This Week:
September 16- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
September 19- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery Office
September 23- 6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, 1st Sharon — watch eLink later this week for the docket!
Register for the Fall Pastor Retreat
Don’t miss this great opportunity for focused learning with Dr. Ken Bailey and fellowship with fellow pastors! October 20-21 at Villa Maria Conference Center…register online today.
EP Activity This Month
Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, will be attending the outdoor worship service shared by Coolspring, Stoneboro, and Sandy Lake churches (September 21). He will attend the national Sentralized Conference on missional church practice, in Dallas (September 25-27). He will be meeting with the leadership of Wampum church and Word Centered Fellowship this month, as well as the Jamestown congregation. 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.
Presbyterians Today Article
Take a moment online to read a recent article by Shenango’s own Andrea Hall, chair of our Christian Education committee and spouse of Hillside (Greenville) pastor Sean Hall. Andrea is a certified Christian educator and an alum of Pittsburgh Seminary. She is currently working on a doctorate in educational ministry at Columbia Theological Seminary.
Special Speakers and Movie at New Wilmington
On Saturday, September 20th, Mr. William Mwizerwa, originally from Rwanda, and Mr. Randy Hartley will be at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church to share their stories through this documentary. Both, currently from Nashville, William is the founder of Legacy Mission Village and Randy is the Chairman of the Board. Join New Wilmington Presbyterian Church to greet them on Saturday night at 7:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served. The movie, “Through the Valley” (a documentary which chronicles their connection), will start at 8:00 PM. Due to the mature topics in the documentary, the movie is recommended for Adults and Junior/Senior High Youth. See the NWPC website for more details: http://www.nwpresby.org.
McClure Lecture
Join us for the annual W. Don McClure Lectures Mon., Sept. 29, and Tues., Sept. 30, 2014. Keynote speaker is Daniel Jeyaraj, professor of world Christianity and director of the Andrew Walls Centre at Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool, UK. These lectures and discussions, held in the Knox Room, Long Hall, are free and open to the public.
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. We are honored to have Rev. Madut Ngor from Sudan with us this year. 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. Please join us for a time of music, inspiration, prayer, fellowship, and authentic Sudanese food!!!
Opportunities to Meet Our South Sudan Partner
We are honored to have Rev. Madut Ngor from South Sudan with us this year. Rev. Madut along with his wife Nada has 3 children, Alek 11, Aker 9 and Tong 5. He is the Deputy Secretary General of SSPEC and teaches Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Juba. SSPEC Executive Committee has asked Rev. Madut to plan the establishment of a Bible Institute in Juba. Please watch elinks for possible updates.
- Wednesday, October 1
- 6:00 pm – Dinner at Highland Presbyterian Church, 708 Highland Ave, New Castle
- 6:30 pm – Program *Child Care Provided*
- Suggested donation for dinner $2
- Friday, October 3
- 6:30 pm – Dinner at the home of Jill and Jim Mohr, 314 Orchard Terrace Drive, New Wilmington. Please bring a dish to share. This is a great opportunity to visit with both our visitor from South Sudan and the PCUSA International Peacemaker from Malawi.
- Saturday, October 4
- 8:30 am – Breakfast at the home of Elizabeth and Ralph Hawkins, 445 W. Neshannock Ave, New Wilmington
- Sunday, October 5
- 9:15 am – Sunday School at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church, 229 S. Market Street
- 11:00 am – Worship at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 615 Crescent Ave, Ellwood City
- 7:00 pm – Celebrate Sudan, East Main, 120 East Main Street, Grove City
Sudan “Celebration Choir” Rehearsal
Sunday evening, September 28th at Unity Presbyterian Church at Greenfield — 1857 Mercer West Middlesex Road, Route 318 — ALL WHO LIKE TO SING INVITED. The choir will sing an “African” flavored anthem…The choir will meet again at 5:30 PM on Sunday evening, October 5th prior to the 7 PM program. For more info: Call Jane Bartholomew at 724-981-2377 (c-724-699-1762).
National Life Chain
Sunday, October 5th – National Life Chain – a silent, peaceful, prayerful event, sponsored by People Concerned for the Unborn Child and endorsed by New Castle Ministerial Association, Lawrence County Deanery of Catholic Priests, and Ellwood City Ministerium. Pastor-led Prayers & Music at 1:30 PM, Life Chain from 2-3:00 PM…in New Castle at Kennedy Square (Washington & Jefferson Streets), in New Wilmington at Jameson Health Center Parking Lot (Market Street & Neshannock Avenue, and in Ellwood City at McDonald’s Parking Lot (Fifth & Fountain Avenues).
News from the Churches
Ugandan Kids Choir at 1st Sharon
A group of 10 talented Ugandan children will be performing traditional song and dance at First Presbyterian Church of Sharon on October 5th at 6:00 PM. The Ugandan Kids Choir is a ministry of Childcare Worldwide, which has been dedicated to empowering children in the developing world since 1981.
New Series at Northminster
Experience contemporary and ancient worship with a new sermon series, The Blood Covenant, starting in October at Northminster Presbyterian Church, (2434 Wilmington Road, New Castle). The series will take place on Thursday evenings, October 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 7:00 PM. It is open to the community and childcare is available.
Sing Your Favorite Hymns at Unity
The hymns of faith, the corporate praise of God is one of the wonderful traditions of the Reformed Faith. Join Unity Church (1857 Mercer-West Middlesex Road), the third Sunday of each month, for EVENSONG, an hour or so of singing together the favorite hymns and songs of our life. September 21, 6:30 PM in the sanctuary. Come with a list of your favorite hymns and let’s raise our voices in song. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy Name! Psalm 103.
Save the Date!!!
Dr. Ken Bailey’s musical drama Open Hearts In Bethlehem will be performed Fri. and Sat. evenings December 12th, 13th and Sun. afternoon Dec. 14th at Trinity Presbyterian Church. You won’t want to miss this Christmas story. Make plans to bring a group from your church.
Hadley Presbyterian Church
would like to invite anyone and everyone to an evening of music and entertainment on September 21, st, at 7:00 p.m. – Come and bring friends to listen to the PENN-OHIO singers perform at our church. The address is Church Street, Hadley, PA – and any questions please call Darlene Cook at 724-456-0988.
Fall Fest
The Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church will be holding their 21st Annual Fall Fest on Saturday, September 27th from 9 AM to 2 PM. Crafts, food court, soup, baked goods. Call 724-758-6785 for more information or to reserve a table.
PEO Soup Fest and Bake Sale
The sixth annual PEO Soup Fest and Bake Sale fundraiser will be held Saturday, October 4, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church of Sharon (600 East State Street). Serving 11 AM – 2 PM. Dine-in: all you can eat soup, beverage, and dessert – $8.00. Take-out quarts of soup, $8.00. PEO Provides Educational Opportunities for women.
Soup and Pie at Bessemer
Bring your favorite bowl from home (any size) and fill it up for only $5.00 at Bessemer Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 18th at 7:00 PM. Bread, crackers, beverages, and refills (and bowls for those that forget) will be provided. Choose from Chicken Noodle, Chili, Ham and Bean, or Vegetable. Stay for dessert with a “Surprise Inside Pie Auction”. All pies will be homemade!
The Presbytery of Shenango 