This Week:
February 23- 6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, Rathburn Hall, Grove City College
February 24- 9:30 AM Fireside Chat: Session Meetings, Cravings Café and Creamery, Sharon
February 25- 7:00 PM Tech Workshop for Cluster 4 Churches, Clen-Moore PC, New Castle
March 2- 1:30 PM Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
April 1-3, 2016 at Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center…Rev. Nathan C. Brooks III – Guest Speaker
Pastors, you are invited to our presbytery pastor-spouse weekend retreat, the weekend after Easter, 2016.
- Worship, fellowship, and learning with Shenango couples
- Starts with Friday supper; ends after Sunday lunch
- 2 nights lodging in the new Villa Maria guest rooms
- $150 for couples with children at home, $200 for empty-nest couples
- Underwritten by the Leadership Development Team
- If needed, presbytery will find a pulpit supply or offer a pulpit supply honorarium for Sunday
- Optional free workshop for pastors with Rev. Brooks (Friday at 1 PM at New Wilmington church) on working with couples in marriage preparation
· Register online!
Rev. Nathan C. Brooks III of Lynchburg, VA is Coordinator of Pastoral Counseling Services for The Counseling Center of Human King (formerly the Presbyterian Homes and Family Services). Certified by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at the Fellow Level.
Fireside Chat: Session Meetings
Practical Conversation for Pastors: come with one idea or tip or practice to share…leave with many more in hand. 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM on February 24, 2016 $5, including lunch. Cravings Cafe and Creamery, 76 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, PA. Sponsored by Shenango’s Leadership Development Team.
Board of Pensions Assistance
Sessions: If your pastor is 1. enrolled in the Board of Pensions benefits plan, and 2. has a spouse and/or dependents also enrolled in the plan, then there is a 1.5% reimbursement of the plan dues available this year through our Committee on Ministry. Contact EP Ralph Hawkins in the presbytery office to find out how to compute and request this reimbursement.
A Conversation On The Future Of The PCUSA
Crestfield Camp and Conference Center in Slippery Rock is hosting a “town hall” conversation about the future of our church, in response to a “Call to the Church” by Moderator Heath Rada. All pastors, elders, and church members in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio are invited to be part of this event on Tuesday, March 15, 10:00 am – through 1:00 pm. The event is free, though gifts to defray meal costs will be welcome. Read more here. If you would like attend, please contact our presbytery office by March 11 or speak to EP Ralph Hawkins with questions.
Why Men Don’t Go To Church
Greetings! At Leaderfest this year, Charlene Kennedy (Bell Memorial) and I presented the workshop on “Why Men Don’t Go to Church”. If you found that conversation helpful and would love to engage the topic further in your own context, one or both of us would be glad to follow up with you and your congregation. Please contact us at the following email address: Charlene.Kennedy@hotmail.com or splyler@humanservicescenter.net. God Bless, CRE Steve Plyler (Mt. Jackson)
Leadership Training Event
For pastors, elders, deacons, and all church leaders – – Sunday, March 13, 2016 from 2:30 – 5:45 PM at the Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church. This event will feature Dr. Scott Hagley, Assistant Professor of Missiology at PTS, with workshops for clerks, mentoring, treasurers, leadership, and even a deacon workshop led by Ralph Hawkins. Contact the presbytery office for a copy of the registration form.
THRIVE: Ministry in the New Millennium
April 10-11, 2016 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe, PA featuring Keynote Speaker: Joel Comiskey, Worship Leader: Joshua Price, and Main Speaker: Karen Snavely. Come and hear from practitioners on the leading edge of ministry in areas including: cell groups, worship, millennial ministry, campus ministry, media & communications, children – youth – and family ministry, and more. Find out more and register atwww.thrive2016.us.
News From the Churches
An Evening of Entertainment
The Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church (291 Wurtemburg Road, Ellwood City) will be having an indoor dance on Saturday, February 27 from 7 to 9 PM. Music will be provided by the Sanctuary Jazz Band. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Donations will be received for the work of the Carpenter’s Project.
Indoor Yard Sale
The Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church (291 Wurtemburg Road, Ellwood City) will be having an Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, March 5 from 9 AM to 1 PM. Tables are $10 each and are available by calling Kristin at 724-201-0034. A kitchen and bake sale table will also be available. All proceeds benefit the roof fund loan.
Director Of Children/Youth Ministries
Local Presbyterian Church is seeking someone to educate our children and youth in the worship of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This person will oversee the Christian Education program of our church for ages from high chair to high school. The individual we seek must have strong Christian beliefs, solid interpersonal and communication skills, along with being an organized, self-starting person capable of accomplishing goals and objectives with minimum supervision. Must have availability for Sunday worship, Saturday PM and other occasions as necessary. Previous experience in church education programs is a plus. Interested applicants should send resume in confidence to: Personnel Committee, Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2434 Wilmington Road, New Castle, PA 16105 Or send on line to: office@npcnc.org Résumés/applications must be received no later than Feb. 19, 2016, for consideration.
Treasurer Needed
Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church has an opening for a Church Treasurer. If anyone is interested, they can call Rev. Chris Weichman at the church, 724-654-6657.
Piano Platform Available
Third Presbyterian Church in New Castle has a platform for a baby grand piano. It has wheels so that the piano can be moved or repositioned. They will offer it at no charge to any other church that has a use for it. Please contact Janis Pherson at 724-651-8054.
The Presbytery of Shenango 