Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley |
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"partner with and equip present and emerging
PC(USA) faith communities in central Alabama
to serve Christ and our neighbors"
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Fidelity Event
Fidelity will host a virtual Ask Fidelity event on February 1, and they are inviting members to participate. All pastors and church staff are welcome to attend—you do NOT have to be current 403(b) participants to join the event.
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Board Connections
January 10, 2022
In this issue of Board Connections, check out the 2022 Preventive Schedule for this year's tests and screenings. Teladoc can help with your cold, flu, and COVID-19 care. Are you eligible to receive assistance? See if you qualify for one of nine grants from the Assistance Program. Jump-start your New Year's resolutions with Call to Health. Create a checklist to make the most of your FSA. Celebrate the new year with enhanced Medicare Supplement benefits.
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Project Empathy
Has Been Completed!
Project Empathy, a project of the churches in the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, Presbyterian Church USA , has completed its goal of raising money to eliminate medical debt in the Black Belt.
The Presbytery, in partnership with RIP Medical Debt, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit (website: ripmedicaldebt.org), set a goal to raise $50,000 to eliminate $5 million of debt in ten counties in the Black Belt. In fact, we raised a total of $96,859.98! This was completed by March, 2021. However, much of the medical debt in the Black Belt became unavailable for purchase. RIP Medical Debt worked to find more debt in the original ten counties and ... read more.
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2022 Presbyterian Youth Triennium
Sun July 24-Wed July 25
Indianapolis, Indiana
(Indiana Convention Center and Downtown Hotels)
Will we SEE you at the Youth Triennium?
When we DO SEE you we will be overjoyed! There is a place where you can SEE and be SEEN. Where the church sees YOU and Celebrates YOU. Where God’s people gather to SING, CELEBRATE, EXPLORE and learn to SEE what God is doing! Triennium is a gathering for high school age youth (rising high school freshmen through graduated seniors) from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. All Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley participants are registered through the Presbytery registrar, Pat Goodman [email protected]. More information about registration, event plans, venue can be found on the Triennium website www.presbyterianyouthtriennium.org
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PHFC Thrift Store Monthly Donation day at SVPC
The next collection date is Saturday,
February 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.
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News from Presbyterian Outlook
Articles include: Weekly liturgy, General Assembly 2022, Tech Watch, Weekly Christian Education lesson, PDA responds to Colorado wildfires, and more.
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POSTPONED
“This is Our Prayer” You & Me Retreat at Living River January 15 – 17.
Due to the ongoing rise in Covid, the retreat has been tentatively scheduled for April 22-24, 2022.
The registration site is still open for the new date.
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Racial Justice Pilgrimage
Come experience the history of enslavement, civil rights, and the ongoing work of racial justice through a Racial Justice Pilgrimage hosted by the Anti-Racism Committee. The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley is home to sites that are critical to telling the history of our nation around issues of race. Details are still being planned but the three-day pilgrimage will include visits to sites in Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery. The dates are March 17-18, 2022. This Racial Justice Pilgrimage will satisfy the mandatory anti-racism training required every three years. Save the dates. More information to follow!
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to tornado outbreak
As night fell on December 10, a horrific line of powerful tornadoes ripped across several states, ending the lives of more than 100 people and wreaking devastation across many communities by the time morning had broken. One of these tornadoes was on the ground for a terrifying and unprecedented 250 miles, more than 200 of those miles in Kentucky alone, where the town of Mayfield saw the catastrophic destruction of much of the downtown area, including ... read more.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Prayer Concerns
Rev. Leeann Scarbrough and family - on the passing of her Father
The Winter family - ongoing health concerns
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PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES November 2021 YTD
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Sue Westfall
General Presbyter
Tammy Strickland
Presbytery Administrator
Assistant to the Stated Clerk
Bookkeeping
Tom Winter
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
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Updated Presbytery office hours for staff during the Pandemic:
9 AM - 4 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday, staff works from home Tuesday and Thursday.
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First Presbyterian Church
of Phenix City, AL is looking for a
New Part-time Pastor. Click here for the job description.
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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
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Below is a list of job opportunities in the Presbyterian Church (USA) A Corporation. To apply online, please visit www.pcusa.org/jobs.
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3603 Lorna Ridge Drive ~ Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 205-978-0320 ~ Fax: 205-978-0330
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