Newsletter
February / 19 / 2019
In Honor of Black History Month
Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard
Presbytery Leader
“We stand on the shoulders of those who have taken a stand in the past. We march in cadence with those who have marched toward freedom for all.”

Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket Update
  • Please pray.... for those who are ill with the flu this winter season
  • Please pray....for those who are traveling in winter weather
Click on the prayer basket to find our current prayers.
PC(USA) Celebrates
Black History Month


African-Americans have played a pivotal role in American church history. Many may be familiar with Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, the founders of what is now known as the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was established in Philadelphia in 1792. Less known but equally as important to the Presbyterian denomination was the Rev. John Gloucester, who founded the First Afr ican Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1807.
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Upcoming Team Meetings
NOTE: Meeting locations are as follows: Oaks - is the meeting room next door to the presbytery office; St.Andrew - refers to the Board Room of St. Andrews on the second floor, directly above the presbytery office; Pres - refers to the Presbytery Office Resource Center; Ladue - refers to Ladue Chapel; WG - refers to Webster Groves Presbyterian. Contact the office at 314-772-2395 if you are unsure where you will be meeting.
Week of: Feb. 21 to Feb. 27

Thurs., Feb. 21
10 a.m. -Stewardship (Oaks)
4 p.m. - Vision Team (Oaks)
6:30 p.m. - CPM (Ladue)
Mon., Feb. 25
1 p.m. - DRAP (Oaks)
1 p.m.. Social Wit Sub Team (Pres)
Week of: Feb. 28 to Mar. 6

Thurs., Feb. 29
9:30 a.m. -History Team (Aberdeen Hts)
1 p.m. - CoR/N (Oaks)
Mon., Mar. 4
5 pm. - Liaisons (Pres)
Uprooting Hunger - 2019 Presbytery Wide Goal
We Are Here to Help
In recent feedback, from our Presbytery Gathering Survey, we heard your need of more and clearer information, and for support in filling out application(s). We heard and are ready to help!
It can be a little confusing without examples of what each of those categories mean for the local church. PCUSA's Hunger Action Covenanting Application provides more detailed descriptions about each of them and then gives examples.
Please reach out via email to:  communication@glpby.org , or call the office at 314-772-2395 and we will set up an appointment with you to assist in processing the online application
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. If you have any questions, email:  communication@glpby.org
Team & Congregational Happenings
11th Annual Pancake Supper
& Fat Tuesday Celebration to Support
Isaiah 58 Ministries
Tuesday, March 5, 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, located at 4111 Connecticut St. St. Louis, Missouri. Directions found here.
Pancakes with all the fixings will be serves to make this a feast to be remembered! Donations will support the work of Isaiah 58 Ministries.
Live Music! 50/50 Drawing! S’mores Station! Check out our  Facebook event and  download the poster here to share with family and friends!
Lenten Prayer Retreat
Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 9 am – 12 pm
You are invited to rest in God’s presence and allow yourself to receive the pure gift of God. This morning of prayer includes an opportunity to pray with words (lectio divina), music (audio divina), and art (visio divina). Join Dieter Heinzl and Anne Peacock as we nurture contemplative practices to enhance life’s journey. The labyrinth will also be available to walk in Fellowship Hall before and after the retreat. Friends welcome. RSVP to Anne Peacock: apeacock@laduechapel.org or 314-993-4771 x3122
Presbyterian Woman
West Cluster Winter Gathering
The Gathering will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Sullivan, on Friday, March 8, 2019, and will the day will begin at 9:30 a.m., with registration - coffee and pastries, and from 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. the Union Kitchen Band.
Laurie Osseck, with Scenic Regional Library will give a presentation on “The Most Famous Women in History.” Other guest speakers include Marsha Thompson, Assistant Director, Life House Youth Center of Sullivan. She will explain the services they provide for the area youth. We will also have a collection box available for personal care items or school supplies for the center. Ages 10-17 utilize the center after school. All donations are needed and appreciated. Christy Foster, Director of Mound Ridge will also give a short presentation.  
Scholarship Support Available
The Dismantling Racism and Privilege
Team is offering scholarship support for attendance at the White Privilege Conference to be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from Wednesday, March 20 to Saturday, March 23, 2019. More information about the conference may be found at http://www.whiteprivilegeconference.com.
If you are interested in applying for the scholarship support, please contact Vanessa Hawkins at vhawkins@glpby.org.
Trivia Night with
Grace Presbyterian
Saturday, March 9
Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Held at VFW Post 3777, Festus
Put on your beach shirts and join us for Trivia and fun. There will be a prize for the best ‘beach’ table decorations, 50/50s, basket raffle and a more. Tables of 8- $15.00 per person or $25.00 per couple.
Trivia Night at
Fisk Presbyterian
Sunday, March 24th
Registration at 4 p.m.
Games begin at 4:30 p.m.
There is no entry fee. Get a team together and join us for a night of fun. We are going to only have 8 categories this year to streamline things a little. Everyone welcome.
St. Matthew Passion Performance
Join the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University for a performance of the St. Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach on Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m. on the campus of Concordia Seminary at the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis. Admission is available free of charge to the general public. For more information, visit valpo.edu/bach
Mission Opportunities
Exploring Missional Leadership
in Ferguson, Missouri
How do we develop more missional leaders in the church? Exploring Missional Leadership (EML) is a daylong event hosted by mid councils & churches and led by 1001 national staff. Learn more here.
Mission Trip - Close to Home
Still trying to find a location for your summer mission trip or retreat?   AMEN St. Louis  is an incredible location for your youth group, young adult crew, or adult mission trip this summer!  
At AMEN, you'll have the chance to do high-impact service, deep faith reflection, and have tons of fun. We'll connect you with some of the best non-profit organizations in St. Louis, and we'll guide you in understanding the larger issues at work in our community. We offer week-long  mission experiences  and weekend service retreats, as well as housing for retreats, conferences, and other work in St. Louis. Learn more here
Joining Hands Peru Partnership
May 25 to June 2, 2019
The next Joining Hands Peru Partnership Reflection and Action Trip will be May 25 to June 2, 2019. Those interested may contact Ellie Stock ( elliestock@aol.com) or Mark Strothmann ( mark.strothmann@att.net) for an application or more information. Deadline is February 28, 2019 with $500.00 deposit. Application for financial assistance is February 15, 2019.
Complete List of Educational Opportunities: Found Here
Tips For Caring For God's Precious Creation......... 
 (TIPS are brought to you by the presbytery's Earth Care Action Team composed of nine congregations in the presbytery certified by the PC(USA) as Earth Care Congregations. Contact carletonstock@aol.com
Opportunity to Talk about the Confessions
The worldwide Reformed body of Christians has millions of adherents, and they all subscribe broadly to the same theological understandings of the God revealed in Jesus Christ. However, like all of us, where you are born makes a difference. And for the PCUSA we were birthed in Switzerland and transplanted in Scotland. And it makes a difference, not so much in what we believe as how we express those beliefs.
Wednesday we will look at the fertile ground of medieval Switzerland which gave birth to the Swiss-Scot branch of the Reformed family. And then we will explore the Heidelberg Catechism. While not well known in American Presbyterian circles, Heidelberg is one of the best known of the Reformed confessions throughout the world and is still used weekly by such churches as the Reformed Church of America and the Christian Reformed Church.
We’d love to have you join in the conversation. Due to weather, we may adjust the time that we meet, so contact Barbara Willock [ bwill2@mindspring.com] if you’d like to attend. See all details here.
The Mighty Mite!   
2019 Spirit of Stewardship Conference
What We Can Learn About Stewardship From Those Who (Seem To) Have Less
March 1 & 2
Pastors, Stewardship committees, session members, Christian Educators and other church leaders seeking to nurture faithful financial discipleship and promote meaningful spiritual development as stewards of God’s gifts should plan to attend. Topics will be focusing on the Lucan story of the widow, the many biblical examples of poor and/or uninfluential women (and men) supporting ministries of the prophets and Jesus, and creating ministries of their own. Complete details can be found here.
GUNS IN MY BACKYARD?
Neighbors Share Their Stories
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church welcomes all to join them on Sunday, March 3 - Please join them for a viewing of the locally-produced documentary: “No More Thoughts and Prayers,” introduced by filmmaker Angela Lamb. This will be followed by individuals from our community sharing their experiences with gun violence and ideas for action. Come learn how gun violence affects all of us and how you can help make a difference in this public health issue. Complete details can be found here.
Join us for Advocacy Training Weekend
Troubling the Waters for the Healing of the World #GoodTrouble
April 5-8 | Washington, D.C.
In 2019, we gather at a time in which people of faith and conscience are again called to stand in the prophetic stream of those who have come before us, those who were not afraid to stir up #GoodTrouble for the sake of God’s kingdom. Complete details can be found here.
Shift 2.0 Conference
May 20-22, 2019 (St. Charles, MO)
Dr. Phil Maynard, a certified coach, an Endorsed coach (UMEA), a certified Conflict/Mediation Coach, and licensed trainer/facilitator, will help you "d  iscover the key shifts that all churches must make if they are going to have a fruitful ministry in the next century… Rural, urban, black, Hispanic, Anglo, Asian, multicultural, liberal, evangelical… they all need to think through these key shifts to figure out a path forward.” -Paul Nixon, Coach/Consultant  Sponsored by Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation. Details coming soon at  www.omahapresbyterianseminaryfoundation.org
Current Support Ministry Position Openings
Congregations Searching for Support Staff
Church Accountant/Bookkeeper - Second Presbyterian Interim Director of Christian Education - Ladue Chapel