Presbyterian pastor Dorothy Duquette, who is serving two small churches in Minnesota, elaborates on her request:

I would love information on updated words for traditional hymn tunes. That is part of what I am looking for. I appreciate hymns with inclusive language for God and people. I'm also looking for Lent and Easter hymns that offer alternative understandings of the saving nature of Jesus' death and resurrection besides the sacrifice model.

I am not a musician, but I enjoy music very much and it is an important part of my spiritual life. Besides some new hymns, I am also looking for good music that I can add to my collection. I am frustrated by a lot of the Christian music /artists that I have listened to because the theology is usually conservative. Is there anyone out there who is offering music with a more liberal Christian perspective?

Thanks so much for your help!

Dorothy

So – who can offer some suggestions?

We invite you to send them to us, so we can share them with others who no doubt are looking for such music, too. Click here to send your response to us, and directly to Rev. Duquette as well.

The Rev. Linda Pflugfelder shares this suggestive idea in a note dated 3/10/05:

I want to comment on a PCUSA news release I received this morning entitled "Under the Radar" concerning the numbers of people in the pews who are not aware of 216th General Assembly’s controversial actions with respect to the Israel/Palestine conflict.

We have experienced a wonderful thing happening in our church because of these PCUSA news releases I receive because I forward them on to those few people in the congregation that I think will be interested.

When I received one a while back about the ecumenical letter that went to President Bush concerning the conflict in the Middle East, I forwarded it to about 8 people I thought would be interested in it, asking if they wanted to get together and talk about what we could do to help promote peace. I thought maybe we'd write a letter. What happened was phenomenal!

We met and they decided to form a "peacemaking" group in our congregation that would be responsible for finding ways to educate the congregation about issues of peace and justice.

This group of 8 has met weekly to plan a four-week Adult Ed class on the Israel/Palestine situation. They have done research, contacted people who can speak from different perspectives and found material to lead this discussion with our congregation. I am only with them as a resource. When this series is done, they plan to continue to meet together to find other ways to educate the congregation about peace and justice issues.

This is just one way to get important issues "on the radar screen." (And it is not left up to the pastors to get it there.)

Peace,

Rev. Linda Pflugfelder

The "Partners in Transformation" awards program, launched November 1, is seeking to identify effective models of faith-based collaboration in ten states. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) and congregations that are operating an effective social service program with demonstrable, positive results and doing so in collaboration with some organization(s) outside the faith community (e.g., schools, government agency, police, secular nonprofits) are eligible to apply.

From the Presbyterian Washington Office

IRS Publishes Two Brochures to Aid Nonprofit Organizations and Seeks Public Comment on Returns

On Nov. 17 the IRS released two new brochures aimed at helping charities. The first, Applying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status, answers questions such as why to apply for 501(c)(3) status, who is eligible, what are the responsibilities, and how to apply. The second brochure, Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations, directs nonprofits on why to keep good financial records, what to keep records on, how long the records should be kept, what federal tax reports and returns need to be filed, and what disclosures an organization must make. Additionally, both brochures provide a wealth of information about how to reach the IRS when assistance is needed, the other IRS publications that aid exempt organizations, and the forms required for exempt organizations.

These comprehensive aids can be found on the IRS web site at http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=117894,00.html

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking comments on an existing final regulation, Public Inspection of Exempt Organization Returns.

The Internal Revenue Code section 6104(b) authorizes the IRS to make available to the public the returns required to be filed by exempt organizations. As part of the Department of Treasury's continuing effort to reduce the paperwork and respondent burden it is inviting the general public to take this opportunity to comment. The comments submitted will be included in the request for the Office of Management and Budget's approval.

The IRS are asking for the comments to address only five different issues, which include: (a) Whether the collection of information has practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimates of the paperwork burden on taxpayers; (c) Ways to enhance quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) Ways to minimize the burden of collection of information on respondents; and (e) Estimates of capital or start-up costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. Comments are due Jan. 20, 2004.

Click here to view the request for comments.

Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, #104,
Washington, DC 20002.

202-543-1126, fax 202-543-7755.

[9-24-03]

At this time in history, it is crucial that our churches be spiritual communities where people work for justice and peace.

But many of our pastors are already burned out, overwhelmed and overloaded. Like hamsters in a wheel, they're just trying to get to next Sunday, then beginning again. This is a situation that the Church cannot afford. We need leaders who have enough time and energy to envision the future--and make it happen.

As a pastor with significant desktop publishing experience, I can offer a service to pastors and churches who would like to outsource all or some of their bulletins, newsletters, and other communication materials. I have recently created Eschaton Writing & Design, a ministry whose mission is to free pastors to be transformational leaders.

Instead of hiring additional staff that they do not need and cannot afford, churches can outsource some of the weekly workload.

Imagine what a difference it would make to the quality of their pastor's leadership if he or she worked a 40-50 hour work week, rather than 60-70.

Imagine if their pastor had a day off to "get things done"--and a Sabbath for spiritual, emotional, and physical renewal.

Imagine if vacation and study leave didn't mean extra work before leaving town.

Imagine...

Those interested in working with Eschaton can reach me at (989) 598-5999, or via email at eschatonhc@msn.com

--Heather Christensen
Member, Maumee Valley Presbytery