eLink News

This Week:

January 14- 10:00 AM Transition Team, Presbytery Office
January 16- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery Office
1:30 PM Christian Education Committee, Westminster College
January 17- 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM LEADERFEST, Westminster College and New Wilmington Presbyterian Church
January 19- OFFICE CLOSED, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
January 20- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock PC

 

Mourning

Rev. Brian Ennis (Fairfield & Milledgeville) is mourning the loss of his mother, Esther Duran Ennis, age 89, of Millcreek Twp., who died Saturday, January 10, 2015, at Jameson Hospital, New Castle, Pa.

 

Register for LeaderFest!

We’ll be accepting online registrations until NOON on Friday, January 16th…registrations will also be taken at the door on the 17th.  LeaderFest is Shenango Presbytery’s annual leadership training event for officers, leaders, and all people who desire to be equipped to do God’s work in the world. This year, it will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Westminster College and New Wilmington Presbyterian Church from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Dr. Roger Owens from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will lead the keynote discussion on, “Innovating Life with God: Keys to Missional Leadership in the Congregation.”  Registration for LeaderFest is $20/person, which includes materials and lunch.  Register Online  Note: Both of Dr. Owens’ seminars are filled to capacity, and we are no longer accepting registrations for those workshops.  There is still room in many of the other seminars though!

 

Annual Reports

The GA online statistical program is located at http://oga.pcusa.org/stats.  Clerks will use the same “user name” and “password” as they have used the past few years.  Please note the password should contain an “!” and is case-sensitive.  The deadline for entering your statistical information is February 18, 2014 at midnight.    If you have forgotten your user name and password, please call or email the Presbytery office.

Presbytery annual reports are available on the “Publications & Information” page of the Presbytery website.  They are downloadable as WORD and EXCEL files and the completed forms can either be mailed to the office or emailed to Autumn at office@shenango.org.  The deadline for completing these forms is January 31, 2015.  Several churches have not been able to complete their reports by the January deadline in the past, please note that in order for your deceased elders to be included in the special service at the February presbytery meeting, your Necrology form MUST be received at the office by February 13th!

 

Nomination Wanted

If you know a Ruling Elder (active or inactive) that you feel could be of service to the presbytery through one of our committees, please forward her/his name and contact information to RE Mark Arnold (moderator of Nominations committee), EP Ralph Hawkins, or office staff Autumn Covert at the presbytery office.

 

Belhar Lunch

“We believe in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit. This, God has done since the beginning of the world and will do to the end.”  So begins the Belhar Confession, which has been sent to the presbyteries for a vote regarding its inclusion in our Book of Confessions.  Shenango will vote at our February stated meeting.  Come hear more about the pros and cons of Belhar at a  lunch and discussion on Tuesday, February 3, at noon at The Confluence, 214 East Washington Street in New Castle, hosted by EP Ralph Hawkins and our CE committee.  Our guest will be Rev. Cathy Purves, minister member of Pittsburgh Presbytery.  RSVP with the presbytery office.

 

Prayer Chain List

Our EP Ralph Hawkins sends occasional (public) prayer concerns to some of the prayer groups that meet in our presbytery churches.  Currently Calvin, Lebanon, First New Castle, Bell Memorial, Sandy Lake, First Sharon, Third New Castle, Stoneboro, and New Wilmington churches are included.  If your congregation has a prayer ministry and would like to be included in this ministry, please let Ralph know at ralph@shenango.org or 724-528-1610.

 

EP Activity This Month

Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, preached at Sandy Lake church (January 11) and will preach at the City Rescue Mission in New Castle (January 18).  He will lead a 2-part workshop for ordained Deacons at Saturday’s LeaderFest event (January 17).  He will be preaching twice and bringing greetings to the annual General Assembly of the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana (January 21-24), the denomination in the Dominican Republic with whom several Shenango churches share a 20+ year mission partnership.  Ralph welcomes invitations 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.

 

Message from Sylvia Graham de Araujo Noaes in Brazil

“It is due to my pregnancy I will no longer be able to come to the USA from January 24, 2015 through February 9, 2015.  Because my missionary work is completed, I will not need the support I received from your generous donations.  I plan to come to the United States sometime in the future, but just as a visitor.  Thank you for your support of my mother, Janet, and me in our ministry at Grace Memorial Hospital.”

 

5th Annual Douse for a House

Join the Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, February 14, 2015 for a Polar Plunge at Moraine State Park.  For $100 in sponsors/donations, an individual or team can enter the Plunge (access the form at http://www.lchfh-pa.org)…In 2014, 78 Plungers raised $26,000, one-third the amount needed to build a new house for a Habitat family.  You can help to increase that amount this year and make another family’s dream come true.

 

2015 Egypt Trip

Join the PC(USA) Liaison, Rev. Dr. Steve Gorman on a weeklong in-country Synod of the Nile/Egyptian Tourism trip for adults on either April 25-May 5, 2015 or October 10-20, 2015.  Cost is $800 (not including airfare, visa fees, or personal expenses).  A PDF brochure is available from the Presbytery Office, or you can contact Steve atstevesynodgorman@gmail.com for more details.

 

News from the Churches

Music Director Wanted

Coolspring Presbyterian Church is looking for a Music Director responsible for 1 Sunday service and Choir.  Piano and/or organ experience.  This is a paid position.  Please call 724-475-3712 and leave a message with your contact information if interested.

 

Educational Videotapes

Calvin Presbyterian Church is cleaning out its library and they have many Christian Children’s and Educational videotapes (VCR required!) that they are no longer in need of.  If anybody can use them, they are more than welcome to come get them.  Contact the church office at 724-758-4258 by the end of December.

 

Organist/Choir Director

Shenango Presbyterian Church is looking for an organist/choir director.  This is a paid position.  Please contact Amy Na at the church office at 724-654-2322.  Come and worship with us!

 

Church Secretary Needed

Part-time Church Secretary needed at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church, Ellwood City.  15 hours per week.  Knowledge of Word, Excel, & Publisher.  Knowledge of MS Access or experience with databases, is a plus.  Please send a cover letter and resume tonspc@zoominternet.net.

 

Electric Recliner/Lift Chair

Do you, or does someone in your congregation, have need of an electric recliner/lift chair?  Don Stanley has one that is in very good condition, color: light brown.  It can be had for the “picking up and hauling” and a $100 donation to the Presbytery’s Sudan mission support.  You can contact Don at the Jamestown Presbyterian Church (724-932-2101) or through his email: pastordons@hotmail.com.