eLink News – EXTRA!

Memorial Service for Bud Green

A service of witness to the resurrection remembering “Bud” Green will be held at 1:00 PM this Saturday, July 9th, at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church (229 S. Market Street). The celebration will continue after the service in the basement with food and fellowship.  Click here to read Bud’s obituary.

Funeral Service for Ina McGary

A funeral service for Rev. Bill McGary’s mother, Ina McGary, will be held at Smith Funeral Home of Leesburg on Friday, July 8, at 2pm.  Words of blessing and encouragement can be sent to our colleague Bill at stonerunfarm@comcast.net

Register for the Fall 2016 Pastor Retreat!

Reading Poetry for Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Leadership
October 3-4, 2016 at Villa Maria Conference Center

Press Release 4-30-14.pub Rev. Dr. Richard Haney

Executive Director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship

“Reading poetry is a time-honored way of learning to pay attention to words, metaphors, rhythm and rhyme on the way to noticing God’s created order and people made in his image.  The Bible is filled with poetry, of course, like the 150 poems we call the Psalms.  We will read and study some famous poets like Gerard Manley Hopkins, John Donne, and others whose way with words is a powerful kind of bearing witness to the grace of God.”

Click here to register online!

Click here to download a PDF of the registration form.

Note: First Time Attendees from Shenango Presbytery will receive a 25% discount on their registration fee!

eLink News

Sympathies

Our presbytery is mourning the death of Rev. Harold “Bud” Green, former pastor of Shenango church in New Castle and a retired member of the presbytery.  Despite difficult health issues in recent years, Bud preached in many of our churches and was a friend to many persons in the region.  Our sympathies are also extended to Rev. Bill McGary (Wampum) regarding the death of his mother, a long-time member of the Rich Hill congregation.  In both situations, details on arrangements are forthcoming.

 

Kandel Offering

Last week at our stated presbytery meeting, an missionary offering was collected during the worship service to support the funding of Lynn and Sharon Kandel — PCUSA mission co-workers in South Sudan.  Presbytery commissioners brought $3,176.25 for the offering, which is a great blessing for the Kandel’s support.  Thanks to all persons, sessions, and congregations who contributed to this next in a series of missionary support offerings 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, Shenango, 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.

 

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

 

NWMC Need

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!

 

Dinner for Sudanese Guests

Fairfield Presbyterian will be hosting a pot luck picnic dinner from 6 – 8 on July 18 for our Sudanese church partners that will be visiting. All are invited to attend and we will hold the event indoors in case of rain.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Community Lunch

On Sunday, July 10th at 12:30 PM, Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church will host a Community Lunch for everyone.  Hot Dogs, condiments, and drink will be provided.  Invite your friends and neighbors!

 

Platin Scala in Concert at First, Sharon

Platin Scala of Wenden Germany has been producing classical orchestral concerts and magnificent opera singers for twenty-five years.  Now American audiences have the unique opportunity to hear a rising star in the world of outstanding violinists.  Elias David Moncado is being introduced to American audiences as part of an exchange between Platin Scala of Wenden Germany and the New Castle Eintracht Maennerchor.  This 15-year-old violinist will perform at First Presbyterian Church of Sharon on July 19th at 7:00 PM.  Elias has been a featured performer with symphony orchestras in Berlin, Prague, Penang, Malaysia, Munich, and more!  He will be accompanied by his father Bernard Moncado, who is not only a gifted pianist but also a Conductor and the Chorus Master of the Opera at Theater Freiburg.  This is a great opportunity for young and old alike to experience truly a world class performer on the rise in a beautiful intimate setting.

For ticket information:

 

 

eLink News

This Week:

June 28 – 6:00 PM Meet & Greet the Kandels, Clen-Moore PC
6:30 PM Stated Presbytery Meeting, Clen-Moore PC

July 4 – OFFICE CLOSED, Independence Day

 

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: 1st New Castle, Moravia, Mt. Jackson, Shenango, 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.

 

Kandels Present at Mohawk

PCUSA mission co-workers Lynn and Sharon Kandel are visiting our presbytery this week.  On Monday evening, they presented at Mohawk Coffee House in Bessemer.  Pictured here, Sharon discusses their ministry in South Sudan facilitating a Presbyterian education and peacemaking project in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan.  The Kandels are halfway through a four-year mission term in South Sudan.

Kandel presentation 1.jpg

Offering for the Kandels

There will be a special offering for the Kandels to be taken at the Presbytery meeting on June 28th at Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church.  Please talk the offering over with your Session and decide how you may want to participate.

 

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.

 

Community Lunch

On Sunday, July 10th at 12:30 PM, Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church will host a Community Lunch for everyone.  Hot Dogs, condiments, and drink will be provided.  Invite your friends and neighbors!

 

Platin Scala in Concert at First, Sharon

Platin Scala of Wenden Germany has been producing classical orchestral concerts and magnificent opera singers for twenty-five years.  Now American audiences have the unique opportunity to hear a rising star in the world of outstanding violinists.  Elias David Moncado is being introduced to American audiences as part of an exchange between Platin Scala of Wenden Germany and the New Castle Eintracht Maennerchor.  This 15-year-old violinist will perform at First Presbyterian Church of Sharon on July 19th at 7:00 PM.  Elias has been a featured performer with symphony orchestras in Berlin, Prague, Penang, Malaysia, Munich, and more!  He will be accompanied by his father Bernard Moncado, who is not only a gifted pianist but also a Conductor and the Chorus Master of the Opera at Theater Freiburg.  This is a great opportunity for young and old alike to experience truly a world class performer on the rise in a beautiful intimate setting.

For ticket information:

 

General Assembly Reunions

Beneath the surface of all the much-reported actions and reactions of our Presbyterian General Assembly, this every-other-year gathering of the widest expression of our church is also something of a giant ecclesiastical family reunion. Old acquaintances are renewed, current ministry connections are enhanced, and sometimes individuals we know and love in our own corners of the church universal are introduced to the entire faith family.

On that last point, I was so delighted when friend of our presbytery Rev. Miguel Angel Cancú was introduced to the entire assembly this week as one of a half-dozen official ecumenical guests from the Caribbean and Latin America.  Rev. Cancú is the leader of the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana, a small Protestant denomination in the Dominican Republic that is the daughter communion of American Presbyterian and Methodist missionary efforts nearly a 100 years ago.

FullSizeRender
Rev. Cancú offering a prayer for the General Assembly

Several of our Shenango congregations enjoy a 25 year old partnership with an IED church on the northern coast of the island, the congregation where Cancú was the pastor for many years.  Already honored to have our friend Cancú as an official guest of our national assembly, we were doubly blessed when it became clear that he had also been asked to open one of the assembly’s plenary sessions.  You can experience the pastoral presence of his prayer, in his native Spanish, here.

FullSizeRender 2
EP Ralph Hawkins, Rev. Miguel Cancú, and Rev. Valdir França

Another Shenango connection to this year’s General Assembly came in the form of Wendy Farmerie, member of our New Wilmington congregation and owner of the Silk Road Fair Trade Market.  Wendy traveled all the way to Portland to sell many of the wonderful international items in her shop to commissioners and guests here at the assembly.  If you’ve never been to the Silk Road in New Wilmington, you’ll want to! Zip code 16142 is much closer than Portland.

FullSizeRender 3
Wendy Farmerie with Elizabeth and Ella Hawkins

Another friend of Shenango who spent several days at our Assembly is Rev. Richard Haney, Executive Director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship. The ministry of PFF is known to many in our body who care about global mission and the world Christian community. “As part of God’s mission to the world, [PFF] invites believing communities to engage people groups where the good news of Jesus and his kingdom is not yet known.”  Richard has been a popular teacher at the New Wilmington Mission Conference and will be the presenter for our fall pastors retreat at Villa Maria retreat center, October 3-4.  I’m looking forward to more of our pastors experiencing Richard’s intelligent and faithful teaching on Christian witness and mission.

FullSizeRender 4
Rev. Richard Haney and Shelley Schuenke, Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship

Lastly but not least, this week the assembly elected a new Stated Clerk, Rev. J. Herbert Nelson.  You can read more about his background and election here. Wearing my presbytery Stated Clerk hat, I look forward to working with him in the months to come.  By all accounts, he is a committed Presbyterian, a man of deep conviction and purpose in ministry.  Plus, as the photo below indicates, he has great taste in neckwear.

As an aside to the historic action of electing our first African-American clerk, my family and I enjoyed a lovely conversation with the Nelsons after worship on Sunday at one of Portland’s many Presbyterian churches.  It did not take long for my mother, Lucile — in Portland with us for the week — to discover that Rev. Gail Porter Nelson, our new Stated Clerk’s spouse, shares with her New Orleans, Louisiana, as a beloved home town.  Thus commenced a long and lovely conversation about Crescent City places known and loved in common, including home congregations.  My mom spent the rest of Sunday basking in the glow of a new hometown acquaintance and two new friends in the Christian faith.  Later this week, J. Herbert was elected Stated Clerk.

13501925_10157032598890405_414516721114536643_n
Revs. Gail and J. Herbert Nelson

In light of many large General Assembly actions — some encouraging, others controversial — a small hometown connection perhaps seems insignificant.  But it is a reminder to me that a denomination is, at its best, a family of faith.  Sometimes broken and bruised, sometimes alive and well; nevertheless, a family … with Jesus the Christ our eldest brother and head of the table.  Below the surface of plenary actions and reactions, it has been another good family reunion this week.

RWH

 

 

 

 

Official Call to the June 28, 2016 Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Shenango

The next stated meeting of Shenango Presbytery will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church in New Castle.  

Important Items Before Presbytery Include:

  • Visit from Lynn & Sharon Kandel, Presbyterian mission co-workers in South Sudan
  • First reading of the Per Capita budget
  • Installation of the new Moderator and Vice-Moderator
  • Dismissal request from the Pulaski Presbyterian Church
  • Presentation of the 2016-17 nominees for presbytery leadership

Get the Docket and Council Minutes!

NOTE: Please email any documents for inclusion in the packet to Autumn at office@shenango.org ASAP.  We are hoping to email a pre-packet on Friday.

eLink News

PCUSA General Assembly

The 222nd meeting of the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly convened this past Saturday, June 18, in Portland, Oregon.  The following persons have been elected by our presbytery to seek the mind of Jesus on matters before the church: Teaching Elder Don Stanley (Jamestown), Ruling Elder Don Christy (Faith), Young Adult Advisory Delegate Calvin Gealy (New Wilmington), and Theological Student Advisory Delegate Evan Wildhack (Pittsburgh Seminary).  Our EP and Stated Clerk Ralph Hawkins will be in attendance as well.  Please keep our commissioners and the whole Presbyterian communion in prayer these weeks.

 

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: 1st New Castle, Moravia, Mt. Jackson, North Liberty, Shenango, and 3rd New Castle.  Bills have been mailed to the churches, for those who had not already paid.  We have approximately 2 additional calendars available for individual sale at $9.50 each.

 

We’re Still Collecting Missionary Commitment Forms

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…so far we’re at 51%.  Please consider completing a Missionary Offering Commitment Form and send it to the presbytery office. If you need a form, contact the Presbytery Office.

 

Kandel Visit

In a year of major emphasis on our presbytery’s global mission connections, we are honored this month to welcome Lynn and Sharon Kandel, PCUSA mission co-workers in South Sudan, Africa.  The Kandels are doing important work on our behalf in a country that has been near to the heart of many of our congregations since its formation just a few years ago.  Here are several ways you can meet the Kandels and hear more about what God is doing in their midst:

– Monday, June 27, 6:30pm, ALL are invited to Moco Coffee House in Bessemer to hear the Kandels talk about their respective work

– Tuesday, June 28, 7am, MEN are invited to breakfast at Ryder’s Restaurant, Route 18 outside of New Wilmington, to hear Lynn talk about his ministry of construction and logistics across South Sudan

– Tuesday, 10am, WOMEN are invited to coffee at the Confluence Coffee House, downtown New Castle, to hear Sharon talk about her work in Christian Education with the church in South Sudan

– Tuesday, 6pm, ALL are invited to come early to our stated presbytery meeting at Clen-Moore church, New Castle, to meet and great Sharon and Lynn before they speak to the presbytery during our meeting

As one church member who knows the Kandels recently stated, “What I love about Sharon and Lynn is their testimony of God calling real people just like me to do missionary work abroad.”  Our presbytery is proud to host the Kandels this month.

 

Offering for the Kandels

There will be a special offering for the Kandels to be taken at the Presbytery meeting on June 28th at Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church.  Please talk the offering over with your Session and decide how you may want to participate.

 

Bailey Books and Videos

Mickey Bailey has copies of Ken’s books and CDs at her apartment.  If you would be interested in purchasing any books or videos, please contact the Prebbytery office for Mrs. Bailey’s contact information.

 

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.

 

News From the Churches

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 email admin@neshpresby.org.

 

Community Lunch

On Sunday, July 10th at 12:30 PM, Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church will host a Community Lunch for everyone.  Hot Dogs, condiments, and drink will be provided.  Invite your friends and neighbors!

 

Platin Scala in Concert at First, Sharon

Platin Scala of Wenden Germany has been producing classical orchestral concerts and magnificent opera singers for twenty-five years.  Now American audiences have the unique opportunity to hear a rising star in the world of outstanding violinists.  Elias David Moncado is being introduced to American audiences as part of an exchange between Platin Scala of Wenden Germany and the New Castle Eintracht Maennerchor.  This 15-year-old violinist will perform at First Presbyterian Church of Sharon on July 19th at 7:00 PM.  Elias has been a featured performer with symphony orchestras in Berlin, Prague, Penang, Malaysia, Munich, and more!  He will be accompanied by his father Bernard Moncado, who is not only a gifted pianist but also a Conductor and the Chorus Master of the Opera at Theater Freiburg.  This is a great opportunity for young and old alike to experience truly a world class performer on the rise in a beautiful intimate setting.

For ticket information:

 

 

 

Greetings from Portland, Oregon

Greetings from Portland, Oregon, and the 222nd meeting of our PCUSA General Assembly. Elected commissioners, presbytery leaders, and folks from all around the country (and the world) are meeting in the Oregon Convention Center for a week of worship, mission updates, committee meetings, and plenary sessions.

Our General Assembly meets every other June and the location moves around the country. Each presbytery is represented by an equal number of Teaching and Ruling Elders, with the number of pairs based on the membership of the presbytery. Last fall, Shenango elected Ruling Elder Don Christy, from our Faith church in Hermitage, and Teaching Elder Don Stanley, pastor of our Jamestown church, both pictured here:

RE Don Christy, TE Don Stanley
RE Don Christy (Faith), TE Don Stanley (Jamestown)

By virtue of their election as comissioners, both Dons have voice and vote in all matters brought before the assembly in committees and in plenary sessions. In the words of our Book of Order, they are tasked with “discerning the mind of Christ” on matters brought from presbyteries around the country to this our largest council.

Also elected by Shenango last fall are two Advisory Delegates. Calvin Gealy is a high-school aged member of our New Wilmington church and is Shenango’s Young Adult Advisory Delegate. Evan Wildhack is a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and in Inquirer for ordination under the care of our presbytery. Evan is serving as a Theological Student Advisory Delegate. These young men have voice in all business before the assembly, vote in committee meetings, and collectively they are able to offer an advisory opinion prior each vote taken in the large plenary sessions. Both are pictured here:

YAAD Calvin Gealy (New Wilmington), TSAD Evan Wildhack (Pittsburgh Seminary)
YAAD Calvin Gealy (New Wilmington), TSAD Evan Wildhack (Pittsburgh Seminary)

On Saturday, the Assembly elected co-moderators who — just like our presbytery moderator — will run the plenary meetings this week and then represent the wider church throughout the next two years. Read more about their election here. On Sunday afternoon, the Assembly heard the report of the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee, reported here. The Stated Clerk serves for four years and functions as a parlimentarian, record keeper, and spokesperson for the General Assembly.

Monday marks the first full day of Assembly business, with commissioners broken up into various committees to manage the matters brought to the assembly from the presbyteries. Our commissioners have the following committee assignements:

Don Christy: Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
Don Stanley: Immigration and Environmental Concerns
Calvin Gealy: Middle East Issues
Evan Wildhack: Way Forward, which will deal with a number of issues related to the denomination’s deployment and structure going forward

Please keep our commissioners, and all commissioners, in your prayers this week. More updates to follow.

Ralph Hawkins
Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk

eLink News

PCUSA General Assembly

The 222nd meeting of the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly convenes this Saturday, June 18, in Portland, Oregon.  The following persons have been elected by our presbytery to seek the mind of Jesus on matters before the church: Teaching Elder Don Stanley (Jamestown), Ruling Elder Don Christy (Faith), Young Adult Advisory Delegate Calvin Gealy (New Wilmington), and Theological Student Advisory Delegate Evan Wildhack (Pittsburgh Seminary).  Our EP and Stated Clerk Ralph Hawkins will be in attendance as well.  Please keep our commissioners and the whole Presbyterian communion in prayer these weeks.

 

Opening Worship

Make plans now to join in the June 18 opening worship of the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) via the web.  Read more here.

 

EP Activity

Our Executive Presbyter, Ralph Hawkins, preached for a joint service shared by Shenango, Third New Castle, and First New Castle churches (Jun 5), and will preach at Sandy Lake church (Jun 12).  He will be attending the PCUSA General Assembly in Portland, OR (Jun 18-25), supporting our four presbytery commissioners: Teaching Elder Don Stanley (Jamestown), Ruling Elder Don Christy (Faith), young adult delegate Calvin Gealy (New Wilmington), and theological student delegate Evan Wildhack (Pittsburgh Seminary). 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.

 

Planning Calendars

The planning calendar orders have arrived and can be picked up at the Presbytery office at your convenience.  Bills have been mailed to the churches, for those who had not already paid.  We have approximately 4 additional calendars available for individual sale at $9.50 each.

 

We’re Still Collecting Missionary Commitment Forms

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…so far we’re at 51%.  Please consider completing a Missionary Offering Commitment Form and send it to the presbytery office. If you need a form, contact the Presbytery Office.

 

Kandel Visit

kandelsharonlynn

In a year of major emphasis on our presbytery’s global mission connections, we are honored this month to welcome Lynn and Sharon Kandel, PCUSA mission co-workers in South Sudan, Africa.  The Kandels are doing important work on our behalf in a country that has been near to the heart of many of our congregations since its formation just a few years ago.  Here are several ways you can meet the Kandels and hear more about what God is doing in their midst:

– Monday, June 27, 6:30pm, ALL are invited to Moco Coffee House in Bessemer to hear the Kandels talk about their respective work

– Tuesday, June 28, 7am, MEN are invited to breakfast at Ryder’s Restaurant, Route 18 outside of New Wilmington, to hear Lynn talk about his ministry of construction and logistics across South Sudan

– Tuesday, 10am, WOMEN are invited to coffee at the Confluence Coffee House, downtown New Castle, to hear Sharon talk about her work in Christian Education with the church in South Sudan

– Tuesday, 6pm, ALL are invited to come early to our stated presbytery meeting at Clen-Moore church, New Castle, to meet and great Sharon and Lynn before they speak to the presbytery during our meeting

As one church member who knows the Kandels recently stated, “What I love about Sharon and Lynn is their testimony of God calling real people just like me to do missionary work abroad.”  Our presbytery is proud to host the Kandels this month.

 

Offering for the Kandels

There will be a special offering for the Kandels to be taken at the Presbytery meeting on June 28th at Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church.  Please talk the offering over with your Session and decide how you may want to participate.

 

 Bailey Books and Videos

Mickey Bailey has copies of Ken’s books and CDs at her apartment.  If you would be interested in purchasing any books or videos, please contact the Prebbytery office for Mrs. Bailey’s contact information.

 

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.

 

News From the Churches

Book Sale a Success

The Used Book Sale at Third, New Castle was a great success.  Thanks to everyone for their support!

 

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.

 

Platin Scala in Concert at First, Sharon

Platin Scala of Wenden Germany has been producing classical orchestral concerts and magnificent opera singers for twenty-five years.  Now American audiences have the unique opportunity to hear a rising star in the world of outstanding violinists.  Elias David Moncado is being introduced to American audiences as part of an exchange between Platin Scala of Wenden Germany and the New Castle Eintracht Maennerchor.  This 15-year-old violinist will perform at First Presbyterian Church of Sharon on July 19th at 7:00 PM.  Elias has been a featured performer with symphony orchestras in Berlin, Prague, Penang, Malaysia, Munich, and more!  He will be accompanied by his father Bernard Moncado, who is not only a gifted pianist but also a Conductor and the Chorus Master of the Opera at Theater Freiburg.  This is a great opportunity for young and old alike to experience truly a world class performer on the rise in a beautiful intimate setting.

For ticket information: