The following post is from Rev. Chaz Ruark, the Excutive Presbyter of the PTCA.

Those who were present at our last Presbytery meeting (btw a special thanks to all the good folk at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Coon Rapids for being such gracious hosts) know that we began a year of worship at Presbytery meetings that focuses on the Six Great Ends of the Presbyterian Church. Just to recap for those of you who haven’t memorized them, the Six Great Ends of the Church are:

            -The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

            -The shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

            -The maintenance of divine worship

            -The preservation of the truth

            -The promotion of social righteousness

            -And the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.    BoO  G-1.0200

            The Great Ends have enjoyed a bit of a resurgence since they were highlighted by the 209^th General Assembly meeting in 1997. They were written and adopted in the early 1900’s as a part of a great optimistic era at the start of a new century. And while they are excellent goals that can be affirmed by any Christian denomination they are uniquely Presbyterian. Still in all the GE’s are too easily forgotten once the Polity Ordination exam is passed.

            When we recently entered a new century, and a new millennium I’m not sure we shared the same sense of optimism that our counterparts of 100 years ago possessed. In fact we live in a time of tumult with cultural shifts and transitions that often leave us with many more questions than answers. Yet the beauty of these carefully crafted words still inspire us and still call us to action even today. Churches around the country have adopted the Great Ends as a focus for their congregation.

            Your Presbytery Council has come to the same conclusion as those many congregations. As we seek to be a faithful presbytery, fulfilling the calling of our Lord Christ to be the church that demonstrates God’s glory, what better starting point than the Great Ends. If you haven’t thought much about the Great Ends lately I encourage you to read the first three chapters of the Book of Order (Yes, READ the Book of Order) to hear the calling that Christ has for our church. As congregations and as a presbytery we have much work and much hope ahead of us, but we have a wonderful blueprint in the Great Ends to help us down this path.

With gratitude for service and faith in his salvation, we report to you the passing of the Rev. David Droog from this world to God’s eternal kingdom on Tuesday, July 14.  David lost his battle with cancer after a valiant effort over a number of years.  David just recently resigned his position as Interim Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Rochester due to health issues.  He was ordained to the Office of Word and Sacrament in 1981 by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and served in this Presbytery throughout his career.   Please keep his wife Diane and other family members in your prayers in their time of loss.  A memorial service will be held for David at the Associated Church of Owatonna, MN at 10:30am, Saturday, July 18.    Though it is a Saturday and outside of the metro area, clergy are strongly encouraged to attend the service to honor our colleague in ministry.  The family has requested that the ministers not robe or process at the service, but we will sit together as honorary pall bearers.  Directions to the church can be obtained through the church’s website, www.associatedchurch.org.     
 

 
Lord God, creator of all,
you have made us creatures of this earth
but have also promised us a share in life eternal:
receive our thanks and praise
that, through the passion and death of Christ,
your child David, our brother,
whom we commend into your hands today,
shares with your saints in the joy of heaven,
where there is neither sorrow nor pain
but life everlasting. Alleluia. Amen.  

 Sincerely,
  The Staff of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area

Chaz Ruark, Executive Presbyter

Nancy Grittman, Stated Clerk

Risa Anderson, Office Manager

Dennis Sanders, IT/Communications Specialist   

*Prayer:   Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000-2006.