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GLPby 30 Days of Thanks Giving |
“If you’re reading this, you are most likely to be a member of Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery and one of its member churches, part of a community that cares for one another during these uncertain times”
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Our Presbytery - Our Work |
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Weekly Prayer Basket
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Please pray for... Nicaragua as they have sustained yet another direct hit from a hurricane. Hurricane Iota hit as a Category 4.
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Please pray for...medical personnel, as the COVID19 surge is forcing difficult decisions to be made.
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Please pray for...those ill from viruses and other diseases, as they fight for their lives.
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Please pray for...our Chaplains, as they respond to residents in care facilities, to medical personnel and to each other in this hour of grave illness and death.
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Support Ministry
Help Wanted
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Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
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NOTE: In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, meetings will be restricted to Zoom or conference call. If you are unsure how to participate, please contact your team moderator, or call the office 314-772-2395, and select Leigh Porter, Office Manager.
Presbytery Upcoming Virtual Meetings
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Wed., Nov. 18
Thurs., Nov. 19
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Mon., Nov. 23
Wed., Nov. 18
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Congratulations and Welcome |
We are pleased to announce the installation of Rev. Jeff Ott at First Presbyterian Church of Jerseyville, Illinois.
We look forward to the ministry of First-Jerseyville and Rev. Ott!
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Let us Light Candles
Join in Social Media Participation
Presbyterians Today’s Advent and Christmas devotional, “Let Us Light Candles: Matthew 25 and the work of Advent.” This extended online devotional — taking us not just through Advent but through Christmastide and ending with Epiphany, Jan. 6 — brings to you the inspiring words in Howard Thurman’s poem “I Will Light Candles This Christmas.”
Presbyterians Today wants to see your light shine this holiday. Submit pictures of the candles you are lighting (actual candles or how you are shining light in the world by living out the words of Matthew 25 to give water to those who thirst, visit those in prison and clothe the naked). Include your name, church and a brief description of the picture. Send to Donna Frischknecht Jackson at [email protected].
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Synod 4th Sunday Sermon Series
In the midst of the leadership transition, we do plan to continue the 4th Sunday sermon series. Video, audio, and transcript links for this month's sermon will be sent to you by email on or before November 19.
· First Lesson: Ezekiel 34:11 – 16, 20 – 24
· Second Lesson: Matthew 25:31 – 46
· Text: Christ the Authentic King
· Preacher: Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard, Presbytery Leader, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.
If you find out one of your colleagues is in need of a day off, please do pass this along to them and encourage them to sign up for next month's offering. We want to help anyone who needs it, regardless of the synod in which they are serving. They can sign up for the sermon links at: http://synodma.org/join-our-mailing-list
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Light For the Darkness - Christmas Eve
Light for the Darkness’ Christmas Eve video will be complete next week. With a similar flavor to our Pentecost film, we hope to bring light and joy to you, your congregation, and anyone looking for light amidst our current darkness.
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Tips for Caring for God's Fabulous Creation:
Consider installing a renewable energy source of heating in your home, school, or business
Think about putting renewable power generation equipment (solar, wind turbine, water, geo-thermal, etc.) in your home. It could make your home carbon neutral and help move energy sources from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
TIPS is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of presbytery, composed of representatives from the 9 congregations that are certified Earth Care Congregations in the PC(USA). Contact: [email protected] or (314) 941-9378.
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Historical Highlight
This historical vignette has a peripheral Presbyterian connection, but it was so interesting, I thought it was worthy of writing about. The Cold Water Creek Church and Cemetery are incredibly historic. Revolutionary War soldier, John Patterson, Sr., received Spanish land grants of 1,500 acres in the Coldwater Creek area of north St. Louis County, when he and his family arrived there in 1797 from North Carolina. There were around fifty Protestant families that settled in the area. At the time, it was under Spanish rule and Protestantism was considered heresy.
In 1798, the Patterson’s and other Protestant families helped Rev. John Clark (“Father Clark”), cross the Mississippi River from Illinois to conduct monthly secret worship services in private residences. In 1808 – 1809, after the area had come under control of the United States via the Louisiana Purchase, an eighteen-cornered, cross-form hewn log building was constructed on a portion of Patterson’s land (the congregation originally met in William Patterson’s home as the Baptist Church of Cold Water, Missouri Territory). The first burial in the adjacent graveyard was in 1809. This burial ground had started as the Patterson family cemetery. The original building burned down and a new church was built on the same site around 1832. This second church was called The Cold Water Church/Union Meeting House and took thirty-eight years to complete. It was used by Baptists, Methodists and an early Presbyterian congregation until 1870. It is documented that the Presbyterians used the church. It is thought that this building also eventually burned down. There is a granite marker in the cemetery indicating its original location. The first log church is marked with a stone and bronze plaque.
Three Revolutionary War veterans, eight War of 1812 veterans and seven Civil War veterans, along with Rev. Clark, are buried in the cemetery, which is noteworthy for its gravestone imagery, echoing 17th and 18th century New England precedents: fingers pointing towards heaven, weeping willows and flowers. The original congregation is still in the area and known as Salem Baptist Church.
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Matthew 25 Recorded Worship
A message from PMA
The leadership of the PC(USA) is preparing a recorded worship service based on the Matthew 25 vision for congregations to use. You are welcome to use the video however and whenever you like. It will be made available by November 18, in time for Reign of Christ Sunday, for viewing and/or downloading. It is our goal that congregations find it helpful during a busy season of virtual and in-person worship services.
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WE ARE THE CHURCH, TOGETHER
Tuesday, December 1
9:00am - 9:00 pm Eastern
Join us on #Giving Tuesday, December 1, for an all-day, virtual celebration of the collective power of Presbyterian generosity, as we profess by our actions—and with our gifts—that we can accomplish far more together than any one of us can do alone. On #GivingTuesday, we invite you to join with Presbyterians from near and far for prayer and worship, fun with some familiar faces, and an unparalleled opportunity for your generosity to make a lasting impact around the country and around the world.
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COVID19 & Seasonal Flu Shouldn't Mix
Flu season during a pandemic calls for urgency and ingenuity, which can mean getting vaccinated in your car or even in a hockey arena.
St. Louis area health providers are trying to make it easy and safe to get a flu shot this year by offering free drive-thru events throughout the community and even a walk-in location on Oct. 17 at downtown’s massive Enterprise Center where the St. Louis Blues play.
If you do not live in the St. Louis Area, please consult with your local Health Department for guidance on where you can get your Flu Shot. If you don't know how to contact your local health department, the following links will direct you to the appropriate office.
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Nicaragua Community Partnership
“Seguir Adelante – Go forward!”
Our presbytery’s covenant relationship with the community of Plan Grande #2 Nicaragua has been active for 20 years, Gracias a Dios! Despite economic downturns, political unrest, and social disruptions in both countries and the global impact of COVID-19, and we remain committed to our promises of mutual love and support. “Seguir Adelante – Go Forward”!
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Donate November 1 to 30 through Venmo (scan at right) or by Checks made to “Giddings Lovejoy Presbytery” may be mailed
c/o Harriet Hall
20 North Maple Ave.
St. Louis MO 63119.
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Joining Hands Meeting on Zoom
Wed., Nov. 11 | 6:30 pm to 8 pm
This meeting will feature Jed Koball, Mission Co-Worker In Peru, and Valery Nodem, Presbyterian Hunger Program Associate for International Hunger Concerns. Recently they spoke at a Matthew 25 course on “The Underpinnings of Systematic Poverty.” Their topic was “Colonization and Globalization.” They will present the same program for us. If you would like read an article about this presentation by clicking here
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Paula Cooper
I pray that all is well with you and yours during these days of navigating uncharted waters with God’s help! I greet you in the name of our Risen Savior, Jesus, the Christ, from Lusaka, Zambia.
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Hunger Action Grants Available
The COVID 19 pandemic has created an unprecedented loss of jobs and hardship on families within the geographical boundary of the presbytery. Food pantries connected to our presbytery and PCUSA congregations are reporting a much higher demand than usual. As we enter the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, the presbytery is making available Hunger Program grants to hunger programs connected to our congregations or those programs that partner with the presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Security Grant Program Application Support
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a program called the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to help nonprofits and faith-based organizations prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks.
Here are several examples of projects the NSGP funds: Surveillance equipment; Physical protective measures such as fences, blast-proof windows, and concrete barriers; Active Shooter Training; Security Training for employees, or members/congregation
PDA is here to assist in the 2021 application, which is always a difficult, complicated and time-bound process. If you are interested in learning more, please let PDA know by November 30, by contacting David L. Myers, Senior Advisor at [email protected] or by calling 502-200-4878. |
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Technology Grants - Wave 2
When COVID-19 began to spread across the United States, Giddings-Lovejoy congregations responded in amazing ways to continue their worship and ministries. I am in awe. Congregations have stretched themselves beyond what they thought they were capable of doing. As I like to say, the building may be closed, but the church is not!
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Please submit your grant request to [email protected]. Note in the subject line Second Wave Grant.
In your request, include the church’s name and address, contact person and email address, and what the grant will be used for.
By the way, First Wave Grants are still available. Please contact Liz Kanerva at the above email for more information. (Learn More Here)
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Education & Training Opportunities |
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ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Social Media Deep Dive for Churches
Led by: Christen Kinard
Founder, Digital Congregations
(4-part series) Thursdays, January 21, 28, and February 4, & 11
10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. EST. Plus, weekly office hours for additional consultation.
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Registration Now Open
for May 17-21, 2021
Is the church really dying? Or is it dying to change? How can the church recapture what it was in the first century—a distinctive, confessional community, willing to stand against the status quo, to speak up against the empire, and to stand for the Gospel—in a 21st century context?
This year, the Festival of Homiletics invites you into conversation around how the promise of the Gospel might shape hope and ministry for the future church. What is the role of preaching in forming the church of the future?
Be inspired by God’s Word proclaimed by some of the nation’s finest ministers and teachers. Experience the fellowship of hundreds of preachers. Learn and worship in an atmosphere that is dynamic, friendly, nurturing, and prophetic. Come renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit.
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Becoming Matthew 25
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How Do We Engage Socially Distancing and still participate in Mission & Ministry?
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Send us your stories of how your congregation is maintaining congregational vitality during this pandemic. Send stories to Office Manager, Leigh Porter at [email protected]
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Current Support Ministry Position Openings |
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Part-Time Pastor - First Presbyterian, Perryville
Part-Time Organist - First Presbyterian of Alton, IL
Associate Pastor - Dardenne Presbyterian, Dardenne Prarie
Organist/Pianist - First Presbyterian, Jackson, MO
Interim Pastor - John Calvin Presbyterian
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Keep Connected
We love to hear about the work of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Congregations. Have an event, fundraiser, or concert and want to get the word out? Simply email that information in by 6 p.m. on Monday of the week you want your event published. Help keep us connected by simply emailing your information to [email protected]
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