The Presbytery office has pre-ordered the 2023-2024 planning calendars and the new 2023-2025 book of order. If you are interested in receiving a reduced price on these items please email Tammy with the number you would like to order. We will contact you once they have been received. The prices are below:

2023-2025 Book of Order $9.50 each

2023-2024 Planning Calendar $10.75 each

Pentecost CANpaign 2023

The Presbytery's Pentecost CANpaign for 2023 has begun. This CANpaign is designed to combat hunger. From May 28 to July 30, your church can collect cans of food (or money) to give to your local hunger program. All the food or money goes to the organization your church chooses. Each dollar donated counts as 1 can of food.



When your church's CANpaign ends, please tell Presbytery how much your church gave and where it donated the proceeds. We will need the results of your church's CANpaign by August 7.

Session Minute Review Dates Set!

Our Stated Clerk, Jay Wilkins, gives thanks for the churches that have offered to host the reading of Session minutes with the dates/churches below. Imagine clerks and moderators gathering at churches throughout the Presbytery to support each other in our responsibilities, and to swap minutes and registers to be reviewed while we are together.

June 3, 2023 / 9:30 AM / Church of the Covenant

June 10, 2023 / 9:30 AM / First, Wetumpka

June 24, 2023 / 9:30 AM / Bethel, Tuscaloosa

July 15, 2023 / 9:30 AM / South Highland

If you or anyone from your church would like to join any of these scheduled meetings please contact Jay Wilkins or call 205-978-0320.

The 2023 Habitat for Humanity House

The Birmingham area churches in the Presbytery will sponsor a Habitat for Humanity House for this year, 2023. Construction will begin on Thursday, September 14, 2023. We will find out where the house will be built and which family we are building for in August.

Volunteer work days are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Volunteers do not have to be knowledgeable about construction (although it helps). There will be plenty of jobs to do: digging, helping frame walls, painting, nailing, pulling nails out because you bent them, installing siding and lots more.

Please set your calendars for this fall and help a family get affordable housing. And, you may meet this family as they work on their house.

National Missionary Summit

Hosted by Presbyterian Heritage Center

September 7-8, 2023

How can we approach local and global missions in a world that is wrought with change and unrest? At every turn, there is a rampant injustice, political conflict, famine, disease, and warfare. Is the era of Christian missions over? Or rather, are we on the threshold of new opportunities to do God's work in the world?

Church Financial Leadership Grants available now

If you are a pastor, commissioned ruling elder (CRE), a leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community or a member of a stewardship team we have Church Financial Leadership Grants available for you. The grants will enable you to institute best practices for church financial leadership, introduce you to new models of giving and stewardship, and offer you new ways to talk about money and form generous disciples within your church.

Selma Disaster Relief-Funding

Many of you generous people have asked how to help out in Selma. The January tornado destroyed 250 houses and damaged 350 more. The Dallas County Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) has been set up. It will coordinate the recovery work in Selma.

Funds are needed to finance the rebuilding effort. We recommend giving to the Black Belt Community Foundation. The BBCF has two disaster funds set up: the Communities Helping Communities Fund (which aids all the Black Belt counties affected by the tornadoes) and the Selma Rebuild & Recovery Fund (which helps the Selma area). The website to go to is: blackbeltfound.org/2023-disaster-relief-funds. Then click on the Selma Rebuild & Recovery Fund to help Selma.

You may contribute online by credit/debit card or by PayPal. Network for Good is administering the collection of the donations. It charges a 3% fee per donation.

You may also donate by check. Make the check payable to Black Belt Community Foundation, and in the bottom left corner put Selma Rebuild & Recovery Fund. BBCF charges 5% per donation for its administrative costs. Mail the check to:

Black Belt Community Foundation

P.O. Box 2020

Selma, AL 36702

More information will be posted as things develop during the recovery work.

Newsletters, Bulletins, News

• Montreat Conference Center / Wee Kirk Conference / July in Montreat / Reawaken your spirit to the sacredness of the earth
• POAMN 2023 Conference
• Presbyterian Outlook - Resources for July 9, 2023 / Resources for July 16, 2023 Do you have a plan for confirmation
• How can we care for Ruling Elders
• Stewardship Kaleidoscope
• Greater Birmingham Ministries

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).

Reminders

Just a reminder that the Presbytery office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday's from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (4 PM on Friday). The staff works from home on Tuesday and Thursday's.

Please check with the office for availability before scheduling committee meetings.

On-going Newsletter Articles

Ponderings by: Rev. Dr. Sue Westfall

PHFC Thrift Store Donations

Perry Dallas County Fund

Online Church Services

Matthew 25

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES May 2023 YTD