Upcoming Events:
November 28-29 – OFFICE CLOSED, Thanksgiving Holiday
Due to the predicted winter storm, the office will be closed today, and most likely tomorrow. You can still reach the staff by email: Dave at david.dawson@shenango.org; Autumn at office@shenango.org; Shari at finance@shenango.org; and Debbie at resource@shenango.org.
Ordination
George Branch-Trevathan (husband of Becky) who teaches at Thiel College was ordained on November 24 by Central Florida Presbytery.
Retreat for Succession Planning
The Presbytery Council, the Presbytery Future Committee, and the Executive Presbyter Nominating Committee held a retreat at Villa Maria Conference Center on November 15-16 under the leadership of Russ Crabtree. Russ is a consultant with Holy Cow Consulting! with which the Presbytery Council has a contract (with the bulk of the financial obligation coming from the Synod of the Trinity) to provide succession planning support for our search for our next presbytery executive.
At the “foundations retreat” the 25 attendees reviewed the process for this change and identified questions to be answered and a process for collecting information and moving forward with the necessary decisions. At a second “recommendations retreat” on February 7-8 decisions will be finalized on how to proceed.
The URL http://www.buildingorganizationalintelligence.com/shenangopresbytery/succession will allow you to link to Holy Cow Consulting! where you will find documents used at the retreat. Comments are welcome to Presbytery Council via Jim Mohr, moderator at mohrjr@westminster.edu.
Pastor’s Theological Lunch
The Moving Forward Theological Task force has been working hard at finalizing a statement of faith for Shenango Presbytery. It is available here for downloading and reading. If you are interested in joining us at a luncheon to begin discussing the document, please see the following invitation letter including RSVP instructions for the luncheon on December 3rd.
Prayers Needed
Friends of South Sudan,
I have recently returned from a trip to South Sudan (and DR Congo) and the stories I heard about the situation of the Murle people were extremely sobering. Please keep them in your prayers and pray for successful negotiations with David Yau Yau. We are still able to receive funds for the appeal to respond to this tragic situation http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/world-mission/south-sudan-appeal/
In Christ,
Debbie
South Sudan
Displaced by violence: the people of South Sudan need our help
Displaced people in Gumuruk from Pibor town – photo by Hannah McNeish
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Presbyterian World Mission are compelled to help more than 90,000 displaced people, mostly Murle, in South Sudan who fled inter-ethnic conflict and gross human rights violations by the South Sudanese military. Our goal is to provide food, emergency supplies, trauma recovery and peace building support. We are working with our Sudanese partners, but the needs are much greater than we can handle without significant gifts from supporters like you.
Presbyterian Relief and Disaster Assistance, the relief and development arm of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, will be providing food, emergency supplies and resources for recovery for those displaced by the continuing violence. In response to the need to stop the violence and promote reconciliation RECONCILE has planned a strategic response which is integral to ending the “cycle of violence” in Jonglei State including: Trauma Healing for children and adults victimized by this reign of terror, followed by facilitation of Women’s Peace Building efforts and mobilization of South Sudanese Church Leaders for Peace.
- We are called to serve the survivors of the violence in Jonglei State through prayer, action and support. Will you stand in the GAP (Give/Act/Pray) and share your financial blessings so the healing can begin? Give to DR 000042-South Sudan
- Learn more about the situation in South Sudan through World Mission’s South Sudan website and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations’ “Swords into Plowshares” blog.
- Write to your members of Congress and the Secretary of State to advocate for peace in Jonglei State. The Office of Public Witness offers further resources.
- Join the Sudan Advocacy Action Forum to advocate for peace and justice in Sudan and South Sudan.
- Pray for healing for the people of South Sudan, that they may recover from trauma, break the cycle of violence, and promote reconciliation and peacebuilding.
- Pray that the Government of South Sudan will be able to put an end to the violence in Jonglei State, enabling survivors to return to their homes.
Learn more about the root causes of the conflict and the current situation in South Sudan.
News From The Churches
Live Nativity
Westfield Presbyterian Church (1363 Mt. Jackson Road, New Castle, PA 16102) will be hosting a Live Drive-Through Nativity on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 6-8 PM featuring carolers, live actors and animals, and over 1,000 luminaries. Invite your friends, neighbors, and relatives to witness this FREE gift to the community.
Blue Christmas Service
New Wilmington Presbyterian Church is again hosting its annual Blue Christmas Service: a simple, candlelit service for those who need space to pause, acknowledge any loss, grief, or sadness from this year nearly gone, and be surrounded by quiet prayer, song, and scripture. Members and friends of our sister presbytery churches are welcome to attend. Sunday, December 8, 6 PM in the Ligo Room (just off our sanctuary).
Youth Director Wanted
The Presbytery of Shenango 