Membership

Blog post by the Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Transitional Leader

[email protected]

I often say that Jesus is the worst evangelist in the Bible! When people come up to Jesus to be one of his disciples, instead of telling them to just say a few words and declare, “Now you’re a Christian,” Jesus puts heavy requirements on people. To one he said to sell all you have and give it to the poor, then come and follow me. To others he said they would have to lose everything in this world. My point is that Jesus didn’t make membership easy.

Please continue here. 

What's Happening? ..... Do you know?

If you would like to have any of these items, please contact Leigh Porter, [email protected] or call (314) 772-2395 and arrange to pick the items up.

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The Presbytery Office Will Be Moving the

Week of March 26th

In transition, we ask that you call or email requests/information during that week, until we are established at our new home at 1001 Craig Rd., in Creve Coeur, Missouri, on Monday, April 2. Thank you for your patience during this time.Not sure who to email? Simply use: [email protected]

Program Grants for Summer 2018

  There are Presbytery funds to conduct summer programs available to member churches and social agencies in relationship with the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy. The funds will be awarded through an application process directed by the Mission and Outreach Ministry Team. 

The purpose of the grants is to provide opportunities for summer Christian education and witness, personal growth, and recreation to children and adults in communities of need. The deadline for applying is April 6. Full details, along with application, can be found here.

Nicaragua Mission Trip 2018

There will be an informational meeting on Saturday, March 31 at 10 a.m. hosted by Webster Groves Presbyterian Church for the planned Nicaragua Mission Trip, scheduled for July 21-29 of this year.

Full details can be found here.

Tips for Loving God's Creation

Program your thermostat to save energy and pour less carbon into the atmosphere contributing to global warming: 68 degrees during the day. 60 during sleep. 60 when away. (suggested by Ameren MO)

"TIP'S" are sponsored by the presbytery's Earth Care Action Team consisting of representatives from the 9 certified Earth Care Congregations of the presbytery. To learn how your congregation can become an ECC, contact [email protected] or 314-941-9378.

Singers needed for massed choir at

General Assembly

Opening Worship Service

We are forming a choir from churches within the presbytery to sing at the opening worship service of GA223 on Saturday, June 16 at America’s Center (the convention center) in downtown St. Louis. This choir will be conducted by Bill Stein (First, Kirkwood) and the organists will be Andy Peters (Second PC) and Shawn Portell (Webster Groves PC). The choir will also be accompanied by musicians from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The sheet music for the singers will be provided (at no cost to the individual churches) by the COLA. The expectation is that choirs will prepare the music on their own and that singers will attend 1 regional rehearsal (dates and locations TBA) and a dress rehearsal on Friday, June 15 (Time and location TBA). At this time we would like to get a sense of how many singers to expect so that we can order the music and get it distributed to churches.

Please email David Erwin (Ladue Chapel) at [email protected] to let him know how many singers to expect, and for any questions you may have. This is going to be a wonderful experience, and we’re hoping for a choir of at least 200 singers!

Calling Crafters for General Assembly

 The primary visual artistic element for General Assembly will be a paper lace banner designed by liturgical artist Ellen Phillips. Ellen will design the banner, but it will be cut out by members from around the Presbytery. Ellen will lead cutting workshops at Ladue Chapel, and we invite you to come, cut and commune together. Supplies will be provided, so just sign up and come! Dates and times of the workshops are:

There is a limit of 10 participants in each session, but you may sign up for multiple sessions. To sign up, please visit stlouisga.com and click on the volunteer tab. This will take you Sign-up Genius and the Artist Workshops are listed there.

Any questions, please contact David Erwin at [email protected] .

Seeking Temporary Seminary Student Housing for GA#223

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Office of the General Assembly are co-sponsoring a for-credit class for Presbyterian seminary students on Presbyterianism focused on the 223 ^rd General Assembly. The students will spend the entire run of the Assembly attending classes at the convention center and Assembly-related events. They will come in on Thursday, June 14, to begin their classwork.

Continue to read on for more details

You are invited!

Sunday, March 18, the First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville, Illinois and the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy welcome all to the dedication of the new home of First Presbyterian-Edwardsville.

See this flyer for details of the day.

Enjoy this video from FPC-Edwardsville of their building journey.

Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering

All Presbyterian Women in our Presbytery are welcome to attend our Spring Gathering to be held on Saturday, April 21, at the First Presbyterian Church of Union, Missouri. The event will begin with registration/fellowship time at 9 a.m.

Directions can be found here. - Full details can be found here. 

Mound Ridge Annual Benefit

Dinner Auction

This annual event will be held at Andre’s South Banquets and Catering, located at 4238 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday, April 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Come join us and help support “The Magic of Mound Ridge” Tickets: $65 per person or $500 for a table of 8, and can be purchased by c onnecting here .

Second Annual Night at the Improv

Uni-Pres Kindercottage Fundraiser, invites you to a night of laughter, fine dining & frivolity on Saturday, April 14 at 5 p.m at the Second Annual, Night at the Improv, featuring Ed Reggi, and The Paper Slips Troupe “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

This fun event will be held at St. Paul UCC, 115 West “B” Street, in Belleville, Illinois.

Tickets include dinner and show at $40/each. There are personal and corporate sponsorships available. Call 618-874-6505 or visit their website here , for tickets or information.

Seeking Mission Minded Musicians

I need some musicians, piano player, or guitar player or anyone who can assist with music for nursing home worship services. Days Include:

 

These are informal worship services, sometimes there are as many as 20 people, and sometimes there are as few as 3 or four. Sometimes they sleep through the service, sometimes they are animated and awake and enthusiastic to worship. The residents of nursing homes, assisted living homes and retirement homes should be given the opportunity to worship, and music makes the worship. 

If interested in supporting this ministry, please contact Jeanne Zimmermann at (314) 707-4003 or by email [email protected]

Rev. Karl Hauser

Sun., Mar. 25 at 3 p.m.

Southminster

Crestwood, Missouri



Directions can be found here.

Confession Conversations on Eden Campus

Simultaneously with the writing of the Westminster Confession, two catechisms were developed to teach the faith encapsulated in the confession. Turns out, the Shorter Catechism is not simply a briefer form of the Larger Catechism. The two were written for very different audiences ~ families [the Shorter] and leaders in the church [the Larger]. On Tuesday, March 27, we look at their differences and similarities as well as the other catechism in The Book of Confessions . Want to join us? Contact me, Barbara Willock, [ [email protected] ] or simply join us at 9:30 a.m. at Eden University.

Annual Meeting for Members and Friends Courageous Conversations

On Thursday, March 15th, at 7:30 pm, after a short business meeting that begins at 7 p.m., we will host a 90-minute opportunity called "Courageous Conversations," an opportunity to prepare you for the next level of interfaith (and other!) dialogue. Whether you're just beginning, or you've been engaged in interfaith dialogue for years, this program will help you identify how you can deepen the authenticity of how you speak and the compassion with which you listen.

Program will be led by Rev. Robert Chase, Founding Director of  Intersections International. Directions can be found here.

  Triennial 2018: “Dragons, Frogs, & Other Fairy Tales of Women in Ministry”

The National Association of Presbyterian , Clergywomen, invites all Clergywomen to the Triennial 2018 “Dragons, Frogs, & Other Fairy Tales of Women in Ministry” the week of April 23-26, 2018 at the Montreat Conference Center. The keynote preacher is the Rev. Floretta Barbee-Watkins, with worship leader, Rev. Dr. Tracy Keenan. There will be exciting workshops led bydynamic Clergy. There are scholarships and childcare available. The invitation is also extended to Clergymen, CREs, . Seminarians & Laity. More details can be found here.  

Part-Time Secretary Position Available

The Woodlawn Presbyterian Church is currently seeking a Part-Time Secretary, at 20 hours per week.

If you are interested, please contact Rev. Chris Keating at [email protected]

Children’s Music Director

 

If you have a music appreciation background, love to teach, and enjoy working with children of all ages, then we have the perfect position for you. The Music Ministry of St Mark Presbyterian Church, Ballwin, MO is looking for a Children’s Music Director to work part-time providing musical selection and instruction to support the worship services and special church events. 

Days/Hours are somewhat flexible, but could total two days per week meeting two hours each time for approximately 39 weeks (Sept – May). If you are interested, please submit your resume or letter of interest to St Mark Presbyterian Church, 601 Claymont Drive, Ballwin, MO 63011, Attn: Personnel Committee, or email your resume to [email protected]