If you are calling into the meeting, please dial 312-626-6799

Common Wisdom holds that every cloud has a silver lining, right? It cannot be denied that our church was not keeping pace with the world’s technology. We were lacking a virtual presence in practically every aspect of our church’s ministry. The miseries and challenges presented our church in the form of a pandemic certainly lit that fire of remediation. We were so grateful to have not only the technical resources the Presbytery provided us- practically on a weekly basis- but also the needed grant money to put these resources into action. With our grant we were able to buy two YETI microphones which enabled us to transmit a clear, in-time virtual church service. As the rate of contagion ebbed and flowed and our sanctuary closed, then opened, then closed, the mics allowed participation from a home or in church, and sometimes from both places. When we found that we were severely hampered in our ability to process electronic giving due to a decade’s old computer, we were able to replace that machine and give people a way to contribute without coming to church. Throughout all of this, we were able to stay connected with our entire church membership in an interactive way. Being able to say hello to each other was just so wonderful. An unexpected bonus was that we were able to invite old friends, former members, and relatives who live out of town to join us in worship. Church family reunion! We still have things to accomplish but with increased confidence in our technological expertise, we will surely continue these many needed and beneficial upgrades.

We welcome you, if you have not explored virtual worship, to see what is possible and what you might need. Click Here

The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy invites you to two special events with author, Shawn Rochester to discuss his book, The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America. Rochester, a former corporate development, and global strategy executive quantifies the fiscal impact of the detrimental tax Black Americans pay in the auto, housing, online, job, and lending markets. The book examines the staggering financial cost from emancipation to the present day to answer the question of how, after 400 years, more than 40 million African Americans own only 2% of U.S. wealth. More than simply identifying the problem, Rochester lays out an empowerment plan to create much-needed jobs and businesses in the Black community. The first online session will meet on Thursday, March 4 and the second session is on Thursday, April 8. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 PM CST. There is no cost to attend, but advance registration is required. Advance reading of the book is highly encouraged, but it is not required. Please go to www.glpby.org for more information and to reserve your spot.

"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of presbytery, composed of members from 9 Presbyterian-certified Earth Care Congregations. To learn how to become an Earth Care Congregation, contact: [email protected] or 314-941-9378.

The 2021 SYW Planning Team of youth and adults is once again energetically preparing for an in-person gathering at the University of Tulsa, July 12-17, 2021. It is through the Planning Team’s prayerful discernment that they invited Martin Osae to keynote the Theme: WhataGreatGod based on Romans 8:38-39 (‘…nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”) In this passage, they find assurance and hope that God is ALWAYS with us, and takes us far beyond fear to faith, hope and love. In fact, there is nothing which can interrupt God’s love for us…ALL of us. Learn more here

Does your congregation own a cemetery? Changing state laws concerning the management, selling, and deeding of cemeteries raise questions for congregations and presbyteries as congregations merge or sell property.

What was the pre-Covid occupancy rate of worship space: the total seating capacity of worship space and the average pre-Covid attendance (2019 average attendance)?

Does the church have rental income? From whom?

These questions are raised by Presbyterian Foundation staff and others who study property issues for the PC(USA). Depending on the response to some questions, the survey has a maximum of seven (7) questions along with the congregation’s name and presbytery. Here is the link to pass along to your congregations. Please contact us with your questions or technical issues about this survey; it will close February 1.

Racism is a frequent topic of discussion, but we often we often differ in our understandings of what racism really is. The 1001 team is excited to partner with The Open Table, a NWC in Heartland Presbytery to provide an opportunity for NWC leaders to build a common working definition of racism so that we can work together to dismantle systemic racism in all its forms. Learn more about the training on Feb. 24, from 7–9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Register here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ehfya9sdb4123e6c&oseq=&c=&ch=

The Start of the Year Checklist provides congregational leaders reminders and guidance of annual reporting requirements to the presbytery, IRS, and Board of Pensions.

Included in the toolkit is the attached Benefits Connect Employer Guide. This document walks treasurers/ administrators through the steps of reporting changes in employment and salary. The employer representative for your council of the church may find it useful.

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.

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

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 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.

Click Here to learn what workshops are available.

This virtual retreat geared towards clergy and ministry care-givers will offer self-care practices attendees can embody in their personal lives. Tips for self-care techniques will be modeled to assist participants with building their own care regimen. Time and space will also be provided to discover encouragement amongst peers as well as experience rejuvenation within a supportive community of care-givers and care-seekers. The two-hour virtual retreat will include various elements, including presentations from the leaders on spiritual practice, small group work and large group discussion and sharing, as well as grounding exercises incorporating basic yoga techniques and the arts.

Click Here for Information

This two-day event, co-sponsored by the Seminary's Center for Social Justice & Reconciliation (CSJR) and the Leadership Institute, features two keynote address and four workshop choices. REGISTER HERE