2024 Fall Youth Retreat: Level Up Your Connection with God and Others

Nov. 15-17 at Bluestone Camp & Retreat

This retreat is for youth in the Presbytery, their friends, and adults who work with them. The focus will be on connecting with God through spiritual practices and connecting with others through color jam and real-life video games. Leadership will be provided by the Presbytery's Youth Council and special guest Zane Pinson. Adult advisors, who could be parents, are needed to come with the youth as chaperones. The cost per person is $65, with a registration deadline of Nov. 4. Information, including a church registration form, was emailed to a variety of church leaders on Sept. 24. Those who received it are asked to share it with youth and their parents/guardians/grandparents in your congregation.

Presbyterian Youth Triennium

July 28-31, 2025 in Louisville, KY

This national gathering of thousands of Presbyterian youth will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center with housing at nearby Triennium-designated hotels. The Presbytery is planning to take a delegation of youth and adults. Eligible youth must currently be in grades 8-12, and adults need to be at least 25 years old. At this point, we are in need of 1 female adult and 2 male adults. The cost for youth will be $375. Because this cost is heavily supplemented by McClintic funds of the Presbytery, there are no additional scholarships available through the Presbytery. Churches are encouraged to assist youth who may be interested with registration costs. The cost for the adults will be covered for the 3 listed above; if other adults are interested, it may be possible for them to attend at the full cost. Information will be sent to church leaders in early November. Please contact Susan Sharp Campbell, Associate for Educational Ministry (304-667-9428 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com) for more information or with any questions.

Church officer training

Nov. 17 and 24, 2-5 PM, on Zoom

This two-part course will assist pastors and moderators with the period of study and preparation the Book of Order describes in G-2.0402 for newly-elected Ruling Elders and Deacons. These two sessions will build on and connect with each other, so participants are expected to participate in both. While this training is designed primarily for newly-elected church officers, others are also welcome. There is no cost to attend, but you do need to register in order to receive the Zoom link and advance assignment. All participants will need a copy of the 2023-2025 PCUSA Book of Order. Participants may register as individuals, or whole sessions may register and participate together. The registration deadline is Nov. 7, with the advance assignment sent out Nov. 8 and the Zoom link and handouts to be used during the training shared on Nov. 13. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell at 304-667-9428 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com.

Cohort opportunity for Commissioned Pastors

Commissioned Pastors are invited to apply to participate in a cohort group in 2025. The goals of cohorts are collegial support, sharing new ideas, and learning best practices in ministry. These cohorts, consisting of up to eight participants along with a facilitator, will meet on Zoom for two hours each month, January-December 2025. Topics for engagement by participants will include spiritual practices and disciplines, seasonal needs in the church’s program and life, and the sharing of the needs and concerns of each participant. Preparation for meetings may include short advance reading assignments. Participants will be offered a stipend of $500 for the year. This program is sponsored by Union Presbyterian Seminary’s PSCE program (Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education), which provides support for those in ministry in the PC(USA). For more information or to submit an application, click here. The application deadline is Nov. 30. For more information, contact Marilyn Johns at marilynjohns2@gmail.com. 

News from the Presbytery's Treasurer

• Presbytery approves 2025 budget
• 226th General Assembly approves new churchwide Special Offerings menu
• Church Financial Literacy & Leadership Program

• Get QuickBooks Online from TechSoup
• Church treasurers and finance committees
• 2024 Special Offerings

Davis Stuart's 2nd Annual Creepy Crawl 5K on Saturday

Rock Lake to celebrate 75 years of ministry on Sunday

Rock Lake Presbyterian Church, 905 Village Dr., South Charleston, will celebrate their 75th anniversary of ministry on Sunday morning. The church started as a chapel under the direction of First Presbyterian Church, South Charleston in 1947 and became a church in 1949. Sunday begins with a fellowship hour and refreshments at 9 AM, followed by worship at 10 AM featuring Rev. Richard McGuire and Rev. Dr. Patricia Jarvis, and then a catered luncheon. For more information, email rocklakepreschurch@gmail.com.

Discovering Leadership: Called to Serve is a free PCUSA Leader Formation webinar for ruling elders and deacons

7-8:30 PM Nov. 7. Register by Wednesday.

Our Presbyterian Constitution says, “some are called to ordered ministries, to fulfill particular functions.” (G-2.0101). What does it mean for ruling elders and deacons to be called to fulfill particular functions in the life of Christ’s Church? This webinar will explore that question by considering leadership capacities and gifts, and how those gifts are discovered. Leadership will be contemplated both from an individual outlook and a community dynamic, while probing the meaning of “sharing with others a deep life of worship, prayer, fellowship, and service.” (Book of Order, F-1.0032d.)

Hope Village returns to Charleston First Presbyterian for holiday shopping season

Hope Village, a fair trade shopping boutique, is back at Charleston First Presbyterian Church this holiday season, starting Nov. 10. Featuring 21 vendors from around the world, it will include home decor, jewelry, African market baskets, fashion accessories, block printing quilts, stone carvings, batiked textiles, ornaments, and more. Hours are noon to 3 PM Nov. 10, 17, 24 and Dec. 1 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14-16, 21-23, and 29-30. The church is located at 16 Leon Sullivan Way, and Hope Village will be in the Activities Building. This mission outreach features vendors who support subsistence farmers in Africa, rescue women and children from sex and human trafficking, support refugees, educate children, provide support to the only Christian college in Bethlehem, teach trades to otherwise unemployable folks, provide living wages to the artisans, and more.

Download Christmas Joy Offering resources for Advent

These resources include a new At-Home resource for families; a media toolkit with images for announcements, newsletters, and more; social media images that are ready made with Christmas Joy Offering information; and PowerPoint slides or a promotional video that you can insert into your worship service.

Davis & Elkins College scholarship offer for high school senior class of 2025

Applications are being accepted for $400,000 in Citizens Bank of West Virginia Emerging Leaders Scholarships to Davis & Elkins College, including a full-ride scholarship for four years of tuition, room, and board. Deadline to apply is Nov. 17. This scholarship program is offered by Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Davis & Elkins College, and WDTV 5 News. For eligibility and application, click here.