This Week:
April 16– 1:30 PM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office
EP Activity This Month
Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, will be preaching at Sheakleyville (April 12). With Rev. Chris Weichman (Clen-Moore) and 24 other participants, he will share in the annual Dominican Republic ministry visit to Sabaneta de Yasica (April 18-25). He will be hosting Rev. Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission for the PCUSA, in a brunch gathering with world mission leadership from presbyteries in our region (April 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.
Mission Dinner with Hunter Farrell
Rev. Hunter Farrell will be our honored guest here in Shenango on the day of our next presbytery meeting, April 28. Hunter is the director of our PCUSA World Mission program, which connects in ministry with Presbyterian and Reformed churches around the world and which deploys and supports all of our PCUSA mission co-workers — like our own Steve and Brenda Stelle, formerly at Faith Church in Hermitage but now serving on our behalf in Ethiopia.
Hunter will join us for a MISSION DINNER at 5pm at Lebanon Presbyterian Church, April 28. This dinner is open to the entire presbytery and sponsored by our Mission (MCS) committee. Although it precedes our stated meeting just down the road at Unity church, folks DO NOT need to be coming to presbytery to attend the dinner. I am asking you to put this information in the hands of your church mission committee and/or anyone in your flock interested in world mission and world affairs. This dinner is for them. Anyone can RSVP to the presbytery office: office@shenango.org or 724-528-1610
Smith Writes New Book
Gary Smith has written a new book “Religion in the Oval Office: The Religious Lives of American Presidents”. This book explores how religion has affected the lives, politics and policies of 11 presidents, and shaped the course of history. The book, published by Oxford University Press was released on March 31. Read a recent article by Dr. Smith that was published in the Washington Post.
Camp Promotion Videos
Would you like to promote Camp Lambec and Westminter Highlands in your Sunday morning service, Sunday school, kids club, or youth group? Click on the links below to view the newest promotional videos…you can even link them to your church website, Twitter, or Facebook!
- Camp Lambec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ugz_elbIWA
- Westminster Highlands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yugFOUEVWFg
PW Spring Gathering
Come and celebrate Spring and the many gifts that God has given us! Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 9 AM – lunch (registration at 8:30 AM) at Bessemer Presbyterian Church (29 North Main Street, Bessemer, PA 16112 724-667-7255). Along with the Annual Business Meeting, the Spring Gathering will showcase the myriad of talent within our own PWs. If your PW has a talent that can be shared (such as singing, dancing, exhibition, etc.), consider a 3-5 minute performance at the gathering. Download the registration form. Deadline to register for lunch ($6.00 per person) is April 10th…deadline for talent registration is April 4th.
Shenango Presbytery Pastor Retreat
Re-Thinking Church
with Dr. Edwin Chr. van Driel, Associate Professor of Theology at Pittsburgh Seminary
May 18-19, 2015 at Villa Maria Conference Center
Having lived through several years of denominational conflict, many of our congregations are now facing the challenge of dropping numbers, shrinking resources, and an aging membership. All of this could easily feel as a trigger for exhaustion and despair. Dr. van Driel wants to suggest the opposite, though: that both our internal conflicts and our external loss of influence and status may be a God-given opportunity to once again re-imagine what it means “to be church”. In this retreat we’ll explore together how to offer our people a life-giving understanding of being church in a post-Christendom world. Click here to register online. Click here to download the PDF registration form.
Shenango Presbytery Scholarship
The Shenango Presbytery Scholarship Fund is supported by gifts from the congregations of the presbytery. The fund is intended to assist students who are members of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Preference will be given to applicants who belong to churches in Shenango Presbytery. Recipients of aid from this fund are eligible for continued assistance in successive years, but they must reapply for aid annually and continue to meet the criteria listed below.
Criteria for Consideration
1. Acceptance as a full-time student at Grove City College or Westminster College by June 1, 2015
2. Demonstrated financial need
3. Academic achievement: if a high school senior, a minimum GPA of 3.3; if a current student at one of the colleges, a minimum GPA of 3.0
4. Evidence in writing of past and present involvement in the life and witness of the Christian community
Click here to download the scholarship application. Note: Application materials must be submitted (or postmarked) by May 1, 2015.
News from the Churches
Birthday Celebration
Miss Mabel Kocher (Ruling Elder – Third, NC) and former Assoc. Professor & Librarian at Westminster College will be celebrating her 105th Birthday on Friday, April 17th! Birthday cards and greetings may be sent to her at: 150 Waugh Avenue #2201, New Wilmington, PA 16142.
Rummage Sale
Friday, May 1 from 9 AM – 2 PM and Saturday, May 2 from 9 AM – 1 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Sharon (600 E. State Street). Bake Sale! Lunch available. Proceeds support the mission work of the Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church, Sharon.
FREE Resources
Debbie Derrenbacher, Director of Discipleship at First, Sharon, has a whole box of curriculum and resource books for children’s ministries for free. If interested, please contact Debbie at 724-981-2211 ext. 5 or dcm@1stpcs.org.
Handbells Wanted
Unity Church would like to purchase a 3 octave set of handbells, preferably Shulmerich Bells. If you have a set that you are not using or plan to use, please contact Jim Moose, 724-652-6731, or Jane Bartholomew, 724-699-1762.
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.
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!
The Presbytery of Shenango 