Meetings and Events This Week:
April 10- 1:30 PM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office
April 15- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
April 16- 1:00 PM Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
3:00 PM Nominating Committee, Presbytery Office
Upcoming Event- Missional Church Rally on April 27th (7-9 PM at East Main)
Prayers
- Charles Crane (West Middlesex) has received call-up orders as Navy Chaplain and will be leaving in early June.
- Chris Weichman will be installed as the new pastor at the Clen-Moore Church in New Castle at 4:00 PM on Sunday, April 13. All are welcome.
Location Changed for Church Finance Lunch
Due to overwhelming popularity, the Church Finance Lunch next Thursday, April 17th at 12:30 PM has been Shenango on the Green to allow for the growing number of attendees.
Youth Event Registrations Due Next Friday!
We’re checking items off our to-do list in preparation for the Presbytery-Wide Youth Event on April 26th at Westminster Highlands – now we just need some registrations! Forms and flyers are available on the News page of the Presbytery web-site, just in case you can’t find the mailing we sent – or you can call Autumn or Debbie at the office to register – 724-528-1610.
Church Histories for the Bicentennial Celebration Book
Clerks of Session received a letter in January asking for a 3-page summary of their church’s history by May 1st. Please be sure to send in a computer file of this document (12 pt, Times New Roman, single spaced). This will make the creation of the book much easier and faster.
A Note From Ingrid
“I’m here in Adol (Dinka [large tribe of the south Sudan] Land) for about 2 ½ weeks for an Adult Literacy Teacher Training, then onto Juba [capital of south Sudan] for NGO [non-governmental organizations] meetings and networking, then possibly back to Nairobi [Kenya] or maybe to Boma for a teacher training.”
You can see a picture of Ingrid’s tukul [house] on the Presbytery web http://www.shenango.org/sudan/ingrid.htm.
2009 Trip to the Sudan
The Sudan Leadership Team is doing preliminary work on a trip to the Sudan in early 2009. A final decision will be made by August 1 and then the time will be very short to join in. If you are at all interested, we need to know now. Contact Jim Leuenberger or Dave Dawson.
What Does a Synod Do with Your Money?
Our churches are part of the Synod of the Trinity, 1200 Presbyterian Churches in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and parts of Ohio. Your session’s support of the General Mission budget helps do important work carries out through the Synod. For example:
□ Subsidies for the Missional Church projects
□ Support for Word Centered Fellowship
□ Mission travel grants (our churches get a large share of these)
For more information, see the brochure: http://www.syntrinity.org/about/financial_information/documents/NB_2008.pdf which you can order in bulk for your church by calling 1-800-242-0534.
Church and State in 2008
Grove City College will hold a conference on April 10-11 on church-state issues. You can read an interview of Earl Tilford by Paul Kengor about this at http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=1D4E5717-DA76-4C85-BE91-BF140DC38B99. More details on the conference at http://www.grovecityconference.com/church_and_state/.
Reducing the Risk Training for Mercer County Churches
Sheakleyville Presbyterian is having a 2-hour training for Elders and teachers with AWARE (Crisis Shelter) on reducing the risk for child sexual abuse in the church. The training is Wednesday, April 23rd, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the church and is open to other churches. An RSVP to Nancy Varner at 724-253-4230 would be appreciated.
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 – Only 1 more day to register!
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@westminster.edu.
Katrina Table Project
The Katrina Table Project had an organizational meeting last week with more than 70 persons in attendance. Sufficient contributions have been received to pay for the materials to make 100 tables. For more information or to join the work, contact Jim Moose at moosewoodfurn@peoplepc.com.
Study Leave Opportunity
Want an adventure? For 15 years, a group of pastors have been mountainclimbing or canoeing/portaging using a book for discussion on ministry in a setting that lends to trust and growth. This year the group will be returning to the wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada for a week of group building, physical challenge and spiritual growth. See Don Hurray at the upcoming Presbytery meeting for a brochure and application. The date for the trip is September 14-22, 2008 and the book to be studied is “Spiritual Surrender” by Jim Krisher.
2-1 Bible School Half Days…A chance to sample the ministry at Westminster Highlands
As you begin planning your 2008 Bible School program, the Camping Association invites you to consider adding a visit to Westminster Highlands to your schedule. During the week of June 16-20 the camp will be hosting 6-hour afternoon mini-camp sessions as an extension to Bible School programs conducted that week – but are also open to other groups who just want to spend an afternoon at camp. For more details, see the News page of the Presbytery web site.
Margaret Trautman in Outlook
Margaret Trautman (Volunteer for Christian Education) has written an article for The Presbyterian Outlook based on the workshop that she led at the national educator’s conference. It is on brain research and teaching. http://www.pres-outlook.org/tabid/2299/Article/7286/Default.aspx.
Organ Dedication Recital at First, Greenville
First Presbyterian Church (323 Main Street, Greenville) is pleased to announce plans for a service of dedication and recital on the newly renovated and expanded organ in the main sanctuary at 4 PM on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Guest organist wil be Dr. Charles Callahan, one of the country’s leading organists and composers. The recital is free and open to the public, and the church sanctuary is accessible by elevator. Dr. Callahan will also offer a workshop for church musicians and other interested individuals at 10 AM the same day – please register in advance by calling the church office at 724-588-6520.
Full-Time Position Opening
Director of Youth & Family Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of New Castle, PA; if interested, please see their web-site for details and inquiries: http://www..firstpresby-newcastle.org.
Shenango Senior Care Needs Volunteers
Shenango Senior Care is looking for volunteers to serve as Hostesses at the main desk. It just required a little time and a friendly face. The hours are Saturday and Sunday afternoons (three hours). There are already volunteers and this would strengthen the list. Please contact Betty Jones at 724-946-2028 or bjones@shenangopsc.org, if interested.
Risograph Available
East Main Church has an older riso that needs a good home. If interested, please contact the church office at 724-458-8270.
The Presbytery of Shenango 