EP Activity This Month
Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, will be preaching at Ellport church (Oct 9), visiting Kennard church (Oct 16), and preaching at Word Centered church (Oct 23). He will be preaching and leading a leadership workshop at the annual Wee Kirk Conference at Laurelville, Pa (Oct 10-12). He will attend the Synod of the Trinity meeting with our commissioners (Oct 24-25) and the annual Stated Clerk’s Polity Conference in Louisville, KY (Oct 28-30). 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
– RE Charlene Kennedy (Bell Memorial) has been commissioned by the presbytery to serve as pastor of the Ellport congregation, Ellwood City.
– TE Steve Stelle (MAL) and TE Gary Smith (Grove City College) were added to the approved Pulpit Supply list
– Shenango has transferred the following minister members to other presbyteries: TE Bill Knechtel (Pulaski) to ECO Rivers of Life presbytery; TE Angel DeLaCruz (Word Centered) to Prospect Hill presbytery, Iowa; TE Bill Stone III (Church of Scotland) to Newton presbytery, New Jersey; TE Mark Thompson (MAL) to Eastminster presbytery, Ohio; TE Betsy McCormick (MAL) to Northumberland presbytery, Pennsylvania
– Shenango received into membership TE Victor Makari (HR) from Scioto Valley presbytery
– TE Don Stanley (Jamestown) was approved to labor outside our bounds for 1 year, following the dismissal of the Jamestown church to ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. Don will remain a member of Shenango presbytery.
– Rev. Judy Wilson (Evangelical Methodist) was approved to serve as moderator of the Oak Grove session. Judy has been part-time pastor of Oak Grove since February 2016.
(TE = Teaching Elder; RE = Ruling Elder; CRE = Commissioned Ruling Elder; MAL = Member at Large; HR = Honorably Retired)
Per Capita
The 2017 Per Capita budget was approved last week at the presbytery meeting and letters will be mailed this week to churches. Amounts for 2017 are as follows: GA: $7.50, Synod: $2.30, Presbytery: $28.06 = $37.86 TOTAL.
Terms of Call
Last week the presbytery approved a 1% increase to the MINIMUM Terms of Call for full-time installed pastors, or $49,103 minimum effective salary. The updated Terms of Call worksheet will be posted on our website shortly.
South Sudan Matching Challenge Surpassed
Two elders in one of our congregations have challenged our presbytery to match their $20,000 mission gift by September 27 for immediate food relief in South Sudan through our mission partners. Pastors and elders in our partner denomination SSPEC (South Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church) will use these funds to purchase wholesale food suitable for distribution through their congregations. We are happy to announce that together our congregations have donated $25,977.43…surpassing the challenge! Thank you Shenango Presbytery for your generosity! Congregational offerings can still be mailed to the presbytery office marked “South Sudan Match” or individuals can donate online at the Presbyterian Mission Exchange by choosing the fund SOUTH SUDAN HUNGER RELIEF MATCHING OFFERING.
The Synod Six
Five pastors and a church leader from the Presbyterian Church in Egypt (Synod of the Nile) recently travelled across the United States visiting churches and institutions of the Presbyterian Church (USA). They made a stop at Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, pictured here. Rev. Steve Gorman (green shirt) led the group. Steve is our Regional Liaison to the Synod of the Nile. Rev. Beth Creekpaum, pastor at Sandy Lake, is serving on a national Egypt Partnership Network, seeking the renew bonds between American and Egyptian Presbyterians that go back more than a century. Read more about the Synod Six travels here.
Nominating Training
Pictured here, participants discuss the blessings and challenges of discerning the right persons for the right roles in their congregations during a recent presbytery-wide nominating training event, sponsored by the presbytery’s Christian Education committee. Interested in some resources or coaching on your church’s nominating practices? Contact EP Ralph Hawkins for more information.
Don Dawson to Retire
The Rev. Don Dawson will retire on October 31 as Director of the World Mission Initiative (WMI) at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the New Wilmington Mission Conference. He has presided as director of both since 2000. Read more.
Discerning Your Call to Missions
On Saturday, October 22, 2016, join Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for the annual Discerning Your Call to Missions event from 9 AM – 4 PM. This FREE workshop features Rev. Don Dawson, director of WMI, Stephanie Bell, spiritual director, and Elizabeth Trexler, former missionary. RSVP by October 17th to wmi@pts.edu.
Bereavement Support Group
Facilitated by Rev. Stacie Pitts, Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator for SRHS Hospice, this support group will meet on Thursdays beginning on October 6th from 4-6 PM in the Parlor of First Presbyterian Church, Sharpsville. Come learn about grief, how to cope with grief, and how to give support to those in the grieving process. No sign up required.
FREE Community Bereavement Series
Wednesdays during October and the first week of November from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Diagnostic and Imaging Center (2435 Garden Way, Hermitage) with Rev. Stacie Pitts, Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator for SRHS Hospice. Please bring a brown bag lunch.
Ancient Hebrew Scroll Project
The Ancient Hebrew Scroll display is the only complete set of the Tanakh (Old Testament) in the world that you can see. It will be on display at Trinity School for Ministry (311 Eleventh Street, Ambridge, PA) on Wednesday, October 5th from 1-8 PM (with a presentation at 7 PM). To know more about the scroll project or event info, visit http://ancienthebrewscrollproject.org.
News From the Churches
Rummage Sale
Bell Memorial, Ellwood City, will be holding a rummage sale the week of October 10th. Setup, October 10th from 9:30 AM-5 PM. Sale, October 11th – 9:30 AM – 9 PM. Bag Day, October 12th – 9:30 AM till Noon, last day.
The Presbytery of Shenango 