This Week:
January 16- LEADERFEST, Westminster College and New Wilmington PC
January 18- OFFICE CLOSED, Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
January 19- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock PC
EP Activity This Month
Our Executive Presbyter Ralph Hawkins preached at Highland church (Jan 3) and will preach for the Christian Associates of Shenango Valley meeting (Jan 31). He will teach a workshop for Ruling Elders at our annual LeaderFest event (Jan 16), and is leading elder training for Clen-Moore (Jan 17) and First New Castle and Northminster combined (Jan 30). Ralph welcomes opportunities to preach or bring greetings during a worship service in 2016. Schedule a Sunday or a meeting time by contacting him at 724-528-1610 orralph@shenango.org.
Prayers
Paul Votaw’s (Westfield ECO) mother-in-law died on Sunday in Gladstone, Missouri. Services are today, January 13. Online condolences may be sent to www.TerraceParkFuneral.com.
LeaderFest 2016 (January 16 in New Wilmington) is rapidly approaching!
Don’t forget:
- You can still register! $20 per person covers all meals and materials.
- We want to invite young leaders (ages 14-22) to join us this year. $5/person and a special workshop just for them!
Help us get the word out in your church! Put an announcement in the bulletin or consider doing a Moment for Mission to help us promote LeaderFest. We want to support and equip our leaders, but we need YOU to help get them to LeaderFest! click here for more information and a link to register online.
Questions? See Andrea Hall (andreabhall@gmail.com).
Annual Reports
It’s time for Annual Reports again! 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 the password should contain an “!” and is case-sensitive. The deadline for entering your statistical information is February 17, 2016 at midnight. If you have forgotten your user name and password, please call or email the Presbytery office. (Note: If you changed your password from what was assigned by the denomination, we will not have that new password.) There is a “Frequently Asked Questions” page available to help with most common questions.
Presbytery annual reports are available on the “Resources” 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, 2016. 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 12th!
Opportunity to Hear about Rachel and Michael Weller’s Ministry in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan
Thursday, January 21 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Moco (Mohawk Coffee House) – 206 E. Poland Avenue, Bessemer, PA 16112
South Sudan Food Crisis
The United Nations reports that across South Sudan, an estimated 3.9 million people – 34 per cent of the population – were severely food insecure in September 2015. This represents an 80 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. They also believe that over 2 million have had to flee their homes, some multiple times. While the late arrival of rains and the relatively light seasonal rains have contributed to the food insecurity, political unrest is also part of the problem. The Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency ( PRDA) is ready to help and its Executive Director, Rev. James Makuei states “The human suffering is South Sudan now is unimaginable.”
How can you and your church help:
- Please pray for South Sudan.The church is working hard to bring political stability, which will ultimately lead to food security and a better living environment. Pray for the church leaders and for those who are suffering during the process.
- Please give financially. We are encouraging individuals & congregations to give generously to support the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance response to this food crisis. They will provide relief items such as temporary shelter, health supplies, maize meal, beans and cooking oil, with special attention given to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children under five, people with disabilities and the chronically ill. You can send checks payable to Shenango Presbytery to the presbytery office at: 4197 New Castle Rd., Pulaski, PA 16142. Please mark the checks “South Sudan Response”
What is Perspectives?
Perspectives is an adventure that will change your life. Listen as 14 outstanding speakers share from their experiences as well as challenge you to see the world through God’s eyes in four different perspectives:
Biblical – what the Bible tells us about the heart of our Father.
Historical – history of the church from Acts to current day.
Cultural – a look at the least evangelized peoples of the world.
Strategic – what is the nature of the task remaining for the Church and what part do we play locally, nationally, globally?
Is this course mainly for those interested in missions?
Absolutely not! This is a course for the Church. The goal is to bring our individual lives into a closer alignment with God’s purpose. To join God in His story. If you want to grow and be challenged—want more vision, direction and eternal impact to come from your life—this class is for you!
Come, check out the first lesson Tuesday, January 19, at Grove City College HAL Room #110 from 6:30 to 9:30. Park at either end of the building. Contact Pam Pope Courtney mail@dcourtney.net 724-748-3217 or go online for more information www.perspectives.org Classes: Grove City, PA. All are welcome.
The Presbytery of Shenango 