Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Current Guidelines on the Coronavirus

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.

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Presbytery Upcoming Virtual Meetings

Thurs., May 21

11am - Social Witness - Click Here

12pm - All Pastors - Click Here

4pm - Vision Team - Click Here

Wed., May 27

12pm - Clerks of Session - Click Here

Thur., May 28

11am - Presbyterian Women - Click Here

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Reminders will be sent the evening before, with Zoom link and call-in information. We look forward to seeing you!

Pentecost Offering Taken Until May 31

Nurturing the faith of those who are the church to come

A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Consider giving if you are able - Click here for details

Day of Pentecost Bell Ringing

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri invite their Presbyterian siblings to join with their congregations in ringing church bells on Sunday, May 31 at 12 p.m. (Noon) in honor of those who have died from COVID-19 and in thanksgiving for the essential workers who have kept things going during this time.

Chaplains are on the Front Lines of the Pandemic

With commitment and compassion, Chaplains are navigating a new normal, during the COVID-19 Outbreak. Please click here and read how one of our own Pastors and colleagues are making an impact. Click here.

Tip for Caring for God's Creation

(while sheltering in)

Plant some flowers outdoors or indoors. And if possible, plant them in the front yard where neighbors and passers-by can enjoy them!

TIP's is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of presbytery composed of representatives of the 9 congregations that are Certified Earth Care Congregations in the presbytery. More information? Contact [email protected] or 314-941-9378.

Sermon Support from Synod

We, at the Synod of Mid-America, know you are worn slick right now. You have been doing an AMAZING job in the last 5-6 weeks providing a faithful worship experience for those you serve. Truly, you need to believe it when we tell you: You are doing an amazing job. We’d like to help.

 For the foreseeable future, I am going to produce a sermon video you may use for your worship services. These will be for the fourth Sunday of the month, and I will have them ready to go by the preceding Wednesday. I will send you a link via email on that day where you can view and/or download the video to use as you see fit. 

The first sermon will be for May 24, and will be ready on Wednesday, May 20. To receive the sermon, please subscribe to the Synod Newsletter by clicking here.

DRAP Team Welcomes Your Video Message

The Sierra Club Initiative Petition Team has gathered over 7,800 signatures to help put the Medicaid Expansion petition on the ballot in November! Even though signature collecting and in-person events are suspended, we still need your help talking to voters. Currently, we're recording short video messages on why we're supporting Medicaid expansion. Every video will help us spread our message across Missouri and win healthcare coverage for 230,000 Missourians. If you have exciting news that you would like to share with the team, please email us at  [email protected]   .  Include the information to be sent along with any pictures.

Technology Grants Now Available

We need technology now more than ever. There are grants available to help your congregation in acquiring what you need to get your congregation on the technology track    

Click Here

Summer 2020

Mission &

Outreach Team

Grant Applications

DEADLINE EXTENDED

You can find the application and details about the grants    Click here.

More details will be found in this Friday's newsletter.

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Emergency Relief Plan

Purpose: To provide emergency support for congregations experiencing proven financial hardship due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Finance Team has been authorized to approve emergency grants up to $10,000. Find more information by  c licking here.

Remote Faith Formation for the Long Haul

Compilation list of resources that could be helpful for you during the current COVID-19 situation and that may be helpful in developing sustainable remote faith formation for your community. In this list you will find resources to deal with the current crisis, studies for Christian education, blogs and ideas. This is your toolbox. We will update this list periodically over the coming weeks. Download here

Light for the Darkness

Feeling anxious or depressed, or know someone who is? Light for the Darkness has started a virtual group for anyone struggling with mental health to connect with others who understand and explore where God may be in the midst. Sundays at 4:30pm. Please connect with Thirza Sayers, who is intimately aware of these struggles, if you have any questions at  [email protected]   or 404.313.4549

Mission Team at Woodlawn Chapel

Seeking Coupons

The Coupon Club shops each week for a local food pantry, Circle of Concern in Valley Park, Missouri, by combining church donations, coupons and grocery sales to stretch our dollars. With the Covid-19 shutdown, our coupon donations are way down -- normally our members drop these off each week at church. Can you help?

We shop each week to meet pantry needs, but normally we focus on non-perishable food items:

Cereal • Pasta Sauce • Pasta • Jelly • Peanut Butter • Canned Pasta • Canned Fruit • Dinner Helpers • Mac & Cheese • Snacks, i.e., fruit snacks, granola bars, Pop Tarts, crackers, chips • Laundry Detergent

If you have any of these coupons at home, please mail them to: Coupon Club, Woodlawn Chapel, 16520 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011.

Our Presbytery Addresses Hunger in our Communities But there are Challenges During the Pandemic

Hunger is a serious challenge, even as our attention is focused on the health crisis at hand, and in many ways, it may get worse. What can we do to ensure that the virus that has brought so much of daily life to a grinding halt does not do the same to our work to end hunger? Read more here.