NOTE: Meeting locations are as follows: Oaks - is the meeting room next door to the presbytery office; St.Andrew - refers to the Board Room of St. Andrews on the second floor, directly above the presbytery office; Pres - refers to the Presbytery Office Resource Center; Ladue - refers to Ladue Chapel; WG - refers to Webster Groves Presbyterian, Kirkwood - refers to First Presbyterian of Kirkwood. Contact the office at 314-772-2395 if you are unsure where you will be meeting.

Many Ministry Teams will recess in December. Please check with your Team Moderator, for a definitive meeting schedule for December.

2019 Holiday Office Schedule

NOVEMBER: Closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29 for Thanksgiving.

DECEMBER: Closed on Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25 for Christmas; Closing at noon on Tuesday, December 31, and all day Wednesday, January 1.

Reclaiming Advent - Holy Holiday Traditions

  Prepare for the holiday by simplifying life, incorporating prayers, giving alternative gifts and serving sustainable foods. Share the love of Christ with others throughout your life with a living witness this season. Download "Ideas for Reclaiming Advent and Christmas" from the Just Living series:

Learn more here.

Uprooting Hunger - Hunger Action Team

In 2019 the presbytery will work toward establishing Certified Hunger Action Congregations. This  handout will be helpful to your congregation, as we journey together.

We welcome any questions you might have - email us at [email protected] or call 314-772-2395.

We celebrate, in thanksgiving, our 20 Certified and 25 Covenanting Congregations for their dedication to eradicating hunger in their communities!

Questions on how to get your congregation involved email us here.

Tips for an Earth-Friendly Holiday!

* Slow down and take time to contemplate the reason for the season.

* Buy less gifts...buy more earth-friendly gifts.

* Use/reuse/recycle gift packing materials.

* Send electronic and hand-made cards.

* Choose a live tree and replant it after the holidays.

* For meals/food/parties, use locally grown, vegetarian options, organic, and free-range.

* Attend holiday events at church or in the community.

* Share with us your favorite Earth - Friendly ideas!

(Contributed by the Earth Care Team of presbytery, consisting of the eight Earth Care Congregations in the presbytery. More information: [email protected] ., 314--941-9378.)

Stewardship

Monthly Vlog

The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Stewardship Team welcomes you to join them as monthly they dig deep into what Stewardship means, as a community of Faith.

Congregations Can Get up to $50k to Help Their Pastors Find Renewal

Applications available for the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program from the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program

Congregations seeking renewal for their pastor are invited to apply for the  Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program  at  Christian Theological Seminary  in Indianapolis, Indiana.

According to a news release from the program, congregations may apply for grants of up to $50,000 to underwrite a renewal program for their pastor and for the pastor’s family. Up to $15,000 of the funds are available to the congregation to help cover costs for ministerial supply while the pastor is away

Learn more here

Calling All College Students

Travel with UKirk - StL from January 1-5, 2019 to the College Conference in Montreat, NC! Join students from all over the Presbytery and 1000+ others from around the U.S. to hear amazing speakers, experience Spirit-filled worship, and play in the mountains of Montreat. 

https://www.ukirkstl.org/uploads/5/6/8/7/56879897/2020_montreat_registration.pdf

FINAL DAY TO SIGN UP NOVEMBER 20TH!!!!

A Place of Grace Creativity Challenge

There is still time to register for one of the 2020 Creativity Challenges! You won't believe how much you could learn from this experience! Three of the four folks who took the 2019 Creativity Challenge are registered to take it again in 2020!!! We would LOVE for you to join us! There are a few openings at the evening challenge, more openings at the morning challenge, and the afternoon youth challenge is WIDE OPEN! Click for details! Check out the Fact Sheet Flier for more information, and feel free to post it on your bulletin board or share the post from the A Place of Grace Facebook Page!

Read more here

2020 JOINING HANDS PARTNERSHIP 20TH ANNIVERSARY PERU PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage:  A long journey to a sacred place

as an act of devotion.

YOUR ARE INVITED to be part of the 2020 Joining Hands Partnership 20th Anniversary Peru Pilgrimage. This pilgrimage includes journeying to the coastal, mountain and rainforest regions of Peru, to meet with our Joining Hand's Partners, to hear updates about the socio/economic context of Peru, to experience historical and cultural events and places, and to join with Red Uniendo Manos Peru (Peru Joining Hands Network) and others in a 20th Anniversary Celebration.

This Pilgrimage will be framed by daily bookends of morning and evening prayer and reflection on our Matthew 25 Pilgrimage Theme: When Did We See You?--Where and when do we experience the Christ 

Presence of compassion, love and justice in the people and places along the journey and in each other?

It will be a pilgrimage of listening and learning and accompaniment of our partners and returning to our congregations and groups to continue the pilgrimage of love and justice.

This year there will be two options for participating in the Pilgrimage:

-Participation in the whole journey: August 1-15, Weeks 1 and 2 or

-Participation in Week 1 only.

See the flyer for specific cost and deadline details. Found here.

For additional information or an application, please contact:

Ellie Stock:  [email protected] or (314) 521-8418 or

Mark Strothmann:  [email protected] or (314) 779-6940

Craft Fair

Sat., Nov. 23

Florissant Presbyterian is having a Craft Fair on Sat. November 23rd from 9-2. Crafters are still welcome to sign up for a table. Call FPC office at (314) 837-8555, M-W 9-2 for additional information. 

Prayer Retreat at Ladue Chapel

Saturday, November 23

This one day retreat will take place in the Fireside Room at Ladue Chapel, from 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. As Advent approaches, you are invited to rest in God’s presence with Dieter Heinzl and Anne Peacock. Join us as we spend the morning in prayer through silence and reflection with art, music, and God’s Word. The labyrinth will also be available to walk in Fellowship Hall before, during and after the retreat. Friends welcome. RSVP to Anne Peacock 314-993-4771 x3122 Cost: $5. The event flyer can be found here.

Advent Sing

Sun., Dec. 1 | 7 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church-Jackson is hosting an Advent Sing the evening of December 1st at 7:00 p.m. The evening will feature music from First Presbyterian Church-Jackson, Westminster Presbyterian Church-Cape Girardeau, First Presbyterian Church-Perryville, St. John's United Church of Christ (Fruitland), and Emanuel United Church of Christ (Jackson). A reception will follow. Directions can be found here.

New Hope Presbyterian Church

Cookies with Santa

Fri., Dec. 6 | 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m.

All are welcome to join us in enjoying a visit with Santa, cookies and hot chocolate, games and crafts . Call 636-936-2200 for more information. Directions can be found here.

FREE Hymnals Available

Southminster Presbyterian Church, Crestwood, has 196 The Singing Church hymnals. These hymnals were published by the Hope Publishing Company. These need a new home and are free to whoever will come and claim them. First come first serve, must take all of them. Please contact, Bill Thomas at 314-323-8041, if you are interested.

Space For Rent in Imperial

1600 square foot space, five rooms and common room, second floor. Perfect for office, preschool, daycare, etc. Rent all or individual rooms. Located at Rock Presbyterian Church, Imperial, Missouri. Call 314-420-9477

FOR PASTORS OUT IN THE COLD:

For the asking, a barely used (5X, maybe) Collegiate preachers cold weather cloak from the '70's; MSRP $520. Fits someone (any gender) around 5'10". E-mail [email protected] with request.

Hearing and Preaching the Gospel of Matthew

Thur., Nov. 21 | 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Zion Lutheran Church

Lutheran School of Theology is pleased to offer the workshop, "Hearing and Preaching the Gospel of Matthew," which will cover major themes in Matthew's gospel.  A majority of workshop time will be spent exploring samples of Matthean lectionary readings and exploring avenues for preaching on Matthew.

The teacher is The Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause, Professor of New Testament, Eden Seminary, St. Louis.  She is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who serves the church through social justice advocacy work, teaching, preaching and scholarship.

Zion Lutheran Church is located at 123 Carson Rd., Ferguson, MO 63135. Directions found here.

Tuition, which includes lunch, is $45 by Nov. 11 and $50 after that. Register online at:  www.lststl.org/courses; by phone at 314-918-2556 and leave a message if necessary; by email to: [email protected]; or by mail to: LST, 475 E. Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119

APCE Annual Event

Little Rock, Arkansas - Jan. 29 to Feb. 1

Invitation from Annual Event Co-chairs

“See I am sending you out,” Jesus boldly announces to seventy of his disciples in the Gospel of Luke. Likewise, this January, you are invited to Little Rock, Arkansas, to escape the cramped boxes of conventional church programs and to explore “discipleship through retreat, mission, and justice ministries.” 

This coming January 29 – February 1, join us in Little Rock for an “outside the box” APCE Annual Event! Bring your ideas, questions, imagination and passion as we discover together how God is sending us out to make disciples through retreat, mission, and justice ministries. Learn more here.

Discovering Renewal

Finding Renewal in the Everyday

A Montreat Conference Center Event

April 13–16, 2020

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthews 28:11

Our culture values hard work over rest. Burnout is rampant. Our jobs, obligations, and churches often expect us to work relentlessly. Hard work is good, but is it our ultimate goal? We often preach about the importance of Sabbath, but how often do we take our own advice? We need time to breathe, think, and engage our senses. We may need to discover the feeling of renewal. Discovering Renewal will focus on seeking respite in everyday experiences.

Learn more here.

Empowering Commissioned Pastors Conference

With the enthusiastic support and participation of our Co-Moderators, Vilmarie and Cindy, the Synod of the Sun Commissioned Pastors Network is sponsoring a conference for commissioned pastors (formerly known as commissioned lay pastors or commissioned ruling elders), to be held May 13–16, 2020, at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, Richardson, Texas.

PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS SURVEY (Found Here)

so facilitators can better plan the event.

Expect registration to open on December 1 .

FOR YOUTH

A New Earth: Thinking Theologically about Environmental Justice

June 14-28, 2020

Millions of youth from around the world have participated in climate strikes and environmental justice campaigns over the last few weeks. Presbyterian-related Monmouth College (Illinois) invites high school youth to continue their efforts by applying for the 2020 Lux Institute for Youth. June 14-28, 2020, theologically curious high school students from around the country will focus on environmental justice: diving deep into the world of theological and biblical studies, intentional community, vocational discernment, and worship.

Application deadline: January 1, 2020 - Priority consideration for applications received before December 1, 2019

Learn more here.

224th General Assembly (2020)

Hands and Feet Service Opportunities

During the 224th General Assembly (2020) and as a part of the OGA’s Hands and Feet initiative, The Center: Mission Outside the Box will offer hands-on service opportunities for GA-affiliated visitors, family members, youth groups, and friends. We will offer up to four service options, from 8:30–noon, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 22, 24, 25, and 26. 

Find our more by clicking here.