Congo Pentecost Offering

On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley will collect the Congo Pentecost Offering. All funds collected will go to the Presbytery's Congo Mission Team, to be used for mission projects in DR Congo. This year, the Congo Mission Team has already sent over $5,000 to Dr Congo to help pay tuition for Congolese students. In past years, we have helped build schools, bought motorcycles, Bibles, aided the IMCK Hospital, and other projects.



Churches and individuals can give to the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley-Congo Partnership. Please mark your donations for: Congo Pentecost offering. Below is a letter from the Congo Partnership Team and a Minute for Mission that can be shared in your worship service.

Letter from Congo Team

Congo Pentecost Offering Minute for Mission

AUTHOR EVENT: MaryAnn McKibben Dana presents BETTER THAN NORMAL, in conversation with Joe Genau

You are invited to the 125th Anniversary of

Bethel Presbyterian Church

May 17, 2026

We will celebrate with a concert, worship and a meal after the

worship service in the fellowship hall.

7100 Watermelon Road

Northport, AL 35473

The New Way of Global Engagement

Staff from the office of Global Ecumenical Partnerships welcome you from across the globe and invite you to join them in forming meaningful and sustainable partnerships across denominations, faiths, and cultures to restore relationships with each other, with God, and with creation. To learn more, go to http://pcusa.org/gep 

New Clergy Cohorts: Bridge to Ministry

(Initiative of Austin Seminary)

Austin Seminary recently received a Lilly grant to create cohorts for congregational ministers in their first three years of their call, “Bridge to Ministry”. This grant is for new ministers to apply and participate in a transformative, supportive cohort. 

Here is additional information regarding Bridge to Ministry. Our website is www.bridgetoministry.org and the application for cohort participants is now open. 

Bridge to Ministry is designed to support new clergy as they move from theological education into their first call, helping them grow into confident, grounded, and faithful pastoral leaders. The program cultivates a community of collegial support where early-career ministers can share wisdom, ask honest questions without fear, and build relationships that sustain them in the daily realities of congregational ministry.

The cohort provides structured opportunities for spiritual formation,

practical leadership development, and guided reflection—equipping pastors with the tools they need to lead with courage, compassion, and clarity. Through

monthly virtual gatherings, the guidance of a seasoned facilitator, and an

annual in-person retreat, participants deepen their spiritual practices,

strengthen their pastoral identity, and gain essential skills for effective and

sustainable ministry. The cohort experience will begin with a retreat at Mo

Ranch in the Hill Country from August 26-29th, 2026. 

Robes Available

Edgewood Presbyterian has 25 Murphy choir robes to donate. There is a wide variety of sizes. Contact Joe Genau if interested.

A NEXT Church Workshop Series – Spring 2026

CHANGING THE CULTURE OF ASSESSMENT

The traditional metrics of budgets, membership, and attendance are no longer adequate to evaluate success in ministry. Instead of searching for new ways of measuring, we revert to what we know, perpetuating a status quo.

But, if what we are doing matters in our lives and in the world, we must...

Imagine worship that brings together every generation—children, youth, adults, and elders—through creativity, movement, and art. Imagine a space where everyone feels included, inspired, and able to participate fully.

Our upcoming Lifelong Learning workshop is designed just for faith leaders like you—especially those serving small or limited-resource churches. You don’t need a big budget or a large team to foster broad participation in your worship services. You just need a willingness to try something new.

The 2nd Annual

Rural Ideas Conference

June 24–26, 2026

Registration Is Now Open!

The Rural Ideas Conference is a national, ecumenical conference which focuses on rural congregations. We invite pastors, leaders, and members from your church to join us at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR.

Keynote Speaker is

the Rev. Brad Roth

His theme will be,

"It Is Good For Us To Be Here"

There is no cost to attend the conference. We offer free lodging in the new campus dorms. You are welcome to pay for your lodging in a hotel room instead.



At a key moment in the gospel, Jesus leads his disciples up a mountain and resets their vision. With fresh eyes, the disciples begin to imagine how Jesus is leading them into something new. It’s time for a reset in the rural church. We need to learn the art of seeing rural communities and congregations as God sees them—through faith in Jesus’ presence, in hope for the future, and with fresh eyes transfigured by love. In this talk, rural pastor and author Brad Roth will lead us up the mountain with Jesus. Jesus has given us everything we need. Onward!

Register Today! 

1001 New Worshiping Communities Grant Deadline

Grant deadline and award dates have been announced for 2026 1001 New Worshiping Communities grants. More information about the grants can be found HERE.

2026 Submission Dates are: April 28, June 30, and Sept 1.

Please submit applications to nwcgrants@pcusa.org.

Living River Summer Camp and Scholarships 2026

Summer camp registration and scholarship application are now open on both Living River website and the Presbytery web site.

Scholarships ($200 for full week camps and $75 for You & Me - both adult & child) are available on a first come, first serve basis until the funds are depleted. Priority is given to campers from Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley churches.

Prayer Concerns

The family of Ben Arellano.

The family of Monty Clendenin.

Rev. Michael Thurman and family.

Donna Winn and family.

Prayers for Peace in this world.

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

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

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

Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2026

Montreat Conference Center

• April in Montreat
• Grow in faith and friendship at Middle School Conference!

Presbyterian Outlook

• What should the church say?
• Two GA talks: relationships and global mission
• Climate justice, climate hope 📚

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES January 2026 YTD