|
|
Ministry & Mission Matters
Weekly News
___________________
| | |
|
"It is a time to pause, reflect, and redirect our spiritual lives. We pay particular attention to the words of God’s love letters to us, praying that our hearts will once again skip a beat at the proclamation of this good news. ...."
Blog Post by: Rev. Dr. Chris Keating
| |
| |
LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES | |
-
Please pray for... in prayer for our Presbytery as we approach a time of reflection in Lent
-
Please pray for... congregations and pastors in transition.
-
Please pray for... our presbytery education evenings; for presenters and attendees, that in learning from one another we can serve each other in love.
| |
|
FEBRUARY EDUCATION THIS THURSDAY | |
|
This February, each Thursday beginning at 6:30 pm, we welcome you to join us in learning about some support ministries and missions of your church.
All sessions will be conducted online, using Zoom. Registration is required and can be found below.
| |
MINISTRY TEAMS UPCOMING MEETINGS | |
EXPERIENCES & EDUCATION IN THE NEWS | | |
|
|
"After we got everyone’s attention so dramatically, unfortunately, our reservation at the Delmar DivINe location for our April 13th presbytery Gathering was double booked, so the location will be changing..."
---Rev. Ryan Landino
Presbytery Leader
| |
|
February Prayer Art Retreat
Thursday, February 15th at 6 p.m.
at Von Dell Gallery & Studio
102 E Ferguson, Wood River, IL.
Each month, worship unfolds and art is created in response to scripture and prayer. The community that gathers comes prepared to listen for God topeak to them through meditation and through the art they and their fellow artists create. No previous art experience is required -- if you can form letters, you can tangle. People of a variety of denominational backgrounds participate. Communion is served at the end. Bring your Valentine (or a Galentine) to the February Prayer Art Retreat for a unique shared experience! Please RSVP via the website by clicking here, by noon on Wednesday, February 14th, so I can be adequately prepared. Space is limited.
| |
LENTEN JOURNEY OPPORTUNITIES | |
|
A Place of Grace is offering-based. Prayer Art Retreats require sixteen hours of preparation (10 for liturgy and artwork options, one and a half hours to load and unload the van, three hours for the retreat, and one and a half hours to reload and unload the van afterward) total and $5 in supplies per person. With the Lenten registration, you will get thirty emailed devotions with step-outs for a tangle each day, and six days of having your work posted on the APOG Facebook Page. I estimate that it will take an hour per day to create the step-outs and the devotions and email them out, and approximately five minutes per email to download the artwork and repost it on the Page. In-person offerings may be made via cash or check. Electronic offerings may be made via PayPal.me/JulieGvillo or Venmo (@Julie-Gvillo).
| |
|
Webster Groves Presbyterian Advocacy Team
Welcomes Calvin Riley
Author of the new book, Black St. Louis
February 13 at 7 pm
(in person in the Youth Lounge or via Zoom)
While teaching and later acting as an instructional coordinator for the St. Louis Public School System, Calvin Riley scoured yard sales and estate sales for photos of Black St. Louisans. Over time he found thousands of photos, records, artifacts, and advertisements from Black-owned businesses, clubs, and churches. As we celebrate Black History Month, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Black history in St. Louis from 1764-2000.
If you have time for a little reading, here is a brief history of Black St. Louis history. This will give you an overall background while Mr. Riley will focus on the history attached to his photographs and artifacts.
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/preservation-plan/Part-I-African-American-Experience.cfm
Zoom link: WGPC Advocacy Zoom
All are welcome!
| |
|
Stephen Ministries Release Book
“The Gift of Empathy” Offers Practical Solutions to the Growing Empathy Crisis
During a time when people are feeling increasingly lonely, misunderstood, and disconnected from others, Stephen Ministries has released its latest book, The Gift of Empathy: Helping Others Feel Valued, Cared for, and Understood. Written by Joel Bretscher and Dr. Kenneth Haugk, the book presents a fresh approach to empathy through practical ideas and real-life examples. It equips readers to relate in ways that can make a real difference in what some have called an “empathy crisis.”
It’s widely agreed that more empathy would be a good thing for all of us. The benefits of empathy—greater compassion, stronger relationships, bridged divides—are greatly needed in our world today. The Gift of Empathy adds a practical voice to the conversation, taking an in-depth look at empathy as a learnable skill and laying out a unique two-action definition of empathy. It discusses what empathy is and isn’t, common obstacles to effective empathizing, and how to apply empathy in a wide range of situations and relationships—with spouses, significant others, children, parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, and more.
Learn more here.
| |
|
New Horizons Presbyterian Church
Join us for a journey through Lent
“Lighthouses - Jesus is the Light in our Darkness”
- Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, February 14th—Service at 7:00 p.m.
- Lenten Lunches: Tuesdays (Feb. 20, 27, Mar. 5, 12 & 19) 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (Jubilee Hall)
Soup and drinks provided. Bring your sandwich to go with the soup if you would like. Please let us know if you plan on attending so we know how much soup to prepare. During lunch, there will be a devotional and time to reflect.
9424 Everman Ave., Overland, MO 63114, (314) 427-0841
| |
|
St. Mark Trivia Night - Youth Mission Fundraiser.
Sat., Feb. 24 at 5:00 pm
Theme: "Helping Our Youth Spring into Service"
Grab 7 of your closest trivia-loving friends and head to St. Mark on
Saturday, February 24th, 2024. Registration is open through February 11th. Registration forms can be obtained through the church office.
The cost is $200 per table – that’s just $25 per person!
Doors open at 5 pm and trivia starts at 6 pm. There will also be a silent auction, games, and prizes. Participants may bring their own beverage of choice –water and soda will be provided. Look for the registration forms on the Youth Table in the Narthex and on the St. Mark website, www.discoverstmark.org
All proceeds benefit the 2024 St. Mark Youth Group Summer Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast to help with hurricane relief.
| |
|
TIPS FOR CARING FOR GOD'S AMAZING CREATION:
Plan to have a worship service centered on God's creation and how to care for it, preferably in April, Earth Day Month!
"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of Presbytery which monitors the ten Earth Care Congregations in the Presbytery and advocates for low-income, indigenous, and people of color who are most often hurt worst and first by environmental degradation. Contact: carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378.
| |
SMALL CHURCH SABBATICAL FUND CREATED | |
|
The Presbytery through the Omnibus Motion at the most recent gathering approved the guidelines established by the Commission on Ministry for use of the “Small Church Sabbatical Fund.”
A “sabbatical” concept is rooted in the Hebrew concept of the sabbatical year to be observed every seven years, allowing land to rest and lie fallow. The concept has been adopted widely within the academic community for a period of rest, study, and/or travel. More recently, the value of a sabbatical period for pastors has been recognized as providing benefits to both pastor and congregation and the ministry they share.
Learn more by clicking here.
| |
|
Welcoming Asylum Seekers - A Message from PDA
As many migrants arrive in communities far from the U.S.-Mexico border, Presbyterians around the country are stepping up to welcome them. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Migration Accompaniment Ministries is holding a Welcoming Asylum Seekers coordination call to facilitate connection and networking between Presbyterians doing this important work. The call will take place on Wednesday, February 21 at 12:30 pm (Central). If you are currently engaged in this work and have not received our invitation, please contact Lucy McDermott or Susan Krehbiel.
| |
Presbytery Staff Contact Information | |
|
Presbytery Moderator - Elder, Lorenzo Clayton
Presbytery Vice-Moderator - Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess
Vision Team Moderator - Rev. Mel Smith
| | | | |
