eLink News

This Week:

July 4- OFFICE CLOSED, Independence Day
July 7, 9, and 11 – Annual Audit – The Conference Room will not be available for meetings.

Save The Dates

The New Wilmington Mission Conference will take place from July 19-26 on the campus of Westminster College.  As in previous years, Presbytery staff will be attending portions of NWMC…if you don’t find us at the office, come join us at Conference!  Read more and access the schedule of speakers.

Joys

Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather, Mission Co-Workers in South Sudan, have welcomed a baby girl, Adalyn, to their family.

EP Activity This Month

Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, will be serving as chaplain for a week of summer camp at Westminster Highlands next week, July 7-11.  He will be preaching at the following Shenango churches in the coming weeks: Lebanon (July 20), First New Castle (July 27), and First Sharon (Aug 3).  He will participate in the Ellwood City Carpenter’s Project opening worship service on July 13.  He and his family will be participating in the New Wilmington Mission Conference, July 19-26, including hosting a reception in his home for mission worker Debbie Blane (July 28).  Ralph welcomes opportunities to preach or bring greetings during a worship service, as well as opportunities to visit Session and Deacon meetings.   Schedule a Sunday or a meeting time by contacting him at 724-528-1610 or ralph@shenango.org.

Minister Information Form

It’s time to update the directories again!  We are asking all minister to complete theMinister Information Form so that we can reflect the most accurate information possible in the upcoming directories.  Forms are due to the Presbytery Office by August 1st!  If you have no changes, or just a few updates, simply send an email to Autumn at office@shenango.org.  New directories will be available at the September Presbytery Meeting.

Pulpit Supply Available

Bud Green is feeling great and would love the opportunity to preach for you this summer.  Please contact Bud at revbud2@comcast.net or 724-654-1513 (home) or 724-714-8645 (cell).

Christian Concert at the Lawrence County Fair

LATCOM is sponsoring a concert at the Lawrence County Fair on Wednesday, August 13 at 7 pm. The contemporary Christian band “Unspoken” will perform. Several of their songs are on KLove, and they’ve performed with several other very well-known bands. The tickets are very inexpensive ($15), and proceeds will benefit a camping ministry in Bolivia.  Unspoken flier

Wee Kirk

The 2014 Northeast (PA) Wee Kirk Conference will take place on October 13-15 at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mt. Pleasant, PA.  If your church would like any brochures about the event, just stop by the Presbytery Office or call us and we’ll put a few in the mail for you.

Perspectives Course

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement will be coming to Grove City College on Tuesdays from September 9 – December 9 from 6:30 – 9:30 PM.  Learn from a different Christian expert each week as they help you explore God’s kingdom from Biblical, Historical, Cultural, and Strategic perspectives.  Get more details at www.perspectives.org or contact Pam Pope Courtney at mail@dcourtney.net or 724-748-3217 for more information.

CELEBRATE SUDAN 2014

On World Communion Sunday, Presbyterian churches in the environs of Shenango Presbytery will come together for the 5th year to celebrate and pray for our partnership with the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church and the South Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  This event will take place on October 5th at East Main Presbyterian Church at 7PM.

As usual, we are asking churches to take up a special offering for Celebrate Sudan on World Communion Sunday, or another Sunday. Remember, session approval for this offering is needed.

This year the special offerings collected will be used to help the church in South Sudan provide assistance for South Sudanese refugees, and to assist the two schools in the north (Khartoum) which train church leaders, Nile Theological College and Gereif Bible School. Both schools face pressing needs, often finding it difficult to pay faculty on time and to provide scholarships that are much needed by their students.

News from the Churches

Office Chairs Needed

The New Wilmington Mission Conference Office is looking for 2 or 3 office chairs, if anyone is willing to make a donation please contact the NWMC office at 724-946-9770.

Organist/Accompanist Wanted

1st Presbyterian Church of Sharpsville is in need of an organist/accompanist to work with their music director in providing musical worship for services and possibly some extra events.  Position opens at the end of summer.  Please send inquiries to: Carol Scholl, Personnel Committee Chairperson, First Presbyterian Church, 603 Ridge Avenue, Sharpsville, PA  16150.