Newsletter
February /22 / 2022
Our Time Together
Guest blog post by
Ruling Elder, Ramona Williams
Third Presbyterian Church 
"But what's most heavy on my heart is, I wonder if I will see my brothers again."
Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket

  • Please pray for... Ruling Elder Ramona Williams for her work at Third Presbyterian Church and as a member volunteer within our Presbytery.
  • Please pray for...those still battling Covid, even as the surge wanes.
  • Please pray for...our for those anticipating or experiencing war.
PC(USA)
Quick Connect
Support Ministry
Help Wanted
Parish Paper
From Your Presbytery Leader
Checking In
"I also see how much you have done for so long without a full staff complement, and how eagerly you have awaited the arrival of a new presbytery leader. What a blessed season upon us."
Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings
This Week
Next Week
Wed., Feb. 23
10 am Honorably Retired-Click Here
Mon, Feb 28
12 pm - Rural Pastors- Click Here
News & Updates
IPSTL’s Free Course “What We Believe”
Continues in a Hybrid Format
Beginning February 28

Join us as we explore the diversity of Christian thought and practice on Monday evenings from 7-8:15 pm beginning Feb. 28. Participants can join virtually via Zoom or in-person at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church.
This course is a continuation of the Fall 2021 "What We Believe" course, which included interviews with representatives from the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Ethical Humanism, Sikhism, and Jainism.
Rev. Jim Poinsett, IPSTL’s Executive Director, will lead this six-part course exploring different expressions of Christianity, including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Reformed Protestantism, Episcopalian, Historically Black Protestantism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Christian Science.
This course is open to all, regardless of the level of familiarity with different religious traditions, but registration is required.
APOG Walk to Jerusalem
A Place of Grace is walking to Jerusalem!
Who wants to join us?
Starting on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022, APOG Walk to Jerusalem registered participants will access daily scriptures through a private APOG Facebook group or their emails. These passages and prayer prompts will be offered for meditation while "walking" to Jerusalem in time for Easter.
Lenten Prayer Art Practice
Beginning Monday, March 7th
During Advent, Pastor and Certified Zentangle(R) Teacher, Julie Gvillo let an Advent Prayer Art Practice through Live videos on Facebook. The artwork shown here is one of the pieces created during that process. 
Starting Monday, March 7th, you are invited to join her in a Lenten Prayer Art Practice. YouTube video links will be sent via email Monday through Saturday each week of Lent and will focus on scriptures from the Revised Common Lectionary. Participants can use specific art tools or supplies they have around the house as they create art while meditating on scripture. One does not have to be an artist to participate. The process is more important than the end product. 
To register, go to aplaceofgrace-juliegvillo.net and click on the "Upcoming Events" page in the hamburger menu. There is an RSVP form on the right side of that page. Note in the title that you are registering for the Lenten Prayer Art Practice 2022. A Place of Grace is offering-based. Electronic offerings may be made through Venmo (Julie_Gvillo) or PayPal dot me/JulieGvillo.
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New Horizons Presbyterian Church
Lenten Journey
Pathways to Pebbles Lead Me to Calvary
Beginning March 2
New Horizons Presbyterian Church would like to invite you on a journey through the Lenten season. It all begins with a service on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Then we will continue with a Soup luncheon on Tuesdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. We will meet on March 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 5. Soup and drinks will be provided and if you would like, feel free to bring your own sandwich to go with the soup. During lunchtime, there will be a devotional and a time to reflect. If you would like to join us for lunch, we ask that you let us know by calling our office (314) 427-0841 so that we know how many to prepare for. Our theme is “The Pathway of Pebbles Lead Me to Calvary.”
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
"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
Faith at Home Lent Practices Webinar
February 24 at 2 pm
Join this webinar on February 24 at 3:00 p.m. EST with Traci Smith, who will talk about simple practices for at-home faith formation during Lent. We will also release six short videos for use by your households, highlighting our five faith practices of storytelling, hospitality, service, prayer, and retreat. Faith at Home Book: Are you looking for a Lenten resource for households with children? Have you seen author and pastor Traci Smith’s newest book, Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection? The Office of Christian Formation has partnered with Chalice Press and Traci Smith so that PC(USA) formation leaders can receive a discount of 50% off 5 or 10 copies of the book to share with those you serve.
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.
St. Louis County Library Internship
Now Applications Available
Students ages 16-18, who are residents of St. Louis County Library District, are invited to apply for the Sidney Johnson Summer Internship at St. Louis County Library. This paid, 10-week summer internship will provide the student with a behind-the-scenes look at library operations. Dates for the internship will be May 31-August 5, 2022. By the end of the summer, the intern will understand the scope of library work and be able to identify how their interests and skills match that work.
Called to Address Hunger in Your Area
Malnutrition is responsible for nearly half of all deaths among children under the age of 5. By the end of 2022, 60 million children will face life-threatening malnutrition if we don’t act.
The House is expected to vote on the bipartisan Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act (HR4693) in the next few weeks. Urge your representative to cosponsor this lifesaving bill. 
The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act builds on Bread for the World’s years-long efforts on improving global nutrition. It establishes a strategy to support countries in implementing their plans to prevent and treat malnutrition.
Good nutrition is critical during a child’s first 1,000 days of life. If we act now, we can intervene during that critical time.
Please contact your Representative. Contact Hunger Action Enabler, Donna Cook by clicking here.
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.
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
Called to Serve? We Need You!
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.
GLPby App Form (Word) | GLPby App Form (fillable PDF)
Current Support Ministry Position Openings
Organist/Accompanist - First Presbyterian - Cape Girardeau, MO

Director of Youth Ministry + Digital Media - First United, Belleville, IL

Audio and Video Tech (15 hours/week) - First United, Belleville

Music Director - Glendale Presbyterian Church, Glendale, MO

Head of Music - First United Presbyterian, Collinsville, IL

Associate Pastor - Dardenne Presbyterian, Dardenne Prarie, MO


Off Hours Help Needed? Contacts Found Below
Rev. Ryan Landino
Presbytery Leader

314-409-9002
Rev. Liz Kanerva
Associate
Presbytery Leader
314.779.6809
Rev. Joy Myers
Stated Clerk
815.501.5522
Leigh Porter
Office Manager
314.225.9470
Janice McMillen
Communications Associate
573.578.3960