Meetings and Events This Week:
March 11- 7:00 PM Session Records Review – Mercer County, Bethany Church, MercerMarch 12- 3:00 PM Nominations Committee, Presbytery OfficeMarch 13- 1:00 PM Sudan Leadership Team, Presbytery Office7:00 PM Session Records Review – Lawrence County, Northminster Church, New Castle7:00 PM Bicentennial Committee, McGary FarmMarch 18- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock Church, New Wilmington
STATION Meeting Tomorrow Evening
All Young Adults in the Presbytery, ages 18-35 are welcome to participate in STATION, a Bible study and fellowship group that meets the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church. A new study is starting tomorrow evening, so this is the perfect opportunity to check it out!
Date Correction
Please note that the dates listed in the letter for the Session Records Review are CORRECT, but one of the days of the week IS NOT. The meetings are: Mercer County on Tuesday, March 11th at 7:00 PM at Bethany Presbyterian Church, and Lawrence County on THURSDAY, March 13th at 7:00 PM at Northminster Presbyterian Church.
Prayers
– Paul Musser (Honorably Retired) will be having back surgery on Monday.
– Jerry Mahaffey (North Liberty) will be having wrist surgery on Monday.
Youth Event Info Mailed Today
Information packets for the Presbytery-Wide Youth Event were mailed to Youth Leaders this afternoon. Please make sure that when they arrive at your church that they are put into the correct hands. The Youth Event is April 26, 2008 at Westminster Highlands Camp in Emlenton, PA.
To sign up for the new version of “e-Link”, simply click on the link that will be located under the animated bar of scrolling headlines. You will be taken to a screen that asks for your e-mail address, and a verification code (to make sure that it is a person and not a computer filling out the form). An e-mail will then be sent to your inbox asking you to verify subscription- just click on the link provided in the e-mail. Each time that our News Blog is updated with information, you will receive an e-mail of that information between 3 and 5 PM EST the same day. We will be sending both versions of e-Link for about a month before we drop the current version and send updates exclusively through the News Blog.
Research Data on Religious Life in America
The most comprehensive research on religious life in America, “Faith in Public Life,” is available at http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/content/news/2008/02/survey_americans_feely_change.html. Also see: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/208/februaryweb-only/109-23.html.
We’ve been notified that the first link noted above may not work for everyone. If you are not able to reach the research data using that link, please try this one: http://religions.pewforum.org/
Ken Bailey Lenten Meditations
Ken Bailey has written Lenten meditations for The Presbyterian Outlook. Click http://www.pres-outlook.com/Default.aspx
Open for Holy Week
Bell Memorial Presbyterian Church will be open for silent prayer and meditation Monday, March 17 through Saturday, March 22, between 9 AM and 5 PM. Please feel free to drop in anytime during those hours. The church is located at 610 Line Avenue in Ellwood City.
Important for Board of Pensions Members
Participants in the Board of Pensions are reminded that it is essential that you report to the Board any change in terms of call for 2008. You can obtain the form at http://www.pensions.org/library/forms/forms/enr-111.pdf. Starting next fall, a copy of this form will be included in each church’s annual report packet.
Seminary Scholarships
The Fund for Theological Education http://www.thefund.org has scholarships for prospective seminarians and those in their first year of seminary. Contact Reverend Ellen Echols Purdum, Director of Ministry Fellowships, at 404-727-1462 or epurdum@thefund.org for more information.
Choir Music Give-Away
Saturday, March 8, 2008 — 10 to 1 p.m. at Unity Presbyterian Church. Choir directors are invited to go through their music and any anthems they would like to give away can be taken to the Presbytery Office, OR TO THE NEXT PRESBYTERY MEETING, FEBRUARY 26TH AT GROVE CITY COLLEGE (Worship Committee members will be there to receive the music) — or they can call Jane Bartholomew, 724-981-2377 — E-Mail – jraysing@verizon.net. All churches and choir/music directors are invited to participate. We are still gathering names of choir directors willing to lend music, and church organists and pianists.
5th Annual Dr. J. Calvin Rose Memorial Seminar – March 10, 2008
“Callings and the Christian Life”, exploring the biblical idea of calling will be presented by Rev. Dr. Donald Opitz, associate professor of higher education and sociology at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. Refreshments and fellowship begin at 9:30 AM. The seminar begins at 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM, with lunch at 12:00 noon in the Witherspoon Rooms of the McKelvey Campus Center. There is a $5.00 registration fee for this event which includes lunch and is payable at the door. Reservations are due one week prior to the event by contacting the Chapel Office 724-946-7117 or email at gabriedl@westminster.edu.
Ministry With Youth
Neshannock Presbyterian Church in New Wilmington is seeking a thoughtful person of faith to work with youth 7th – 12th grade. This is a paid part-time position. Great opportunity with wonderful youth who seek to grow in their faith. This person will experience a warm welcome and very supportive relationships with youth and their families, the congregation, and the pastor and church staff. This person will also be welcome to experience other contexts of ministry within the church if that is of interest, but is not at all required. Please contact Rev. Bill Stone at 724-946-2081 or by e-mail at wjwcstone@nwboronet.com for further information and inquiries.
Chairs Available
Unity Presbyterian Church has 80 plastic chairs that they are willing to give to any church for FREE. Please contact Karl Schroyer at 724-347-2321 or at kschroyer@verizon.net.
The Presbytery of Shenango 