Dear Assembly Members,

This year's assembly theme is: “Arise and Shine: Holding Firm Christ’s Light Amid Injustice.” 

• Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”

In 2026, our Presbytery resolves to hear Isaiah’s call to arise and shine not as a vague spiritual slogan, but as a concrete summons "Call To Action" to stand with those who suffer under systems of cruelty and disregard for human dignity. In the shadow of current government entity mistreatment against individuals such as Renee Good and Alex Pretti, we confess that the Church cannot remain silent, passive, or distant. To arise is to wake from complacency; to shine is to let the justice, mercy, and truth of Christ become visible in public life. One of the Great Ends of the Church in the PC(USA) Book of Order F-1.0304 calls for the promotion of Social Righteousness.  

We look to the witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who refused to offer a “cheap grace” that blesses injustice and comforts the powerful entity while ignoring the oppressed. Bonhoeffer, a young German Lutheran pastor, anti-Nazi dissident during the World War II, reminds us that authentic discipleship is costly, public, and deeply engaged with the suffering of our neighbors. In his spirit, and deeply founded in the gospel, this theme calls us to Arise by calling out injustice clearly, lamenting openly, and standing in solidarity with those harmed by policies and to shine by advocating for humane treatment, due process, and the full recognition of the God-given dignity of every person, including immigrants, detainees and all who are marginalized or mistreated. God, who is above all and through all and in all, created all of human beings living in his loving world in His own image.

In a time when fear, nationalism and indifference can so easily darken our common life, we affirm that Christ’s light is not withdrawn. The glory of the Lord rises in the places the world would rather ignore. As a Presbytery, we commit in 2026 to live Isaiah 60:1 as a public, courageous, and compassionate witness—standing with people oppressed and mistreated, following the costly example of Bonhoeffer, and trusting that God’s light is stronger than every system of oppression.

I invite you all to join the first Assembly Meeting that will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, via Zoom, at 7:00 pm (ET) / 6:00 pm (CT). 

This Assembly Meeting will have a special focus on worship that evening. Our Coordinating Council hopes that those usually unable to attend a daytime meeting might join us.Please encourage your session to send the assigned number of elder commissioners. 

• The Zoom link and password-protected document(s)will be provided by the Presbytery office (on 2/19/2026) when you register by 2/17/2026. Advance registration is required to attend, so that we may send you the login link and password for the meeting. If you are a voting member of the assembly (minister member, commissioned pastor, elder commissioner for a church, or member by reason of office) you must connect to the meeting on your own device to participate in any votes, as only one vote per device may be recorded.

Thank you for your participation.

Peace!

Ruling Elder Dal Kwon, PWV Moderator

Join us BY ZOOM!

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 @ 7:00 pm (ET) / 6:00 pm (CT)



Please register by 2/17/2026 so that we can provide you the link. Online Registration is open - click HERE

One Great Hour of Sharing

February 18 - April 5, 2026

Serve the most vulnerable around the world, offering aid to people lacking access to life’s basic necessities.

Calendar for the Week-

2/12 = Committee reports for Assembly meeting are due, please

2/12 @ 1 (ET) = Nominating Committee - by Zoom

2/14 = Happy Valentine's Day!

2/16 = Office CLOSED in observance of Presidents' Day

2/17 @ 9 (ET) = Staff Meeting - by Zoom

2/17 = Assembly RSVP, please

2/18 = Ash Wednesday

2/19 @ 10 (ET) = Leadership Team meeting - by Zoom

Coming Up-

2/23 @ 9 = Staff Meeting = by Zoom

2/24 @ 7pm = Assembly Meeting - by Zoom

3/02 @ 9 = Staff Meeting = by Zoom

3/05 @ 10 (ET) = Commission on Ministry - by Zoom

3/05 @ 1 (ET) = Commission on Preparation for Ministry - by Zoom

3/09 @ 9 (ET) = Staff Meeting - by Zoom

3/09 @ 10 (ET) = Stewardship Ministry Team - by Zoom

3/09 @ 4 (ET) = Ministry & Outreach Team - by Zoom

3/10 @ 1 (ET) = Committee on Representation - by Zoom

3/12 @ 1 (ET) = Nominating Committee - by Zoom

3/16 @ 9 = Staff Meeting = by Zoom

3/20 = Deadline to register for Platinum Rule Leadership for Changing Times workshop

3/23 @ 9 = Staff Meeting = by Zoom

3/24 @ 10 (ET) = Coordinating Council - by Zoom

3/24 - Leadership Team meeting following Coordinating Council - by Zoom

4/12 @ 4pm-8pm (ET)= Platinum Rule Leadership for Changing Times

4/13 @ 9am-3pm (ET) =Platinum Rule Leadership for Changing Times

(at Rochester, Community PC. See information above.)

4/15 @ 1 = Communication & Visioning Committee - by Zoom

RESOURCES FOR YOUR CONGREGATION

Hello Friends,

Last week nearly all of the IUA staff were together (weather made travel impossible for a few) in Louisville for a week of learning and planning. Those who weren't able to be present in person joined us on zoom. It was good to be together to work with our teams in person, meet new people, learn together and have some fun (you learn so much about your colleagues when ski ball is on the evening agenda). 

 One of the topics of our focus was how we'll coordinate our work across the agency to better serve the larger church. Some of that coordination comes down to administrative logistics - sharing data, coordinating calendars, and finding new meeting rhythms. Some of that coordination requires shedding old patterns and finding new ways of working together, re-visioning how each of our ministry areas contributes to the whole. Being in person gave us a great opportunity to work on both. 

 by: Sarah Moore-Nokes, Director sarah.moorenokes@pcusa.org

Mid Council Newsletter February 3, 2026

From the Presbyterian Hunger Program

 Church wide film study: “Evicting the American Dream”

*Mondays in February @ 7:30-8:45pm (ET)

 REGISTER HERE / (advance registration required)

Join us for a church-wide film study on this excellent documentary about homelessness, the U.S. housing crisis, and its impacts on children. We will gather weekly online after having watched each week’s segment of the film. We will hear from featured speakers and discuss issues of redlining, housing commodification, eviction, the impact of housing insecurity on children, and ways to take action in our own communities. Advanced registration is required to receive the meeting links and instructions to view the film segments each week. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with these instructions. Read more here

From the Office of Christian Formation

2026 Small Church Community Circles

Join us for the Small Church Community Circle by Zoom - Register Here. 

• All six dates for the year are listed and you only register once. Come learn about new resources and connect with other leaders in small churches around Christian Formation.

Smock Foundation

Grants for churches & individuals!

The Smock Foundation provides grants to Indiana Presbyterian Church (USA) members and churches. Grants are given to individuals in need, to churches for improvement facilities, to churches for Deacon funds and for programs that will improve the lives of elderly Indiana Presbyterians, including senior adult ministry programs. Grant applications are reviewed monthly. Applications should be submitted by the second week of each month. Click HERE for more information!

Invitation to hear nationally known speaker/author/researcher Ryan Burge on March 1st!

Over the past half-century, American religion has undergone profound transformation—from declining church attendance to the rapid rise of the religiously unaffiliated. Drawing on five decades of data from several data sources, this talk traces how belief, belonging, and practice have shifted across generations, identifies the key inflection points driving change, and explains what these trends reveal about the future of religion in the United States. 

Ryan Burge is professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. Before that he was an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, and was also the graduate coordinator. He has authored over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters alongside four books about religion and politics in the United States. He has written for the New York Times, POLITICO, and the Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared in an NBC Documentary, on the CBS Evening News, as well as 60 Minutes which called him, “one of the country’s leading data analysts on religion and politics.” He served as a pastor in the American Baptist Church for over twenty years, leading First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, IL for 17.5 years until its closure in July 2024. He has been married to his wife Jacqueline for over eighteen years. They have two boys. 

Everyone welcome - no registration required!

When: Saturday, March 1 at 4pm (ET)

Where: Tabernacle Presbyterian Church

418 East 34th Street, Indianapolis IN 46205

Lent - Downloadable Group Studies

for Youth and Adults

With these downloadable resources for Lent, you can find easy-to-use, affordable group studies perfect to fit your needs. Keep reading to learn about the Lent units from the Follow Me curriculum series! Read more HERE

CEUs (6.5 hours) will be available after the conference based on attendance.

Speaker Froma Walsh, PhD is the leading international authority on family resilience in facing adversity. Her resilience-oriented, systemic practice approach integrates relational, socio-cultural, and spiritual influences to foster coping, adaptation, and the ability to flourish. *Register by clicking HERE!

Christian Theological Seminary

Prayer has always been a tremendous resource for Christians to go through everything in life. To think about prayer can be a way through and perhaps even a way out.

Prayer as Political Response & Accompaniment

by: Yara González-Justiniano, PhD, Vanderbilt Divinity School

Our Life in Common

February 25, 2026 from 12-1pm, ONLINE

Register HERE

*Next event is April 8, 2026,

by Amy Lindeman Allen, PhD, Christian Theological Seminary

For What or Whom Else Shall We Pray?

Register HERE

Summer Programs, Internships and Missions

• 25 Years
• 18,000+ people have served through Cross Missions
• 300 different churches, colleges and schools
• 23 different states

For more information on all programs click HERE or

email Ericka Funk at efunk@myersparkpres.org.

Alone time with God

by Dr. Joe Pettigrew

Key Corner Street | Brownsville, TN 38012 US

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 1:35 

• Your house may still be busy and full of people, or you may be having a quiet moment alone. For many, the past few weeks have been filled with noise and relentless demands.
•  Often, from the moment we wake up, we are bombarded with notifications, to-do lists, and the expectations of others. It’s easy to get swept up in the busyness and forget to carve out time for what matters most: our relationship with God. In the whirlwind of daily life, quiet moments of connection with our Creator can feel like a luxury we can’t afford.
•  Jesus himself modeled the importance of solitude. Despite the crowds that followed him and the immense weight of his mission, he intentionally sought out solitary places to pray. He understood that to pour into others, he first needed to be filled by his Father. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to withdraw for quiet time with God, how much more do we? This isn't about legalistic rules or checking a box; it’s about nurturing the most important relationship we have.
•  Making time for solitude with God requires intentionality. It might mean waking up a little earlier, finding a quiet corner during your lunch break, or turning off the TV in the evening. In these moments, we can quiet our minds, pour out our hearts, and listen for His still, small voice. It’s in the quiet that we find clarity, receive strength, and are reminded of His deep love for us. Let's follow Jesus' example. Let's step away from the noise, find our solitary place, and connect with the One who longs to meet us there. 

Upcoming Funding Sources and Community Resources

The presbytery has a wonderful list of grant resources and community resources sourced by the EPA on file, including specific areas like environmental concerns to more general information such as strategic planning and grant writing.

•  To request the list, simply email info@ourpresbytery.org and it will be forwarded to you.

2026 Mileage - Attn: Church Treasurers

The IRS Mileage Reimbursement increased to .72.5 per mile on 1/1/2026. Confirm that your church has a Session-approved Accountable Reimbursement Plan that addresses professional expense reimbursements. Your staff members could face adverse tax consequences if you do not have an approved plan. A sample Accountable Reimbursement Plan is available on the website under the Treasurer tab or click this link https://www.ourpresbytery.org/church-treasurers . Don't hesitate to contact Eric Herzog at the Presbytery office if you have questions.

2026 Per Capita is $45.08

 Your PWV Stewardship Ministry Team and Coordinating Council approved the 2026 per capita rate at $45.08.