Sudanese Visitors
Due to an outbreak of violence in recent days in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, the three South Sudanese Presbyterians we were set to host this week here in our presbytery could not travel. The airport in Juba was closed due to the harsh conflicts. Here is an excellent summary of the situation from our Presbyterian News Service. Note that many of our Shenango congregations support Leisa Wagstaff, featured in that article. As of today, the situation in Juba has stabilized a bit. Our Sudan Team, chaired by Denise Sciuto, is hopeful that our partners will still be able to travel later in the week. We will keep you posted through eLink about opportunities to meet them if in fact they can still make the trip. Continue to pray both for the nation of South Sudan and for our Presbyterian sisters and brothers in that place. — Ralph Hawkins
Moderators Installed
At our June 28 stated meeting in New Castle, we installed our new Moderator and Vice Moderator: Rev. Chris Weichman (Clen-Moore) and Elder Andrea Hall (Hillside), respectively. They will conduct all our meetings, candidate ordinations, and pastor installation for the twelve months. Thank you Chris and Andrea for your service among us this year.
Planning Calendars
The planning calendar orders have arrived and can be picked up at the Presbytery office at your convenience. We’re still holding calendars for: Moravia and 3rd New Castle. Bills have been mailed to the churches, for those who had not already paid. We have 2 additional calendars available for individual sale at $9.50 each.
Fifth Annual Hearts & Minds Summer Lecture
Hearts & Minds, an independent bookstore in Dallastown PA, will once again host a public lecture in Pittsburgh, this year hosting religious scholar, social justice activist, and author Lisa Sharon Harper on July 26th at 7:00 pm. The fifth annual Hearts & Minds Pittsburgh Summer Lecture will be held at the Sewall Center at Robert Morris University and is free and open to the public. The title of the lecture is “The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right.” It will be drawn from her recently released, highly-acclaimed book about how Biblically-based Christian spirituality can and should motivate people of faith to care about social justice, racial reconciliation, and other contemporary issues, The Very Good Gospel: However Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right (Waterbrook/Random House; 2016.) After the lecture there will be a reception with the author, light refreshments and an opportunity for book signing. Ms Harper is a nationally-known, well-respected Christian leader, who serves as the Church Liason for Sojourners, an ecumenical, faith-based social justice ministry and magazine in Washington DC. This public lecture is free and open to the public and is underwritten by the Hearts & Minds Bookstore, Dallastown, PA.
Caregiver Support Program for Lawrence County Congregations
Jameson Hospice of Lawrence County will host “Help for the Helpers: Developing a Roadmap for Caregiving” on Thursday, July 21 from Noon to 4:00 PM at the Jameson Rehabilitation Center (3410 Wilmington Road, New Castle). Learn about community resources that are available to assist you with caregiving needs. Anyone in a Lawrence County congregation who provides care to loved ones – be it elderly parents, a child or family member with special needs, a spouse who has suffered an injury, or someone with a life-limiting illness – is invited to attend. Register by calling 724-652-8847 by July 14th.
Cooking With a Mission
You are invited to join a five-week course in gastronomic delights starting Monday, September 19th and running each Monday through October 17th from 5;30 – 8:30 PM at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Mercer. This hands-on class will feature a full array of menu items and tasting each evening led by instructor, local chef Mark Arnold. The cost of $200 per person will go to support the mission work sponsored by Shenango Presbytery, and it is hoped we will that a “guest chef” or two from among the missionaries our presbytery supports. Class size is limited, so contact the Presbytery office for a registration form. Questions, call Don Stanley at 724-308-7251.
Register for the Fall Pastor Retreat
Reading Poetry for Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Leadership, October 3-4, 2016 at Villa Maria Conference Center with Dr. Richard Haney (Executive Director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship). Click here to register: https://shenango.org/committees-groups/pastor-retreat-registration/
New Wilmington Mission Conference
July 23-30, 2016 on the campus of Westminster College – register now! http://nwmcmission.org/nwmc-2016/register-now. Join scholars, missionaries, and people with a heart for mission from around the world for one week in New Wilmington for worship, learning, service, and more. There is nothing else like NWMC…you won’t want to miss it!
Click here for a list of speakers: http://nwmcmission.org/nwmc-2016/2016-speakers-worship
Click here to get the schedule for the week: http://nwmcmission.org/about-us/daily-schedule
Click here to download a bulletin insert. NWMC Bulletin Insert 2016
Click here to download a press release about NWMC. NWMC 2016 Press Release
Reception for Missionaries
Shenango Presbytery will host a reception for the missionaries that our churches support on Sunday, July 24th at 4:00 PM at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church. All are invited!
Children’s Water Toys Needed
New Wilmington Mission Conference is trying to set up activities for young kids during the afternoons of the conference. We are looking for some water toys for young kids (ages 5 and under) to be set up for some simple family fun. We have a small blow up slide into a pool, a baby pool, and a water table already, but would welcome duplicates or any additional loaners for the project. Please contact Rev. Beth Creekpaum of the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church at 724-977-3013 or theotherrevcreekpaum@gmail.com if you have anything that would fit this category. Many thanks!
Pillows Needed
The New Wilmington Mission Conference is in need of gently used standard-sized pillows for out of town and international guests. If you have some pillows that you would like to donate to NWMC, please bring them to the conference office in New Wilmington Presbyterian Church or contact the office at office@nwmcmission.org as soon as possible.
Industrial Fans
The New Wilmington Mission Conference is hoping to borrow some large but portable industrial fans for use in cooling off some of the larger meeting spaces that are not otherwise air conditioned. If you or your congregation has one or more they could borrow for the week of July 23-30, please contact their office at office@nwmcmission.org or 724-946-9770.
News From the Churches
Piano
Small baby grand – as is – free for hauling…Calvin Presbyterian Church, 615 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, PA. Call 724-758-4258 Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM.
Wanted
Organist and/or pianist. Neshannock Presbyterian Church, New Wilmington, PA. One Sunday service per week. One choir rehearsal per week in season. Pay commensurate with experience. Reply to Neshannock Presbyterian Church at 724-946-2081 or emailadmin@neshpresby.org.
The Presbytery of Shenango 