E-Newsletter
July / 11 / 2017

Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader

choward@glpby.org


"Ministry for Children and Young Adults"

 

   Imagine a church building decorated wall to wall with arts and crafts devoted to super heroes! The walls are plastered with posters, objects are hanging from the ceiling and stacked on the floors. As soon as worship is over, more objects are moved into the sanctuary. It is colorful and obviously created with children in mind. This is what is happening at St. Mark in Ballwin where I preached on Saturday and Sunday. They are preparing for “Super Heroes of the Bible,” their theme for VBS. The church is full of energy and excitement. During worship, the children’s director announced that VBS had 201 children signed up. Two-hundred-and-one! The church is at capacity and have created a wait list! 201 children will be playing, learning, laughing, eating, and getting to know Jesus in creative

Our Presbytery - Our Work
    This week's prayer basket...       
   Our area is under a heat warning, so please pray for those who are without a cool or comfortable place to stay, and for those with health conditions who are affected by the heat and humidity.
   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.
2017/2018
Planning Calendar
NOW AVAILABLE

Call (314) 772-2395
or please mail: lporter@glpby.org to reserve your copy
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.
This issue contains

Opportunities for Growth
 
Presbyterian
Connections
The Parish Paper
 Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings
(Some teams will recess in July please check with your team's moderator)

Thurs., July 20
9:30 a.m. - History Team
10:00 a.m. - Stewardship
4:00 p.m. - Vision Team
6:30 p.m. - Com. Preparation for Ministry
Mon., July 24
2:00 p.m. - Dismantling Racism/Privilege (Ladue Chapel)
PC(USA) Seeks YOUR Help
Scroll Down To Find Out More
Stewardship News 
    Fall is rapidly approaching, the time when most congregations implement their annual stewardship campaign. Are you looking for a new stewardship approach or for new ideas that can be incorporated in the approach you are currently using?
   Your Presbytery’s Stewardship and Missional Develop Team (a part of the Congregational Vibrancy Team) has developed, for your use, a Stewardship Resource Binder containing material you may find helpful in your campaign.  This Binder may be found on the Giddings-Lovejoy website in two different locations; under the Resources tab on the home page, or by visiting the Congregational Vibrancy Ministry Team page onto Stewardship. If you would like immediate access you can view it here. 
   The Binder provides a table of contents followed by a brief description of each document in the Binder.  The full documents follow.  You may print the entire thing or just the documents that seem of interest to you.  The Stewardship and Missional Development Team hopes you will find these documents helpful as you plan for a successful stewardship campaign 
Our Community Connected
Installation Invitation for
Rev. Hannah Dreitcer

   The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, invites you to share in the Worship of God and the Installation by the Presbytery of The Reverend Hannah Dreitcer, as  Associate Pastor of Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at 3 p.m. at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church. The church is located at 45 West Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119. Directions can be found here.

   A Reception for Pastor Hannah will be held at the church immediately following the service.

     A Pastor's Self Care:  Church Work-Life Balance 
by Rev. Dr. Isaac Wanyoike
  A book released last month, by Pastor Isaac Wanoike of the Pendo Fellowship, offers insight into the life of a busy Pastor, Husband, Father, Nurturer and Friend. 
   "To be very honest, the job of a pastor is not for wimps -it's a unique an challenging job that demands the pastor take the words of the Apostle Paul to the young Timothy seriously, as written in 1 Timothy 4:16."
    In next week's newsletter, hear from Pastor Isaac about his journey to self care. This book, now available on Amazon, can be found 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.

  Understanding and Engaging our
Muslim Neighbors 

A continuing education course on

Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations

   The University of Edinburgh’s Global Network for Christian-Muslim Studies in partnership with Union Presbyterian Seminary, will host a three-day continuing education course in Richmond on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations, August 1-3, 2017.  Taught primarily by the Christian theologian Dr. Joshua Ralston (formerly of Union Presbyterian Seminary) and the Muslim intellectual Prof. Mona Siddiqui, the continuing education course aims to offer a basic introduction to key ideas in the Islamic traditions, explore theological and scriptural frameworks for Christian approaches to Islam, and consider models for local, national, and global Christian-Muslim engagement. Click here for more information.

Building Our Base Training
Facilitate by Pastor Norma Patterson and Cheryl Sommer

   The United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM) is a group of pastors and church members from different congregations throughout the metro east area who work together on social justice issues.  On Tuesday, July 18 at 7p.m. they will hold a general membership meeting to take part in this training. It will be held at the St. John United Church of Christ, Granite City, Illinois. Directions 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.  
  Mediation Skills Training Institute
for Church Leaders (MSTI)
   This seminar is for pastors and all persons in positions of leadership that addresses the types of conflict faced by participants.  Active and practical in focus, the sessions include lectures, discussions, and guided practice in role-plays.  This inter-denominational event will be hosted by St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn, IL from August 7-11, 2017 .  The deadline for a $200 early-bird tuition discount is July 14.
    For further information about LMPC, our mission, and all our course offerings (including registration forms and discount coupons), please contact me directly or visit our website at www.LMPeaceCenter.org .  
  Vacation Bible School  Material Available 

   St. Charles Presbyterian just completed a successful week of V.B.S. using the program Maker Fun Factory.  

   If anyone can use the props that are left, please contact the director,  Jolyn Matthews at 1jolynmatthews@gmail.com  she will be happy to let you know what she has.  

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.
Ministry Postings
  Extended Pulpit Supply ”Plus” Needed

    A local Presbyterian Church (just outside St. Louis County) is seeking a pastor who is willing to serve on a part-time basis for a limited period of time.    

   The church has a membership of less than 70, with 25-30 in regular attendance each Sunday.  The amount of time per week is flexible; ideally the candidate would be willing to put in 19 hours.  This would include sermon preparation, coming to the office one day a week, handling any visitations, and Sunday morning preparation.  To apply contact Sharon Cardwell of the PTCC committee at: slcardwell@swbell.net  

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
PC(USA) Needs Your Input
Facing Racism Campaign
    Because the beloved community is what God intends for us, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is engaging in an ongoing campaign to share a wealth of antiracism resources with the greater church. As part of the Facing Racism campaign, books, studies, training sessions and other events are posted here to assist in equipping your congregation in its work against racism.
   This month, we offer resources from the recently concluded Big Tent conference in St. Louis. With the theme “Race, Reconciliation and Reformation,” Big Tent emphasized the hope of the gospel and its power to transform society in our current cultural context marked by anxiety, racial division, political animosity and economic inequality. Continue to read more
Next Week's Church Highlight: Pacific Presbyterian Church