Trading Places:

A Poverty Simulation

GBM's Faith in Community Workgroup invites you, your congregation, civic engagement group or school to plan a Trading Places event as we develop our calendar. GBM's Trading Places Poverty Simulation is an interactive experience aimed at helping the community more fully understand the experience of poverty. Contact Rev. Carolyn for more details about this program or to schedule a simulation for your group.

Older Adults and Climate Change: What Can We Do?

People over 60 possess a lot of power. Learn what that power is and how to apply it to improving our planet for future generations on January 24 when Presbyterians for Earth Care present a webinar on older adults and climate change.

Older Adults and Climate Change Webinar

Tuesday, January 24

7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. 

Learn more

Read more about the speakers and register to attend at presbyearthcare.org/older-adults-climate-change/. 

Association of Smaller Congregations

Save the Date

March 2 - 5, 2023

Keynote Speaker: Lisa Culpepper

Click the link below for more information including how to register.

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 Donations

Bring your usable furniture, furnishings, items and gently used clothing, etc. to the NEW Presbyterian Home for Children's Thrift Store donation center in the parking lot of Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church. Donations will be accepted every third Friday of the month from 9:00 AM - Noon.

The Home has a second donation drop off location at Southminster Presbyterian in the church parking lot. Donations will be accepted only on the first Saturday of every month from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. 

Look for the box truck onsite for your donation drop off. 

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

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.

Online Church Services

Newsletters, Bulletins, News

• Montreat Conference Center
• Presbyterian Outlook
• Presbyterians Today
• Presbyterian Historical Society

Invitation to Dinner

with Dr. Ivan Rusyn

South Highland Presbyterian Church is honored to welcome Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary in Kyiv, Ukraine on Wed. Feb. 8, 2023 to update us on the incredible courageous ministry and mission being undertaken by the Seminary and Church in Kyiv in the midst of the horrendous war. Dr. Rusyn is also quite involved in fighting anti-Semitism in Ukraine as well. Dinner will be served at 5:30 (please make reservations at jjones@southhighland.org.) Program is at 6:30.

New Program offered

Johnson C Smith Theological Seminary is recruiting up to fifteen participants for the new program called "Lead Change: A Certificate in Faith Community Formation." The 10-Month long course is designed to support leaders of New Worshiping Groups, church redevelopment projects, and traditional congregations that desire to consider fresh approaches to ministry that question the dominant culture narratives that have largely defined the experience of our churches. The content will center the perspectives and experiences Black, Indigenous and other People of Color, those who are LGBTQIA+, and immigrants to the United States. It will be divided into five units: Theological Formation, Interculturality, Community Faith Formation, Worship Leadership and Community Transformation. Each of the five units will be led by a team of two Learning Guides chosen for their unique, non-traditional understandings and experiences of ministry. 

The cost of the program is $3,375, plus $100 each for up to five elective workshops. Lead Change will kick-off on Tuesday, March 7th and will meet by zoom almost every Tuesday from 7 - 9:30 pm eastern time for ten months. This program may be particularly useful for lay people who desire to work with their Presbytery to become Certified Lay Pastors or Certified Ruling Elders, or for those who are seeking to start New Worshiping Communities with the support of the Mid-Council. More information can be found at www.jcsts.org.

Living River News

Living River Sunday- This year, for Transfiguration Sunday, consider hosting Living River Sunday on February 19th for your congregation! Living River staff are creating a full liturgy, sermon material references, announcement blurb, and bulletin insert. We ask that pastoral staff would consider designating the offering or a portion of that Sunday's offering to Living River and its ministry. The Living River Sunday packet will be emailed out to presbytery pastoral leadership by January 19th. We hope this will be helpful to worship leadership in bringing a new spirit to Transfiguration Sunday and sharing about the gifts of camp ministry! The liturgy and sermon material will all connect the themes of Transfiguration Scriptures and the gifts of Living River (not too hard to do with the presence of nature, encounter with God, and tents). Please reach out to Rev. Rachel Mathews, rvmathews@livingriver.org with any questions. 

Welcoming New Board Members- Living River extends deep gratitude to its board members who rolled off the board at the end of 2022: Steve Ashworth, Shirley Finley, Jay Patton, Nick Reed, Emily Roberts, and Laura Underhill. We welcome our new board members: J Benoit, April Harrell, Benga Harrison, and Lili Kane. The ministry of Living River would not be possible without its board members who give of their time, energy, and resources. Thank you! 

Matthew 25

Living into the vision: PC(USA) discerns what it means to be a Matthew 25 church

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:

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/matthew-25/become-a-matthew-25-church/

Matthew 25 in the PC(USA):

A bold vision and invitation

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES November 2022 YTD