Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Weekly Newsletter

Newsletter

October / 10 / 2023

PC(USA) Acting Stated Clerk, Rev. Bronwen Boswell

Issues Call to Prayer

Thousands died and were injured in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, this weekend. Bloodshed has come once again in the latest clash between Israelis and Palestinians with declarations of war and revenge coming from Israeli leaders. As hundreds lay dead and thousands injured, we grieve. We stand in shock that this long, battle-scarred conflict has taken yet another deadly turn.

We pray for those who have died, are dying, and wounded on both sides. We ask the Holy Spirit to intervene to bring calm and reason when vengeance and hatred now appear to have taken control.

Read the full statement at: https://ow.ly/9BmX50PUMVI.

Our Presbytery - Our Work

Weekly Prayer Basket

Please pray for ... those who are battling the most recent COVID resurgence.
Please pray for ... for our Nominating Committee, and for those seeking to serve the presbytery body, to connect.
Please pray for ... peace, throughout the world.

Submit a Prayer

PC(USA)

Quick Connect

Support Ministry

Help Wanted

Positions Available Found Here

Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings

This Week

Next Week

Thur., Oct. 12

9:30 am History at Soutminster

1 pm Gather Plan Click Here

6:30 pm COM Click Here

Thur., Oct. 19

10 am Public Witness Click Here

1:30 pm Vision Team Click Here

Take Two - New View

Please click, to view our Presbytery Picnic, Take Two. We look forward to more presbytery-wide fellowship events in the future!

News & Updates

Presbytery Gathering - Sat., Nov. 4

First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, Illinois will host this hybrid event.

All are welcome to attend, in person or online!

Please register, even if only attending online.

DETAILS HERE

Echoes of Slavery in Our Communities

Hybrid Hosted by St. Mark Presbyterian

Wednesdays - October 11, 18 & 25

Please consider joining us for our three-week discussion on the echoes of slavery in our modern communities. Rev. Dave Burgess will lead the dialogue on "The Great Replacement Theory", Education Manipulation, and Housing Disparities. The class will meet in person in room 102 and online through Zoom. The Zoom link is found by clicking here. This is part of a larger gathering examining the denomination's apology to our African-American brothers and sisters for the sin of slavery. Prior attendance is not required.

World Food Day is October 16

Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind

Each year, Presbyterian congregations join with partners around the country (and globe) to lift up World Food Day (Oct. 16) during the Food Week of Action – from the Sunday before World Food Day until the Sunday after. The week also includes the International Day of Rural Women (Oct. 15) and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Oct. 17).

During Food Week, especially, we commit to act. We commit to work for transformational policies, at the local, state and national levels, and to spend our dollars on food produced and brought to us in ways that promote a sustainable, just and equitable food system.

Tips For Caring For God's Creation:

Read the Pope's recent warning

to a warming world.

In an updated environmental treatise, published eight years after his popular encyclical"Laudato Si", called "Laudate Deum", Pope Francis issues a warning to a warming world. He pulls no punches! In a much smaller document, he takes aim at citizens of richer countries and the "irresponsible lifestyle" of the developed world. Presbyterians need to read this treatise. Here is the link.“Laudate Deum,”

"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Group of Presbytery that monitors the ten Earth Care Congregations in the Presbytery and advocates for low-income, people of color, and LGBTQ communities often the first and worst to be harmed after environmental degradation. Contact: carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378.

Loving Our Neighbors and Race Relations in STL:

Apology to Action

Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church

9:15 am – Sunday’s in the Fireside Room

October 15, 22 & 29

October 15 “Understanding the PCUSA’s Overture of Apology for the Sin of Slavery” with Diane McCullough, Dismantling Racism and White Privilege Team
October 22 “Lucky Zip Codes” with Amy Hunter, VP of DEI at Caleres, Inc.
October 29 “Restorative Justice and Alternatives to Incarceration” with Tracy Stanton & Sarah Nixon, Freedom Community Center

Learn more about these events by clicking here. Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church is located at 9450 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124. Directions found by clicking here.

Global Partnerships And

The Joining Hands Peruvian Partnership Announce

The Rev. Jed Koball From Peru Will Be Visiting Our Presbytery

October 14-20.

Jed is a Mission Co-Worker for the PC(USA) living and working in Peru. His focus is addressing the root causes of poverty, especially climate change and extractive industries. Find his updated schedule by clicking here.

You Are Invited To Our Second Fall South-North Dialogue Series!

Thursday, October 19

PERUSA and our partners of the Peruvian Joining Hands Network (RUMP) and the Evangelical Church of Peru (IEP) invite you to a continued time of learning and sharing from our Peruvian partners and their ministries during our fall South-North Dialogue Series.

On Thursday, October 19th (7 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central), we will hear from three communities to continue learning about threatened ecosystems in Peru and the work they are carrying out with the Peruvian Joining Hands Network (RUMP) through three environmental case studies.

Please register for this Zoom event, please click here.

Presbyterian Women of Giddings Lovejoy

Fall Gathering at Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church

Saturday, October 21

Hear from Faithful Women Serving in our Midst: A Panel of Pastors on What Sustains Them in their Journey. Learn more and make reservations by clicking here.

Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church is located at 11155 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo 63131. Directions found by clicking here.

Artful Expressions & Inktober

Throughout October – Are you ready?

A six-week Artful Expressions of Grief series will begin on Tuesday, October 3rd at Von Dell Gallery & Studios and run through November 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. (*October 10th will start 30 minutes early because I have a 7:00 meeting.) Registration fees for this event will be $10/person which only covers materials. As part of our weekly worship, the offering box will be present to support the work of A Place of Grace and Von Dell Gallery & Studios.

"Inktober" is also coming up! A daily YouTube video for Place of Grace followers with a different tangle each day.

Learn more about both of these series by clicking here.

First Presbyterian Church Of Columbia, Missouri Presents 2023 Haseman Lectures - "How To Be Good Neighbours: A Christian Theology For A Pluralistic World"

October 28, 2023

• 10 AM Lecture: “Models for Dealing with the Other”

• 2 PM Lecture: “Christian Participation in a Pluralistic World”

October 29, 2023

• 9:30 AM Adult Sunday School, Open Discussion of Lecture Topics & Book

• 10:30 AM Worship Sermon: “The Blessing of Babel”

For more information, please click here.

Mini-Youth Mission Trip

Will you help make a child’s Christmas brighter?

Sat., Dec. 9 • 10 am to 12 pm

Hosted by St. Charles Presbyterian Church

Children and Youth Workgroup (a Presbytery-wide coalition of Christian educators and supporters) under Dynamic Leaders (GLPBY) is sponsoring a Mini Youth Mission Trip in December.

We are help Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS) sort the Christmas gifts received for their children. The sorting will be held at St. Charles Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 10 am – noon. Work will be followed by Pizza and drinks for all volunteers.

Flyer can be found by clicking here.

APCE Needs YOU

The Association of Partners in Christian Education is coming to St. Louis Union Station from January 24th through the 27th. Your Local Committee needs your help! We will need volunteers.

Please email Julie Gvillo (juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace@gmail.com) AND Pat Cleeland (together) (patricia.cleeland@gmail.com) to let us know you are willing to help and the places you feel most comfortable doing so.

We also need assistance with providing supplies for participants. The QR code previously shared no longer works. Please, use this link instead to access the Amazon Wish List and watch for additions to the list in the next few months. Orders should be sent in the care of Rev. Pat Cleeland at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Pl., St. Louis, MO 63108. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your help!