eLink News

This Week:

May 9-10- Pastor Retreat, Villa Maria Retreat Center
May 10- 10:00 AM Resource Center Committee, Presbytery Office
May 11- 2:00 PM Vietnam Group, Presbytery Office
May 12- 11:00 AM Higher Education Committee, Presbytery Office
1:30 PM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office
May 17- 6:30 PM Special Presbytery Meeting, 1st Sharon
7:30 PM Committee on Ministry, 1st Sharon 

Special Committee to Monitor Denominational Issues

The Special Committee will be providing forums for the discussion of a variety of developments in the Presbyterian Church (USA) that merit our prayerful and careful attention.  The committee has also received a referral of a resolution from the Bethel session.  A recommendation will be brought to the June 28 Presbytery meeting.  You are invited to meet with the Committee immediately following the Special Presbytery Meeting on May 17 (6:30 PM at First Church, Sharon) for information and to share your concerns.  Click here for further information.

Sessions of Shenango Presbytery

Last July, the 218th General Assembly took an historic action to study the role and future of presbyteries and synods in the Presbyterian Church (USA) by establishing a 21 person Commission on Middle Governing Bodies.  A portion of this commission’s responsibility is “to consult with sessions…on the mission and function of middle governing bodies”.  This is your opportunity to influence the work of this important commission by sharing your wisdom through an online survey.  The Commission is asking that each session have a conversation at a session meeting before the end of May and that the Clerk of Session complete the survey form on session’s behalf.  Instructions for the entire process are found at the survey site, which is http://www.pcusa.org/mgbsessionsurvey.  There is also a general survey for anyone who wants to participate as an individual.  That link ishttp://www.pcusa.org/mgbchurchwidesurvey.

Your Church May Qualify for a Significant Tax Credit…must act by May 15

Under the new rules for health care insurance, many churches will be entitled to a tax refund.  If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you should act now:

• Does your church give a W-2 to your pastor and other staff?
• Does your church pay some or all of the health insurance, at least for your pastor (through the Board of Pensions or otherwise)?
• Does your pastor voluntarily have federal tax withheld by the church?

If your answers to these questions are “yes” – check the Board of Pensionswww.pensions.org/taxcredit for details.  Also, check the Presbytery website for some helpful tips on filling out Forms 990-T and 8941www.shenango.org/News/index.htm#taxcredit.  If you have questions, call Shari at the Presbytery Office on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.  Remember, May 15 is the deadline.

Grove City College Professor Gary Smith Publishes a New Book

In addition to serving as a part-time pastor in Shenango churches, Gary Smith is a highly respected historian of American Christianity.  Mark Noll, Notre Dame University world-renowned historian, writes the following about Gary’s new book Heaven in the American Imagination (Oxford University Press): “This rich account of speculations about heaven is chock full of the sophisticated and the crass, the sublime and the ridiculous, the mystical and the maudlin.  The book reveals a great deal about eternal life as conceived by the Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, Jews, and others – but perhaps even more about the American circumstances in which these conceptions have been expressed.”

News from the Churches

Youth and Young Adult Ministry Pastor Wanted

Bethel United Presbyterian Church in western PA is seeking a full-time Youth and Young Adult Ministry Pastor.  The candidate will hold a Reformed and evangelical view of theology.  The successful candidate will have a passionate and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and a strong call to serve youth and young adults.  Bethel is a vibrant rural congregation blessed with a strong sense of community and many young families.  Please submit resumes to mark@bethelupchurch.org.

5K to Benefit Local Charities

There will be a 5K at Goddard State Park in Sandy Lake on May 15th at 3 PM.  There will be a competitive run and non-competitive walk portion.  All proceeds will benefit local charities including Helping Hands, Helping Hammers, Meals on Wheels, etc.  This is sponsored by the local ministerium.  A registration form can be found at the following web page: http://newlebanonchurch.com/Page_2_4HPB.html.  Call Sandy Lake Church or Rev. Beth Arnold 724-376-2630 orbetharnold185@windstream.net with questions.

FREE Books!

Because the faculty of Religion, History, Philosophy, and Classics at Westminster are cleaning out their offices before renovation of Patterson Hall, they are giving away lots of wonderful books that may be of value to you (for your own study, for your church, or to sell on eBay) –e.g., on the Bible, biblical interpretation, theology, philosophy, and lots of other categories.  Come by Patterson Hall once in a while (at least once a week?) to see the books in front of the department office (Patterson Hall 121).  The books are there now and more books will be placed there through the end of May.  Any questions, call the department secretary (724-946-7244) or Dr. Na (724-946-7155).

Celebrate World Fair Trade Day at the Silk Road Market

Join The Silk Road Market at 115 N. Market Street #1, New Wilmington as they celebrate World Fair Trade Day on May 14, from 10 to 5.  Enjoy international snacks as well as a free screening of the documentary “A Powerful Noise”.  This year, 20% of all sales on May 14 will be donated to SOS Children’s Villages, a non-profit focusing on orphaned and abandoned children.  For more information, please call Wendy at 724-946-8502.

Ham Loaf Dinner

Bessemer Presbyterian Church will be holding a Ham Loaf Dinner on Saturday, May 14th from 5-7 PM.  Adults are $8, Children 6-12 $4, Children 5 and under are FREE.  Take outs will be available.  Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling the church office at 724-667-7255 or Karen Hutch at 724-667-4181.  All proceeds will benefit the Bessemer Presbyterian Church’s mission trip to the Pittsburgh Project in Pittsburgh, PA the week of August 7th – 11th.

Christian Folk Singers at Cana’s Corner Coffeehouse

On May 10, 2011 from 7-9 PM Cana’s Corner Coffeehouse is proud to present “2 for One” a folk singing team blending the voices of Greg Vanderveen and Marla Moretti.  If you enjoy Christian folk singing mixed with songs from the 60′s, then plan to attend.  There is no cover charge and coffee & doughnuts are free.  We will start serving specialty foods for sale at this coffeehouse.  We are open the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month.  A free will offering will be taken.

Help ROOT International at Grove City College

It’s that time of year when ROOT International returns to the GCC campus.  We are looking for volunteers from the churches, (youth, men & or women, groups, and individuals) that can help us sort pack and label boxes.  This will all take place during the next two weeks, May 9-27.  We will need people to help us in the morning and another group can come in the afternoon.  The big day will be when we collect on the campus, Saturday, May 16.  We are on campus from 1:00 – 6:00.  For more details, call Vicki Narlee at 724-662-4288 or Becky Vogan at 724-699-1182.  If you can come and sort and pack during the week, call and we can let you know what days that would be and times.  This all depends on what we receive and when.  Thank you for your support.

Want to learn some basic Spanish?

A group of people who recently traveled to the Dominican Republic came back with a desire to learn Spanish.  So, a class has been organized and Michelle Shaffer has agreed to teach a basic course to anyone who wants to learn conversational Spanish.  These summer classes are open to everyone and will be from 6:30 – 8:30 on Sunday evenings starting June 5th at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church.  Contact Bruce Curfman (curfmaneng@comcast.net) for more information or to register.  A small fee of $25 per person will be charged to cover course expense.

Organ Recital at New Wilmington PC

An organ recital will be presented at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 15th at 3:30 PM.  Raymond Ocock, organist of the church, will be the performer, along with several featured instrumentalists.  This concert is free and open to the public.  Raymond Ocock has been the organist of the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church since 2004, having served for the previous 25 years as organist and choir director of the First Presbyterian Church in Sharon, and many other distinguished positions.  During the coming summer he will be moving to Massachusetts.