Registration is now open for the APCE Annual Event, Unforced Rhythms of Grace, January 25-28, 2023, in Birmingham, Alabama. Join the Association of Partners in Christian Education for this opportunity to learn, connect, and renew. The event will be hybrid, offering both in person and online opportunities. Scholarships for online are still available from the PCUSA.

The Annual Event for Association of Partners in Christian Education will be coming to Birmingham in late January. This is a wonderful opportunity for many reasons –

• To Welcome fellow partners in Education to our city and Presbytery
• To participate in an exciting conference with keynotes, activities and workshops 
• To volunteer your time to help others feel at home and find their way around the conference and the city
• To meet some wonderful and creative people

Because this is an important event for us, the Presbytery is encouraging participation as a part of our Main Event “umbrella” and are offering a $150 scholarship to anyone who participates. You can register for the entire event or on a daily basis. On the Presbytery website, you will find links to information about workshops, schedules, and registration. Also, there is a link to apply for the Presbytery Scholarship. For volunteers as the host committee with specific duties, there is a link to request reimbursement for expenses. 

For other questions, please contact Jenny Thagard or Cathy Hoop.  

Mission Co-Workers visit Presbytery

We are so pleased to announce the visit of Rev. Mark Adams and Miriam Maldonado as our guests at the February meeting of presbytery (February 16 at Brown Memorial in Tuscaloosa and via zoom.) Mark and Miriam are PCUSA Mission Co-Workers who have been deployed on the US/Mexico border at Agua Prieta, Mexico, and Douglas, AZ since 1998 with http://fronteradecristo.org/. (I recommend watching the nine minute video on their homepage.) Mark and Miriam bring a wealth of experience and knowledge on issues of immigration, border security, and how even small groups of committed people can make a dramatic difference towards the flourishing of individuals, communities, and nations. They are both very compelling speakers and we are in for an educational and inspiring treat!

They will be in our area February 15 – 19. If you would like to schedule extra time with them (eg, Wednesday night program, meeting with mission committees or sessions, leading classes or preaching) please contact Sue Westfall [email protected] as soon as possible with proposed dates and events. 

Church Music Conference

The Church Music Conference at Furman University, in Greenville, SC, taking place on January 26 and 27, 2023. The guest clinicians for this conference are Rosephanye and William Powell. Rosephanye is one of America’s most celebrated composers of solo vocal and choral music, and William is a distinguished conductor, composer, and choral arranger and editor. They are both on the faculty of Auburn University. The conference will be centered around African-American choral music and Spirituals, and Gospel Music.

Interested Music Directors or other musicians from churches in our Presbytery may follow the link below for more information:

furman.edu/ChurchMusicConference

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

Transitional Ministry Workshops

We’re looking forward to starting Foundations // TMW1 today.

If you haven’t yet signed up for the workshops, here’s a friendly reminder to head to the website and join. Once you’re signed up, remember to login and sign up for 3 monthly discussion group times.

If you’re still wanting to learn more about the workshops, click the info video on the front page.

Remember, as a participant you will have access to all the zoom video recordings and content in the members area in case you miss a session and/or want to go back and review it later. 

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, [email protected] 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! 

Newsletters, Bulletins, News

• Montreat Conference Center
• Presbyterian Outlook

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 October 2022 YTD