What to Write? What to Write?
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Guest blog post by
Rev. Dr. Bill Smutz, Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood
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"Being a disciple of Jesus requires a willingness, even eagerness, to move in many directions mentally and spiritually and physically at the same time, jumping into the possibilities of God with arms open wide..."
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Our Presbytery - Our Work
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Weekly Prayer Basket
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Please pray for... Rev. Bill Smutz, and his work with First Presbyterian, Kirkwood, and as a volunteer within our presbytery.
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Please pray for...those still battling Covid, even as the surge wanes.
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Please pray for...pray for the world leadership, those in Ukraine who are in harm's way, and for peace to overcome war.
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Support Ministry
Help Wanted
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Moderator, Ruling Elder Joyce Wilks-Love
Reminds Us How Can We Help
GIVE - ACT - PRAY
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has partners on the ground in and around Ukraine. Pray fervently. Give generously.
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Other Non-Profits Supporting Ukrainian Citizens
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World Central Kitchen (WCK): An organization on the frontlines feeding and assisting displaced Ukrainian people. Led by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen is at 8 different border crossings outside of Ukraine to feed those fleeing from war. Additionally, WCK is supporting local restaurants in Odessa and Lviv working to feed Ukrainians still in the country. Their efforts are expanding into Moldova, Slovakia, and Hungary to support incoming refugees.
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CARE: This international humanitarian organization, set up an emergency Ukrainian Crisis Fund to provide immediate support for 4 million people. Donations will go toward providing Ukrainians with water, food, supplies, hygiene kits, immediate support and aid, and cash.
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Razom for Ukraine: A Ukrainian-American nonprofit working to not only support emergency response to the war, but also to provide a whole host of resources for allies looking to help, including a round-up of rallies and events for people interested in showing their support for the #StandWithUkraine movement.
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The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), which has launched a nationwide fundraising campaign to provide vital humanitarian aid to this population, as well as to the front-line defenders. Together with partners, they have secured warehouses in several regions where humanitarian aid supplies can be securely stored.
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From Your Presbytery Leader
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Presbytery Leader, Ryan Landino, is participating in the White Privilege Conference in Charlotte, NC this week, and he looks forward to connecting with you again after he returns!
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Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings
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Wed., Mar. 9
Thur., Mar. 10
9:30 am History Team -Southminster
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Mon., Mar. 14
9:30 am Dynamic Leaders - Link Sent
Thur., Mar. 17
Fri, Mar. 18
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Congratulations to Pastor Kathi Kraus
and First Presbyterian Church, Cuba, Missouri
At left: Pastor Kraus with her Commission Team; At right: Pastor Kraus presiding at the Communion table on Sunday, March 6. To God be the Glory! (communion photo credit to Rev. Ryan Landino)
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March is Women’s History Month
Celebrating Women’s History Month gives us the opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge the contributions of women throughout U.S. history, which are often overlooked. This year’s theme, Providing Healing, Promoting Hope, is both a tribute to the efforts of caregivers and frontline workers during the pandemic and acknowledgment that women of all cultures have provided healing and hope throughout history.
To learn about Presbyterian Women’s History, click here.
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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.
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Thur., Mar. 10 | 1-2 p.m. Central
Healthcare is getting more attention than ever these days. Technology is advancing, and health plans continue to change. More than ever, it’s important to take a proactive role in your own care. Register for this webinar to get tips on what to look for when choosing a doctor, learn the benefits of preventive healthcare, and more.
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Presbyterian Women
Midwest/South Gathering
Tues., Mar. 15 at 10 am
Join us for the Presbyterian Women Giddings-Lovejoy Midwest/South Metro Winter Gathering held on Zoom on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 from 10 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. The theme is : “Strength through Faith, Isaiah 40:31”. Guest speakers include Rev. Liz Kanerva, Associate Presbytery Leader, Rev. Karen Blanchard, Honorably Retired at the Presbytery and Becky Ruether from the St. Louis Crisis Nursery. Please join us for this stimulating event. Contact Ann Schmid, ann_schmid1@yahoo.com with further questions. See the following Zoom contact information:
If calling in, dial 312.626.6799 and enter meeting ID: 843 3101 9797
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Tips for Caring for God's
Unbelievable Creation:
Put a plant in your house!
It may not be quite the time to plant in your yard or garden, but you can get a plant or two for your house, workplace, school, or church. Plants improve indoor air quality. You can choose a flower, herb, or plant that bears fruit. And make it part of your Lenten covenant this year.
TIPS is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of the presbytery. Contact: carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378.
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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)
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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.
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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
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"Engaging the Religious Nones"
A two-part adult education offering led by
Rev. Dr. Ruben Rosario-Rodriguez
Sundays, March 13 and March 20 at 7 p.m.
The number of religious “nones” in the U.S.—adults who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular” (Pew Research Center, 2018)—has tripled. Closer analysis reveals that many nones associate organized religion with intolerance and injustice while still thirsting after some form of spirituality. As a church theologian and a Minister of the Word and Sacrament active in the mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Ruben Rosario-Rodriquez has concluded that the church’s own actions have contributed to the church’s current crisis, which is why so many—including many Christians—no longer consider the church an institution worth defending. So instead of focusing on what the church can do to bring Millennials and Gen Z back into the fold (very little), the church ought to listen to what these Nones are saying to take spiritual inventory and get its own house in order.
Join Zoom Meeting:
If attending from the Zoom app, enter the meeting ID: 839 8239 6405, using the passcode: 676721
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2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Technical Assistance Webinar Series
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate (GPD), in partnership with the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), invites faith-based, community, and nonprofit organizations to participate in upcoming webinars regarding the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).
The NSGP provides funding support through a competitive process for facility hardening and other security enhancements to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack and promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration between public and private community representatives, as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.
FEMA and its partners are committed to providing quality customer service to all our partners including socially vulnerable, underserved, and under-represented communities. As such, and building on last year’s efforts, GPD is offering the following informational NSGP webinars for all nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the program, priorities, eligibility, and application process.
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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.
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St. Stephen Presbyterian Church Youth Searching for Mission Location
Week of July 25-29
St. Stephen Presbyterian Youth, a small but hearty youth group, is looking in several places in the USA to offer our services for a Vacation Bible School and possibly a small construction project at a church or needy organization in your area. We are mostly a group of girls, with a few guys, looking to hold a VBS in a location this particular week of the summer: Their resume of past summer experiences can be found by clicking here.
Contact Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education
St. Stephen Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth, Texas 76109
817.927.8411 office | 817.875.9704 cell
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Called to Serve? We Need You!
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Have You Considered Presbytery Service?
There are many ministry team positions available in the coming year, and we just know you would be a good fit for a committee or commission
Please fill out and return the form below.
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Current Support Ministry Position Openings
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Office Manager - Second Presbyterian, St. Louis, Missouri
Seminary Summer Intern - First United Presbyterian, Belleville, IL
Church Office Manager - St. Mark Presbyterian, Ballwin, MO
Summer Mission Team Facilitators 2022 - Amen House
(Oak Hill Presbyterian) St. Louis, MO
Interim Pastor - Oak Hill Presbyterian, St. Louis, MO
Organist/Accompanist - First Presbyterian - Cape Girardeau, MO
Director of Youth Ministry + Digital Media - First United, Belleville, IL
Music Director - Glendale Presbyterian Church, Glendale, MO
Head of Music - First United Presbyterian, Collinsville, IL
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Off Hours Help Needed? Contacts Found Below
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Rev. Ryan Landino
Presbytery Leader
314-409-9002
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Rev. Liz Kanerva
Associate
Presbytery Leader
314.779.6809
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Rev. Joy Myers
Stated Clerk
815.501.5522
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Leigh Porter
Office Manager
314.225.9470
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Janice McMillen
Communications Associate
573.578.3960
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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 jmcmillen@glpby.org
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