This Week:
March 15- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock PC
March 17- 1:30 PM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office
Recalibrating the Church for the 21st Century
World Mission Initiative 2016 Bi-Annual Conference
April 8 and 9, 2016 at the Pittsburgh Seminary
Shenango group discount available — $40
View details and register online at:
http://www.worldmissioninitiative.org/index.php/initiatives/wmi-conference
Select CHURCH GROUP and indicate SHENANGO PRESBYTERY in the group name. Then send $40 to the presbytery office, indicating WMI CONFERENCE. Call the presbytery office to find out how to use PayPal.
Alan Hirsch, the keynote speaker, will be offering one address Friday evening and two addresses and a workshop Saturday. Seventeen other workshops will be offered on Saturday. Attendees may select three to attend. Twenty –six organizations and mission opportunities will be on display in the Knox Room. Lunch and dinner will be provided on Saturday.
Presbytery Births
Pastors in our presbytery have been busy welcoming new babies into their families in recent months! Most recently, Magdalene Joy Brubaker was born to Sean and Amanda last week (Calvin Church). David Mark Creekpaum was born to Beth and John not long ago (Sandy Lake church), Rich and Christianna Kinney also welcomed Howard A. II (Highland church), and little Harper Rose Muska was born to Max and Heather (Harlansburg and Rich Hill churches).
April 1-3, 2016 at Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center…Rev. Nathan C. Brooks III – Guest Speaker – REGISTRATION DEADLINE THIS WEEK!
Pastors, you are invited to our presbytery pastor-spouse weekend retreat, the weekend after Easter, 2016.
Marriage Preparation Workshop
Friday, April 1st from 1-3 PM at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Nathan Brooks. This workshop is free and open to all our pastors, regardless of your involvement in the Marriage Retreat. Our Leadership Development Team wanted to take advantage of having Brooks in town for the weekend and to offer something practical for those not participating in the retreat. This is not a workshop pushing specific proprietary methods or selling certain preparation materials. There’s enough of that out there. This is a focused conversation with a seasoned colleague on best practices for preparing couples for marriage, based on years of his work as both a pastor and licensed therapist/counselor. There is no registration for this workshop. Just come to New Wilmington church for 1pm. Plenty of room for all. Our thanks to Matt Camlin and NWPC for hosting us in the middle of the presbytery. If you are participating with your spouse in the Marriage Retreat, we will end this workshop in time for you to return home and then arrive at Villa Maria for the start of the retreat that evening.
Lunch with Dr. Andrew Purves
You are invited to lunch with Dr. Andrew Purves, Wednesday March 16, Noon, at the Tavern in New Wilmington, to celebrate his recent retirement from PTS and to wish him well in his forthcoming relocation to Wilmington, NC. Many in our presbytery were students of Andrew at PTS, and Andrew was the presenter for Shenango’s very first pastor retreat. Indeed, he helped stimulate the idea of our retreats in the first place. Given all of this, some of us thought it good to have a chance to fellowship with him before he and Cathy move out of our area. No program, no agenda. Just lunch and, surely, laughs. Mark your calendars and join us if you’d like. NO RSVP Necessary.
PW Spring Gathering Correction
The flyer in the presbytery packet regarding the upcoming PW Spring Gathering contained the wrong address for Third Presbyterian Church in New Castle. The correct address is: 1315 East Washington Street, New Castle, PA 16101. Phone: 724-658-6683.
Hawkins Article
Our EP Ralph Hawkins wrote an article about ruling elders supporting deacons for the national RE: Regarding Ruling Elders blog hosted by the Presbyterian Church (USA). Check it out his article here.
EP Activity This Month
Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, is co-leading a group 31 participants in the annual Dominican Republic mission visit with our partners in the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana (March 1-6). He is teaching adult Sunday School and meeting with the deacons of First church, Sharon (March 13). He is leading a workshop for deacons at a leadership event for Beaver-Butler presbytery (March 13). He is preaching at the Wurtemburg church (March 20). 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.
Stated Clerk Updates
– Candidate Mike Carlin was successfully examined by the presbytery and will be ordained and installed as pastor of First Sharpsville on April 10, 4pm.
– Candidate Max Muska (Beaver-Butler) was successfully examined by the presbytery and will be ordained on March 13, 4pm, at the Harlansburg church. Max is serving as Temporary Pastor of the Harlansburg and Rich Hill churches.
Shenango Presbytery Scholarships
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 (USA). 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, 2016
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 2, 2016.
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.
Register for NWMC!
Registration for the 111th annual New Wilmington Mission Conference is now open! The conference will be held July 23-30, 2016 on the campus of Westminster College. Come out and hear about what God is doing all over the world! This year’s Morning Meeting speakers are Nancy and Shelvis Smith-Mathers, PC(USA) mission co-workers in South Sudan who are supported by Shenango Presbytery. Don’t miss this great opportunity to connect with folks from all over the world–right here in our own backyard! For more information or to register, visit www.nwmcmission.org or e-mail office@nwmcmission.org.
Leader Wanted
Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity is seeking applicants for a leadership position. Interested applicants can submit resumes to apply.lchfh@gmail.com or by sending to 138 W. Washington St., New Castle, PA 16101. Please submit resumes by March 15, 2016. Questions can be directed to 724-652-3438.
News From the Churches
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.
Piano Tuner
Unity PC would like to pass along that Glenn Smith of Volant, member of New Wilmington PC, is a good and reasonably priced piano tuner. His phone number is 724-533-9998. Unity has been using his service and has been very satisfied.
Palm Sunday Event at Westfield ECO
The Mohawk Area Church Association is sponsoring Shine, Jesus, Shine: A Community Palm Sunday Choir Festival at Westfield Presbyterian Church at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20. Local musicians and church choirs will participate. This event is dedicated to the memory of Peggy Phipps, beloved Mohawk teacher and a member of Mahoning Presbyterian Church, their choir, and a faithful participant in past choir festivals. There is no cost for this community event, but a free-will offering will be taken. Refreshments will be served.
Handbells Wanted
Shenango Presbyterian SeniorCare is organizing a bell choir. If any churches in the area have bells that they no longer want or need, consider donating your set to SPSC. Please contact Sharyn McCaskey, Director of Community Living at SPSC at smccaskey@srcare.org or 724-946-3408.
Annual Easter Bake Sale
Shenango Presbyterian SeniorCare will hold their Annual Easter Bake Sale on March 18th from 9 AM – 3 PM in the Market Street Lobby. Churches can drop off baked goods and homemade candies the day before. Save the date for future bake sales: August 5th and December 8-9.
The Presbytery of Shenango 