Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Application for Nomination

224th General Assembly

June 20-27, 2020 | Baltimore, Maryland

Find the Application Here

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; Pres - refers to the Presbytery Office Resource Center; 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.

Session Records Review

is Coming Soon! Save the Date!

Session Records Review Resource may be found here.

If you have questions, please contact Rev. Joy Myers, Stated Clerk, at [email protected] or by calling 314-772-2395.

St. Charles, Missouri - Directions Here

Sullivan, Missouri - Directions Here

St. Louis, Missouri - Directions Here.

SAVE THESE DATES for 2020! Locations To Be Determined

For Children of Migrant Farmworkers,

High School Graduation Takes a Village

When your parents follow the harvest, getting an uninterrupted education isn't easy. Some schools and universities are working to support students to cross the finish line.

Due to stereotypes about farmworkers, some educators assume that migrant children will fail or struggle to keep up. But Julie Taylor, executive director of the  National Farm Worker Ministry, a faith-based advocacy group for farmworkers and long-time PHP partner, said that these laborers want their kids to be high achievers academically. “Farmworkers—they want a better life for their children and generally see education as a path to that,” she said. “They make sacrifices for that.”

Read complete article here.

Uprooting Hunger - Hunger Action Team

In 2019 the presbytery will work toward establishing Certified Hunger Action Congregations. This  handout will be helpful to your congregation, as we journey together.

We welcome any questions you might have - email us at [email protected] or call 314-772-2395.

We celebrate, in thankgiving, our 12 Certified and 17 Covenanting Congregations for their dedication to eradicating hunger in their communities!

LAST WEEK TO APPLY

On the Road to Reconciliation

October 18 to 21

The Dismantling Racism and Privilege (DRAP) Team of the Presbytery welcome you to join them on the Road to Reconciliation, as they travel to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice ad Legacy in Montgomery, Alabama.

Hurry - Applications due by August 1.

Click here to learn more

A Place of Grace

Join Julie Gvillo for one of two Prayer Art Retreats at Von Dell Gallery & Studios on Thursday, August 15th. The afternoon retreat begins at 1:00 p.m. and the evening retreat begins at 6:00 p.m. The focus scripture is Jeremiah 1:4-10 and the theme "Calling and Commission." If you can write the letters l, c, s, and o, you can tangle ... I'll show you how!  RSVP to the art gallery 618-251-8550 by noon on August 13 or to the event on the A Place of Grace Facebook Page .

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Is your creativity stalled? Are you stuck? Do you need a jump start? Join Julie Gvillo for a 12-Week Creativity Challenge at Von Dell Gallery & Studios in Wood River, IL beginning Thursday, August 29th. See the attached flier for more information. We're going to have a GREAT TIME flexing our creative muscles!

Family Fun Weekend

August 9th - 11th

First Presbyterian - Sullivan

Yee-Haw Family Adventure as they stampede through the wild frontier and celebrate God’s greatest gift of all—Jesus! Learn more here.

Be SMART for Kids

Webster Groves Presbyterian Church

Sun., Aug. 11 | 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Come early and enjoy brunch! 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

What is Be SMART? The Be SMART framework is designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions.

Find complete details here.

Maryland Heights Presbyterian Church

Celebration of Ministry & Final Service

Sun., Aug. 11 at 2 p.m.

The final service, in celebration of the many years of ministry and mission, for Maryland Heights Presbyterian Church will be held on Sunday, August 11 beginning at 2:00 pm. Everyone from across the Presbytery is invited to participate with the congregation as the Presbytery officially closes their ministry. Directions may be found here.

Dardenne Presbyterian Church

Third Annual Bowling for Water

Sat., Aug. 24 | 6 p.m.– 10 p.m.

Bowlero, St. Peters

Come join us for our third annual "Bowling for Water" crazy bowl event to raise money for the purchase and installation of new water purification systems in third world countries such as Haiti. During our trips, we install new systems, provide Health & Hygiene training to local communities, follow-up on systems previously installed, and repair hand-pumps to get water out of the ground so that it can be purified. There will be bowling, 50/50 raffle, silent auction items, raffle box items, and loads of fun!

Sign up details found here.

Celebrating Our Past and Future

Sonlight Parish Celebration

Sun., Aug. 25 | 3 p.m.

As we, the Presbyterian Churches of Fredericktown, Ironton, and Park Hills, rallied together to form the Sonlight Parish, we had no idea of the direction it would take us. Ten years later our relationship has strengthened into a parish

that can be celebrated. Our efforts to form the parish echoed those of previous generations that formed churches across the frontier. So what better place to celebrate our 10 years together than the oldest Presbyterian Church west of the Mississippi!

Full details found here.

Space For Rent in Imperial

1600 square foot space, five rooms and common room, second floor. Perfect for office, preschool, daycare, etc. Rent all or individual rooms. Located at Rock Presbyterian Church, Imperial, Missouri. Call 314-420-9471

Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Lifelong Learning Grants

Deadline - August 15

Through the years, the Foundation has provided over a million dollars to support many educational events, workshops and/or seminars which cover a wide range of topics and serve anywhere from 10 to more than 200 people. Teaching Elders, Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs) and Lay Leaders all greatly benefit from LifeLong Learning events that are located within their Presbytery or state.

Learn more by clicking here.

Are you a College Parent?

The PCUSA Parent Loan program was designed to serve Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members seeking assistance with the expenses of dependents attending college in the United States.

See complete details here.

A Religious Perspective on Carbon Pricing

Webinar | Wed., July 31 at 11 a.m. (Central)

As the impacts of climate change continue to worsen, Congress is stepping up its consideration of policies that will address our contribution to climate change and support communities suffering its effects. This webinar will provide a faith-based perspective on one such proposal: carbon pricing. 

Join us for an overview of the goals of carbon pricing and how it works; how faith communities are engaging with carbon pricing; the specific questions that religious organizations are using to evaluate carbon pricing legislation; and an overview of the current bills in Congress. 

Register your attendance here

"Ending Violence in America"

Beloved Community UMC.

August 9th-10th

The purpose of the conference is to bring the faith community together, cross denominational, to join hands in an effort to reduce violence, particularly domestic violence and other forms of violence as "America's Peacemakers Against Violence". There will be training and workshops on how to implement faith based models of violence prevention and intervention, as an extension from your church into communities near your church. Models of faith based domestic violence and Prison Reentry Programs, as well as other training on faith based violence prevention program models. 

Learn more about the presenter here and registration information can be found here .

Stewardship Kaleidoscope Annual Conference

September 30 to October 2

San Diego, California

Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity. Drawing leaders from across the Lutheran Church (ELCA) and the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and beyond, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship, in its many colorful dimensions!

More information found here | Registration can be found here.

The Art of Transitional Ministry

Princeton Theological Seminary

October 7–11

Leading a congregation through transition is challenging and rewarding. Whether it is a change in leadership or a changing neighborhood, it takes knowledge, skill, and spiritual strength to navigate the waters of transition in a way that allows a congregation and its leaders to thrive. The Art of Transitional Ministry offers training in the skills and understanding necessary for leading a congregation in transition. There are two week-long courses of study. Both weeks are being offered concurrently.

Learn more here.

Co Inspire

Liberating Imagination, Eviscerating Racism

October 7–10, 2019 | Montreat

In the beginning, God breathed on humankind to animate our existence. Our breath is our life-force, but the air we breathe can restore our life or kill us. We are living in a world where the sins of racism infect the very air we breathe. What happens when we pay attention to how much breath we give to scarcity, competition, and fear? What happens when we choose to focus our breath on giving oxygen to liberate our imaginations for a world where the air is full of abundance, hope, and equity?

Learn more here