Newsletter
September / 26/ 2017
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard
Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
Transitional Leader

"First Doniphan"  

  In the book, Legacy Churches, Stephan Gray and Franklin Dumond address the question, “How do you know when it may be time to close.” They highlight six characteristics: 
  • Public Worship Attendance has Drastically Declined
  • Staffing of Essential Ministry is no Longer Adequate or Effective
  • Annual Income is No Longer Adequate to do Local Ministry
  • Age or Tenure of Membership is Unusually High
  • The Church Hasn’t Consistently Grown Over the Last Five Years
  • Survival Has Become the Main Mission
 First Presbyterian, Doniphan has signs of all of these. But they also have spunk, resilience, energy, efficiency, hospitality, and love.       Read on...
Our Presbytery - Our Work
    This week's additions to our prayer basket  ....    
   Let us lift these prayers up to the one who hears all and who loves all.

  • Please pray for First Presbyterian, Doniphan, for longevity of mission and ministry.
  • Please pray for those struggling to recover from natural and man made disasters.
    Have a prayer you would like added to our basket ?    
   If so, click here to email us, and then please visit our prayer page often in unity and love of those who are listed there. 
Social Perspectives:
Voice from the Front

The Spiritual Discipline
of Protest

I learned about civil dis-obedience from Shiprah and Puah, the two Hebrew mid-wives who defied Pharoah and refused to kill the Hebrew baby boys, including Moses. I learned about disruptive protest from Jesus, who barged into the temple in a rage, turning over the tables of imperial and economic injustice. So, for me, participating in the protests in St. Louis the past few days has been an act of spiritual discipline. Read on
Parish Paper
Now Available
Don't Forget to Pick up a 2017/18 Calendar!

Images of Protest

Upcoming Team Meetings @ Wednesday to Tuesday
(All Teams meet at the Presbytery Center, unless noted)
This Week....
Wed., Sept. 27
3 p.m. - Com Rep/Nomination
Thurs., Sept. 28
10 a.m. - Stewardship

Next Week....
Fri., Oct. 6
12:30 p.m. - Presbyterian Women
Tues., Oct. 10
10 a.m. - Finance
4 p.m. - Admin/Support
Our Community Connected
Nicaragua Community Partnership
Annual Celebration & Fund Raiser
Join us for the Nicaragua Community Partnership's Annual Celebration & Fund-raising Dinner on Monday, October 23 at 6 p.m. at LoRusso's Cucina. Come here the latest news from Plan Grande #2 including updates on our high school students and the new college scholarships! We've got exciting stories to tell about the ways your support is impacting lives in PG2.
Tickets $60 per person. Cash Bar available. BRING A FRIEND! Reservations Required. Please RSVP here or email: pg2nicaragua@gmail.com . Call 314-963-7112 with questions. See what you have been missing here!
Halloween Trick or Trivia
Benefitting AMEN St.Louis
  This fun-tricked out event will take place on Friday, October 27th at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church.,
  Join us and have a ghoulishly good time! Tickets are $25 individually or $160 for a table of 8. Doors open at 6, trivia begins at 7. To purchase tickets, email Jillian Embrey at amenstlouis@gmail.com .
Presbytery Wide - Middle School Retreat
   Experience a weekend at Mound Ridge Center, through the eyes of a Super Hero, on October 27-28. You can view the flyer here. Email one of the organizers listed below to register.
  Kaitie Kautz at kkautz@firstunitedpres.org
   Mel Smith at msmith@laduechapel.org
                                            Katie Sternhagen at ksternhagen@discoverstmark.org
Religions of the World Tour
The History Team is presenting a tour of Religions of the World on Friday, November 10. The tour will begin at 8:30 a.m. Please see this flyer for more information.
  Presbyterians in Prison Ministry
  Have you ever considered participating in Prison Ministry? Commitment these ministry teams is NOT financial--it is relational, and it can be as simple as treating someone like a person again, claimed and beloved by God. Our Presbytery has currently fielded six teams.
 Start your research here:  Concordance Academy or contact the Rev. John Harrison by email here .

2017 ST. LOUIS CROP WALK AND CONCERT
 
  For people who want to support CROP/Church World Service, but whose congregation may not be participating, a Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy team has been created online. To join the team or to donate, please go to
and click the “Register” link to join the team, or the “Donate” link, which will allow you to search for the Presbytery team and to make a donation via credit card. So far, UCC teams have raised $2,520.00 and Presbyterians have raised $20.00. Let’s go, Presbyterians!
art-event.jpg
Maryland Heights Presbyterian Church
Arts & Crafts Fair
This holiday shopping event will be held on Saturday, October 7, from 9 a.m.- 2p.m., and more information can be found here.
TIPS FOR LIVING GREEN - Car Fasting
See how many days per month you can be on a "car fast ", enjoying your time at and around home or using other means of transportation such as bus, bike, or feet.
("TIPS" are provided by the Earth Care Action Team of presbytery, composed of the 7 certified Earth Care Congregations of the presbytery. For info on how to more intentionally "green" your church, contact carletonstock@aol.com .)
History Team Highlight
     Old Des Peres Presbyterian Church, a small stone structure located in a suburb of the West County area of St. Louis, has a long and varied history. Built c. 1833, it is one of the oldest churches west of the Mississippi River and located in an area that was divided during the years leading up to the Civil War. In this region, large farms using slave labor were situated near the homes of abolitionists from Germany. According to long oral tradition, slaves were sold at a nearby pre-Civil War farmhouse. 
The famous abolitionist martyr and Presbyterian minister, Elijah Lovejoy, preached at Old Des Peres Presbyterian Church in the early 1830s. In the 1970s, when the church was being restored, preservation architects found a small room hidden underneath the floorboards of the church. The building materials (rough stone walls), size (room for a few people pushed together) and historical context indicate this was an Underground Railroad station. The architects also found the entrance to a tunnel under the church, but did not excavate it to find out where it went. 
The church’s cemetery contains a slave burial area. Originally unmarked, a boulder and memorial plaque were placed there in the 1980s.
Educational Opportunities
Prepare the Way
An Advent Preparation Workshop
for Clergy & Musicians
October 2-4 at the Mercy Center
 
E4 Faith Formation Conference
Educate-Empower-Energize-Engage
October 22-24 in Kansas City, Mo. 
Ministry Postings
    Administrative Assistant for Member Care
& Music Ministry
Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church is looking for an Administrative Assistant to support our Member Care and Music Ministries. The ideal candidate will be experienced in using Microsoft Office Suite Skills and be proficient in using database oriented software packages; Successful candidates will be personable with excellent customer service skills; be committed to being a team player; possess highly developed organization skills with a strong attention to detail; and, be able to work independently while achieving desired results.
  The position is full-time. Interested candidates should send their resumes to 9450 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo, 63124, Attn: Administrative Assistant Search, or email their resume to mail@laduechapel.org .
Youth Activity Coordinator
First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville, IL, is seeking an enthusiastic, part-time Youth Activity Coordinator who will provide an engaging youth ministry program for Middle School and High School Youth. 
The main focus of the position would be to initiate, organize, and carry out faith based activities for our Middle School and High School youth. Hours are somewhat flexible, but would total approximately 10 hours per week for 45 weeks at approximately $23/ hour.
The applicant should be a team player with good organizational and interpersonal skills who is also able to work comfortably within the Christian theology and practices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).
Our church will be moving into a new building in January. If you are interested in this launch position, please submit your resume or letter of interest to Kathy@fpcedw.org 
Interested persons, please read the position description found here.
    Small Congregation Seeking Pastor
Small congregation seeking part-time pastor. This community is in the western area of the Presbytery, approximately a one hour drive west of St. Louis.
  Interest parties, please read the position description, found here , and then email the Clerk of Session, Cindy Koppelmann, at ckoppelmann@dutchmen.us.