eLink News

This Week:

• September 18- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
• September 20- 8:30 Am Missional Experimentation Event, Camp Crestfield
• September 21- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery Office
• September 25- 6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, 1st Greenville (watch for more information coming soon!)

Register for the Fall 2012 Pastor Retreat

Dr. Laura Smit from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI) will be speaking in Shenango Presbytery on the topic “Why Reformed Theology Matters in the 21st Century”.

• Open meeting at 5:30 PM on Sunday, October 21 at the McKelvey Center, Westminster College
• Pastors Retreat – October 22-23.  Click here to register by September 25.

Prayers

• Janet Graham de Araujo (Grace Memorial Hospital in Brazil) died on Thursday, September 6th.  Janet’s daughter Sylvia will be continuing the work of the hospital.

Resolution recommended by Presbytery Council to Shenango Presbytery (September 25)

The Council (September 4) recommended that the following resolution by approved by Presbytery at the September 25 meeting at First Church, Greenville.

Right Here / Right Now

It’s happening…get on board!  This special local mission program for churches in Lawrence and Mercer counties will begin in October 2012.  The mission experiment will focus on training members of partner churches to build relationships with people outside churches, and form various types of Christian communities (i.e. studies, discussions, prayer groups, and maybe even a worshipping community).  All pastors, mission teams, elders and church members who are interested in participating in this mission, or in finding out more, are invited to a meeting at the Penn State Shenango (147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon) Student Center, Sunday, September 30, 5:00-6:00 PM.  Contact Rev. Nathan Loudon (revn8loudon@yahoo.com) or Rev. Dr. Glenn Hink (pastor@1stpcs.org) for more information.

“Staying In” Lunch and Discussion

Amidst the change and sadness of churches and pastors being dismissed to other Presbyterian denominations, Shenango Presbytery pastors have gotten together for lunch, fellowship, and discussion.  The discussions have been opportunities to share concerns and ask questions.  Out of these two lunch discussions has come some new and creative thinking and dreaming about the changing shape of Shenango Presbytery for the 21st C.  The next “Staying In” Lunch and Discussion will be Tuesday, October 9th, 11:30 – 1:30 PM at the Something’s Brewing coffee shop in the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage.  This lunch is open to all Shenango pastors and Commissioned Ruling Elders, and especially for those who are interested in discussing ministry within the PCUSA.  The past two lunches have had 30+ in attendance.  If you are interested in attending the October 9th “Staying In” lunch and discussion, please contact Rev. Dr. Glenn Hink (pastor@1stpcs.org or 724-981-2211 ext. 2) by Wednesday, October 3rd, so appropriate lunch preparations can be made.

News from Gereif Bible School

The Sudan Partnership Leadership Team is happy to report that when we talked in July by phone with Daniel Hamad, the principal of Gereif Bible School,  he surprised us with the news that the school was planning to begin this year’s term on August 15th.  The school sustained significant damage to much equipment and some buildings, and monies stored in safes was stolen.  By far the most significant loss was to books and other resources in the library which is estimated at about a quarter of a million dollars.  Our contacts at the school have given us estimates that the other losses mentioned above amount to about $20,000.  We are hoping to raise a significant part of this with the Celebrate Sudan 2012 offering.  We are pleased that the work of Gereif Bible School is going forward in spite of the hardships brought about through the attack this spring.  The training done at Gereif and Komo Bible Schools is so important.  Bill Anderson, long time missionary in Sudan with his wife Lois, has said that the evangelists trained in these schools has been the key element in SPECs growth.

Celebrate Sudan 2012 – World Communion Sunday

This year’s Celebrate Sudan event will take place on the evening of World Communion Sunday (October 7^th) at East Main Presbyterian Church in Grove City.   Sessions need to vote to authorize the Celebrate Sudan offering which we hope can be received at our churches’ World Communion services the morning of October 7th.  You may want to make sure that steps along these lines are being taken at your church.  Information and promotional materials about the Celebrate Sudan event will be mailed to churches in early in September.   We hope many people from our churches will attend this informative and exciting event.

Join the “Sudan Celebration Choir”

Calling all who like to sing to be part of the “Sudan Celebration Choir” which will sing at the Celebration at 7:00 PM on Sunday, October 7th.  Practices will be: Sunday evening, September 30th – 7 PM at the Unity Presbyterian Church, 1857 Mercer West Middlesex Road.  There will be a practice before the program on Sunday, October 7th at East Main Presbyterian Church at 5:30 PM.  The anthem is based on an African folk song and is entitled “He Is Mine”.  Those interested in singing should come to one or both of these rehearsals so that we might make a beautiful sound of praise together.  For more information, contact Jane Bartholomew at 724-981-2377 or jraysing@verizon.net.

ENGAGE Workshop Coming Soon – Register Now!

Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Leesburg Presbyterian Church from 9 AM to 2:30 PM (Please note the change in ending time), join the Evangelism Committee for a special workshop with Ray Jones returning from the Office of Evangelism and Church Growth in Louisville.  This workshop will focus on the newly revised Engage Resource.  Topics to be addressed include Engage the Gospel, Engage Discipleship, Engage Mission, How to Use the Engage Resource, Walking Through a Gathering, and Next Steps.  There is no registration fee.  Lunch will be provided as will copies of the new Engage resource for each participant.  To register, please call or email the Presbytery Office with the number attending from your congregation – office@shenango.org or 724-528-1610.  SHENANGO ENGAGE WORKSHOP 2 fLYER – 2

Spiritual Emphasis Week at Westminster College (September 19-23)

Local Churches and Community are invited to the following events:  

Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 9:30 PM  –  Berlin Lounge   JASON SANTOS, Associate Pastor, New Wilmington Presbyterian Church.  Jason is the author of A Community Called Taizé: A Story of Prayer, Worship and Reconciliation (IVP, 2008).  

Thursday, September 20, 2012, 8:00 PM  –  Wallace Memorial Chapel,            LOUIS LIPPS, Former Pittsburgh Steeler.  Louis Lipps is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He currently works for Steel City Mortgage Services in Pittsburgh and is the co-host of a weekly Steelers-themed radio broadcast on ESPN radio 1250 AM.

Sunday, September 23, 2012, 7:00 PM  –  Wallace Memorial Chapel  OPEN DOOR WORSHIP,  Guest Speaker:  BOB GOFF.  Bob Goff is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Restore International, a non-profit organization which was established to address the atrocities and injustices committed against children.

Christian Education for Adults

If you are leading – or want to lead – an Adult Bible Study or an Adult Sunday School class or a Small Group, come to the Dinner for Leaders of Adult Education on Wednesday, October 3rd at 6:00 PM at The Tavern on the Square (108 N. Market St., New Wilmington, PA). Our speaker will be Rev. Bob Bardeen and a Home Group Leader from Westfield Church. No need for reservations, just come! The dinner is free.

CAPNWP Volunteer Work Days

• Camp Lambec – Saturday, September 29th
• Westminster Highlands – Saturday, October 13

Both days will include lunch and will run from 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM.  All ages and skill levels are welcome.  Feel free to bring your favorite tools for yard work or indoor cleaning.

Opportunity to Host Rev. Wilfred Orr, PCUSA International Peacemaker on Saturday, October 6

In 2012, Wilfred was presented with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s honors list for “Service to Community Relations.” Throughout his time in Newtownbreda he has been a leading figure in the Ballynafeigh Clergy Fellowship and has worked tirelessly to promote both stronger ties between churches of all traditions in the district and between those from different cultural, social and political backgrounds. The proactive role played by the Ballynafeigh Clergy Fellowship is viewed as significant in contributing to this district remaining one of the areas in Northern Ireland most balanced between Protestant/Unionist and Catholic/Nationalist populations in spite of the polarizing impact of “The Troubles.” 

News from the Churches