SHENANGO 2026 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
As we right-size our presbytery for 6200 members in 47 congregations, Shenango is conducting a fundraising campaign to sustain our ministry of visioning, training, and supporting our congregations for the next 5-10 years. We are reaching out to pastors, sessions, congregations, and friends of our presbytery for their support above and beyond the Per Capita offerings. Rev. Andrew Jillson (Northminster) and Elder Gary Barr (Bessemer) are co-chairing our campaign efforts.
Please take a few minutes and visit the Campaign page on our website to learn how you and your congregation can help.
Another Fireside Chat
Last week 13 preachers in our presbytery gathering for a morning-long conversation about the blessing and burden of sustaining good preaching over time. These “Fireside Chats” are mini-retreats held for just a morning, spaced in the year between our regular overnight pastors retreat at Villa Maria in the spring and fall. Our next overnight Villa Maria retreat is May 1-2, featuring Rev. Jen Haddox leading our pastors through the Lord’s Prayer.
Spring Pastor Retreat:
“Lord, Teach Us To Pray” with Rev. Jen Haddox, Director of Global Engagement for ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
How can we develop a prayer life with the demands of serving in ministry? Jesus often took time away to pray. In the gospel of Luke the disciples observe this and ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus gives them a model prayer in response. But this prayer is not just the right words to pray. It is a prayer framework that provides a spiritual and missional posture for our everyday lives. During this retreat, we’ll explore this familiar prayer with fresh insights and prayer practices. Join us as we take time away to pray.
Click here to register online!
Note: First Time Attendees from Shenango Presbytery receive a 25% discount on their registration fee.
Dear Camp Lambec Friends and Family,
I am excited about this summer and hope you are too! Camp Lambec is a place for fun adventures in faith, family, and friends. If you’d like to have a great experience at camp, make new friends (and reconnect with old ones), enjoy our amenities, and grow in your faith, then choose the program that’s right for you. I’ll see you at camp! Go to our website for more information and to register www.camplambec.org A printable brochure and registration by going to http://camplambec.org/summer-camps.html
Randall Clow
Vice President of Camp Lambec Ministries
Suicidal Depression Workshop
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and friend of our presbytery Michelle Snyder will be leading a one-day seminar for pastors and and counselors on ministering to suicidal depression in Butler, PA, on May 3. Learn more and register here.
Chaplain’s Seminar
A 2017 training seminar for fire and police chaplains, clergy, mental health professionals, and emergency responders will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 5 & 6 in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. When a large or long-term traumatic incident takes place in your community, how will you provide and coordinate efforts to provide spiritual and emotional care to so many people? This year, we’ll help you answer that question as we offer the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation’s “Strategic Response to Crisis.” We’ll have a great class with a great teacher. We’re in a new location this year and class size is limited, so we need you to register soon. And if you send in your registration form and check by or before April 7th, you’ll get a $25 discount! For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/z4vrp95, www.Tinyurl.com/Chap2017, or the “Chaplains” tab at www.StPaulsHermitage.org.
New Wilmington Mission Conference
The 2017 New Wilmington Mission Conference will be held July 22-29 at Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. At 112 years old, the New Wilmington Mission Conference is the longest-running mission conference in the United States. Held on the campus of Westminster College every July, NWMC is intergenerational, Presbyterian-related and youth-focused.
About 1,000 people attend from over 30 states and 20 countries for a chance to connect with mission workers and hear what God is doing all over the world. This week-long conference features many well-known and engaging speakers for one low, all-inclusive price! This year’s speakers include Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Director of Adult Educational Ministries at Village Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Dr. Jim Singleton, Associate Professor of Pastoral Leadership and Evangelism at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as many others. Come for the week and stay on campus or just drive over for the day! Info available on the website.
Visit the conference website here for more details or to register.
FREE Concert Event
First Presbyterian Church of Franklin presents Connect2Christ Spring Jam 2017 with Audio Adrenaline and Hunter Cook on Saturday, April 29th at the Franklin High School Auditorium. Doors open at 4:30 PM. Concert at 6:00 PM. This is a free concert event. All ages welcome. We ask that you remember the hungry and donate at least one canned food item which will benefit Youth Alternatives of Venango County. For more information, check out: http://www.franklinpresbyyouth.org.
New Smith Book
Rev. Gary Smith and his wife Jane have recently published a book, Suffer the Children: How We Can Improve the Lives of the World’s Impoverished Children. All royalties from the book go to organizations working to help poor children. The book is available on Amazon, and was featured in USA Today in an article by Gary. The Smiths also host a website that serves as a clearinghouse for information about children and poverty: http://www.sufferthechildrenbook.org/
News From the Churches
Yard Sale
Presbyterian Women of Unity Presbyterian Church are holding an Indoor Yard Sale in Fellowship Hall , 1857 Mercer W Middlesex Rd, Rt 318, Mercer PA 16137 Phone 724-346-9501, on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 8:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. and Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 8:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. Come early for the best selection. Proceeds benefit Local, national and international missions.
Holy Week Prayer Room
First Presbyterian Church of Sharon will have a prayer room again during Holy week available on Maundy Thursday, April 13 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Good Friday, April 14 from 10: 00 a.m. to 12 noon. They will have a food labyrinth (a labyrinth outlined with food) and Stations of the Cross set up in the gym with quiet music and candle light for reflection. This is free of charge and will be open to the public at those times. They are doing a food drive during Lent. If you would like to participate in that, you can bring your non perishable cans or boxes of food to the church Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and put them by the cross in the sanctuary on second floor.
If you have any questions please contact Debbie Derrenbacher or call the church office 724.981.2211.
Director of Children, Youth, and Young Adults
Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage is seeking a Director of Children, Youth, and Young Adults. ce-director-job-description-2017
Ink Available
Clen-Moore Church has replaced several printers and they have extra ink that they no longer need. If you can use any of the following, please contact the church at 724-654-6657.
- HP60 Black
- HP60 Black XL Tri-Color
- HP901 Black
- HP901 XL Black
- HP Laser Jet
- 131A Magenta
- 131A Cyan
- 131A Yellow (2)
- 131A Black
Hymnbooks Available
Wampum Presbyterian Church has 150 copies of The Presbyterian Hymnal (the blue cover) available to any church that is interested. Almost brand new. Call the church at 724-535-4473.
The Presbytery of Shenango 