Dear Friends,

Presbyterian and other Reformed Christians throughout the world are now recovering from their ecstatic, raucous, non-stop celebration of the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth.  Well, not really. But church leaders throughout the world were surprised by the groundswell of interest in the life and legacy of John Calvin. Within the church, ministers and members discovered the continuing relevance of Calvin’s thinking for church unity, missional initiative, and the ordering of collegial ministry, as well as for the shape of worship and a theology of grace. Linguists, political leaders, students, and philosophers rediscovered the extent of Calvin’s contribution to contemporary culture and society. As the Jubilee year progressed, the worldwide response grew. Anticipating a low key anniversary celebration, the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (26 cantonal Reformed churches) established a modest multi-language Calvin09 Web site. However, worldwide use of the German, French, Spanish and English sites far exceeded even the most hopeful estimates. Because of the huge response to the Calvin09 site, the Federation decided to continue and expand it for ongoing use. The new site, calvin-reformation, will be launched later this year as the most comprehensive international, multi-language Web site for all things Calvin. The Office of Theology and Worship  (TAW) has been asked to manage the international English language content of calvin-reformation. Working closely with GAMC communications staff, TAW will determine content and links that will make a wealth of material available on Calvin’s life, theology and legacy. The site will also feature interactive material, including Calvin games! Users of the site will be directed to a wide range of books, visuals and other material, ranging from the scholarly to the whimsical. Providing leadership in this important international ecumenical venture is one of the ways the General Assembly Mission Council serves the PC(USA) by serving the church catholic. As GAMC expertise is used to benefit the wider church, Presbyterians are helped to appreciate and live out the reality that we are joined to others in the one body of Christ, members of the communion of saints that spans time and space. The Office of Theology and Worship is proud and pleased to have been entrusted with the English language Calvin-reformation Web site. Theology Worship and Education Ministries is also proud and pleased by the outstanding 2009 performance by Congregational Ministries Publishing  . In a difficult financial climate for all publishers, CMP’s We Believe!  curriculum resources experienced a remarkable 12 percent increase in sales. Figures for the first month of 2010 are even better, with increased sales in all curriculum and publishing lines. As Congregational Ministries Publishing moves toward its goal of financial self-sufficiency, the 2009 experience is encouraging to CMP staff and to the whole church. Good sales are testimony to very good Congregational Ministries Publishing educational materials. As CMP prepares to launch a new line of adult education resources – Being Reformed – we are convinced that PC(USA) congregations remain dedicated to learning and teaching the riches of Christian faith, and that they are drawn to explorations of the Reformed perspective on Christian faith and life. Complex international engagements and nationally shared Reformed educational resources are only possible through the General Assembly Mission Council. The staff of Theology Worship and Education Ministries is privileged to serve the whole church, and to enhance the whole church’s service to God and neighbors. Joe Small, Director Theology Worship and Education Ministries