eLink News

This Week:

October 18- 9:00 AM Steering Committee, Presbytery Office
7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, New Wilmington
October 22- Mission Workshop Event, New Wilmington PC
October 25- 9:30 AM Council, Mountville PC 

Prayers

Jim Bibza (Center, NC and Grove City College) had back surgery at UPMC on Monday.

Request from the Financial Secretary

Please remember to use the remittance forms when submitting checks to the Presbytery Office.  It helps us to know what purpose the money is intended for, and including your church PIN makes the processing of funds much faster.

Conversation About the Fellowship of Presbyterians

This Sunday evening in the Lakeside Room at McKelvey Center (Westminster College) at 7:00 PM there will be a conversation about the Fellowship of Presbyterians.  Many of those who attended the Minneapolis meeting will be present to reflect with you on these developments.

D.R. Featured

The Dominican Republic will be featured in the Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study on Thursday.  Click here to read the article.

Celebrate Sudan Held at East Main 

The Celebrate Sudan event was held at East Main Church on World Communion Sunday with approximately 140 in attendance.  Rev. Tut Kony was the speaker, reporting on the importance of the partnership of 15+ years.  The Church in the Sudan has grown from 8 to 150 pastors and is now 4 presbyteries.  Music was led by Jane Bartholomew.  Jim Leuenberger, Sudan Team leader, was moderator for a wonderful evening of reflection on our partnership with the Sudan.  Churches brought offerings for Nile Theological College which now has campuses in Khartoum and Malakal.  Contributions will continue to be received through October.  Our churches have been giving approximately $150,000 per year for Sudan-related mission.

Fellowship of Presbyterians Regional Meeting

A regional meeting of the Fellowship of Presbyterians (Minneapolis) will be held on Wednesday, October 19 at the Hampton Presbyterian Church, 2942 East Hardies Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044 (close to the Rt. 8 – PA Turnpike intersection).  Rev. John Crosby of Christ Church, Minneapolis (one of seven core leaders of the Fellowship) will be the speaker.  For more information call 724 443-3201.

especially have a long history there, including with the seminary in Cairo.

It’s a New Day for Followers of Jesus.  God Has a Vision for Your Church!  Let’s Get Started!

Come this Saturday, October 22, from 9 AM to NOON, to the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church for a wonderful program designed to help you and your church think about God’s vision for your church.

Elmarie Parker from Ohio has some great ideas and will do worship and the keynote.  She is based in prayer and listening for God’s leading.  She is from a smaller church (60 in worship each week), and is a Perspectives alumni.  She has been doing amazing things in her church family, with the local community churches together, and even reaching out into their community and beyond.  She will lead us in worship in imagining God’s dream for the world and help us do some visioning.

Denise Sciuto of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship will then share nuts and bolts from a talk she did in another Presbytery that was very well received.  We’ll have time for sharing and displays in an area set up for browsing.

Lunch will be at noon for anyone who can stay.  Please let the Presbytery office know so we can prepare enough handouts and food.   724-528-1610 or office@shenango.org.

Educational Opportunity

Dr. Carolyn Osiek, Charles Fischer Professor of New Testament Emerita, Brite Divinity School and past President of both the Society for Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Society, will speak on Biblical Community: How Do We Live It? on Friday, October 28th at 7 PM and on Living New Testament Faith on Saturday, October 29th, 9 AM – 1 PM.  Both events will be in the John Knox Room at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  Additional information and registration can be found at http://www.pts.edu/Pneuma_News.

Save the Date!

WEE KIRK is just over…and about 125 people from small churches were gathered together for praise, learning and worship…This year there were only 7 from Shenango Presbytery…This conference benefits all those from “wee kirks” and so the dates for next year are — Wee Kirk at Laurelville Conf. Center —October 15-16-17, 2012.

News from the Churches

Ordination Celebration

First Presbyterian Church of Sharon will be celebrating Pam Maloney’s 40th year of ordination on October 23rd.  If you are able to attend, you are more than welcome.

Retirement Dinner

Coolspring Church will be holding a retirement dinner to honor Phil Chalfant on Saturday, December 17th at 5:30 PM.  Meat, drink and table service are provided.  Each family is asked to bring a dish to share.  Reservations are required and seating is limited.  To place reservations, call Linda Kellogg at 724-475-4575.  Deadlines for reservations is Friday, November 10.

Brent Vernon Concert at Bessemer

Brent Vernon will present a free concert sponsored by Bessemer Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 23rd at 7:00 PM.  Brent is a singer, songwriter, author, illustrator, and ventriloquist who hails from sunny Florida.  Join Bessemer for a special time of laughter, Worship and reflection with Brent and his pal Sam.  A love offering will be collected for Brent’s travel and ministry expenses.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Tuesday, October 25th at Mt. Jackson Presbyterian Church.  Please contact the church at 724-667-7258 if you wish to volunteer.

Braised Steak Dinner

Bessemer Presbyterian Church (29 N. Main St., Bessemer, PA) will be holding a braised steak dinner on Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 5 PM – 7 PM.  Adults $8.00, Children 6-12 $4.00, Children 5 and under FREE.  Take Outs will be available!  Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling the church office at 724-667-7255 or Janice Young at 724-667-8825.  All proceeds from this dinner will benefit the church’s General Fund.

Divine Delay to Sing at Cana’s Corner

Divine Delay, Southern gospel male trio, from the Greenville area will appear at Cana’s Corner coffeehouse on Tuesday, October 25th.  The coffeehouse meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 7 PM – 9 PM.  We are located at 710 Carnegie Street in Sharon, across from the Wengler baseball field.  For more information, call 724-983-0194 and ask for Pastor Robbie or 724-866-3061 and ask for Robyn.  Hope to see you all there!

Help Wanted

Coolspring Church has positions open for an Administrative Assitant and a Treasurer.  Both positions are paid and part-time.  Job descriptions are available.  These positions may be considered separately or be combined.

Additionally, Coolspring Church has a position open for a part-time Youth Leader.   This is a paid position.

Interested parties may contact Phil Chalfant at 724-376-6040 or leave a message at the church office at 724-475-3712.