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"
Registration for Winter Youth Retreat at Living River is open! Click here for more information and to register.
Monday, February 28
7:00-8:00 pm (EST)
 
Alter: A Dementia-Friendly Congregation Program for African American Churches

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Click here to read the POAMN recent newsletter.
February Presbytery Sermon

If you missed the February Presbytery meeting, below is the sermon given by Rev. Terry Hamilton-Poore. Enjoy!

Women's Connection
August 12-14, 2022

Gather your groups now for Women's Connection 2022 this will be a time for women to ... more information.

Registration is open!
Pandemic Ponderings by:
Rev. Dr. Sue Westfall

Twice a month our General Presbyter, Rev. Dr. Sue Westfall, sends out a meaningful, informative and uplifting blog during these unusual and strange times we are all going through together. Be sure to watch for the email or you may to read her "Ponderings" so far.
PHFC Thrift Store Monthly Donation day at SVPC

The next collection date is Saturday,
March 5, 2022. Bring your usable discards, gently used clothing, etc., to the Presbyterian Home for Children's reception center in the rear parking lot, below the playground of Shades Valley Presbyterian Church.

Volunteers will be on hand to unload your vehicle and to give you a receipt for your tax-deductible donation. The center will be open from 8 AM - 12 noon. To volunteer or for more information, contact Terry Tingle, 256-339-4030.
Celebrate Self-Development of People Sunday on March 13—A message from SDOP

The Self-Development of People (SDOP) Sunday Worship Resource will serve as a guide for you, mid councils, and congregations to become better familiar with the ways that the SDOP national and mid council committees engage in their work through the church and in communities. It includes a sample sermon, hymns, liturgical materials, and stories about SDOP-funded community partners in communities locally, nationally, and internationally. Also included is other helpful material for congregations to celebrate this special Sunday. We are hopeful that this resource inspires you to support this ongoing work through the One Great Hour of Sharing collected on Easter Sunday.

You are invited to join the struggle is real webinar series on the intersectionality of poverty and varied social justice issues with church and community leaders. Email us for more information or to sign up. If you missed the last couple of webinars, you can find them here.
“Becoming Prayer: Incarnation Makes Mystics of Us All”
The Rev. Dr. Vincent Pizzuto, Presenter
Saturday, March 12, 2022
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Birmingham, AL
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Rev. Joe Slane's wife, Beverly, is the coordinator and they are both on the Leadership Team for Contemplative Outreach Birmingham - which supports the ministry of Centering Prayer groups in central and north Alabama.
Joe and Beverly are are planners and sponsors (with others!) of the March 12 event described in the attachment.
Joe quotes, "Vincent Pizzuto is an outstanding speaker and author".
Pastoral Leadership
in the Church
Faith leaders face ever increasing challenges in the age of COVID-19 and political polarization. Many people in ministry feel they are over-resourced and under-connected. They can find nearly anything in a book or online, but they don’t have friends and peers in ministry with whom they can relate and make sense of what they are thinking or facing, especially in terms of pastorally approaching issues of conflict in the church. Join the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee for a public lecture and community conversation with Dr. Lisa Thompson on Saturday February 26 at 11:00am CT addressing these issues for an event titled, "Pastoral Leadership in the Church." Register here: https://pbymidtn.org/committee-on-leadership-excellence/
 
Dr. Thompson is Associate Professor and the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chancellor Faculty Fellow of Black Homiletics and Liturgics at the Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion of Vanderbilt University. Dr. Thompson will address how faith leaders deal with conflict in the church and how they navigate power dynamics, with an emphasis on the pastoral work of leaders (lay and clergy) in the church.
Mark your calendars:
February 24
Join Public Services Associate Sonia Prescott on February 24 at 5pm EST as she welcomes the Reverend Jimmie Hawkins for a conversation about his new book, Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America.

As the Director of the Office of Public Witness, Jimmie Hawkins continues the Presbyterian tradition of advocating for a more just world through public policy. Hear what compelled Rev. Hawkins to write about the history of Black protest in America, how Presbyterians have been involved in movements for racial equality, and how the PC(USA) can ensure it’s documenting the current calls for racial justice.

CLICK THIS LINK to join the Zoom session beginning at 4:55pm Thursday, February 24. Add this event to your Outlook calendar.
Registration for
Racial Justice Pilgrimage
Opens Thursday!
Day of Learning: Planned Giving

The Presbyterian Foundation is pleased to offer the Day of Learning again with presentations and conversation about planned giving programs and best practices for your congregation. There will be time for questions and answer and an opportunity to access giving resources.
 
Join us March 29th for this FREE learning opportunity.
 
1:00 p.m. ET Ellie Johns-Kelley, Ministry Relations Officer, and Karl Mattison, Vice-President for Planned Giving Resources will present on how to build a planned giving program from basics to advanced for all church sizes and needs.
 
4:00 p.m. ET join Olanda Carr as he engages in conversation with a PCUSA pastor to explore the practical workings of a planned giving program and how to talk to individuals about making a planned gift.
 
To register online for this FREE learning opportunity: https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/day-of-learning-planned-giving-registration/
Matthew 25

So what does it mean to be a Matthew 25 church – one that lives into Jesus’ teaching from Matthew’s Gospel to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the stranger, the prisoner, those in need? Click the link above to read more.

If your church has recently become a Matthew 25 church, would you please let the Presbytery office know? You may email Tammy to confirm. Also, please register on the Matthew 25 website below and your church will receive a packet of resources from PMA:


Bulletin Inserts Available

Click here to read shared stories.
Click here to share your story.

A new video has been released that shares a powerful story about two churches who answered the Matthew 25 invitation to focus on racism and poverty and its impact on their congregational vitality. It models a way to address difficult topics from a place of grace and reconciliation. The video is available to download and use in your journey.
Online Church Services

Several churches in our presbytery have made available live-streaming, Facebook live, or other platforms of their Sunday worship services. We are aware of the following churches (click the link below) that are offering these platforms and will plan to continue services on Sundays so their church members can participate in worship from home. If you are not on the list and would like to be added, please let Tammy know.

Perry Dallas County Fund

The Perry and Dallas County Fund has been set up to provide aid to mission work in Perry and Dallas Counties. In particular, funds will be provided to a local agency, C.E.T. Ministries. Please consider donating to this fund. Contact Ralls Coston for more information. Read more... View the flyer
Register for You & Me Retreat!
Click the flyer below for full size.
Click here to view the Presbyterian Outlook newsletter.
View the latest issue of Presbyterian's Today.
Click here for news from the Board of Pensions.
Stewardship Education for Everyone

Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2022 has over 32 workshops lined up with expert perspectives on everything from preaching stewardship, building programs, and activating your congregation to ecumenical perspectives on generosity and building philanthropic capacity. 
This year online participants will select from two presentations in three of the workshop blocks, and will have access to an exclusive online-only program in the fourth. 
Best of all registration costs will remain the same as 2021 pricing, including additional discounts for in-person group attendees (the more people who come together from a congregation the more you save), and a brand new opportunity for First Call Pastors to attend at half the regular registration fee. 
We hope you will join us in Savannah, Georgia or online September 26 - 28.

More information is available at StewardshipKaleidoscope.org.

Early-bird registration will open in early April.
Click "more" below for news from Montreat Conference Center: Arts, Conferences and more....
PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES December 2021 YTD  

Sue Westfall
General Presbyter

Tammy Strickland
Presbytery Administrator
Assistant to the Stated Clerk

Bookkeeping

Peter Finley
Stated Clerk

Linda Burrowes
Recording Clerk

Jean Russell
Treasurer

Ralls Coston
Volunteer Mission Coordinator

Pat Goodman
Volunteer Nurture Coordinator

James Ephraim
Volunteer Liaison for
African American Churches
Updated Presbytery office hours for staff during the Pandemic:
9 AM - 4 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday, staff works from home Tuesday and Thursday.
Immanuel PCUSA in Montgomery is searching for an individual to serve as part-time Director of Family Ministries; for full position description contact the Immanuel Church Office - 
334-260-0567
First Presbyterian Church
of Phenix City, AL is looking for a
New Part-time Pastor. Click here for the job description.
First Presbyterian Church
of Tuscaloosa, AL is looking for a
a Youth Director to join their team to Connect, Grow and Serve. Click here for more information
Below is a list of job opportunities in the Presbyterian Church (USA) A Corporation.  To apply online, please visit www.pcusa.org/jobs.


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