Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Weekly Newsletter

Newsletter

March / 22 / 2022

Strength Through Faith

Guest blog post by

Ruling Elder, Ann Schmid

Member of New Hope Presbyterian and Presbyterian Women Midwest, South Metro Cluster Communicator

"We all have to continue to be reminded that we receive our strength from God through our faith! "

Blog Post

Our Presbytery - Our Work

Weekly Prayer Basket

Please pray for... Ruling Elder, Ann Schmid in her work at New Hope Presbyterian, and Giddings-Lovejoy Presbyterian Women
Please pray for...pray for the world leadership, those in Ukraine who are in harm's way, and for peace to overcome war.
Please pray for...Rev. Dr. Gary Looman, upon the passing of his wife.

Submit a Prayer

PC(USA)

Quick Connect

Support Ministry

Help Wanted

Positions Available Found Here

Parish Paper

March
April

From Your Presbytery Leader

Why I Attend a

White Privilege Conference

"I came to discover that the more I learned, the less I knew, with so much more to understand."

Click Here

Saddened to Report

Roberta "Robin" Looman

We are saddened to report the passing of Roberta “Robin” Looman, beloved wife of Rev. Dr. Gary Looman, honorably retired, former First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, Illinois pastor from 1991-2003. Her funeral was held on Saturday, March 19, at New Hope Presbyterian Church. Please pray for Rev. Looman and their family.

Her obituary can be found at https://www.baue.com/obit/roberta-robin-looman/.

How is PC(USA) Reponding to the Ukraine Crisis

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT

Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings

This Week

Next Week

Wed., Mar. 23

10 am Honorably Retired -Click Here

Mon., Mar. 28

12 pm Rural Pastors -Click Here

News & Updates

Selah - New Worshiping Community for Pastors

Come. Take a Holy breath. Rest together with us.

Soft Launch is Tuesday, March 29 | 12-1 pm CT

Kick-off is Tuesday, April 26

All clergy in need of rest, in need of a breath--whether you call yourself pastor, chaplain, commissioned pastor, or minister, also including those seminary students already serving congregations and hospitals. We especially invite those of you who are losing or have lost hope, those of you who feel you are in darkness and alone.

We want to stand with you.

Come and receive words and songs of worship that resonate with your heavy and weary heart.
Come release your burdens, express your doubts, and connect with peers in a safe, judgment-free environment.
Come with your camera on or off, perhaps even use an alias if it will give you the freedom to come and be more authentically you.
Come. Take a Holy breath. Rest together with us.

Where: Nation-wide Zoom - RSVP: To receive the link, RSVP through Facebook or email Thirza.

Fireside Chat

March 23th at 7:00 pm - South St. Louis City

Meet new friends and connect with old ones. Join in a discussion of practices that can help us in our pursuit of spirituality and the divine. How can we turn toward the divine and away from those things that distract us? How do we simplify our lives to focus on what matters? Also, there will be s'mores and hot chocolate. : ) Text Thirza for directions 314-266-8007.

Tips for Caring for God's Abundant Creation:

Save on gas and help the environment!

In this era of high gasoline prices, you can save money and help Mother Earth at the same time with the following tips: Do regular maintenance, drive slower and steadier, use alternate means of transportation other than the automobile (public, bike, walk, etc.)

TIPS is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of the presbytery. Contact: carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378.

Spirit of Stewardship Conference

Connect, Grow, Serve ‐ Stewardship: A Way of Life

April 1-2, 2022 (register by March 21)

First Presbyterian Church

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

(or Virtually)

Learn More Here

Mound Ridge Charity Auction

Sat., Apr. 9 | 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

The Venue at Maison Du Lac

2603 Wild Plum Valley Road, Catawissa, MO

Join us for a wonderful socially distanced afternoon of fun, fellowship, raffles, games, and bidding. $60 per person (includes lunch)

To register visit: moundridge.org | Or call us at 573-263-3098

All Proceeds go toward our mission of providing a “discounted or cost-free” outdoor camp experience to 180 underserved children.

Flyer Found Here and Quilt Raffle Flyer Found Here

Special Offerings and the Presbyterian Giving Catalog: One Great Hour of Sharing is the single largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world. Typically received on Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 17, the annual offering supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People. All three programs work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need to provide people with safety, sustenance and hope.

Looking for information for Special Offerings in 2022? Click here for a flyer that shares those dates as well as the distribution of each offering and how to remit funds.

Gather at the Well

A Youth and Children's Ministry Training Forum

MLI is co-hosting an ecumenical training event for leaders of young people! Bring your colleagues and volunteers to a relaxed, two-day training event near Lincoln, Nebraska. How might you refill your resources to support the young people and their families in your ministry setting? What nourishment do you seek? Learn more on our registration page.

Deacons & Ruling Elders

PC(USA) Leader Formation Webinar: Good Stewards of God's Grace

Wed., Mar. 30 | 6 pm

This event is provided for free for participants and is funded through your per capita dollars. It does not come without a cost, however. Knowing the diversity of language within the PC(USA), this webinar will be provided in several languages with interpretation based on requests made through the registration process. As a result, there is a registration deadline of March 23, 2022, in order to be able to have time to arrange for those services. This event will be recorded and will be available in English following the event.

Click Here to Register

Day of Learning for Planned Giving

Tues., Mar. 29 | 9 a.m. & 3 p.m. (Central Time)

Building the Right Program for your Congregation - Join us for our third online Day of Learning on March 29 to learn how to build a planned giving program right-sized for your church needs and how to engage your congregation in giving.

9 a.m. Central Time

Ellie Johns-Kelley, Ministry Relations Officer, and Karl Mattison, Vice President for Planned Giving Resources will present Good, Better, Best: Right-sized Planned Giving Programs.

Discover various models of planned giving programs and get tools that range from very basic practice to starting the conversation to a full plan that demonstrates to donors that your session is prepared to receive and steward their legacy.

3 p.m. Central Time

Olanda Carr, Senior Ministry Relations Officer will be in conversation with Rev. Dr. Brandi Casto-Waters of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia on Having the Talk and Making the Ask.

Their presentation will cover practical tools for an active congregation to use for conversations about planned giving, as well as encouraging congregants to make legacy giving a part of their lifetime stewardship.

All programs will be online through the Zoom platform; you will receive a link to join a few days before the program

Pastors Save the Dates of May 15-20

Mid-America and Lincoln Trails Synod have announced they will have Transitional Ministry Training at the Mercy Center in St Louis May 15-20, 2022. Please watch the newsletter or other direct emails for further information.