Lifeline of Hope

Blog post by the Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Transitional Leader

[email protected]

A couple of weeks ago I received a daily devotional from one of our pastors (a huge thank-you for ideas, notes, and articles you all send me!). The devotional is called The Cottage, and is written by Diana Butler Bass. This particular article was writing in the wake of the stock market drop, and Diana compared it to the decline in the mainline church. I know you’ve heard the numbers and seen the statistics for our denomination, and our presbytery. Diana’s point though, is that she is tired of the charts and trend lines. She writes, “People are sick of trends. We are searching for lifelines, not looking for trend lines.” Please continue here. 

Please take the time to register before 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 22.

We look forward to seeing all of you there!

 Congratulations

Rev. Clyde Crumton

on your Installation

Cote Brilliante Presbyterian

St. Louis, Missouri

Seeking Temporary Seminary Student Housing for GA#223

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Office of the General Assembly are co-sponsoring a for-credit class for Presbyterian seminary students on Presbyterianism focused on the 223 ^rd General Assembly. The students will spend the entire run of the Assembly attending classes at the convention center and Assembly-related events. They will come in on Thursday, June 14, to begin their classwork.

Continue to read on for more details

Presbyterian Women of Giddings-Lovejoy

PWGL Midwest/South Metro Winter Gathering to be held on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the Egg and I Restaurant in Des Peres, MO. Please include the information in the flyer in the weekly newsletter. Reservations are due by March 9th. More information can be found here.

 Contact me with any questions: Ann Schmid, 636-699-2142 or email her at: [email protected] .

W. Mark Akin, Guitar Concert          

    W. Mark Akin is a winner of last year’s prominent Artist Presentation Award given by the Artist Presentation Society of St. Louis.

   This engaging program takes place at Second Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 4, 4:00 p.m. and highlights works by Sergio Assad, Agustin Barrios, Edvard Grieg, William Walton, and much more. 

     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.

Godspell

The Presbyterian Church of Washington proudly presents an amateur production of “GODSPELL!” This show is composed of various musical parables from the Gospel According to Matthew. Jesus Christ recruits a group of followers and teaches them various lessons through song and dance. This production is directed by John Edison Anglin.

Showtimes will be February 22, 23 and 24, 2018, with all performances beginning at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $10, and can be reserved by calling 636-239-3178.

Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak / Music and New Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz / Originally produced on the NY Stage by Edgar Lansbury, Stuart Duncan, Joseph Beruh

Second Annual Night at the Improv

Uni-Pres Kindercottage Fundraiser, invites you to a night of laughter, fine dining & frivolity on Saturday, April 14 at 5 p.m at the Second Annual, Night at the Improv, featuring Ed Reggi, and The Paper Slips Troupe “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

This fun event will be held at St. Paul UCC, 115 West “B” Street, in Belleville, Illinois.

Tickets include dinner and show at $40/each. There are personal and corporate sponsorships available. Call 618-874-6505 or visit their website here , for tickets or information.

Mound Ridge Annual Benefit

Dinner Auction

This annual event will be held at Andre’s South Banquets and Catering, located at 4238 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday, April 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Come join us and help support “The Magic of Mound Ridge” Tickets: $65 per person or $500 for a table of 8, and can be purchased by c onnecting here .

Walking the Talk of Caring for

God's Good Earth

Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Cedar Grove, NC, opened the Anathoth Community Garden on its grounds in 2005 as a way to help bring people together across boundaries of race, socio-economic class, age, and gardening experience. The cooperative effort required all participants to work in the garden and then for all to share in the organic produce, which created a sense of community and reconciliation.

("Walking the Talk" is provided by the Earth Care Action Team of the presbytery, consisting of representatives of the 8 certified Earth Care Congregations in the presbytery. For more info on how your congregation can become an Earth Care Congregation, contact [email protected] or 314-941-9378.)    

Stewardship Conference

The Spirit of Stewardship Conference 2018 is right around the corner. On March 2-3, 2018, the keynote speaker, Rev. Karl Travis, will immerse you in studying, praying, and preaching about Christian generosity.

To support your attendance at this conference, the Presbytery’s Stewardship Team is offering $100 scholarships for at least five persons to attend. Due to time constraints, scholarships will be offered in the form of reimbursements. If you are attending this conference and would like to receive a scholarship, please register and contact Vanessa Hawkins in writing at  @Vanessa Hawkins for reimbursement details. Scholarships are provided on a first-come first-serve basis. 

A Matter of Faith: Diversity Awareness Partnership's Annual Interfaith Even

Diversity Awareness Partnership ' s 2018 Interfaith Event: A Matter of Faith, held on Thursday, February 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m., explores the ways culture and religion are similar, but not the same. Often, assumptions are made about others' beliefs and practices without understanding how culture and religion (or non-religion) influence each other. Our panel will discuss these issues, and more. Guests will receive complimentary copies of Diversity Awareness Partnership's new  2018-19/18-Month Interfaith Calendar .

More information and to register to attend this free event, can be found here.

Annual Meeting for Members and Friends Courageous Conversations

On Thursday, March 15th, at 7:30 pm, after a short business meeting that begins at 7 p.m., we will host a 90-minute opportunity called "Courageous Conversations," an opportunity to prepare you for the next level of interfaith (and other!) dialogue. Whether you're just beginning, or you've been engaged in interfaith dialogue for years, this program will help you identify how you can deepen the authenticity of how you speak and the compassion with which you listen.

Program will be led by Rev. Robert Chase, Founding Director of  Intersections International. Directions can be found here.

  Triennial 2018: “Dragons, Frogs, & Other Fairy Tales of Women in Ministry”

The National Association of Presbyterian , Clergywomen, invites all Clergywomen to the Triennial 2018 “Dragons, Frogs, & Other Fairy Tales of Women in Ministry” the week of April 23-26, 2018 at the Montreat Conference Center. The keynote preacher is the Rev. Floretta Barbee-Watkins, with worship leader, Rev. Dr. Tracy Keenan. There will be exciting workshops led bydynamic Clergy. There are scholarships and childcare available. The invitation is also extended to Clergymen, CREs, . Seminarians & Laity. More details can be found here.  

Opportunity to talk about the confessions

An Eden student is reading The Book of Confessions as part of her preparation for ministry in the PCUSA. You are invited to join her as we read and ponder the confessions that are a crucial part of our constitution. The conversations will be held every Tuesday [except for one Monday] on the Eden campus. All you have to do to join us is come at 9:30 on Tuesday mornings having read the confession we will be talking about. There is no cost to you nor do you have to be part of every discussion. Come for the ones that fit your schedule. I would like to hear from you that you are interested in joining us or if you have any questions. Contact me at [email protected]. More information is available here.

Part-Time Secretary Position Available

The Woodlawn Presbyterian Church is currently seeking a Part-Time Secretary, at 20 hours per week.

If you are interested, please contact Rev. Chris Keating at [email protected]

Seeking New Executive Director

Partners for Just Trade (PJT) is seeking a new Executive Director. PJT is a non-profit, faith-based organization that builds partnerships between producers living in extreme poverty and consumers in North America. We address root causes of poverty through Fair Trade sales, education, solidarity, and a commitment to trade justice. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2018.

Please continue here to see full details on the position.

Permanent Nursery Attendant Needed

Saint Charles Presbyterian Church, St. Charles, MO, 131 Gamble Street, is seeking a permanent Sunday morning Nursery attendant. Times will be from 9:15 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. each Sunday. Inquires may be directed to Mary Kay Lyon or Margaret Osborn at [email protected].

Children’s Music Director

 

If you have a music appreciation background, love to teach, and enjoy working with children of all ages, then we have the perfect position for you. The Music Ministry of St Mark Presbyterian Church, Ballwin, MO is looking for a Children’s Music Director to work part-time providing musical selection and instruction to support the worship services and special church events. 

Days/Hours are somewhat flexible, but could total two days per week meeting two hours each time for approximately 39 weeks (Sept – May). If you are interested, please submit your resume or letter of interest to St Mark Presbyterian Church, 601 Claymont Drive, Ballwin, MO 63011, Attn: Personnel Committee, or email your resume to [email protected]