Looking to the Weekend
Saddened to Report
Socially Distant Mission Opportunity
Individually or as a Church
Webster Groves Still on Mission.....
We are STILL on a Mission in 2020
Saturday, October 3rd & Sunday, October 4th
Times are different, but we will still be joining together in mission this year for our annual (COVID modified) Mission Weekend.
There are a variety of physically distanced projects to participate in, so take a look at the projects listed below and head over to our Mission Weekend Signup to find a way to help!
If you would like to participate in the Deacon's Blood Drive on Saturday the 3rd, the easiest way to pick a time slot is to click here: blood drive signup.
Voting During a Pandemic
Get Ready to Vote:
Early, By Mail, or In Person! 
 Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 
You must be registered to vote. You can check to see if you are registered to vote, Missouri, here, and in Illinois, hereIf not you may register to vote online in Missouri here and in Illinois, here.
Be a prepared and knowledgeable voter - See your voting options here
Upcoming Events & News
Presbytery Upcoming Virtual Meetings

Mon., Sept. 21
12pm - New Teaching Elders - Click Here
Wed., Sept. 23
12pm - Interim/Transitional- Click Here

News & Updates
Clerks of Session, Personnel, Treasurers
& Pastors
Board of Pensions is providing a Benefits Webcast to highlight the 2021 Benefits Plan. Our Board of Pensions, Rev. Kevin Keaton, is offering the following one hour webinar to go over changes and answer any questions you might have. Please add one of these dates to your schedule.
To better serve congregations in the our region, Kevin will be offering four webinars on the following dates:
  • Wednesday, September 23 at 2:00 pm CDT
  • Thursday, September 24 at 10:00 am CDT
Those interested in participating are asked to send a request to him at kkeaton@pensions.org so that h may provide them with a GoToMeeting link and advance materials. Link can be shared with those in your congregation that might find this information helpful.
Installation Celebration Honoring Rev. Melanie Smith
Sunday, September 20 | 4:30-6:00 p.m. (drop-in any time)
Ladue Chapel Parking Lot
 Seoul Taco food truck! (purchase your own food)
Ice cream truck! (compliments of the church)
 Wear masks | Health waivers distributed to sign upon arrival
Church building closed
We need to keep numbers to no more than 50 at one time (socially distanced), so we plan to keep guests flowing in and out."
Cote Brilliante Celebrates 64 Years
(Since its Reopening in 1956)
Sun., Sept. 20 | 12 p.m.
Celebratory Service will be held via Zoom on Sunday, September 20 at 12 p.m.
Rev. Clyde Crumpton and Congregation welcome all to attend this celebration. Please call 314-281-2770 for the Zoom Access Code.
First Presbyterian - Fredericktown
The final worship service for First Presbyterian Church, Fredericktown, will be held on Sunday, September 20, at 3:00 pm at the church. THE IN-PERSON EVENT IS BY INVITATION ONLY. Social distancing will be followed and masks will be required. A video recording of the final worship service will be posted on G-L Presbytery’s website and a link will be included in the Presbytery newsletter for a few weeks after the service for anyone interested to view.
Save the Date!
Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m.
for a Virtual Installation Service
of Rev. Daniel Ervin.
Rev. Ervin will be the first Installed Pastor of LoveJoy United Presbyterian.
Join the worship by computer, tablet or smart phone by going to: http://lovejoyupc.org/live/ and click "Connect Via Zoom" or call in at Dial +1 (669) 900-6833 and then at the prompt enter: 611 784 858#
--- --- ---
Please note that there will be no 10:15 AM Service that day.
Come to the church at 5:30 PM for a parking lot parade to
celebrate with Daniel!
Paula Cooper
I pray that all is well with you and yours during these days of navigating uncharted waters with God’s help! I greet you in the name of our Risen Savior, Jesus, the Christ, from Lusaka, Zambia.
Educational Opportunities
CLC Online Webinar
for Call Seekers Tools for Navigating the Online System
Wed., Sept. 23 at 1 pm (Central)

Faith & Fiction
In these pandemic reading can be a means for “being” in another place for a while. Fiction has the ability not only to tell a story, but also to speak to matters of truth. If you are interested in joining with others in a zoom book discussion group focused on “Faith and Fiction” contact me, Rev. Karen Blanchard, at kblanchard@kirkwoodpres.org and we will select a mutually agreeable time beginning in October. We will begin with Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger and select other books together.
Union Seminary Online Workshop:
Pastoral Care Within a Pandemic
September 30 & October 1
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Many faith and church leaders continue to search for ways to connect with their parishioners in virtual, although creative and meaningful, ways. Likewise, the pandemic itself has heightened pastoral care concerns in a variety of ways. This online workshop will address some of those concerns. Additionally, a portion of this workshop will be dedicated to allowing participants to voice their own concerns, with conversation facilitated around those concerns and time provided to reflect together on some pastoral care resources that might be helpful in the midst of the current crisis. Part of the purpose of this online workshop is to enable participants to explore current pastoral care concerns together within the context of a global pandemic.
Rethinking Evangelism
October 12-14
The department of Theology, Formation, and Evangelism is inviting you and your churches to the Rethinking Evangelism Conference, October 12–14, 2020. This virtual event will feature Ralph Watkins (Columbia Theological Seminary), Mark Ramsey (Macedonia Ministries), and others for an event you won’t want to miss. Come as a church group or as an individual to explore what it means to practice evangelism in these transformative times.
Art of Transitional Leadership
Virtual Training
Our partner, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, is offering the Art of Transitional Leadership virtual training the week of October 12-15, 2020. Please visit their website to learn more and register. Click here for details
THE CHALLENGE OF ANTIRACISM:
Are We Willing To Stand Where God Stands?
Webniar Begins October 4
This 4-week webinar series seeks to offer participants language and frameworks they can use to talk about systemic racism and white supremacy in effective and nuanced ways. Participants will be engaged in an exploration of what antiracism is and how it will challenge the church to reckon with her historical and current investment in the ideology of white supremacy and systemic racism.
Each 90-minute webinar will consist of 60 minutes of presentation and teaching followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. Learn more by clicking here.

Self-Care and Mental Health
Please reach out…
Recently our Presbytery Leader sent out an article about the challenges of being a pastor during the pandemic. The article “Too many pastors are falling on their own swords” was posted on August 21st and it struck many of us as a wake up call to the reality of the difficulties of doing ministry in this time. Whether you are a pastor, CLP, elder, staff, member, or visitor, Light for the Darkness invites you to talk one-on-one or with our group to share thoughts, insights and struggles. Being connected with others, especially in this time of limited contacts, can be helpful and becoming part of Light for the Darkness may be a good fit for you. Being in conversation with those who understand what you are going through can help to ease the challenges of anxiety and depression and feelings of isolation.  
Light for the Darkness offers a safe place to reach out whether as a starting point, as a place to receive information on mental health and support resources that are available, or as a place to connect to others feeling similarly.  It is our hope that you will find our group a helpful way for you to explore where God is in the midst of these challenging times with others who are feeling sim. 
We meet Mondays at 7pm via Zoom
Contact me about this group or to speak one-on-one, Thirza Sayers, 404.313.4549, thirzasayers@gmail.com
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
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.
Matthew 25 - In Difficult Times
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 lporter@glpby.org or call 314-772-2395. We hope to hear from you soon!