Newsletter
September / 18 / 2018
God is our refuge and strength
Therefore, we will not fear … though the waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble. —Psalm 46

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) urges your support for those affected by Hurricane Florence. PDA is delivering immediate aid to those impacted by the storm on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Initial assessment suggests catastrophic destruction, but the full scope of the damage will not be known for many months.
You can help! - Click here to finish reading on how you can support this important mission.
Last week, we published the Call to Prayer in the Wake of a Hurricane. In knowing that the rain continues and flood waters are still rising, we ask that you continue to pray. The prayer can be found here.
Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket Update
  • Please pray....for those who have been in the path of Hurricane Florence, those who lost homes, and the families of those who lost their lives.
  • Please pray...for all expectant mothers and fathers, and especially for those parents who hear their child will be born with a handicap.
  • Please pray....Cheri Towner and family on the recent death of her brother, Jack Lovett.
What's Happening? Did you know?

  • Regarding Ruling Elders…“When We Get to ‘Not Enough” The story of the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6 starts with the disciples coming to Jesus and asking him to send the people away to buy food for themselves. Jesus responds to this well-meaning advice by saying, “You give them something to eat” (Mk. 6:37). The disciples look at the crowd and then look at what they have to offer, and their response to Jesus is basically, “It’s not enough!”
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Send us your events! We would love to share learning, missional and celebratory events with the whole presbytery! Click Here
The Search is On! Do you have what we need?
Please return, as soon as possible, any books or other materials checked out from the Resource Center. As volunteers prepare to unpack boxes and shelve books, they need to know how much space is needed….
Upcoming Team Meetings - Locations Listed
(Wednesday to Tuesday)
PLEASE NOTE: The Oaks Conference Room (Oaks) and St. Andrews Conference Room (St. Andrews) are both located at the new Presbytery office, 1001 Craig Rd., Suite 170, St. Louis, MO 63146,
(Oaks) is on the first floor (St. Andrews) is on the second floor. Directions can be found here.
(Ladue) refers to Ladue Chapel, 9450 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124. Directions can be found here.
(WebGrov) refers to Webster Groves Presbyterian, 45 W Lockwood Ave, St. Louis, MO 63119 Directions can be found here.
This Week....
Thurs., Sept. 20
9:30 a.m. - History Team (Aberdeen Heights)
10 a.m - Stewardship (Oaks)
4 p.m. - Vision Team (Oaks)
6:30 p.m. - Com Prep Ministry (Ladue)
Mon., Sept. 24
1 p.m. - Dismant Racism/Priv. (Ladue)

Next Week:
No Meetings Scheduled
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Teaching Elders
Boundary Training
Tues., Oct. 2nd (All Day)
with any questions
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Uprooting Hunger - 2018 Presbytery Wide Goal
A Year of ‘boondocking’ Builds Bonds
By Nette Miller, Presbyterians Today
When you hear about a congregation’s hospitality, you might picture people greeting one another after Sunday services. Or you might picture people chatting around a table in the fellowship hall during a church potluck. Chances are, you wouldn’t picture people delivering dog toys and dish towels to a camper parked in the church’s parking lot. Continue to read more.
First Presbyterian - Cape Girardeau
FPC, Cape Girardeau presented a check for $6,000 to the South East Missouri Food Bank, this past week, in their mission to end hunger in their community. So exciting to see how each congregation works toward ending hunger!
Uprooting Hunger - Hunger Action Team
The next sixteen months the presbytery will work toward establishing Certified Hunger Action Congregations. This handout will be helpful to your congregation, as we journey together in the year + ahead. We look forward to the year + ahead. If you have any questions, please contact us via communication@glpby.org
Session Records Review Date/Time
Sat., Sept. 22 - 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Washington. Directions can be
Sat., Oct. 13 - 10 a.m. First Presbyterian - Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Directions can be
Sat., Oct. 20 - 2 p.m. -Westminster Presbyterian - Belleville, Illinois. Directions can be found here.
If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact Stated Clerk, Rev. Joy Myers at  jmyers@glpby.org  or by calling 314-772-2395.
Our Community Connected
Fall Is Almost Here
Are You Ready for Holiday Shopping?
There are many congregations within our presbytery that host fall art, craft and vendor shows to support their mission projects. Shop for holiday gifts, that also give back to mission!
  • Sat., Sept., 22 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - HeARTS and Crafts Fair at First United Presbyterian Church, Collinsville, Illinois. Directions here.
  • Sat., Sept. 29 - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Rummage Sale at Lutesville Presbyterian Church in Marble Hill, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Sat., Oct. 6 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Craft and Vendor Sale at Maryland Heights Presbyterian Church, Maryland Heights, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Sat., Oct. 13 - 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Old Argo Fall Festival at Old Argo Presbyterian Church, Bourbon, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Sat., Nov. 10 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - PW of John Knox Presbyterian Church Craft and Vendor Sale, Florissant, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Tues., Nov. 13 (10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and Wed., Nov. 14 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ) St. Mark's Presbyterian Church Christmas Boutique, Ballwin, Missouri. Directions here.
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Is your church hosting an event? Please let us know so that we can share with the presbytery. Simply email: communication@glpby.org
United States Air Force Band of Mid-America
Chamber Ensemble Recital
Members of the USAF Band of Mid-America will present a recital at The First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Adams Avenue, Kirkwood, MO on Sunday, September 23rd at 3 p.m. Admission to the concert is free and tickets are not required.
Presented in partnership with The Con Spirito Concert Series, this is a family-friendly, all-ages event. This recital offers an eclectic mix of solo, duo and chamber ensembles performing works from the renaissance period to contemporary styles. Consider it a musical ‘grab bag,’ sure to inspire and entertain audience members of all ages.
Presbyterian Women Fall Gathering
You can participate in Presbyterian Women of the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, by attending their Fall Gathering on September 29 th at John Knox Presbyterian Church. Directions can be found here. Registration for the event can be found here.
Perseid String Quartet in Concert
The Perseid String Quartet plays a concert at Second Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m. The ensemble is comprised of violinists Hannah Frey and Manuela Kaymakanova, violist Eliana Haig, and cellist Stephanie Hunt. The church is located at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End, St. Louis, 63108. The concert is part of the Couts Music Series and is free to the community. For more information call 314-367-0367 or   www.secondchurch.net .
Missional Opportunities
Winter Clothing Drive
In support of Hands on Kirkwood, Glendale Presbyterian Church is collecting gently worn and clean winter clothing and outwear. All sizes (adults and children) are needed. They will receive donations daily, September 19-23, from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. If you have questions please call the church office 314-822-2545.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Hurricane Florence has damaged not just property, but also shattered lives. Can you give the gift of life to someone? If you have free time, on Saturday, September 29, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., please consider visiting the Fellowship Hall at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, found at 45 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri 63119.
Nicaragua Community Partnership
Annual Celebration and Fund-Raising Dinner
Celebrate and Support our successful scholarship students Learn about the recent national crisis in Nicaragua and the positive developments in Plan Grande #2 Explore ways to become involved in this mission Enjoy a terrific meal at one of St. Louis’ finest Italian restaurants. Save the date! Monday, October 22, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at LoRossa’s Cucina, located at 3121 Watson Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63139. Please make reservations by contacting Harriet Hall 314-963-7112, or by emailing pg2nicaragua@gmail.com. Please find and like the Nicaraguan Community Partnership on Facebook here.
Joining Hands Partnership Trip - 2019 Date Set
Save the dates of May 25 through June 1, 2019 for a trip to Peru! There will be more details released soon, so continue to watch the newsletter for details. If you have any questions, please find the flyer here, where you will find contact details. What is Joining Hands? We are glad you asked....find some details about this ministry here.
2018 Crop Hunger Walk & Concert at Eden Seminary
The 2018 Crop Hunger Walk and Concert is Sunday, October 7 at Eden Seminary in Webster Groves (475 E. Lockwood Ave. 63119) — check-in at 4:30 p.m., walk at 5 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. The Holy Crepe Food Truck will be on-site from 4 to 7 p.m. 
Register online at:  www.crophungerwalk.org/saintlouismo
The Concert is free, and is also the 7th Annual Eden Festival of Psalms, featuring Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (who has two pieces in our hymnal, “Glory to God”) and other excellent musicians. Questions? Call Clint McCann at 314-619-0599.
Educational Opportunities
Imagination, Empathy, and Action: Being a Christian in a Fragmented Age
On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Marianne Borg, Founding Chair and Board Member of The Marcus J. Borg Foundation, will present a lecture, to be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place (at Taylor) Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri. Directions can be found here. This even is free and open to the public. Visit www.secondchurch.net to see more Lecture Series featuring themes from Days of Awe and Wonder by Marcus J. Borg.
The Lost Art of Democratic Argument:
What’s Become of Civility?
Michael Sandel, Harvard political philosopher and best-selling author discusses this question at Ladue Chapel on Monday, October 8th at 7 p.m.
In these deeply divided times, is it possible to reason together, in public, about hard ethical and political questions? Harvard political philosopher and bestselling author, Michael Sandel shows us how, challenging audiences to examine the ethical dilemmas we all confront in politics and in our everyday lives.
Sandel will address topics including: Restoring civility to difficult ethical discussions ∙Does religion belong in politics? ∙ Examining ethical dilemmas that we confront in our personal lives. ∙ Why are politics today so bitter and partisan, and what can we do about it? Event flyer can be found here.
Compassion, Wisdom, and Inner Peace
The program “Compassion, Wisdom, and Inner Peace” by Venerable Guo Jiann will be on Saturday, September 29, at 2 p.m. at the Pure Mind Buddhist Center, located at   7825 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63130. Directions can be found here.
Interfaith Meetings
Everyone is invited to attend the Interfaith Dialogue meetings in the lower level conference room at Aquinas Institute of Theology, 23 South Spring, St. Louis, Missouri 63108 , Directions can be found here . These meetings will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: September 25; October 2, 9, 16. At these meetings a group of Jews, Christians, and Muslims study the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospels, and the Qur’an together.
Gun Sense Educational Resources Available
Mom's Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a national, grassroots organization, part of a group founded by Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City after the Newtown shootings in 2012. The resources from this group combined with policy statements and curriculum from the General Assembly of the PCUSA, can be used as text for adult education or mission committee conversation. If interested in more information, please contact Susan Andrews at srandrews1015@gmail.com, or by calling 914-815-6507.
Pastoral Leaders Retreat
This retreat, partially funded by the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation, is for Clergy, Commissioned Pastors and Christian Educators. It will be held on Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 at the St. Crispins Conference Center, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. The focus will be Renewal in Worship, where we will learn about the new developments in the 2018 Common Book of Worship, seek the renewal of gifts, rest and reflect. Complete details can be found here.
Underground Railroad Bus Tour
The Presbytery History Team is pleased to announce its 2018 bus tour featuring the Underground Railroad in the St. Louis and Alton areas. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 7. Please join the Team on this journey along the covert network that led fugitive slaves to freedom. We will see Old Des Peres Presbyterian Church, Nathanial Hanson House, Elijah Lovejoy Monument and Grave, College Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Old Rock House, as we learn the history of this important, but neglected, humanitarian effort. We will enjoy a delicious lunch at a favorite Alton restaurant. Full details can be found here.
Kaleidoscope Conference is Fast Approaching
September 24 - 26, 2018
St. Louis, MO Hilton St. Louis Frontenac
Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity.
Complete details can be found here.
Current Ministry Position Openings
Children's Music Director
St. Mark Presbyterian
P/T Treasurer
Cote Brilliante Presbyterian
Communications Coordinator
Webster Groves Presbyterian