eLink News

This Week:

March 16– 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
March 17- 1:00 PM Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
March 18- 3:30 PM Nominating Committee, Presbytery Office
March 22- 1:00 PM Budget & Finance Committee, Presbytery Office

News From The Presbytery Office

Prayers
Jim Bibza (Center, NC) had a heart attack on February 27th.  He had a stent put in, but is at home recovering now and doing well.

Correction:
Special Invitation and Opportunity to Hear About Medical Mission Work in Haiti and Beyond. Rev. Will Browne, director of the Medical Benevolence Foundation www.mbfoundation.org will be speaking at a 1:00 PM lunch at Mt. Jackson this Sunday, March 21st.  All are invited.  Please contact Barry Almy balmy@mbfoundation.org (412) 600-5220 to make a reservation.  No cost.

Register for the Pastor’s Retreat
Our special guest for the Spring 2010 Pastor’s Retreat will be Rev. Rob Weingartner, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation.  “Living (Leading) With Joy in an Anxious Age” will be held on May 3-4 at Villa Maria Conference Center.  $75 to stay overnight, $40 to commute.  Registrations are due to the Presbytery Office by April 9th!

“Music People”
Worship Committee of Council would like to have a list of the current “music people” of our churches (those who lead and play for worship).  Contact Jane Bartholomew jraysing@verizon.net.

News from the Churches

Available for Loan-Out (for concerts, etc.)
4 sections of Wengler 3 Step Risers…contact Jane Bartholomew 724-981-2377 jraysing@verizon.net.  Also available Baldwin piano $500 (worth $3,000).

Anniversary Celebration
The Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year.  They would like others to join them on Saturday, April 10th for the celebration at 4:00 PM.  A catered meal will be served at 5:00 PM followed by a time of sharing memories in the sanctuary.  Reservations are needed for the meal by Sunday, March 21st, call Cindy Rosaci at 724-758-6785 or email jrosaci@zoominternet.net.  The celebration will continue the next day when former pastor Mike Louden will deliver the sermon at the 11:00 AM communion service, followed by a light luncheon.  No reservations are needed for the luncheon.

Dinner Theater @ First
The Covenant Players will be appearing at First Presbyterian Church, Sharon on Sunday, March 28.  Dinner at 6 PM; Play at 7 PM.  Dinner & Theater tickets: $15 adults, $10 children under 12.  Dinner tickets are limited to first come basis.  Play only $5.  For tickets, call 724-342-3551.

Help Needed with Special Project
A son of Neshannock Presbyterian Church, New Wilmington, was very recently deployed to Yosef Khel, Afghanistan.  One of his missions is to build positive relationships between the American/NATO presence and the local population.  Towards this end, he is leading an effort to supply the local school with basic school supplies.  Neshannock Church is asking for your help in this effort in the form of contributing basic school supplies, new or gently used, that will be sent for distribution to the school in Yosef Khel.  You may drop off your contributions  at Neshannock Presbyterian Church, the New Wilmington Borough Office, or the Smith Funeral Home in New Wilmington (a box on the side porch under the carport).  Contributions are being received through the end of March.

Thank You
On behalf of the board members of ROOT International, we thank all the churches and individuals that participated in our school supply project.  205 packages were prepared by our volunteers and sent on to El Paso.  Three dining facilities in Mexico received the packages.  Two more dining facilities will be started and we have enough packages to supply one dining facility and part of the other one.  We would like to continue this project to meet the needs of the new children.  In Torreon, Mexico we have about 100 children attending on a regular basis.  I plan to train the teachers there and leave Bible lessons and activity sheets so they will be following the same lessons as in Juarez.  I want to acknowledge Ariel Thompson (my daughter), Karen Bennington (a board member) and Marylin Isoldi (a friend) for their hard work and dedication to serving the Lord in any way they can.  God bless you all.  You have made all of this possible.  -Rebecca Vogan

Local Workshops, Events

Calling All Women of the Cloth:

You are invited to a Clergy Women’s Breakfast: April 16th at 9:00 AM in the Alcove of Shenango Presbyterian SeniorCare: (1) Meat Quiche, (1) Veggie/Cheese Quiche, Sweet Rolls, Fruit, Beverages.  Price will be $7-10 per person depending on the number of reservations.  Reservation deadline call or email Amy Na (724-654-2322 OR amylna@yahoo.com) by April 7th.  Thanks!

Lectures at First Presbyterian, Youngstown
Dr. Daniel Aleshire, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools, will speak at First Presbyterian Church, Youngstown on March 23 with the following topics:

• 4:00 PM Leaving the Promised Land for the Wilderness: The Changing Status of Congregations, Ministry, and Theological Education
• 7:00 PM Shepherd, CEO, Entrepreneur, and Social Worker: Pastoral Leadership and the Work of God’s People

Call for reservation information: 330-744-4307