This Week:
April 19- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock PC
April 21- 1:30 AM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office
April 22- 1:00 PM Budget & Finance Committee, Presbytery Office
April 25- 2:00 PM Nominating Committee, Presbytery Office
April 26- 6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, Christ Presbyterian Church, Ellwood City (watch eLink this week for the docket and Council minutes)
EP Activity This Month
Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, will be preaching at Fredonia church (April 24). 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.
Bring Your Missionary Commitment Forms to April Presbytery Meeting
In response to the generous financial offerings for missionary support collected throughout 2015 at our stated presbytery meetings, our Mission, Communication and Stewardship committee feels called in 2016 to the goal of 100% of our congregations in supporting a missionary in some way. Please consider completing a Missionary Offering Commitment Form and either sending it to the presbytery office or bring it to the April 26 presbytery meeting at Christ church, Ellwood City. If you need a form, contact the Presbytery Office.
Summer Camp Resources
Christian camps have made a profound impact that really leads young people to Christ as well as a commitment to those first steps in serving others. Senator John Glenn talks in his biography about attending and working at a summer camp in Ohio when he was growing up in New Concord. It helped him become a more committed Christian and to learn skills in working with people that helped him throughout his life.
Help the youth of your church have the opportunity of Christian camping! Here are two links from youtube to provide a short visual depiction of different things that are included in a week of camping at Westminster Highlands and Camp Lambec. Preview them and find appropriate ways to have youth view them and begin seeing what they might be interested in this summer. Why not email them to youth and their parents with the website to the camps home page so that registration can be simple click away!
There is a printable version of the camp brochures for this summer on the home page of the website too. The color version of the camps brochures can be printed out or order some from the camper manager. Registration forms are available for you to print out too.
Presbytery Nominations
Our Shenango Presbytery Nominations committee is once again working to nominate Teaching Elders, Ruling Elders, and other leaders from our congregations to serve on the various committees, councils, and teams of our presbytery. These groups help to coordinate the ministry we do together among our churches and are an expression of the wider witness of the church. If you have a suggestion of someone who has the time, talent, and spiritual maturity to serve the wider church in this way, please share that name and some contact information with Elder Carol Christy atdchristy2015@outlook.com (Nominations chair) or EP Ralph Hawkins atralph@shenango.org, or call the presbytery office at 724-528-1610.
Dear Colleagues: Easter joy. At our next presbytery meeting, I will be there to distribute the pink envelopes for the Mothers Day offering for the benevolence fund of the Shenango Presbyterian SeniorCare residents. As you know and remember, these monies go to the fund that assists any resident who has outlived his or her savings. Please consider beginning or starting this worthwhile mission in the church you have been called to serve. Thanks in advance for your consideration and help to date. Blessings from Amy Na
Synod of the Trinity Regional Gatherings
The Synod will host a series of regional gatherings, which will replace the regular central meetings of the past. The Northwest Region (including the presbyteries of Beaver-Butler, Kiskiminetas, Lake Erie, and Shenango) will gather on Monday, April 25th at Camp Crestfield in Slippery Rock, PA. Three targeted conversation group options will be offered, including Resourcing and Equipping Our Congregation in Meeting Financial Challenges (a workshop for presbytery leadership), Connecting and Resourcing Young Pastors/New Pastors, and Turning the Church Around: One Congregation at a Time. For more information, contact the Presbytery Office.
Shenango Presbytery Scholarships
The Shenango Presbytery Scholarship is intended to assist students who are members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and attend either Grove City or Westminster College. Preference will be given to applicants who belong to churches in Shenango Presbytery. Click here to download the scholarship application. Note: Application materials must be submitted (or postmarked) by May 2, 2016.
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-mailoffice@nwmcmission.org.
Home Dedication
The Lawrence County affiliate Habitat for Humanity invites you to join them for their 24th home dedication on April 23rd at E. Euclid Avenue, New Castle, PA. All are welcome to attend this joyous and celebratory event.
News From the Churches
Mission Benefit Dinner
Sunday, April 24 (4:00 – 6:30 PM): The Summer Mission Team will host a spaghetti dinner at Lebanon Presbyterian Church to help raise funds for their mission travels to Copperhill, TN in July. Invite your friends and family, then stay after dinner for our “Go Together Concert Event”. https://www.facebook.com/events/1602297186755592/. The “Go Together Concert Event” (http://www.gotogethertour.com) will feature praise and worship music along with a guest speaker from Mission Discovery based in TN.
Summer Ministry Help Needed
Calvin Church will begin its Summer Youth Ministry Program on June 20; it will conclude on August 12. Children will enjoy free recreation, hot lunches, and gospel teaching Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will be hiring a Ministry Coordinator and a Ministry Aide. If you know of someone that God can use for this important ministry, please pass the word along. Candidates do not have to be students, but it is important that they be able to relate their faith well to the children of the neighborhood. We would consider a mature high school student for the Aide position. These positions report directly to the Pastor.
The Summer Ministry Coordinator will work 20-25 hours per week. The coordinator will be expected to demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, organize and facilitate daily recreation, lead daily gospel talks, organize at least two outings/field trips, maintain a schedule for volunteers and work in cooperation with the Evangelism and Outreach Committee. The salary for this position is $10/hour.
The Summer Ministry Aide will work 15 hours per week. The aide will be expected to demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, assist the Summer Ministry Coordinator and volunteers as needed, coordinate daily meals with the organization providing the food, and work in cooperation with the church’s Evangelism and Outreach Committee. Pay for this position is $1,000 stipend.
Other responsibilities may be included to suit the needs or gifts of a particular applicant for each position.
Please call the church office at 724-758-4258 or email calvinch@verizon.net for applications.
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.
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 atsmccaskey@srcare.org or 724-946-3408.
The Presbytery of Shenango 