This Week
November 18- 5:00 PM Bills & Overtures Committee, Eat ‘n Park Restaurant, Hermitage
6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Sharon
November 19- 12:00 PM Missional Pastors Lunch, Presbytery Office
November 20- 2:30 PM Sudan Trip Meeting, Presbytery Office
November 25- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock NW
November 27-28 – OFFICE CLOSED, Thanksgiving Holiday
Survey for LeaderFest – Time’s Almost Up to Complete This!
Russ Crabtree, keynote speaker for Leaderfest in January and director of “Holy Cow! Consulting” has asked the Presbytery Council to offer a survey to leaders in our congregations and Presbytery. This survey will help him prepare for his presentation at Leaderfest in January. Please click on the link below and complete the survey at your leisure (before the end of November) so that the results can be compiled. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions. Russ would like to know your opinion.Here is the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tN2JqCpvkD4x_2fwP2LiWJVw_3d_3d
Featured Headlines from Previous Weeks
Full text available on our blog at http://www.shenango.org/spnews.html
Joys
– Calvin Church celebrated Jim Latta’s 25th Ordination Anniversary with a dinner last Friday evening.
Rev. Daniel’s Visit: Special Advent Blessing
Don’t miss a brief visit from Rev. Daniel from the Sudan. He leads the Darfur Mission Committee work and has been there 40 times in the past 3 years. Ken Bailey will interview Rev. Daniel at the following public gatherings:
- 7 PM on Wednesday, December 3 at New Wilmington Church
- 10 AM on Thursday, December 4 at Tower Church (Grove City)
Mission Networks
This good article, http://missional.info/?p=88 by the presbytery executive in Carlisle Presbytery is worth a read. The Sudan Mission Network (Shenango, Redstone, Trinity presbyteries) was the first network beginning 14 years ago. It will next meet in Louisville on December 1-2 with Jim Leuenberger, Miriam Gwin, Betsy Barr and Dave Dawson attending.
A Continuing Education Opportunity – 1 Week Leader’s Intensive
The annual 1-week Leader’s Intensive Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class of pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers will be January 20-28, 2009 at Mt. Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. For information see http://www.perspecitives.org/atf/cf/%7B1EB5210-3B12-4790-9F8C-D025aE89B1A99%7D/Leaders_Intensive_Details-2009.pdf.
A Pittsburgh Seminary Student Pastor at Your Church
Would you like to be a “teaching church?” A student could possibly be available (especially Lawrence County churches closer to East Liberty) for 10 hours a week for a recommended minimum compensation of $300.00 per month. For more information contact Carolyn Jones cjones@pts.edu 412-362-5610 x2130.
Letter from Sudan Missionaries Del and Debbie Braaksma
Learn about the Presbyterian work in south Sudan by clicking on this link. http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/letters/braaksmad/braaksmad_0811.htm.
A Financial Request
Nasser Barakat, a Sudanese minister, who spent some time in Shenango Presbytery a few years ago is now living in Florida. He and his wife have two children and are in serious financial circumstances. He has requested some help for a few months. Anyone who would like to help can get more detailed information by contacting Walt Freson (724-752-3332, wfreson@zoominternet.net) or Dave Lower (724-752-9348, dhlower412@yahoo.com).
Calvin Symposium on Worship – January 29-31, 2009
Grand Rapids, MI – worship planners, pastors, musicians, artists, scholars and worshipers from more than 30 denominations and countries in dialogue featuring over 70 presenters. More information and registration at http://www.calvin.edu/worship.
Info Request from Jamestown PC
The Jamestown Presbyterian Church is considering hiring a part-time Director of Youth Ministries. If your church employs a Youth Director – either full-time or part-time – they would appreciate having a copy of that person’s job description so that they don’t have to “start from scratch.” Please either c-mail to pastordons@hotmail.com or snail-mail to Don Stanley, 411 Liberty St., Jamestown, PA 16134. Thanks!
Share in a Booklet Order
The Jamestown Presbyterian Church will soon be ordering “About Being Presbyterian” booklets from Channing Bete Company. These are great resources for introducing folk to the Presbyterian Church, and cost less when ordered in quantity. If your church would like to share in the order, thus increasing the number ordered and reducing the price, either e-mail pastordons@hotmail.com or snail mail Don Stanley, 411 Liberty St., Jamestown, PA 16134, with your request.
New CE Blog
Want to know what’s happening with the Christian Education Committee of Presbytery? Check out their new blog at http://spcenews.blogspot.com/. You’ll find information regarding Christian Education in the Presbytery and links to resources for Children’s, Youth, and Adult Ministries that you can use for your programs.
NWMC Mailing
Watch your mail for the arrival of the light blue packet from the New Wilmington Mission Conference. There are 3 brochures and registration forms in the packet – one for the Christian Educator, one for the Youth Leader, and one for the Mission Committee. Visit the web site to view a Power Point about the conference: http://www.NWMCmission.org.
New Castle Community YMCA Thanksgiving Praise Breakfast
Tuesday, November 25th at the downtown YMCA. Open to the community- an opportunity to join together with people from various walks of life, backgrounds and denominations to worship together and give thanks. Speaker: Pastor Mark Kaufman, Jubilee Ministries International. Full breakfast begins at 8 AM – reservations requested, but not required 724-658-4766 by Nov. 24.
The Presbytery of Shenango 