Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley
"partner with and equip present and emerging
PC(USA) faith communities in central Alabama
to serve Christ and our neighbors"
Exciting News
for
Living River
a retreat on the cahaba
Thursday, July 19, 2018

The Board of Directors of Living River: A Retreat on the Cahaba, Inc., a non-profit camp and conference center located in Bibb and Shelby counties, announced today that Jenny Thagard would become its new Executive Director effective September 1, 2018.

Jenny currently serves as Director of Christian Education for First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa PC (USA), where she has served since 2005. Prior to that service, Jenny served for 26 years as principal, assistant principal and teacher in the Tuscaloosa City, Tuscaloosa County and Shelby County School Systems and as an administrator and an instructor in the College of Education of the University of Alabama.

In addition, Jenny has served as volunteer staff each of the 4 years Living River has had residential summer camp.

Living River is located on 440 acres approximately one hour south of Birmingham and is surrounded on three sides by 4-1/2 miles of the Cahaba River and is in a covenant relationship with the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. Living River provides Christian summer camp; environmental education for elementary, secondary and higher education students through its Cahaba Environmental Center; hosting of groups and retreats; and environmental stewardship.
 
Lee Walthall, Board Chair of Living River, said that “Jenny’s background, which combines Christian education; education in elementary, secondary and higher education and hands on camp experience uniquely qualifies her for the multifaceted services of Living River. We are thrilled that she will be joining us.”


PW Fall Gathering

Saturday, August 25, 2018
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Southminster Presbyterian Church
All Presbyterian women are invited to Southminster Presbyterian Church for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley’s Birmingham Fall Gathering. Registration and brunch begins in Grace Hall at 9 am. The meeting is at 10 am in the Sanctuary. A lesson overview will be given by IPC's own Rev. Debbie Feagin. Make plans to join other Presbyterian women!

Southminster Presbyterian Church
1122 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills

Contact Info:
 Belinda Dickinson
ANTIRACISM TRAINING

Looking for an opportunity to counter institutional racism in your church, community, or organization? Check out Crossroads Antiracism Training in Montreat. With workshops on preaching, church leadership, engaging youth and young adults, and more there's something for every church member and leader to learn at this weekend training.

August 17-19, 2018
$77 Program Fee
CHIMES MINISTRY

Green Pond Presbyterian Church would like to start a Chimes Ministry and is interested in purchasing a two-octave set of Chimes. If your church has chimes you are no longer using and would like to sell, please contact Bev Dodson at  BevDod@gmail.com  or call 205-746-1924.

SOUTHMINSTER FOUNDATION FOR MINISTRY

The Southminster Presbyterian Church Foundation for Ministry seeks to bring Christ and His love to our local and global communities by supporting selected charitable ministries consistent with the principles of Christian stewardship. Applications for grants to be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2018 should be submitted not later than September 1, 2018. For details, see http://www.southminsterfoundation.com/ .
CHAPEL IN THE PINES MEXICO MISSION TRIP

Recently a group from Chapel in the Pines went to Mexico to build a house with Faith Ministry in memory of Hester Wills.  Pictured below are: John & Pat Carr, Pearce Dunham, Judy Lester, Layne Perkins, and Katrina York. 
A SPECIAL OFFERING was taken at Chapel in the Pines on Sunday, June 3 to be given to the Faith Ministry Clinic in Reynosa, Mexico. The generous and caring congregation of the The Chapel contributed $584.00 to be used to purchase baby formula and vitamins which are given to the babies and children enrolled in the feeding and nutrition program at the clinic. When the Chapel Mission Team arrived in Reynosa (week of June 15-22), the clinic was completely out of formula and the money donated was immediately put to good use...Thanks be to God!
ATTENTION!
Prospective CRE Candidates

Registration is now open for Fall classes for those interested in our CRE program. Call Bev Dodson, 205-746-1924 or BevDod@gmail.com for more information.

Core Courses:
  • Foundation of Christian Education
  • Introduction to New Testament
  • Introduction to Old Testament
  • Pastoral Care
  • Preaching
  • Presbyterian Polity
  • Reformed Theology
  • Reformed Worship & Sacraments

The Cahaba Environmental Center at Living River is an outdoor education residential camp that offers 1-3 day programs. You can explore our rich history of land use from Native Americans to Coal Mining, or discover how the Cahaba River is one of the most biodiverse rivers globally. Join us for hiking days, primitive camping, or canoeing through our beautiful 440 acres along 4 miles of the Cahaba River. If you know a teacher that might be interested in our social studies or science curriculum send them to our  website   for more information, and sign up for our online newsletter to keep in touch by clicking  here
Meet us in St. Louis
at Stewardship Kaleidoscope
September 24-26, 2018


Coffee, Bagels, and Discussion @ PSL
Jonathan Seitz, PCUSA Mission Worker
and Professor at Taiwan Seminary
August 23, 2018 9:30-11:00am
@the PSL Presbytery Office
(3603 Lorna Ridge Drive)
“World Christianity and the Church’s Mission”

Today more Christians live outside the west than in it, and places like Congo and
China are centers of Christian life. It has been said that “there are more
Presbyterians in Korea than Scots in Scotland.”

Jonathan and Emily Seitz are PCUSA mission coworkers in Taiwan and will be
visiting scholars at Princeton Theological Seminary during the coming year.
Jonathan has family in Birmingham and often visits. He will share for about a half
hour on world Christianity today and PCUSA World Mission and then there will be about an hour for discussion.

questions contact Jonathan directly: jonathan.seitz@pcusa.org .

SOUL SHOP
FOR YOUTH WORKERS

Attention pastors, youth workers, parents, friends: Please join us from 9am-4pm on Saturday, August 11! Soul Shop™ for Youth Workers is a one-day, faith-based training designed specifically to equip persons to minister to youth who are impacted by suicidal desperation. More information and registration forms available at:

PLANNING CALENDARS

We still have PLENTY of calendars left. If there is anyone who would like to reserve copies please email Tammy at the Presbytery office.
MISSION NOTES

Please be in prayer for the mission of our congregations, our presbytery and our mission partners overseas.

Pray for peace in Congo and the safety of our mission co-workers: Jeff and Christi Boyd-Congo; Gwenda and Dr. John Fletcher-Congo.

 If you would like to support our mission co-workers, click the link below and type in their name. You will be led to their personal page with more information on their mission story and how to give.


PERRY DALLAS COUNTY FUND
The Executive Council of the Presbytery has approved the creation of the Perry and Dallas County Fund . This Fund is set up to provide aid to mission work in Perry and Dallas Counties. In particular, funds will be provided to a local agency, C.E.T. Ministries.
We hope you will continue to visit our website for Mission projects. We are sharing ideas, publicizing and celebrating all the mission projects that the churches in the Presbytery perform. 
SELF DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE
The Presbytery's SDOP Committee awarded $3500 to Small Steps Leads to Big Rewards at Lily Baptist Church in Wilcox County. The program provides after school tutorial programs and summer enrichment programs for the youth. Lily Baptist Church is pictured. Also, some of the 30 kids are shown in the church's sanctuary, singing. A tutor also instructs the kids in drama, doing skits, a step team and dance. This is some of what Small Steps is doing.

PHFC THRIFT STORE MONTHLY DONATION DAY AT SVPC

The next collection date is Saturday,
August 4. Bring your usable discards, gently used clothing, etc., to the Presbyterian Home for Children's reception center in the rear parking lot, below the playground of Shades Valley Presbyterian Church. Terry Tingle will be serving as host. Volunteers will be on hand to unload your vehicle and to give you a receipt for your tax-deductible donation. The center will be open from 8 AM - 12 noon. To volunteer or for more information, email Terry Tingle.
SUMMER SLC

For those of you who will be around this summer, we’ll be hosting a UKirk Summer SLC (Small Learning Community) titled,  Our Origin Story: traveling through the questions of Genesis . We’ll meet on Tuesday nights at 7pm at The Loft at Highland Hall (3116 Highland Ave S) beginning on June 5 and wrapping up on July 24.
Our Presbytery sponsors 
an excellent ESL program:

Monday evenings at

2018 PRESBYTERY FINANCES / MAY YTD
ACTUAL     BUDGET
REVENUES   $232,121        $244,548
EXPENSES    $200,062        $195,029
NET               $ 32,059         $ 49,519
Jay Wilkins
General Presbyter

Ralls Coston
Volunteer Mission Coordinator

Patrick Harley
Birmingham UKirk Minister

Tammy Strickland
Presbytery Administrator
Assistant to the Stated Clerk

Tom Winter
Stated Clerk

Linda Burrowes
Recording Clerk

Jean Russell
Treasurer

Bookkeeping
You are encouraged to visit, read and converse with our General Presbyter, Jay Wilkins. We are sure you will find interesting conversation on the blog which is located at the bottom of our home page in the blue area on the left hand side.
Interim Associate Pastor position at South Highland Presbyterian Church

This ministry position is primarily focused on discipleship formation with an emphasis upon young adults and families under the age of 50.  Read more about the position here.

_________________

Independent Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 
Birmingham, AL

Position Title: Assistant Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Position Title: Director of Youth Ministries
Click here  for more information on this position.
 _________________

First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham , AL is seeking a part-time Director of Youth Ministry (10-12 hours/week).  We are looking for a dynamic individual able to relate to youth of all ages and walks of life, run a creative youth program, and has a mature faith with the ability to communicate that faith to all ages.  Experience with youth ministry and background in Presbyterian Church (USA) is preferred.  Strong organizational, communication and computer skills are a plus.  Must be available on Sundays for youth meetings.  To apply, please send resume to  church@fpcbham.org .

3603 Lorna Ridge Drive ~ Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 205-978-0320 ~ Fax: 205-978-0330
FOLLOW US ON: