide significant funds depending on several factors.

To be eligible for the credit, your church must pay for at least 50% of the health insurance premiums for the church’s employees.  This credit is for small businesses and tax-exempt employers who have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.  These employees’ wages must average $50,000 or less per employee annually.

Courtesy of the Presbyterian Outlook

by Toya Richards

LOUISVILLE–Fresh, clean water may be a given for most in the United States, but not so for nearly a billion people in the world.