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Week of November 11, 2026
E-News
| | For correspondence mailing/emailing please use the appropriate address: | | Presbytery Calendar At-A-Glance | |
- Prayer Calendar: November 15, First Federated Church (North Jackson), Pastor Jack Acri
- Nov 12, COM, 5:30 p.m., Zoom
- Nov 12, FMDT Plenary, 7:00 p.m., Zoom
- Nov 14, Pre-Presbytery workshop, 1:30 p.m., The Well CDC (Akron)
- Nov 14, Presbytery Gathering, 3:00 p.m., The Well CDC (Akron)
- Nov 15, Installation Service for TE Leslie Traylor, 3:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Warren
- Nov 16, CPM, 11:00 a.m., Zoom
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Register Today!
Eastminster Presbytery Stated Gathering
Saturday, November 14, 2026
3:00 p.m.
The Well CDC (site of former First Presbyterian Church, Akron)
647 E Market St, Akron, OH 44304
In keeping with the theme of Love Thy Neighbor, the November 14 Presbytery Gathering will be held at the Well CDC in Akron, site of the former First Presbyterian Church. Executive Director Zac Kohl attended the church in the early 2000s, and years later, he and his wife played a key role in purchasing it to launch The Well CDC, Akron’s first place-based Community Development Corporation dedicated to revitalizing the Middlebury neighborhood through housing, economic growth, and placemaking projects. It is another great example that when congregations make the tough choice to leave their building, ministry can still thrive and serve the community.
1:30 p.m. Pre-Presbytery Workshop - Dollars and Sense: Financial Trends, Stewardship Practices, and How We Navigate a Faithful Future
John Wilkinson who serves as Vice President for Stewardship and Church Relations for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will facilitate the workshop. A native of Western Pennsylvania, John grew up in Ohio and has Akron family roots.
Visit the Presbytery Gatherings page to register, request and excused absence, read important details about the gathering, and view pertinent reports (The E-Packet will be finalized the end of this week to allow time to review everything before the November 14th Gathering.)
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Just by Chance
Partnership
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
On Saturday morning I attended the annual meeting of the Living Water Association of the United Church of Christ (their equivalent of a presbytery). I was there at the invitation of their Association General Minster (their equivalent of a General Presbyter) to provide an ecumenical witness as she was installed to that position. She told me I did not need to be there until 11am because the installation was at the end of the meeting. However, I was curious to see how Congregationalists have a meeting, so I made plans to attend for the whole time. I was glad to be there to represent Eastminster Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at that important moment for our partners in ministry and I made a few notes about things we might learn from them. When the time for the worship service arrived, I was seated on the front pew with the other people who were participating in the service and when the first hymn began, I realized that there were no hymnals on that pew. Fortunately, it was a familiar hymn that I mostly knew by heart so I figured I could probably make it through by memory. Then suddenly someone from behind me reached out and handed me a copy of the Glory to God hymnal! It was a good reminder of the many ways that we are partners in ministry. We are different denominations with our own polity and theology but sometimes we are literally singing from the same page.
Continue Reading
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Come "Deck the Hall" on December 18 at the Historic Stan Hywet Hall in Akron with our friends from Muskingum Valley and Western Reserve Presbyteries and then adjourn for a light dinner at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron, which is only a few miles away.
Tickets can be purchased at https://stanhywet.ticketapp.org/portal/product/30/calendar. Please be aware that this is a popular event so some nights do sell-out; people are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to reserve their spot. Also, once tickets have been purchased please contact Rev. Amber Balista (mce@canfieldpres.org) to let her know you are coming so she can coordinate the evening.
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Join us for a Service of Installation
Eastminster Presbytery invites you to attend the Installation of the Rev. Leslie Traylor as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church (256 Mahoning Ave NW, Warren, OH 44483) on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 3:00pm. You are encouraged to attend and to wear red to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit as we participate in this important function of the presbytery. An offering will be collected for the Sustaining Fund of Eastminster Presbytery, which provides support to pastors in our presbytery. A reception prepared by the church will follow.
This is an exciting time for First Presbyterian Church and we look forward to coming together as one church on this joyous occasion!
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Christian Education & Faith Formation Leaders
The presbytery would like to facilitate a cohort of Christian Educators and Faith Formation Leaders within our congregations. Christian education is a vital ministry that touches all generations, yet those in leadership roles may at times feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or exhausted, and at other times feel energized, inspired, and joyful. The purpose of the cohort is to create a supportive space where colleagues can share ideas, events, curriculum, challenges, and, most importantly, successes. This is open to anyone interested in faith formation in our congregations. To join the EP-Christian Education Google Group, please email your request to Diane@eastminsterpresbytery.org
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Westminster Presbyterian Church, Akron, Invitation
Join us at Westminster, 1250 Exchange St. Akron, 44313, on Sunday, November 22 at 4:00 PM for an afternoon of shape note singing! Whether you’re a longtime singer or have never sung outside the shower, you’re invited to experience this unique musical tradition. We’ll explore a bit of the history of shape note singing, learn about its distinctive approach to music, and sing authentic songs from the tradition together.
No musical experience or prior knowledge is
necessary... just bring yourself and a willingness to sing! This event is free
and open to everyone, so come discover the beauty, history, and community of
shape note singing. We look forward to raising our voices with you!
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Eastminster Presbytery invites you to join us in praying for a particular congregation, committee, and validated ministry within the presbytery each week in 2026 that God may bless their ministry and that the grace of Jesus Christ might shine through them. For the week of November 15, we lift up the congregation of First Federated in North Jackson and Pastor Jack Acri.
November Calendar
November 1 - The Vine Fellowship, Copley, TE John Ritchie
November 8 - First, Salem, Session Moderator TE Barry Chance
November 15 - First Federated, Pastor Jack Acri
November 22 - First, Warren, TE Leslie Traylor
November 29 - Champion, Warren, TE Alice Phillips
The entire 2026 Prayer Calendar can be found on the home page of our website: eastminsterpresbytery.org
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Virtual Worship for the
First Sunday of Christmas 2026
| Greetings Siblings in Christ! We are excited to share with you all that we will be creating a pre-recorded post-Christmas virtual worship service again this year! It is designed for use on Sunday, December 27, 2026. | | | | |
Presbyterian Women
The Synod of the Covenant Presbyterian Women offers a vibrant network for women to grow spiritually, serve their communities, and connect with peers across the synod. Through annual gatherings, workshops, and leadership opportunities, PW fosters fellowship, inspiration, and shared purpose among Presbyterian women.
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Transitional Presbytery Leader - Detroit - Michigan Position Opening | The Transitional Presbytery Leader will provide spiritual and administrative leadership, guidance and oversight for the Presbytery Staff and such Committees, Teams, and Work Groups as assigned by the Administrative Commission of the Synod of the Covenant (the “Administrative Commission”) to support the process of rebuilding the Beloved Community of the Presbytery of Detroit. | | | | |
The Office of Christian Formation as released two new resources to help congregations think about issues related to Dementia. As the presbytery works to update its policies to include the protection of vulnerable adults, we commend these resources to you to help you think about these important issues in your congregation:
Loving Communication: Communicating with Loved Ones Who Have Dementia
This Quicksheet is designed to give you information about dementia and dementia-related illnesses as well as tips about how to communicate with your loved one.
Talking Through Dementia
A Guide for Ministry Leaders to Aid in Communication with Parishioners with Dementia and Dementia-Related Illnesses
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Find ways to share your thanks and gratitude at Thanksgiving - Presbyterian Foundation | In our Presbyterian churches, Thanksgiving not only is a transition toward Advent and Christmas but also can be an opportunity to find new ways to share thanks and gratitude. While the school children of the church learn about the first harvest feast of the Pilgrims and Native Americans, we can learn new ways to bring joy and thankfulness to the lives of family, friends and community. | | | |
Something for Just About Everyone | Montreat Conference Center | A quick walk around Montreat during the first week of November can leave me in awe if I'm in the right frame of mind, and this year, that's been particularl ... | | | | |
Presbytery Staff & Officers:
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