Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley

"partner with and equip present and emerging

PC(USA) faith communities in central Alabama

to serve Christ and our neighbors"

CRE Robert Emerick will be preaching on Wednesday, April 16th.


Several of our churches will be having Holy Week services.

Please be sure to check their websites for more information.

E-Recycling & Shredding Event @ IPC

Independent Presbyterian Church

Thursday, April 24, 2025

10:00 am 2:00 pm

Large Parking Lot


This event is a wonderful way to extend your Lenten practices by responsibly recycling your old electronics and shredding unneeded documents. This year, IPC has partnered with Gone for Good, an organization founded by United Ability, who provides meaningful employment to around 100 adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

We will be accepting paper and the following types of electronics for no charge: computers and related electronics, cell phones, communications equipment, laptops, flat screen monitors, PDAs or handheld games, printers, servers, routers or hubs, and audio components. Household appliances and televisions will not be accepted.


CONTACT INFO: Catherine Sager

csager@ipc-usa.org

The Presbytery Office will be closed April 18th

in recognition of Good Friday.

Join the Fight Against Malaria: Free Webinar on World Malaria Day


This World Malaria Day, April 25, the Presbyterian Malaria Vaccine Advocacy Team (PMVAT) will host a free webinar, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EDT). The event will focus on the life-saving potential of new malaria vaccines and ways to advocate for vaccine access in low-income countries.


Register at worldmalariadaywebinar.eventbrite.com.


Malaria kills more than 600,000 people every year, with most deaths occurring in Africa. Four out of five victims are children under five. The Presbyterian Malaria Vaccine Advocacy Team, formed by Africa mission networks affiliated with Presbyterian Church (USA), is .... Read more

Kendrick Lamar's America:

Game Recognizes Game w/ D. Danyelle Thomas

On the evening of Saturday, April 26th, First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham will welcome theologian, author, and activist D. Danyelle Thomas (@unfitchristian on Instagram) for KENDRICK LAMAR'S AMERICA: GAME RECOGNIZES GAME! 

This event is FREE to the public, but an RSVP is required. D. Danyelle Thomas will join us at FPC to unpack and explore the meaning of Kendrick Lamar's subversive and politically-charged Super Bowl performance, the urgent message that Black art has for all those who long for a more just society, and the importance of uplifting marginalized voices in a nation so committed to suppression. Danyelle is a catalyst for building communities for transformative justice. Her work challenges legacies of racism, white supremacy, and marginalization of non-white, cisgender, heterosexual bodies by making theology public, accessible, and inclusive. Her newly released book, The Day God Saw Me as Black is a cultural critique of white supremacy in the Black Pentecostal religious experience through the lenses of race, gender, sexual expression, and class analyses. We hope you will join us for this exciting event on April 26th (doors open at 5pm; event starts at 6pm)!


RSVP Link: 

https://forms.gle/isyHXDqZEK3CAVA16

Providence Presbyterian Church Last Worship Service

Dear Friends, 

 

“Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the word around!” These lines from a joyous communion hymn remind us that God’s self is imbedded in all of God’s fantastical creation. In recognition and celebration, we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd. 


You are invited to a special zoom gathering of our presbytery’s Earth Care Congregations, along with individuals or congregations that care about the life of this planet and want to be part of a broader movement in caring for it and the universe on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:30pm. 


We will gather to share stories of what we have been doing in and for care of the earth, our concerns and hopes for earth care at this time, and where we see God moving. 

The link is below:

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3109121510?omn=83885133417 


If there are others in your congregation who should receive this invitation, please pass it along to them. I’m really looking forward to our Earth Care Congregations getting together and sharing with each and with other interested people what we are doing and hoping on behalf of the Earth!


Sue

The Book of Revelation:

All Creation's Hallelujah


Dr. Robert A. Bryant is the Kristen Herrington Professor of Bible at Presbyterian College. He holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech and an M.Div. and Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Union Presbyterian Seminary. He joined PC’s Department of Religion and Philosophy in 1998 and teaches general education courses in Old and New Testament, upper-level New Testament courses, and biblical Greek.



presbyearthcare.org


Rev. Sam Hamilton-Poore will be hosting this webinar on April 29, 2025

Please be sure to check out the job openings within our Presbytery at the bottom of this page.

Immanuel celebrates “A Season of Creation”


Immanuel celebrates “A Season of Creation” – each week celebrating the presence of the Holy in the midst of the created order. This year the Season begins on September 1 with a Celebration of the Gift of Creation. The overall theme for 2024 is “To Hope and Act with Creation”, inspired by Romans 8.19-2. The weeks that follow will include Climate Sunday, Solar Sunday, Atmosphere Sunday, and we will conclude the Season with Rainbow Covenant Sunday. Music, prayers, affirmations, and liturgical art will 

Read  More of Immanuel's Earth Care Reflection

Grant Applications Now Open!

General Assembly Grants for Congregations and Presbyteries


The 2025 General Assembly Unassigned Fund Grant Program application period is now open. Find information on the funds available and all application materials. The final deadline for submissions is July 1. Please contact Interim Unified Agency staff with questions: RFOS-PCUSA@pcusa.org.


Registration is now open for Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2025

Stewardship: The Art of Resiliency.  


Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an ecumenical conference planned by volunteers from the PCUSA and ELCA, is designed for pastors and lay leaders to provide practical tools to strengthen your congregation's stewardship and generosity programs. This year’s conference will be in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 22-24, with an online virtual registration option as well. In-person attendees will be able to choose from dozens of workshops in addition to attending diverse plenary sessions and worship experiences. Virtual attendees will be able to join us for live-streamed and recorded plenaries and worship, and will also have access to 8 workshops, 4 of which will be available via be livestream. 


Registration rates as are follows:

Early Bird In-Person Registration (through June 30): $360

First Call Pastor or Seminary Student In-Person Registration: $200

Virtual Attendee Registration: $150

After June 30, regular In-Person Registration increases to $385.


Rooms at our event hotel, the Sheraton New Orleans Canal Street, are offered at the discounted rate of $179/night if you book by August 29.


Grants are available through the Presbyterian Foundation to assist pastors and New Worshiping Community leaders to attend the conference. For more information, visit https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/resources/church-financial-literacy-and-leadership-program/grant/ or contact your Ministry Relations Officer, Rev. Dana Waters at dana.waters@presbyterianfoundation.org

Healthy Boundaries Training


All ministers and ruling elders are required to participate in Healthy Boundary Training for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. Below is a link to a Jotform Registration Form. This registration form contains registration information as well as the link to the video (which is password protected) and the password. The video takes you to another link for you to watch the content.  

 

After watching, It is very important to return to the Jotform, acknowledge your completion and SUBMIT the form. This will ensure the stated clerk receives notice that you have completed the training.  

 

Thank you for participating in the required Healthy Boundaries training. Your comments on both the process and the content are welcome. Please reply to our Stated Clerk if you have any questions and/or wish to share your comments.

 

Registration and link to Healthy Boundary Training for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley


Dallas County Long Term Recovery Group


This Presbytery has been involved with the Dallas County LTRG (Long Term Recovery Group) for the past year. The LTRG is working on Selma’s recovery from the January 2023 tornado which destroyed or damaged so much of Selma and Dallas County. So far, the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley has distributed over $31,000 to six cases in Selma. This money has been used to replace beds, tables, washing machines, dryers and roofing for the six different families impacted by the tornado. The funds for these cases came from contributions from the Presbyterian Disaster Fund, Independent Presbyterian Church, Southminster Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian-Wetumpka and Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church. Thank you to all the donors.


There is still plenty to do in Dallas County/Selma’s recovery. Other organizations, such as United Way, Mennonite Disaster Services, Lutheran Disaster Services, Gospel Tabernacle Church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, and the Edmundite Missions of the Catholic Church are some of the workers/contributors to Selma’s recovery.


 This Presbytery can continue to help by providing funds to the Presbytery’s Perry/Dallas County Fund. Both churches and individuals may contribute to this fund. And, as the United Methodist case managers provide the cases, we can continue to help.

PAM Worship & Music Conference:

“Clothed In Love”


Join musicians and worship leaders for the most widely attended annual conference of the PC(USA) denomination, June 15 – 20 and June 22 – 27, 2025, at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina!​ Together, we will create music, learn, and worship. Your participation is an investment in the dynamic growth of our denomination as we explore the promising future together. Register now.

Ministry in the church can be life-giving and life-changing and, in the midst of it, we all need faithful companions along the road. Welcome to Along the Road – a podcast on faith and leadership for ministry leaders of the PC(USA).

Newsletters, Bulletins, News


Reminders


Just a reminder that the Presbytery office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday's from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (4 PM on Friday). The staff work from home on Tuesday and Thursday's.


Please check with the office for availability before scheduling committee meetings.

On-going Newsletter Articles


Ponderings by: Rev. Dr. Sue Westfall

PHFC Thrift Store Donations

Perry Dallas County Fund

Online Church Services

Matthew 25

Selma Disaster Relief Funding

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES February 2025 YTD  




Sue Westfall

General Presbyter

swestfall@pslpcusa.org


Tammy Strickland

Presbytery Administrator

Assistant to the Stated Clerk

tstrickland@pslpcusa.org


Bookkeeping

accounting@pslpcusa.org


Jay Wilkins

Stated Clerk

statedclerk@pslpcusa.org


Linda Burrowes

Recording Clerk

lburrowes@pslpcusa.org


Jean Russell

Treasurer

jabrussell@gmail.com


Ralls Coston

Volunteer Mission Coordinator

rcoston@pslpcusa.org


Pat Goodman

Volunteer Nurture Coordinator

pgoodman@pslpcusa.org


James Ephraim

Volunteer Liaison for

African American Churches

jamesephraim61@gmail.com



Grace Presbyterian (PCUSA), Tuscaloosa, AL seeks a 20 hour/week part-time Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries who will develop and lead comprehensive ministries for children and youth, fostering spiritual growth, and creating a safe and engaging environment for faith development through various activities and events.


More information...

South Highland is currently looking for someone to join our team of Sextons, which perform janitorial and custodial tasks, among other duties. Must be able to lift at least 30 pounds, work 35-40 hours per week, some weekends and occasional nights till 8-9 p.m. Must have a good work ethic and love to serve! Great environment and congregation. Good pay and after 90 days, eligible for medical insurance, vacation pay and other benefits. A person that can do light maintenance is a plus. Please email Dina Glass or call 205-933-0790 if you would like to set up an interview.

Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church (MBPC) is currently seeking to fill the full-time position of Director of Youth and Christian Education. 

MBPC is a gospel-driven church that views everything through the lens of the two great commandments - love God and love your neighbor. MBPC is dedicated to nurturing these Gospel values in the Mountain Brook community but is keen to remember its place in the greater Birmingham area. MBPC hosts a worship service that leans traditional. However, in the last three years, MBPC has sought to faithfully and artfully implement contemporary components into the service - especially its musical components which seem to hit all the right notes (pun intended!) of balancing the "oldies but goodies" with vibrant and joyful contemporary music. MBPC has been blessed with small, but steady growth in its congregation and worship services. As a result, more and more children are coming through the doors. As such, MBPC is seeking director of Youth and Christian Education who has the maturity, energy, and professionalism to help MBPC navigate its path towards growth without compromising its gospel values. Additionally, MBPC is seeking someone who can exemplify the joy of our faith and help steer our children in that joyful direction!

A full job description is attached. Additional information about our church can be found on our website at mbpcusa.org. If you, or anyone you know in your organization is interested in applying for the position, please email your resume directly to me at mroberts@mbpcusa.org. Or, you can visit this LINK on indeed to apply for the job.

First Presbyterian Church - Alexander City is seeking pulpit supply until they can fill their pastoral vacancy. Their worship services are on Sundays at 11:00 for one hour. If you are interested, please call the church office at (256) 329-0524.

“If you are interested in applying for our pastoral vacancy, please visit the CLC. Our MDP is posted there for details.”

First Presbyterian Church, Eufaula, is looking for pulpit supply in a transitional period. Please contact Sue Westfall, General Presbyter for details. 520.490.1261.

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL is in need of a Musician. If you or someone you know are interested in applying, please contact the church office at

(205) 322-0161 for more information.



3603 Lorna Ridge Drive ~ Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 205-978-0320 ~ Fax: 205-978-0330
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