This Week
- December 1- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
- December 5- 12:00 PM Retired Minister’s Christmas Party, Shenango-on-the-Green
- December 6-8 Sudan Mission Network, Louisville, KY
News from the Presbytery Office
eLink Error
We had to delete a few of the eLinks from August yesterday to protect a missionary’s security, and did not realize that a deletion of information would initiate an eLink of the remaining information. We apologize for any confusion that yesterday’s emergency edit caused.
Excerpts from a Note from Ingrid Reneau in Nairobi, Kenya
“I’m not wholly well, yet, but planning on being so in the very near future because there is a [teacher] training in Pibor [south Sudan] that has begun without me, and I don’t like that in the least bit…I’ve NOT been hospitalized [for walking pneumonia], at least not yet, anyway, praise God…I’m being treated at home…I’ve had to take lots of test though, at Aga Khan Hospital, and to go back to see the doctor on Monday for results…Mostly I have bouts of extreme weakness because of all things, I am very anemic (despite all those PC(USA) luncheons and dinners while in the USA), low grade fever, ongoing sore throat…BUT I will live forever, as you well know…and to at least 100 on this side of the river…I am deeply grateful for the kind affection and warmth coming this way at this time…to God be all the glory, amen…As ever, I live on and for prayers…thanks so much for praying for me…
Letter from Debbie Blane
Rev. Debbie Blane, mission co-worker, has sent her November letter, which will be posted on the Presbytery web site this week. Her blog can be found at http://debbiesjourneycontinues.blogspot.com.
Mission Giving Deadline
It is not too early to begin reminding people that contributions for the year 2009 must be given to the church by December 31, 2009 or mailed in an envelope postmarked December 31, 2009. Monies received after the start of 2010 cannot be attributed to the 2009 year. The deadline for monies sent to the Presbytery office must be postmarked by Tuesday, January 5, 2010.
January 16, 2010 – 13th Annual LeaderFest – Officers and Church Leaders- Save this Date!
Saturday morning – January 16, 2010 LeaderFest at Westminster College. Keynote speaker: Dr. Andrew Purves, Professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. A choice of sixteen seminars on interesting topics. Books on sale from Cokesbury. Lunch in the Witherspoon Dining Hall. Watch for more information coming soon.
News from Our Churches
Christmas Music and Drama
Bethlehem Presbyterian Church invites you to attend “Where Are You Christmas,” a special worship service including music and drama on Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 PM. Dessert reception following. Open to the public, free admission.
Special Christmas Concert
The Wade Raridon Singers (http://www.thesingers.org) will be performing a free Christmas concert, December 13th at 4 PM at Northminster Church, 3424 Wilmington Road, New Castle, PA. Featuring many alumni from Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music, the singers will perform pieces by Holst, Shaw/Parker, and other classic choral composers. Their masterful voices will touch your heart in a special way and spiritually bless you. Don’t miss it! Mark your calendars and plan to join Northminster for this special event.
Blue Christmas Service
For many people, the approaching Christmas holidays do not bring with them the joy and happiness advertised on television, or in greeting cards. The experience of loss, whether financial, job related, an illness, death, or caused by other stressors can bring with it feelings of sadness or grief. Finding peace can be difficult. New Wilmington Presbyterian Church will be offering a“Blue Christmas Service” on Sunday, December 6th at 6 PM This service will offer an opportunity to gather for a quiet time of hope and celebration in the midst of sadness or grief. This time is less about colored lights, and more about God’s Light which shines into our times of darkness. This worship is less about sparkling holiday cheer, and more about finding quiet, divine holiday strength. Open to the community, we encourage you to invite family or friends who may find the Christmas season a difficult time of year.
For many people, the approaching Christmas holidays do not bring with them the joy and happiness advertised on television, or in greeting cards. The experience of loss, whether financial, job related, an illness, death, or caused by other stressors can bring with it feelings of sadness or grief. Finding peace can be difficult. New Wilmington Presbyterian Church will be offering a“Blue Christmas Service” on Sunday, December 6th at 6 PM This service will offer an opportunity to gather for a quiet time of hope and celebration in the midst of sadness or grief. This time is less about colored lights, and more about God’s Light which shines into our times of darkness. This worship is less about sparkling holiday cheer, and more about finding quiet, divine holiday strength. Open to the community, we encourage you to invite family or friends who may find the Christmas season a difficult time of year.
Living Nativity: A Christmas Drive-Thru Experience at Westfield Presbyterian Church
(1363 Mt. Jackson Road [Route 108 just west of Mt. Jackson])
On Saturday, December 5 from 6-8 PM. Volunteers will participate as members of the angel choir, live actors, preparing light and sound, working on costumes or setting up over 300 luminaries to light your way. Live animals include donkeys, llama, miniature horse and sheep. This event is a free gift to the community. For directions or more information visit http://www.westfieldchurch.org or call 724-667-7045.
Please Join Us at the Boars Head Festival
Christ Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City will present the Boars Head Festival on December 5, and December 6, 2009. Tickets are FREE. For more information, please contact Christ Presbyterian Church at 724-758-4563.
Work Trip to Houma, LA
Mt. Jackson Presbyterian Church is planning our work trip south and would like to invite other churches to join us. This year we are going to the Presbyterian Disaster Camp in Houma, LA. The camp in Pearlington, MS is closed. There are no longer any camps in Mississippi. The dates of the trip are Saturday, February 13 – February 20. They do not start working until Monday. We plan to leave Saturday and arrive in Houma on Sunday. The cost of the camp is $20 per day for room (pod) and meals plus the cost of the vans. We figure it will be approx. $275 pp if you are riding in the vans. Please let us know by December 31 if you want to join us this year for Katrina relief. Please contact Bill Gwin at wlgwin@att.net or 724-667-8321.
Workshops, Conferences and Local Events
Joy to the World! The Music and Poetry of Christmas
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Choir, under the direction of the Rev. George E. Tutwiler, Organist – Choirmaster, will present this musical program on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30 PM in Hicks Memorial Chapel Sanctuary. It is free and open to the public with a reception immediately following.
Alternative Gift Market at Westminster College
Alternative Gifts International is a non-profit organization which screens existing agencies working throughout the world in order for consumers/shoppers to purchase shares of their work in honor of someone. The Young Presbyterian Scholars at Westminster College will be holding their 6th annual Alternative Gift Market on Wednesday, December 2nd from 9AM to 9PM in the McKelvey Campus Center on the the Westminster College Campus. Also available for purchase will be fair trade coffees/teas from Equal Exchange (the Presbyterian Coffee Project) and items from the Silk Road, a fair trade market in New Wilmington.
Joy to the World! The Music and Poetry of Christmas
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Choir, under the direction of the Rev. George E. Tutwiler, Organist – Choirmaster, will present this musical program on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30 PM in Hicks Memorial Chapel Sanctuary. It is free and open to the public with a reception immediately following.
Alternative Gift Market at Westminster College
Alternative Gifts International is a non-profit organization which screens existing agencies working throughout the world in order for consumers/shoppers to purchase shares of their work in honor of someone. The Young Presbyterian Scholars at Westminster College will be holding their 6th annual Alternative Gift Market on Wednesday, December 2nd from 9AM to 9PM in the McKelvey Campus Center on the the Westminster College Campus. Also available for purchase will be fair trade coffees/teas from Equal Exchange (the Presbyterian Coffee Project) and items from the Silk Road, a fair trade market in New Wilmington.
The Presbytery of Shenango 