Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Transitional Leader

[email protected]

" A Week in the Life of the Presbytery "  

    This week the presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy is hosting a gathering of over 400 Presbytery Mid Council Leaders. This event, which will be held at the Hyatt by the Arch, will bring all of the executive presbyters, associate presbyters, Stated Clerks, presbytery moderators and vice moderators to St. Louis. As a presbytery, we will be very active in hosting and presenting. Our presbytery moderator, Erin Counihan will preach at worship on Saturday afternoon. She will be joined by the Cote Brillante Community Men’s Choral. Erin will also moderate a panel discussion entitled Faith in Action: Being Church in Times of Social Unrest . Our Designated Associate Leader, Vanessa Hawkins, will present a workshop entitled Building Community within Mid Council . Her workshop is the most attended workshop at the event! I will present a workshop on Models of Ministries for Mid Councils       Read on...

Happy Birthday To You!

Pastor's with October Birthdays

Richard Dalton, James Hartley, Vanessa Hawkins,

W. Clarence Koon, and Murdoch McRae

Sat., Oct. 21 ~ 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

at First United Presbyterian, Collinsville

Sat., Oct. 28 ~ 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

at Steelville Presbyterian

Full details can be found here.

Last Week to Register

College Students to Attend Montreat College Conference

Registration Deadline is October 15

UKirk is off to the Montreat College Conference from January 1-6, 2018. Our trip is open to ALL college students from around the Presbytery. This year's conference theme is "Home" (link: http://www.montreat.org/college/ ) and features many wonderful preachers and speakers.

Your registration covers your transportation, housing, and most meals. Come encounter God in the mountains of Montreat with 1000+ other college students! An informational flyer and registration form is available for download here:  http://www.ukirkstl.org/annual-events.html

Vision Team Invitation

The Vision Team of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, would like to welcome all commissioners, congregation members, and interested parties to attend the next Vision Team meeting set for Thursday, October 19, 2017 beginning at 4 p.m., in which an office relocation plan is finalized.

Registration is required and can be done here.

  Soldier's Heart and

Veterans Return to Vietnam

 In August, you may have received my letter to the Mission Committee of your church, asking them to consider joining us in donating funds to cover his return to Vietnam to heal. I recently sent an email with the same information and request to each Church office, hoping it would be passed on to your mission committee for consideration. As someone who is familiar with the program, I'd be happy to answer any questions about the trip, the two organizations involved ( Soldier's Heart and Veterans Return to Vietnam ), or connect you with the people running the trip. I can be reached at [email protected] or 314-359-2478. Here is my message for your Mission Chair or the Mission Committee

  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 .

UPDATE – COLA-STL 2018

  The Giddings-Lovejoy Committee on Local Arrangements (COLA) is busy working on planning for hosting next year’s General Assembly, to be held June 16-23 at the Convention Center in downtown St. Louis. Commissioners and other registrants will be housed in 7 hotels close by. Read on

TAKING ON RACISM: Foundational Concepts

Workshop hosted by the Anti-Racism Collective 

Tues., Oct. 10 ∙ 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.

White Supremacy has been discussed nationally and locally from the Charlottesville protests to the St Louis Jason Stockley protests. This workshop will provide a "brave space" where white folks can support and challenge each other to better understand white privilege and institutional racism.    Full details can be found here.

Dismantling Racism and Privilege

Waking up White - Regional Discussions

As announced at our August gathering, each congregation in our Presbytery is invited and encouraged to read the book  Waking Up White  together in the coming months. As we prepare ourselves to share God's love beyond the boundaries of race, the DRAP committee would like to convene regional discussion groups in November to reflect on this book together. What are people of faith without hope that the sins of the world can be transformed and that Christ is all in all?

If you are interested in joining this conversation and participating in this hope, please email John Harrison [email protected] , and we will gladly bring the discussion to your neck of the woods!

Clergy Breakfast and Learning Event

What Jewish-Christian Relations In Antiquity Can Teach Us Today with Dr. Schiffman

This is a unique opportunity, will be held on Thursday, October 19 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Ladue Chapel and a kosher breakfast will be provided. Dr. Schiffman, is a specialist in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaism in Late Antiquity, the history of Jewish law, and Talmudic literature.

Learn more about Dr. Schiffman here.

Thursday, October 19 at 7 p.m.

Dr. Schiffman will also speak at Saint Louis University, at Pere Marquette ( Second Floor of the DuBourg Hall ) and is open to all interested in learning about Judaism, Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Learn more here.

Reformation 500 Years Later

Worship, Learn, & Celebrate

  On Sunday, October 29 { Reformation Sunday } at 10 a.m., the First Presbyterian – Alton, welcome you to join them to hear a sermon on Martin Luther's spiritual struggles. Just after worship they will enjoy German appetizers, displays of important people in the early Reformation, and a video presentation from the movie Luther .

  First-Alton will continue their Reformation journey on Sunday, November 5, at 10 a.m. worshipping in Early German-Luther Style, complete with the choir singing German hymns. That evening at 6 p.m. they will begin a three-week series on Luther, including the theology of the cross and the hidden and revealed God.

Quincentennial Reformation Celebration

This celebration will take place on Sunday, October 29, 3:00 pm at Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 South Outer 364, Dardenne Prairie, MO. Please come and join us as we gather to celebrate the goodness of the Lord, proclaim His great deeds, and joyfully sing of His righteousness! 

All are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served after the program.  Complete details for the event can be found here. For more information, please contact Stefanie Liesman at [email protected]

Pre-Holiday Vendor & Craft Sale

This event will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Save the date to shop for those special in your life.

Find complete details here.

Todd Wilson Organ Concert

Sun., Oct. 22 at 4:00 p.m.

One of today’s finest concert organists, Todd Wilson serves as head of the Organ Department at The Cleveland Institute of Music and as Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio. The concert includes Bach, Hancock, Widor, Reubke’s thrilling “Sonata on the 94th Psalm,” and an improvisation on the church’s 60-rank 1965 Schantz Organ.

Second Presbyterian Church is located at 4501 Westminster Place, Saint Louis, 63108 in the Central West End. The concert, part of the Couts Music Series, is free and open to all. For more information call 314-367-0367 or www.secondchurch.net.

Presbytery Wide - Middle School Retreat

Registration Deadline - October 20

   Experience a weekend at Mound Ridge Center, through the eyes of a Super Hero, on October 27-28. You can view the flyer here.

Registration Form Found Here.

Halloween Trick or Trivia

Benefitting AMEN St.Louis

  This fun-tricked out event will take place on Friday, October 27th beginning at 7 p.m. at Oak Hill Presby-terian Church.  To purchase tickets, email Jillian Embrey at [email protected] .

Religions of the World Tour

The History Team of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy is pleased to announce that our fall trip Religions of the World is completely booked, and we are unable to accept any additional reservations. We want to express our appreciation for your support -- the proceeds from this trip fund the efforts of he History Team as we strive to preserve and promote the history of our Presbytery.

History Team Highlight

The stone Rock Hill Presbyterian Church in St. Louis County was founded by James Marshall around 1845. According to long oral tradition, the roof was built by his slaves on a Sunday as a contribution to the church. The slaves hand-carried the stones to the church from a nearby quarry. Blacks and whites worshipped together here, but the slaves were confined to the upstairs gallery. This church was architecturally and historically important as there are very few extant slave galleries in this region. Old Bonhomme Presbyterian Church in St. Louis County still has its original slave gallery. Rock Hill Presbyterian Church had a cemetery at one time. The bodies were removed to Oak Hill Cemetery in 1866 and later on. Unfortunately, Rock Hill Presbyterian Church was demolished in 2012 and the rocks were taken to Warren County, Missouri. The church, as of this date, has not yet been reassembled.

Christian Education Coordinator

The Presbyterian Church of Washington is seeking an energetic, enthusiastic individual to coordinate Christian Education programs and activities. This is a year long, part-time position that involves Sunday mornings and some activities during the week. Resumes should be sent to [email protected] . A full job description is available at www.presbywashmo.org

    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 [email protected] .

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 [email protected] 

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 [email protected].   

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