Coming Events:
December 24-26 – Office Closed, Christmas Holiday
January 1-2 – Office Closed, New Year’s Holiday
Featured Headlines from Previous Weeks
Full text available on our blog at http://www.shenango.org/spnews.html
– Spread the Warmth – collection for the area homeless youth at the Silk Road Market
– Calvin Symposium on Worship – January 29-31, 2009 Grand Rapids, MI
Prayers
Autumn Covert, Executive Secretary, had surgery on Monday and should be home today. She is doing well.
Deadline for Mission Giving
Contributions for the year 2008 must be postmarked by Monday, January 5, 2009.
Attention Church Boards and Committees
At your December meetings be sure to include information about the LeaderFest event coming January 17th at Westminster College. Registration brochures are being sent to all church secretaries, and also were included with the on-line issue of Shenango SHOWCASE. As an incentive to get your registrations in early, the “early bird” fee is just $10.00, if the registration is sent before January 12, 2009.
Remember the Sudan at Christmas
We have been deeply blessed with a brief visit with Rev. Daniel Hamad from the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. Last week we had two gatherings with 70 folks from our churches for Dr. Ken Bailey’s interview of Daniel. Over $3,100 has been collected so far for Daniel to buy food for those suffering in displacement camps in Darfur. He and other church leaders make the risky trip each month to serve them. All contributions received by the end of the year will be used for this Christmas gift to the people. Go to http://www.shenango.org/Sudan/index.htm for pictures and more information on the Sudan.
Lay Pastor Training
The next opportunity for training as a lay pastor begins in early 2009. Registration is due by the end of December. There are 3 persons from Shenango Presbytery planning to participate. You could share a ride with them to classes in Pittsburgh. Contact Jim Davison JDavison@pts.edu or contact the Presbytery Office for more details.
Want to Study the Bible in Greek?
Aaron Christy (Sharon) and Kang Na are organizing a group to read Greek. The group will move at a slower than academic class pace, decide on a workbook, and will meet no more than once every 2 weeks. Anyone interested could contact Aaron at dym@1stpcs.org or 724-981-2211 x4.
Preaching Events at PTS
Preaching as a Sacred Conversation: How to Give Sermons and How to Listen to Them will be offered on January 7, 14 and 21. This program will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 PM on these Wednesday evenings and will be broadcast live to three remote locations. It will focus on preparation and delivery of sermons, as well as how to make hearing sermons more inspirational and valuable. To register ($45/0.4 CEU), contact the Office of Continuing Education by calling 412-441-3304 ext. 2196 or e-mailing coned@pts.edu.
The Presbytery of Shenango 