Newsletter
February / 12 / 2019
Making the Shift
Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard
Presbytery Leader
“The problem is that many of our churches, leaders, and church systems were designed to respond to the modern age and the problems of the modern age. We are now in the postmodern age, and fixes from the modern age often fall short.”
Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket Update
  • Please pray.... for those who miss their loved ones, this Valentine's Day week
  • Please pray....for the current class in Commissioned Pastor Training
Click on the prayer basket to find our current prayers.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offers one-stop shopping for scheduling mission trips, work and lodging by Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service

After first responders do their work first, we have a lot of work to do...But for people who want to go help in areas impacted by headline-making natural disasters — and even some that have not made national news but need help all the same — Roberts and the PDA call center are the place to go.
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Upcoming Team Meetings
NOTE: Meeting locations are as follows: Oaks - is the meeting room next door to the presbytery office; St.Andrew - refers to the Board Room of St. Andrews on the second floor, directly above the presbytery office; Ladue - refers to Ladue Chapel; WG - refers to Webster Groves Presbyterian. Contact the office at 314-772-2395 if you are unsure where you will be meeting.
Week of: Feb. 14 to Feb. 20

Thurs., Feb. 14
10 a.m. - New Worship Com (Oaks)
3 p.m. - Gathering Planning (Oaks)
5 p.m. - Cong Vibrancy (Oaks)
Mon., Feb. 18
1 p.m. - Social Witness (Oaks)
Tues., Feb. 19
10 a.m. - Finance (Oaks)
Week of: Feb. 21 to Feb. 28

Thurs., Feb. 21
10 a.m. -Stewardship (Oaks)
4 p.m. - Vision Team (Oaks)
6:30 p.m. - CPM (Ladue)
Mon., Feb. 18
1 p.m. - Social Witness (Oaks)
Mon., Feb. 25
1 apm. - DRAP (Oaks)
Communicate With Us
Take the Post Gathering Survey (at right) so we know what you liked/disliked, and give us a vision of what you would like in the future.
We value your feedback!
SAVE THE DATE
Next Presbytery Gathering - Sat., May 4 th
First Presbyterian Church - Cape Girardeau
Details will be coming soon!
Uprooting Hunger - 2019 Presbytery Wide Goal
P resbytery Wide Goal in 2019
Fighting hunger is at the heart of our Presbyterian understanding of mission. Jesus fed the hungry and told his disciples to do the same. Yet, we know that hunger is an extremely complex phenomenon with economic, political and social causes. A local congregation can make a huge impact on local hunger. Thankfully Presbyterian churches are feeding hungry people in their neighborhoods with food pantries, soup kitchens, community meals, community gardens, backpack programs and more.   Read on here.
Uprooting Hunger - Hunger Action Team
The next sixteen months the presbytery will work toward establishing Certified Hunger Action Congregations. This  handout will be helpful to your congregation, as we journey together in the year + ahead. If you have any questions, email:  communication@glpby.org
Celebrating Life and Ministry
Presbytery Celebrating
with Joy Together
Presbytery Gathering
Thursday, February 7, 2019

Southminster Presbyterian Church
Crestwood, Missouri
Team & Congregational Happenings
Scholarship Support Available
The Dismantling Racism and Privilege
Team is offering scholarship support for attendance at the White Privilege Conference to be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from Wednesday, March 20 to Saturday, March 23, 2019. More information about the conference may be found at http://www.whiteprivilegeconference.com.
If you are interested in applying for the scholarship support, please contact Vanessa Hawkins at vhawkins@glpby.org.
Brian Owens Duo to Perform
The Brian Owens Duo explores songs of love and hope. This concert features Brian’s own compositions as well as music by African American artists and takes place on Sunday, February 17 at 4:00 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. The church is located at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End, St. Louis, 63108. The concert is part of the Couts Music Series and is free to the community. For more information call 314-367-0367 or  www.secondchurch.net .
St. Matthew Passion Performance
Join the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University for a performance of the St. Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach on Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m. on the campus of Concordia Seminary at the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis. Admission is available free of charge to the general public. For more information, visit valpo.edu/bach
The Ferguson Ecology Team Video Night
Friday, February 10 at 7 p.m.
Presents: two shorter films about land, animal, and human life in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge threatened by fossil fuel development: “being caribou”
From the Voices of the Land and Animals: Environmentalist Leanne Allison and wildlife biologist Karsten Heuer follow a herd of caribou on foot, across the rugged Arctic tundra. At stake is the herd’s delicate habitat, which could be devastated if proposed fossil fuel development destroys the herd’s calving grounds. Learn more here.
Mission Opportunities
Exploring Missional Leadership
in Ferguson, Missouri
How do we develop more missional leaders in the church? Exploring Missional Leadership (EML) is a daylong event hosted by mid councils & churches and led by 1001 national staff. Learn more here.
Mission Trip - Close to Home
Still trying to find a location for your summer mission trip or retreat?   AMEN St. Louis  is an incredible location for your youth group, young adult crew, or adult mission trip this summer!  
At AMEN, you'll have the chance to do high-impact service, deep faith reflection, and have tons of fun. We'll connect you with some of the best non-profit organizations in St. Louis, and we'll guide you in understanding the larger issues at work in our community. We offer week-long  mission experiences  and weekend service retreats, as well as housing for retreats, conferences, and other work in St. Louis. Learn more here
Joining Hands Peru Partnership
May 25 to June 2, 2019
The next Joining Hands Peru Partnership Reflection and Action Trip will be May 25 to June 2, 2019. Those interested may contact Ellie Stock ( elliestock@aol.com) or Mark Strothmann ( mark.strothmann@att.net) for an application or more information. Deadline is February 28, 2019 with $500.00 deposit. Application for financial assistance is February 15, 2019.
Complete List of Educational Opportunities: Found Here
Opportunity to Talk about the Confessions
Beginning February 6
The immediate past moderator of the presbytery is named Willock ~ which is also the name of the first moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. That Willock, along with 5 other Johns, including John Knox, wrote the Scots Confession in 1560 in just 4 days. While some of the confession uses what we now consider intemperate language, it contains many of the foundational ideas which continue to guide the Presbyterian Church USA. Want to know more? Come join the conversation Wednesday, February 13, on the second floor of Eden Seminary at 9 am.  See all details here. Contact Rev. Barbara Willock, for more information at bwill2@mindspring.com.
The Mighty Mite!   
2019 Spirit of Stewardship Conference
What We Can Learn About Stewardship From Those Who (Seem To) Have Less
March 1 & 2
Pastors, Stewardship committees, session members, Christian Educators and other church leaders seeking to nurture faithful financial discipleship and promote meaningful spiritual development as stewards of God’s gifts should plan to attend. Topics will be focusing on the Lucan story of the widow, the many biblical examples of poor and/or uninfluential women (and men) supporting ministries of the prophets and Jesus, and creating ministries of their own. Complete details can be found here.
GUNS IN MY BACKYARD?
Neighbors Share Their Stories
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church welcomes all to join them on Sunday, March 3 - Please join them for a viewing of the locally-produced documentary: “No More Thoughts and Prayers,” introduced by filmmaker Angela Lamb. This will be followed by individuals from our community sharing their experiences with gun violence and ideas for action. Come learn how gun violence affects all of us and how you can help make a difference in this public health issue. Complete details can be found here.
Interim Ministry Training
This announcement is being shared with CIIM colleagues because you might know other clergy who may be interested in completing interim training. Please see additional details below and also on the CCH website, at the link listed below. Participants may register for the course by using the link below. We plan to also offer the IM2 course later in the Spring. 
Interim Ministry Training (IM1), held Wednesday, February 20 to Friday, February 22, at St. john UCC, located at 307 W. Clay St., Collinsville, Illinois.
Join us for Advocacy Training Weekend
Troubling the Waters for the Healing of the World #GoodTrouble
April 5-8 | Washington, D.C.
In 2019, we gather at a time in which people of faith and conscience are again called to stand in the prophetic stream of those who have come before us, those who were not afraid to stir up #GoodTrouble for the sake of God’s kingdom. Complete details can be found here.
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention Program
"Gracious God, ...You encourage us to be our best... We confess that we have not done our best in protecting our children...Grant us a good and fresh start."

Following on the 223rd General Assembly action on gun violence prevention, our hope is that you share the links below with your congregations. As we observe the February 17 Universal Day of Prayer for Students and the February 14 Anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, let us seek the unique role of the church in healing our nation. The downloadable Kit contains prayers, hymns, worship and action ideas, including the prayer adopted by the 223rd General Assembly.
·          February Worship-Action Kit
Christ Crucified
First Presbyterian Church in Sullivan welcomes all to join them in a Lenten Bible Study, on Thursdays 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. All are welcome.
If you have any questions, please email Pastor Ron Kopplemam at kvfarm84@gmail.com
Come and join us for the 6-week study

2019 Presbyterians Today Lenten Devotional
Awakening to God’s Beauty
A Lenten invitation to pray with art
 This year’s stunning devotional invites us on a spiritual and visual pilgrimage through the holy season of Lent . . . through the final days of our Lord’s ministry . . . his passion . . . his death on the cross . . . and finally his glorious resurrection at Easter.
Current Support Ministry Position Openings
Congregations Searching for Support Staff
Church Accountant/Bookkeeper - Second Presbyterian Interim Director of Christian Education - Ladue Chapel