Meetings and Events This Week:
March 26- 1:00 PM, Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
March 27- MCS Committee, 1st Sharon, 1:00 Sub-Committees, 2:00 Full Committee
April 1- 9:30 AM Council, Calvin Church
7:30 PM Leadership Development Team, Presbytery Office
We will only be sending e-Link in both formats for 2 more weeks
Starting in 2 weeks we will only send updates through the News Blog – if you want to continue getting our weekly news updates, you will need to make this simple (and secure) change. Only 113 people out of the 450 subscribed to e-Link have made the change so far. Click here to visit our homepage and sign-up – then simply click on the text link that is located directly under the black rectangular box under the photo of the Presbytery Office on our new homepage. 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 note: this code is case-sensitive and does not contain any spaces). 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. (You will receive a copy of e-Link in both formats until we make the switch.)
Please Use the Remittance Form
When sending mission money to the Presbytery Office, PLEASE USE the Mission Remittance Form, (http://www.shenango.org/PDF/Publication/Remittance%20Form.pdf). It makes it much easier to post the money to the correct church and account. Note: This form should NOT be used for listing your Per Capita payment.
Registrations Due Next Friday, April 4th for the Pastor’s Retreat
If you haven’t registered yet for the Pastor’s Retreat, May 5-6 with Bill Carl of Pittsburgh Seminary, you only until next Friday to do so. You can either mail in the form, or e-mail your name and whether you will be commuting or staying overnight to Autumn at office@shenango.org. (Commuting $30, Staying Overnight $50)
Youth Event Registrations Due April 18th
The Presbytery-Wide Youth Event on April 26th at Westminster Highlands is only a month away. Registrations are due on the 18th, but we would appreciate any that are turned in early. The director of Westminster Highlands would like to meet with any youth leaders that will be bringing a group to the camp to go over some preliminary projects and tools that may be needed. We will set the date for this meeting based on the schedules of the early registrations that we receive. You can register using the form in the packet that was mailed to each youth leader in the Presbytery, or by calling Autumn or Debbie at 724-528-1610.
Support for Pastors
Eight presbyteries in western Pennsylvania are working together through their Committees on Ministry to offer a series of overnight retreats and 2-hour evening events designed to support pastors in some very basic dimensions of ministry. These are designed for first-call pastors, but all pastors and CLPs are welcome. The first retreat (April 3-4) has been postponed to a later date. The program will begin with the September 25 – 26 retreat. The cost is $40 (study leave money would be appropriate) and it will be held at Crestfield Camp & Conference Center in Slippery Rock. For more information, contact the Presbytery Office or check the web site’s News & Events page. (An updated brochure will be available on the Presbytery web site soon.)
Vision and Values Conference at Grove City College
“Church and State 2008” is the theme of the 2008 Vision and Values Conference at Grove City College on April 10 & 11. Registration information can be found at http://www.grovecityconference.com/church_and_state/. This conference will be an excellent source of continuing education for area Presbyterians.
Grant Available for Smaller Churches (150 or less in worship)
The Synod of the Trinity (1200 Presbyterian Churches in PA, WV, and parts of OH) has received from the Frank E. Clark Foundation funds to provide to each Presbytery $5,000 for a grant(s) to one or more churches. The church needs to match the grant requested. Deadline is June 8. Please click here for a copy of the grant application.
The 21st Annual Wayne H. Christy Memorial Lecture
Rob Prestowitz, Executive Director of Urban Promise will be the featured speaker for the 21st Annual Christy Lecture at Westminster College on April 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM in Wallace Memorial Chapel. Urban Promise is a ministry to children and youth living in the inner-city neighborhoods of Wilmington, Delaware. The mission of Urban Promise is to teach children and young adults the skills necessary for spiritual growth, academic achievement, life management and Christian leadership. The theme of Prestowitz’s talk will be “God’s Relentless Love: Here I Am, Send Me.” This event is free and open to the public.
Continuing Education Event at Westminster College
On April 14th from 9 AM – !2 NOON, Rev. Kang Na will speak on “What Makes Worship Reformed” in the Witherspoon Rooms of McKelvey Campus Center. There is a $5.00 registration fee (includes lunch) which is payable at the door. Reservations are due 1 week prior to the event by calling 724-946-7117 or e-mailing Diane Gabriel at gabriedl@westmisnter.edu.
Pot Luck at Unity
Unity would like to invite EVERYONE to a pot luck supper on Friday evening, March 28 at 6 PM. Following the dinner, Chaplain Dwight Dunlap, a chaplain in the US Army on active duty will be sharing his experiences as a chaplain having served two tours of duty in Iraq. This will be an up to date message…come for both the supper (bring either a hot dish, salad or dessert) and or just the message (about 7 PM) at Unity, 1857 Mercer West Middlesex Road, (Route 318 Lackawannock Township).
Indoor Garage Sale at Unity
The Presbyterian Women of Unity Presbyterian Church are sponsoring an Indoor Garage Sale on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 8 AM to 5 PM in Fellowship Hall at 1857 Mercer West Middlesex Road (Rt. 318) Mercer, PA 16137. Lunch will be available. Don’t miss out on all the good bargains.
Full-Time Position Opening
Director of Youth & Family Ministries at First Presbyterian Church, New Castle. If interested, please see web-site for details and inquiries: http://www.firstpresby-newcastle.org.
The Presbytery of Shenango 