A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast

Rev. Claire McKeever-Burgett

In her new book “Blessed are the Women: Naming and Reclaiming Women’s Stories from the Gospels,” the Rev. Claire McKeever-Burgett supplies readers with what could have been the backstory for some of the most interesting women in the New Testament, including the Canaanite woman and her daughter, whom Jesus heals after first arguing with the woman.

Earlier this month, McKeever-Burgett was the guest of the Rev. Lee Catoe and Simon Doong, hosts of the podcast “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast.”

Are you experiencing a transition in your life or ministry? Are you retiring, moving, celebrating a new role, or experiencing any other transition? We would love to acknowledge, celebrate, and be in prayer with you. Please click here to share your news with us.

Examples of what questions will be asked:

1.     Please describe what type of transition you are sharing with us.

2.     How can we be in prayer with you at this time?

3.     How can the Presbytery and Staff offer support to you during this time?

4.     Do we have your permission to acknowledge this transition at our next Gathering? Yes/No

It had four charter members. Its establishment is also recorded in the statistical records of the General Assembly Minutes of 1834 and in an 1836 letter written by famous abolitionist and free press martyr, Elijah Lovejoy. In it, he wrote that he “left the last of September, to attend the meeting of our Presbytery and Synod at Union, a place sixty miles west of this. I expect to be absent about four to six weeks.”

The first brick church was a building owned by Judge David Sterigeres at the corner of State and Church Streets. It also served as a schoolhouse and was deeded to the congregation in 1843. Services were held there until 1865, the final year of the Civil War. Joseph and Lizzie Fenton deeded the current property to the trustees of First Presbyterian Church in 1867. The church building was demolished in 1950 for the present church, which was dedicated in 1951. 

The congregation’s first recorded pastor, Joseph Fenton (1842-1881), helped organize more than twelve new Presbyterian churches in east-central Missouri, including ones at Bay, Gerald, Kirkwood, Newport, Pacific, Steelville and Washington.

Children's Spirituality Summit: A CHILD'S WAY

May 21-23 • Chicago Area

Join us for the 2024 Children’s Spirituality Summit where we will dive deep and explore what a child’s way of being with God means. Inspired by Rebecca Nye's definition of children's spirituality as "God's way of being with children, and children's way of being with God," we will delve into:  

• A Child’s Way of Worshipping God·   
• A Child’s Way in a Diverse World·   
• A Child’s Way of Playing with God·   
• A Child’s Way in Family 

Interested in attending and being part of this exploration? We would love to have you join us as we bridge the gap between theory and practice.  Read more about our speakers by CLICKING HERE. 

There is a small group, from Second Presbyterian Church going, and there is a break on registration if done by the end of the month. Please contact Ruth Musson Clayton at ruthie76@gmail.com to join Second Presbyterian members.

 Read more about our speakers HERE. 

TIPS FOR CARING FOR

GOD'S AMAZING CREATION: 

Start a Garden!

This Spring, if you haven't already, start a small garden and then slowly expand your garden as space and time allow. Plan your garden around your personal needs and tastes. Your garden can provide beauty, and food, and help check the current global warming crisis at the same time.

"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of Presbytery which monitors the ten certified Earth Care Congregations in the Presbytery and advocates for low-income, people of color, and indigenous peoples who too often suffer first and worst from environmental degradation. Contact: carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378.

FERGUSON EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

AT JANUARY-WABASH MEMORIAL PARK

The annual 2024 Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service will be held Sunday, March 31 at 6:30 AM at January-Wabash Memorial Park, located at January Avenue and North Florissant Road. The service will be held outside on the west side of the lake. Bring your own chair, if desired. Sharing a brief meditation for the informal service will be The Rev. Aaron Rogers, Pastor of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church which has served the Ferguson area in many capacities, including hosting the Winter Farmer's Market.  Clergy from various churches and ministries in Ferguson will also participate.  Ahren Stock, instrumental music teacher at Hawken School in Lyndhurst, Ohio will return to St. Louis to play trumpet during the service. All are invited! What a great way to begin the celebration of resurrection and new life!

Sponsored by the Ferguson Ministries Alliance, there will be a free-will offering received for PAKT, which benefits the Ferguson Community.  For more information, please contact Rev. Ellie Stock (314) 521-8418 or elliestock@aol.com

New Horizons Presbyterian Church

“The Light of the World is Jesus”

You are invited to join us for Holy Week!



• Maundy Thursday (March 28) Dinner at 6:00 p.m. with Service and Communion at 7:00 p.m.
• Good Friday (March 29) Service at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 30th – Easter Egg Hunt  at 10:30 a.m. (ages 12 and under)
• EASTER Sunday (March 31^st) 8:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast, 10:30 a.m. Worship and Communion

New Horizons is located at 9424 Everman Ave., Overland, MO 63114 

LENTEN JOURNEY OPPORTUNITIES

with a Place of Grace

Easter Sunrise Audiendo Divina Retreat

Join A Place of Grace this Easter Sunday (3/31/24) at sunrise (6:30 a.m.) at Riverbend Family Ministries, 144 E Ferguson Ave., Wood River, IL, for an interpretation of the resurrection story through sound! This indoor event will warm you from the inside out as you experience the joy of Easter with pastor and musician, Julie Gvillo. The instrumental interpretation of scriptures will take you to the garden where the stone is rolled away as you listen meditatively in community with other disciples as the Good News of the resurrection is proclaimed. Communion will be served afterward. All are welcome!

PRESBYTERY WOMEN FROM AROUND THE NATION

GATHER IN ST LOUIS IN AUGUST

Monthly Gathering Quest Emails

Stay informed about the Presbyterian Women Churchwide Gathering opportunities and news with the Gathering Quest emails! These emails—sent the 5th of each month leading up to the Gathering—include news, a reflection, a savings calculator, a fun download, and much more. To be added to the list, email patricia.longfellow@pcusa.org with “Gathering Quest” in the subject line.

Registration Now Open

Registration Options Gathering registration will be available at presbyterianwomen.org/gathering, March 1–July 7, 2024. Know that by registering early, you’ll have the fullest selection of workshops (which can fill up), the option to purchase a Gathering tote bag (which sold out in 2018) and if you register by May 1, you’ll receive the early registration incentives! After July 7, you may register on-site at the Marriott St. Louis Grand.

PC(USA) Webinar on

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Wednesday, April 3rd at 11:00 a.m.

This week the world’s leading organization on food emergencies said that Gaza faces the broadest and most severe food crisis in the world. Over a million Palestinians are facing catastrophic levels of hunger and starvation between now and July. The UN has reported that the decline in nutrition status is globally unprecedented and that the children in Gaza are being starved at the fastest rate the world has ever seen. And in a report this month, entitled “Inflicting Unprecedented Suffering and Destruction”, Oxfam USA stated that a meaningful and safe humanitarian response is made impossible by the government of Israel.

Click here to register: https://bit.ly/4943pV6

Hunger Action Congregations Call of the Year

Friday, April 5 at 11:00 am



Join us on April 5 for the first Hunger Action Congregations call of the year. We are expanding our circle to include others in your congregation who are interested / involved in ending hunger and underlying causes. PLEASE pass this invitation to them as well.

Here are some of the topics we can explore...

• A “Dignified” Hunger Relief Experience

Can you share any important tips about shifting your ministries to feel/be less on the charity model and more of a relational, dignified experience?

• B. Relationships, Hunger & Systemic Poverty

How are volunteers and donors from a more “hands off” approach of donating time and money to one where they are taking time in spaces with poor and hungry people, forming relationships with them, or figuring out how to do deeper approaches, such as community organizing and/or public policy advocacy? What has worked for you?

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking here

If using the Zoom app the Meeting ID is: 939 0805 2880

The Passcode is: 443675

PUBLIC WITNESS ANNOUNCES SUMMER GRANTS

DEADLINE IS APRIL 12

Each year, the Public Witness Team of the Presbytery offers grants to conduct summer programs at member churches and social agencies in relationship with the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy. The funds are awarded through an application process directed by the Public Witness Ministry Team.

The purpose of the grant is to provide opportunities for summer Christian education and witness, personal growth, faith formation, and recreation to children and adults in communities of need. Criteria for funding with an application download can be found here: APPLICATION HERE. The application must be submitted electronically, and the deadline for receipt of applications is April 12, 2024. 

Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded on May 1, 2024, however, partial grants may be awarded based on the number of applications received. 

SPRING FUNDRAISER

Mound Ridge is hosting their spring fundraiser at Andre's West in Fenton on Saturday, April 13th!  We'd love to have you join us there!  Tickets are $60 each. There is a huge array of Silent & Live Auction items, a wine wall, and a dessert auction too!  Lots to choose from!  Most of you have visited Mound Ridge sometime over the years and appreciate the beauty and peaceful setting along the upper Meramec River.

MALT Transitional Ministry Education

Mercy Conference and Retreat Center

St. Louis, MO

May 13 - May 17

Transitional Ministry Education is not limited to those presently engaged in or inquiring about transitional ministry. Anyone interested in learning how to walk through change alongside your church is invited to join in Week I (30 hours), and Week II (30 hours), plus a practicum that combines reflection on, and experience in, some aspect of interim/transitional ministry.

Learn More by Clicking Here

Missouri Right to

Reproductive Freedom Amendment

The Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment Initiative Petition is collecting signatures now. If enough signatures are collected, this will appear on the ballot in November 2024.

The amendment will amend the Missouri Constitution to provide the right to reproductive freedom.

The Public Witness Team offers an opportunity for all Giddings-Lovejoy churches. One of our team will come to your church with Reproductive Freedom petition sheets to collect signatures. The most successful time to collect signatures is after Sunday services during the Fellowship Hour, but we can come whenever is best for you.

To learn more or if you are interested in participating, please click here for more information.

Rev. Ryan Landino

Presbytery Leader

rlandino@glpby.org

314.409.9002

Rev. Liz Kanerva

Associate

Presbytery Leader

ekanerva@glpby.org

314.779.6809

Rev. Dr. Brandan Eddy

Stated Clerk

beddy@glpby.org

618.781.9615

Leigh Porter

Office Manager

lporter@glpby.org

314.225.9470

Janice McMillen

Communications Associate

jmcmillen@glpby.org

573.578.3960

Presbytery Moderator - Elder, Lorenzo Clayton

Presbytery Vice-Moderator - Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

Vision Team Moderator - Rev. Mel Smith