News from the Presbytery Office

Upcoming Events: 

November 14– 1:30 PM Sudan Team, New Wilmington Presbyterian Church
November 15- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry Committee, Presbytery Office
November 15-16- Council, EP Nominating Committee, Presbytery Future Committee Retreat with Russ Crabtree, Villa Maria Conference Center
November 19- 6:30 PM Presbytery Meeting, 1st New Castle

Mission Yearbooks

There are still some Mission Yearbooks at the office to be picked up: Ebenezer, Slippery Rock, and Third New Castle.  As well as Planning Calendars: Mt. Jackson.  We have some extras of each available for purchase.  Mission Yearbooks are $16.00 each and Planning Calendars are $9.50.

Web Site News

The new site should be up and running by the end of the week.  You will receive some additional eLinks this week, and occasionally in the future, with single entries.  The new site will be affiliated with our eLink blog, and in order to fill-in some of the “Hot Item” tabs on the home page, Autumn will need to create some special blog posts.  Anyone who has subscribed to eLink will receive those posts in their regular delivery.

Save the Date!!!

Saturday, January 11, 2014 is LeaderFest.  It will be at Westminster College from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM.

A New Book

Lisa Nichols Hickman (New Wilmington) has written a new book, Writing in the Margins: Connecting to God on the Pages of Your Bible.  It is available now from Grand Book & Bible, Amazon, and through the Heart & Minds bookstore.

News From The Churches

Harvest Festival

North Liberty Presbyterian Church will be holding a Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 16th from 9 AM to 3 PM.  Craft vendors, food, bake sale, hay rides, Amish donuts, and activities for kids…plus live Praise & Worship music from 11 AM to 1 PM.  North Liberty Presbyterian Church is located at 209 North Liberty – Plain Grove Road, Grove City, PA  16127.

Harvest Blessings Festival

Calvin Presbyterian Church, 615 Crescent Ave. in Ellwood City, will be hosting a Harvest Blessings Festival this Saturday, November 16, from noon until 4 PM.  This event is open to the community.  There will be games and prizes, crafts and face painting for children.  The festival will also include a bake sale, concessions, a pie judging contest, and raffle drawings for gift baskets.

Youth Director Wanted

The next stated meeting of Shenango Presbytery will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church, New Castle. 

Important Items Before Presbytery Include:

• Commissioning of Marsha Parrish as CRE at Mt. Hermon
• Commissioning of Steve & Brenda Stelle as Mission Co-Workers in Ethiopia

Get the Docket… pby docket 11 19 2013.

Get the Council Minutes…councilminutes10 29 2013.

Note: Presbytery papers will not be available on the Presbytery website until later this week…only via this eLink.

First Presbyterian Church of New Castle is located at 125 N. Jefferson Street, New Castle, PA  16101.

News from the Presbytery Office

Upcoming Events: 

November 12– 2:00 PM Preparation for Ministry Committee, Presbytery Office
November 13- 1:00 PM Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
November 14– 1:30 PM Sudan Team, New Wilmington Presbyterian Church
November 15- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry Committee, Presbytery Office
November 15-16- Council, EP Nominating Committee, Presbytery Future Committee Retreat with Russ Crabtree, Villa Maria Conference Center

Calendar Items to Note:

• The November Presbytery meeting is on November 19th…not the 12th as previously published.
• Items for the Presbytery packet will be due by Friday, November 15th.
• The Presbyterian Planning Calendar lists Thanksgiving on the wrong date….it should be listed as November 28th.

Joys

Glenn and Jeanne Hink (1st, Sharon) welcomed a grandson, Quinlan River Cathcart, on October 26th.

Pastors Leading Missional Transformation

Shenango Presbytery has been involved in leadership training for pastors and elders for more than a dozen years.  The next opportunity will come in the form of learning communities of pastor mentoring groups.  This “Missional Experimentation” will include pastors and commissioned ruling elders from across western PA.  If you are interested in more details, please contact Dave Dawson.

Save the Date!!!

Saturday, January 11, 2014 is LeaderFest.  It will be at Westminster College from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM.

A Book and a Review

Adam Rodgers (pastor at Stoneboro) has written a review of Living in Limbo: Life in the Midst of Uncertainty co-authored by Nathan Carlin, who was under care of Shenango Presbytery and now serves as Assistant Professor in the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and is a member of New Covenant Presbytery.

 A New Book

Lisa Nichols Hickman (New Wilmington) has written a new book, Writing in the Margins: Connecting to God on the Pages of Your Bible.  It is available now from Grand Book & Bible, Amazon, and through the Heart & Minds bookstore.

News From The Churches

Harvest Festival

North Liberty Presbyterian Church will be holding a Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 16th from 9 AM to 3 PM.  Craft vendors, food, bake sale, hay rides, Amish donuts, and activities for kids…plus live Praise & Worship music from 11 AM to 1 PM.  North Liberty Presbyterian Church is located at 209 North Liberty – Plain Grove Road, Grove City, PA  16127.

Youth Director Wanted

The Moving Forward Theological Task force has been working hard at finalizing a statement of faith for Shenango Presbytery.  It is available here for downloading and reading.  If you are interested in joining us at a luncheon to begin discussing the document, please see the following invitation letter including RSVP instructions for the luncheon.

News from the Presbytery Office

This Week: 

November 7– 11:00 AM FMLA Group, Presbytery Office
1:30 PM Evangelism Committee, Presbytery Office

Mission Yearbooks Are Here!

The 2014 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study has arrived.  If you ordered copies for your church, please pick them up at your earliest convenience.  We have some extras at $16.00 each.  We also have the 2013/2015 Book of Order at $10.00 each.

Calendar Items to Note:

• The November Presbytery meeting is on November 19th…not the 12th as previously published.
• Items for the Presbytery packet will be due by Friday, November 15th.
• The Presbyterian Planning Calendar lists Thanksgiving on the wrong date….it should be listed as November 28th.

Pastors Leading Missional Transformation

Shenango Presbytery has been involved in leadership training for pastors and elders for more than a dozen years.  The next opportunity will come in the form of learning communities of pastor mentoring groups.  This “Missional Experimentation” will include pastors and commissioned ruling elders from across western PA.  If you are interested in more details, please contact Dave Dawson.

Save the Date!!!

Saturday, January 11, 2014 is LeaderFest.  It will be at Westminster College from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM.

A Book and a Review

Adam Rodgers (pastor at Stoneboro) has written a review of Living in Limbo: Life in the Midst of Uncertainty co-authored by Nathan Carlin, who was under care of Shenango Presbytery and now serves as Assistant Professor in the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and is a member of New Covenant Presbytery.

News From The Churches

PW Rummage Sale

First Presbyterian, 603 Ridge Avenue, Sharpsville will hold its annual PW Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 & 2.  Doors open at 9 AM each day and will remain open until 4 PM on Friday and 2 PM on Saturday.  In addition to baked goods, the kitchen will offer soup and sandwiches.  Items for sale are in the categories of household, books, toys, clothing for all ages, electronics, sporting goods, crafting, and decorative or bric-a-brac.  Proceeds fund SPW projects and outreach.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Rummage Sale

Trinity Presbyterian Church will hold a Rummage Sale on Friday, November 1st from 8 AM – 4 PM, and Saturday, November 2nd from 8 AM to 12 PM.

Youth Director Wanted

News from the Presbytery Office

This Week: 

October 21-22- Pastor Retreat, Villa Maria Retreat Center
October 25- 9:30 AM Steering Committee, Presbytery Office
October 29– 9:30 AM Council, Westminster College
2:00 PM Nominating Committee, Presbytery Office

Mission Yearbooks Are Here!

The 2014 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study has arrived.  If you ordered copies for your church, please pick them up at your earliest convenience.  We have some extras at $16.00 each.  We also have the 2013/2015 Book of Order at $10.00 each.

Joys

Jim and Pam Leuenberger (North Liberty) have welcomed a grandson, James Douglas Leuenberger.

Pastor Retreat

Twenty-five pastors participated in the Pastor Retreat this week with George Hunsberger, who has been at the center of the missional church conversation in North America for the past 25 years.

New Address

Teresa Kendall has asked us to pass along her new contact information…address: 802 Mill Street, Deer Lodge, MT  59722…cell: 724-799-9931…email: teresakendall@mac.com.

Pastors Have A Tough Job

The blog http://www.pres-outlook.com/infocus-features/current-features/18917-appreciating-the-pastor-as-juggler.html by my friend Clark Cowden is shared with you here not to get sympathy for your pastor, but to remind us all how challenging the work of ministry is in any congregation.  Best we do it well together (pastors and elders).  – Dave Dawson

Pastors Leading Missional Transformation

Shenango Presbytery has been involved in leadership training for pastors and elders for more than a dozen years.  The next opportunity will come in the form of learning communities of pastor mentoring groups.  This “Missional Experimentation” will include pastors and commissioned ruling elders from across western PA.  If you are interested in more details, please contact Dave Dawson.

Save the Date!!!

Saturday, January 11, 2014 is LeaderFest.  It will be at Westminster College from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM.

News From The Churches

Margaret Trautman Stage

Join New Wilmington Presbyterian Church as they recognize Dr. Margaret Trautman for her 28 years of ministry with their children and youth programs.  They would like to renovate the stage in the Social Hall and name it in her honor.  They are also going to dedicate the JHYG Production of E-16142 to her and others who have contributed to the spiritual life of their children and youth over the years.  In order to complete these tasks, tjhey need to raise $3,000!  You can contribute to this fundraiser through one (or all) of the following donations: $75 donation: 1 foot of Theatrical Curtain (24 needed = $1,800); $50 donation: Full Body Sculpted Puppet (14 needed = $700); $25 donation: Set Design & Promotion (20 needed = $500).  Donations can be sent to the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church, 229 S. Market Street, New Wilmington, PA  16142.

PW Rummage Sale

First Presbyterian, 603 Ridge Avenue, Sharpsville will hold its annual PW Rummage Sale, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 & 2.  Doors open at 9 AM each day and will remain open until 4 PM on Friday and 2 PM on Saturday.  In addition to baked goods, the kitchen will offer soup and sandwiches.  Items for sale are in the categories of household, books, toys, clothing for all ages, electronics, sporting goods, crafting, and decorative or bric-a-brac.  Proceeds fund SPW projects and outreach.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Rummage Sale

Trinity Presbyterian Church will hold a Rummage Sale on Friday, November 1st from 8 AM – 4 PM, and Saturday, November 2nd from 8 AM to 12 PM.

Youth Director Wanted

News from the Presbytery Office

This Week: 

October 15- 7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW
October 17- 1:30 PM Sudan Team, New Wilmington Presbyterian Church
1:30 PM Family Medical Leave Act COM SubTeam, Presbytery Office
October 18- 12:30 PM Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery Office
October 21-22- Pastor Retreat, Villa Maria Retreat Center

Note: The Steering Committee meeting has been rescheduled for October 25th at 9:30 AM at the Presbytery Office.

Web Updates on Hold

During a software transition, and new site creation, there will be no updates or additions made to the Presbytery website.  The new site should be up sometime in mid-to-late October.  All new information, such as the Presbytery Docket, Pastor Retreat registration form, etc. will be made available on eLink until the new site is up and running.

Minimum Salary for 2014

Presbytery has approved a minimum salary of $47,660 (+2%) for pastors in 2014.  For more information and details please contact the Presbytery Office.  Presbytery recommends that pastors above minimum salary also be considered for a 2% increase.

Pastors Have A Tough Job

The blog http://www.pres-outlook.com/infocus-features/current-features/18917-appreciating-the-pastor-as-juggler.html by my friend Clark Cowden is shared with you here not to get sympathy for your pastor, but to remind us all how challenging the work of ministry is in any congregation.  Best we do it well together (pastors and elders).  – Dave Dawson

2014 Terms of Call Worksheets

The Terms of Call mailing went out last week.  If you would like to use the EXCEL spreadsheet, you can find the file here: TOC 2014.  Instructions are included in the mailing, but you can also view them here: Change In Terms of Call instructions 2013.  If you would like to see a sample form with the minimum terms of call, you can view it here: TOC 2014 Minimum.  Terms of Call worksheets are due to the Presbytery Office by January 31, 2014, so that figures can be compiled for the April Presbytery packet.

Commissioned Ruling Elder Training Course Begins in January

The next training program for Commissioned Ruling Elders begins at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in January, 2014.  Call 412-924-1346 for information.  Bob Loch jrloch@ysu.edu or Ralph Hawkins ralph@nwpresby.org can also provide information.

“Discerning Your Call to Mission” Workshop

World Mission Initiative presents the 12th annual “Discerning Your Call to Mission” workshop on Saturday, November 2, from 9 AM – 4 PM at Pittsburgh Seminary (616 N. Highland Ave., East Liberty).  The purpose of this workshop is to help individuals who have a sense that God may be calling them to mission gain a fuller understanding of what that may mean and what next steps they should take.  The workshop (including lunch) is FREE, but WMI warns that it may cost participants their lives in service.  Register by sending an email to dyc@pts.edu.  More information is available at http://worldmissioninitiative.org/index.php/initiatives/discerning-your-call

Pastors Leading Missional Transformation

Shenango Presbytery has been involved in leadership training for pastors and elders for more than a dozen years.  The next opportunity will come in the form of learning communities of pastor mentoring groups.  This “Missional Experimentation” will include pastors and commissioned ruling elders from across western PA.  If you are interested in more details, please contact Dave Dawson.

News From The Churches

Youth Director Wanted

Bud Green in Presbyterian Hospital

Bud Green has an infection that will keep him in Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh for at least a week.

TOC Worksheet Update

The formula for Pension Dues was incorrect in the version of the Terms of Call worksheet that we linked in eLink.  Please use this corrected version instead: Updated TOC 2014.

Last  Opportunity to Register for the Pastors Retreat

We can still accept commuters for the Pastors Retreat (October 21 – 22) until Friday morning at 10:00 am.  Please join us for whatever time your schedule allows.  You will be blessed by your colleagues and time with George Hunsberger.  Contact the Presbytery Office at office@shenango.org or 724-528-1610 to let us know if you will be joining us.

News from the Presbytery Office

This Week: 

October 9- 1:00 PM Christian Education Committee, Presbytery Office
October 15- 9:00 AM Steering Committee, Presbytery Office
7:00 PM Committee on Ministry, Neshannock, NW

Web Updates on Hold

During a software transition, and new site creation, there will be no updates or additions made to the Presbytery website.  The new site should be up sometime in mid-to-late October.  All new information, such as the Presbytery Docket, Pastor Retreat registration form, etc. will be made available on eLink until the new site is up and running.

Minimum Salary for 2014

Presbytery has approved a minimum salary of $47,660 (+2%) for pastors in 2014.  For more information and details please contact the Presbytery Office.

2014 Terms of Call Worksheets

The Terms of Call mailing went out last week.  If you would like to use the EXCEL spreadsheet, you can find the file here: TOC 2014.  Instructions are included in the mailing, but you can also view them here: Change In Terms of Call instructions 2013.  If you would like to see a sample form with the minimum terms of call, you can view it here: TOC 2014 Minimum.  Terms of Call worksheets are due to the Presbytery Office by January 31, 2014, so that figures can be compiled for the April Presbytery packet.

Commissioned Ruling Elder Training Course Begins in January

The next training program for Commissioned Ruling Elders begins at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in January, 2014.  Call 412-924-1346 for information.  Bob Loch jrloch@ysu.edu or Ralph Hawkins ralph@nwpresby.org can also provide information.

“Discerning Your Call to Mission” Workshop

World Mission Initiative presents the 12th annual “Discerning Your Call to Mission” workshop on Saturday, November 2, from 9 AM – 4 PM at Pittsburgh Seminary (616 N. Highland Ave., East Liberty).  The purpose of this workshop is to help individuals who have a sense that God may be calling them to mission gain a fuller understanding of what that may mean and what next steps they should take.  The workshop (including lunch) is FREE, but WMI warns that it may cost participants their lives in service.  Register by sending an email to dyc@pts.edu.  More information is available at http://worldmissioninitiative.org/index.php/initiatives/discerning-your-call

Pastors Leading Missional Transformation

Shenango Presbytery has been involved in leadership training for pastors and elders for more than a dozen years.  The next opportunity will come in the form of learning communities of pastor mentoring groups.  This “Missional Experimentation” will include pastors and commissioned ruling elders from across western PA.  If you are interested in more details, please contact Dave Dawson.

News From The Churches

176th Anniversary

An invitation is extended to anyone from the Shenango Presbytery who is intersted in coming to the 176th anniversary celebration of Scotch Hill Church.  There will be a time for reflection and memories, with refreshments following.  Date: October 13, 2013  Time: 7:00 PM  Place: Scotch Hill Church, 489 Centertown Road, Grove City, PA  16127  (Take 208 east from Grove City, the third crossroads is Centertown Road.  Turn left, the church is on the left…around 1 mi., give or take).

Director of Christian Education Wanted

Trinity Presbyterian Church is seeking a part-time Director of Christian Education. Position will be negotiable in terms of hours and salary and will be under the immediate supervision of the pastor. This position will emphasize, but not be limited to, children’s/youth ministry. Trinity Presbyterian Church is an equal opportunity employer and does require references and background clearances. If interested, please send resume to the church at: 110 East Market Street, Mercer, Pa 16137

Youth Director Wanted