E-Newsletter
August / 8 / 2017

Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader

choward@glpby.org


"From the Middle East to Missouri"  


   Next week I will be traveling to Israel. I have the opportunity to lead a group of 15 African American clergy as part of Interfaith Partners For Peace. This 10 day trip will allow me to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, business people, politicians, and educators who are building bridges for peace in this difficult part of the world. I went on a similar trip last year as part of a group of clergy and rabbis. My purpose and rationale is to learn how people with deep disagreements, histories, and narratives, find ways to live together.  Read on...

Our Presbytery - Our Work
    This week's prayer basket...       
   Please pray for Rev. Ed Wicklein following a car accident.
   Click here to add a prayer slip to our basket, and please visit our prayer page often in unity and love of those who are listed there. You can find the page here.
Seeking Meals of Love 
  They will be starving students in August - but you can help! Click here, and then visit UKirk to see how you can connect with these students.
 Caritas Presbyterian Fellowship
Sat., Sept. 16 - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  

   Learn in person, or by viewing a live stream, about the genetics and environmental factors that increase a person's risk for mental health issues. Hear from a panel of people about their experience of severe and persistent mental health diagnoses like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Receive training in how to have supportive conversations with people who may be struggling to accept mental health diagnoses or to pursue treatment for mental health issues. Follow here for more information and to register.

Team Events & Updates
 Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings
(All Teams meet at the Presbytery Center, unless noted)

Wed., Aug. 9
2:00 p.m. - Pastoral Transitions/Care
Wed., Aug. 10
5:00 p.m. - Congregational Vibrancy Team
Wed., Aug. 16
4:00 p.m. - Com on Representation/Nomination
Thurs., Aug. 17
10:00 a.m. - Stewardship
1:00 p.m. - Mission/Outreach
1:00 p.m. -Social Witness/Action
4:00 p.m. - Vision Team
6:30 p.m. - Com on Preparation for Ministry (Ladue Chapel)
    Call for the Stated Meeting Has Been Sent  
  O n Thursday, August 31, 2017 Congregational Commissioners and Teaching Elders of the Presbytery  of Giddings-Lovejoy are encouraged to attend the Stated Meeting held at Washington Presbyterian Church.  The church is located at 4834 S. Point Rd., Washington, Missouri.
   The Call for the Stated Meeting can be found here. If you have an y questions, please let us know by emailing  Office Manager, Leigh Porter at lporter@glpby.org 
               We look forward to seeing you there!

Earth Care Congregations Gather to Share 

   About 20 people representing six of the eight Earth Care Congregations in the presbytery gathered July 31 at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church to share what is happening in their congregations regarding their care for God's creation.   The group meets as the Earth Care Action Team twice a year to check notes. 
   A long list was made of things that each church has been doing to care for Mother Earth like showing eco films, recycling centers, special worship services, and installing lo-flo toilettes and LED lights.  Challenges were listed as well as ways we can help each other and the presbytery better care for the Earth especially in these critical times of increasingly visible effects of human-caused global warming across our world. 
   Congregations currently certified by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the presbytery are:  First, Edwardsville, Florissant PC, John Knox PC, Mound Ridge Conference Center, Second PC, Webster Groves PC, and Woodlawn Chapel PC.  For information on how to be certified contact carletonstock@aol.com or go to www.pcusa.org/earth-care-congregations.  
Our Community Connected
     15th Annual Life and Hope Golf Tournament

    Please join St. Luke’s Hospital for the 15th Annual Life and Hope Golf Tournament, set for Monday, August 28, 2017, at the Missouri Bluffs Golf Club, located at 18 Research Park Circle, St. Charles, Missouri, 63304. Directions can be found here.

   Registration, buffet lunch, putting contest will begin at 11 a.m. The driving range and practice green will also open at that time. Shotgun start, shamble format begins at 12:30 p.m. and there will be a post-tournament appetizer buffet, silent auction, and awards.

    For information or to register, please call St. Luke’s Office of Development at (314) 205-6231, or see more information here. 

Curby - Praise in the Park

  All are invited to attend Curby Memorial Presbyterian Church's Praise in the Park celebration of the spirit. This year's event will be held on Sunday, August 13, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. in beautiful Benton Park, located at 2200 Arsenal.  Directions can be found here. 
    Music - Praise and be a part of this event. More details available here.
 Blessing Belleville Banquet
   All profits from this banquet will go to support Beacon Ministries, Caritas Family Solutions, and Project Compassion.  All three local charities do a great deal in Belleville to help families and children in crisis. 

   This years event will take place on August 12 at 6 p.m.  Please click here for more information.

  VBS Curriculum Available

   St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin has Hero Central Vacation Bible School supplies with a full kit of leader’s guides and DVDs to share with another congregation. 

   Please contact ehynes@discoverstmark.org, and we will send it your way.

Seeking Craft Vendors 
    The Maryland Heights Presbyterian Church, located at 200 Harding Ave. will be hosting a craft fair/bake sale on Saturday, October 7th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  We are looking for vendors. 
   If you are interested in participating and would like an application, please email Pat Libhart at MHPChurch200@yahoo.com or call (314) 739-4721.  We will begin accepting applications on July 11th through September 8, 2017.
Educational Opportunities
  E4 Faith Formation Conference
Educate-Empower-Energize-Engage

    The 2017 E4 Faith Formation Conference will be held October 22-24, 2017 at the Embassy Suites (Kansas City Airport) in Kansas City, Mo. 

   This year our theme is “Christian Education Renovation”,  and we have built the schedule and planned our workshops with that in mind. Jason Brian Santos is the Mission Coordinator for Christian Formation (Christian education, children, youth, college, young adult, camps and conference ministries) at the Presbyterian Mission Agency. He also serves as the National Director of UKirk Collegiate Ministries. More information can be found here.

 
  Blessing the Waters of Life:

Justice and Healing for Our Watersheds


  The national biennial conference, held September 26-29, 2017, of Presbyterians for Earth Care will focus on water issues at the nexus of faith, climate change and indigenous people. Caring for and celebrating the “waters of life” has always been central to Indigenous people of the world much as water rituals and images in scripture are central in the Christian tradition.

    Our keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing, an ordained Lutheran minister, and seminary professor, who is active in public theology in both the scholarly academy and the church, working on climate justice and the Bible. The worship leader is the Rev. Dr. Paul Galbreath, a professor of theology at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte.   Please continue hear to read more.  
Ministry Postings
    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   
  Seeking: An Excellent Tenor for a

FUN Church Choir!

    Trinity Presbyterian church in University City seeks a qualified and versatile singer to serve as Tenor Section Leader for our chancel choir. Must have excellent sight-reading skills and sing comfortably in a wide variety of musical styles. Competitive compensation. For full details, please contact Vicki Carmichael, Minister of Music, at 314-725-3840 or email to: vicki.carmichael@trinityucity.org.


Children’s Ministry Assistant
    First Presbyterian, Kirkwood is seeking a Children’s Ministry Assistant will work closely with the Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries, the Director of Music Ministries, the Children and Family Committee of Session, volunteers, and staff to facilitate the faith formation of the children of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, MO. The Children’s Ministry Assistant will be supervised by the Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries. The position description can be found here. If interested please email, rmonroe@kirkwoodpres.org