Ask the Rev. Doctor Maria
Interim Rector at Christ Church in Rolla
A big piece of what is keeping church leaders in many denominations (not just ours) extremely cautious is the demographics of most mainline churches in the United States, and it's a demographic we've all known about for years. About 1/4 of regular churchgoers in the mainline denominations are over age 65, and more than half are over age 50. That's quite a few folks in the higher risk group.
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Our web page resource.
What will you find there?
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Presbytery Upcoming Virtual Meetings
Mon., July 20
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Social Witness Team Voting Alert
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Absintee & Mail In Ballot Deadline Request July 22
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Social Witness Policy Action Team
Missouri August 4, 2020 Election
VOTING ALERT
If you're fearful about contacting COVID-19 at the polls, please contact your Board of Election Commission to request an Absentee Ballot or Mail-in-Ballot. The request must be received no later than July 22!
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Although Illinois' next election takes place November Tuesday, November 3, applications are now being taken for mail in ballots. The deadline for requesting a Mail In Ballot is October 29.
Click here for details.
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Mail In Ballot Application
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Webster Groves Presbyterian Church
Free Notary Services
Sunday, July 19 & Sunday, July 26
12 p.m. to 3 p.m
.
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church will offer free mail-in ballot notarization services on Sunday, July 19 from noon to 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday, July 26 from noon to 3:00 p.m. The notary services will be held on the parking lot on the east side of the church, 45 West Lockwood in Webster Groves.
Directions found here
- All Missourians will be able to vote by mail for the August 4 and November 3 elections.
- Participants will need to sign their ballot envelopes in front of the notary, present an ID and sign the notary’s log.
- All voters and participants will be required to wear a mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you. The activity will take place outdoors, rain or shine.
- Share with your congregation, friends and family! For more information, call: Janice Seele 714-642-3376
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Medicaid Expansion On the Ballot
Many Missouri families are slipping through the cracks in our healthcare system — forced to choose between paying for life-saving care and putting food on the table or making a mortgage payment to keep their home. These families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough to be able to afford coverage on the health insurance exchange.
Medicaid expansion closes that coverage gap and ensures that hardworking Missourians will have access to affordable healthcare. It helps people nearing retirement who have lost their insurance, those with chronic medical conditions, and all Missourians who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level (that’s less than $18,000 for an individual or $30,000 for a family of three). Medicaid expansion would provide healthcare to more than 230,000 Missourians - including more than 50,000 parents and 18,000 near retirees.
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Virtual Town Hall
Tuesday, July 21 | 4 p.m.
The League is proud to partner with the YWCA on this free virtual town hall meeting on knowing your rights as a voter, running for office and using your voice for change. Hear from League panelists Jennifer Lohman and Dr. Sabrina W. Tyuse. Dr. Gena McClendon will moderate and share results of her study "Unflinching: The Power of the African American Vote."
The one-hour virtual webinar will be next Tuesday at 4 pm. To get the link, register today at
https://www.ywcastl.org/event/vote
/.
You can post a question on the registration form.
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Current Support Ministry Position Openings
Pastoral Opportunity - First Presbyterian, Ferguson
Administrative Assistant for Program and Pastoral Ministries – Ladue Chapel
Organist/Pianist - First Presbyterian, Jackson, MO
Interim Pastor - John Calvin Presbyterian
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HELP WANTED HIGHLIGHT
Administrative Assistant for Program and Pastoral Ministries – Ladue Chapel Coordinates the activities, including inter and intra committee communications, of the Pastoral Care team, Session and all assigned Congregational committees. Provides technical and organizational support to these groups as needed. Details can be
found here.
Please
click here
for position description, and you may email questions and applications to
[email protected].
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Matthew 25: Dismantling Racism
A Message from PMA
July 29 | 2-3 p.m.
Register today for the next Matthew 25 event on July 29 from 2–3 p.m.
The three focuses of the Matthew 25 vision are to build congregational vitality, eradicate systemic poverty, and dismantle structural racism. In view of the current unrest and protest in our nation, the call to be a Matthew 25 church is more compelling than ever. This may very well be one of the first ways that churches can take steps to bring about racial justice.
Mid council leaders will share how they are using Matthew 25 to impact their ministries and communities, and lead in the challenge to do something every day to raise awareness about the perniciousness of racism and encourage action in response to that awareness.
Register here
.
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Child Abuse: Emerging Trends from the Biggest Legal Threat to Churches
Free Webinar | July 22 @ 11:00 am
What measures does your church take to prevent child abuse? Whether your church has faced a child abuse incident or not, it still remains one of the top reasons churches go to court each year. With that being said, it's important to make sure your church, and more importantly, your children are protected.
Join us on Wednesday, July 22, for a free webinar. We will look at emerging trends in church-related child abuse cases and provide best practices to keep your church safe from child abuse.
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CLC Online Webinar:
Tips & Tools for Navigating the Online System
Wednesday, August 5 | 1:30 p.m. (CT)
Mid-Council Leaders and COM and CPM chairs, register to join Omar Chan and Mason Todd, CLC consultants, as they share valuable information about the online system. Manuel Silva, Manager of Call Process, will be also available to answer questions.
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Regarding Ruling Elders
Ruling elders commit to teaching. Ruling elders have opportunities to help children learn the stories of the faith. They can engage with youth and young adults, talking with them about their joys and struggles and encouraging them in their faith journeys. Ruling elders should be on the constant lookout for resources to share with adults—resources that speak to life’s issues and challenges.
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2020-2021 Planning Calendars
The 2020-2021 Planning Calendars will be $9.75 each. We can mail small orders for the cost of shipping. Orders over 5 will need to be picked up. PC(USA) expects them to be delivered mid to late August.
Email or call Leigh Porter to reserve your copy today, by reaching out to
[email protected]
or 314-772-2395.
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New Worshiping Communities
Dreaming and Discerning
Tues., Aug. 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Although many of our buildings may be closed for now, our churches are creatively open, continuing and even expanding the reach of their mission and ministry, with God’s Spirit inspiring many of us to see visions and dream dreams in ways we might not have imagined a few short months ago.
Learn more here.
Please RSVP your interest to Leigh Porter at
[email protected]
. A Zoom link will be sent to you before the meeting in August.
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Self-Care and Mental Health
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Light for the Darkness
Meeting Day/Time Change
Join us Mondays at 7 p.m.
Feeling anxious or depressed, or know someone who is? Light for the Darkness has started a virtual group for anyone struggling with mental health to connect with others who understand and explore where God may be in the midst, Mondays at 7 pm.
Please connect with Thirza Sayers, who is intimately aware of these struggles, if you have any questions at
[email protected]
or 404.313.4549. Learn more about Light for the Darkness by
clicking here.
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Spiritual Practices
The spiritual practice for July is discernment. Discernment is about more than understanding or decision-making. It is about the holy process of listening for God in a way that seeks to understand God's will and align one's self with it.
Practicing discernment requires a yoking with Christ ... a walking alongside in order to learn from him.
This week, practice reading scripture for understanding instead of affirmation of your previous beliefs, and then applying this new understanding to your actions.
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Let's Talk about Self-Care
These days, it is more and more clear there are those who know the practices of self-care and those who don't. In this short video, Synod Executive Landon Whitsitt offers a brief introduction to caring for our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Click here
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FREE 24 Hour Counseling
Pastors and other Board of Pension members, Cigna is offering a separate 24-hour toll-free help line, to support resiliency during this time of high stress and anxiety, and can be reached by calling 866-912-1687 to connect with qualified clinicians, including licensed social workers, professional counselors, and psychologists, who can provide support and guidance.
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Matthew 25 - In Difficult Times
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We want to hear your stories!
- How is your congregation remaining or becoming even more vibrant?
- How are you reaching out to your neighbors in creative ways?
- How have you participated in the Presbyterians Care Movement?
Send us your comments to
[email protected]
o
r call 314-772-2395. We hope to hear from you soon!
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