Thur., Dec. 31 - Office Closing at Noon

Fri., Jan. 1 - Office Closed

One of the best ways to make the world---God's good creation---a better place is to be a conscious and conscientious consumer: Buy only what you need; buy the best quality and the most eco-friendly items available; and resist the temptation to give in to the short-lived trends that fill our lives with useless things. This is especially true as we order in while sheltering-in during this still surging pandemic!

"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of presbytery, composed of representatives of the nine Certified Earth Care Congregations of the PC(USA) located in our presbytery. Contact: [email protected] or 314-941-9378.

The Couts Music Series of Second Presbyterian Church presents a concert honoring the birthday and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program takes place virtually on Sunday, January 17 at 4:00 pm and features singer Kim Fuller, pianist Carolbeth True, bassist Glen Smith, and drummer David True. To watch and listen, visit https://secondchurch.net/music/couts-music-series/ This concert is only accessible online on Sunday, January 17 at 4:00 pm. For more information call 314-367-0367 or secondchurch.net.

St. Mark Presbyterian Church recently did some technology updates and has a few 2 GHz Cisco wireless access points it no longer needs. They are free to a good home. Please contact Pastor Dave Burgess at [email protected] if you are interested.

The City of St Charles has applied to the Army Corps of Engineers for permits to destroy wetlands near Bangert Island Park, raise up floodplain acres, move the Katy Trail and more. The project is called Riverpointe. You can learn more about the project here.

If you have recently received an email requesting a gift card, credit card information or any other financial request from the Presbytery office or a Pastor within our Presbytery-someone is Phishing. No one, either in our office or our member churches, will ever solicit funds in this manner. Please notify any party, by phone, if you receive any suspicious email or text message.

What is Phishing?....a scam by which an Internet user is duped (as by a deceptive e-mail message) into revealing personal or confidential information which the scammer can use illicitly

How to recognize and avoid it? Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. But there are several things you can do to protect yourself. Click Here

For many of us in the United States, the Christmas season culminates on December 25th.In other parts of the world, like in Peru, the Christmas celebration is only just beginning and then comes to completion on January 6th, Epiphany, when the 3 Kings arrive to the manger. 

This day, known as the Bajada de Reyes, is often celebrated with music, small gifts for children, and a chocolatada! What is a chocolatada? As you might discern from the word, it involves chocolate - namely, hot chocolate!  Our partners in Peru want to celebrate it with us! 

Join us on January 6 at 6pm Peru time (6pm EST/5pm CST in the USA)) to celebrate the arrival of the 3 Kings. We will hear pre-recorded messages and music from partners in Cusco, and San Martin. We will also be joined by Pastor Pedro Pablo Garcia of the House of God Presbyterian Church in Lima. Pastor Pedro has been instrumental in orchestrating dozens of community kitchens in the more impoverished areas of Lima throughout the pandemic and will tell us how Christ has been born into the world again in Peru and how we can honor him from afar with the gifts we have to share. Our mission co-workers in Peru will be hosting the event and translating as needed. 

This event is being organized by the Peru Mission Network and our Mission Co-Workers in Peru, Jed Koball and Chenoa Stock who will send out a Zoom link soon.

Well see you then! And, don’t forget to bring your Hot Chocolate!!! 

In Illinois - Click Here | In Missouri - Click Here

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.

Please submit your grant request to [email protected]. Note in the subject line Second Wave Grant.

By the way, First Wave Grants are still available. Please contact Liz Kanerva at the above email for more information. (Learn More Here)

  REGISTRATION FOUND HERE

The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center will present a Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches workshop which is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2021. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, that date will be upon us before we know it. If you have colleagues who you believe might benefit from this training, would you please remind them that the discount deadline for this event is Dec. 31, 2020 (barely three weeks away).  If someone whom you refer eventually registers for any session of CTS — Jan. 16, Feb. 13, March 22, or April 10 — then we would like to thank you by allowing you to register free of charge for The Language We Use, a 90-minute webinar on the morning of December 16.  Learn more here

Registration is open for the virtual event hosted by the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators, to be held February 4–6. Explore “Anything But Ordinary Time” with APCE, from the comfort of your own home.