Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Weekly Newsletter

Newsletter

January / 17 / 2023

We Gather Twice in February

and you have questions...

The work of the church is strengthened when it is done in a spirit of openness and trust, and that is why all are welcome to attend and have a voice, even if not commissioned to a voting role.

Click Here to Read

Our Presbytery - Our Work

Weekly Prayer Basket

Please pray for...please pray for the family of Mark Templeton, in his passing
Please pray for...please pray for the family of Peggy Swing in her passing
Please pray for...please pray for the family of Kathy Whalen, in her passing

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PC(USA)

Quick Connect

Support Ministry

Help Wanted

Positions Available Found Here

Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings

This Week

Next Week

Thurs., Jan. 19

10 am - Public Witness Click Here

1:30 pm - CPM (TBD)

1:30 pm - Vision Team Click Here

Mon., Jan. 23

12 pm - Rural Pastors Click Here

Wed., Jan. 25

10 am - HR Pastors Click Here

Thurs., Jan. 26

1 pm - CO-Nomin (link to be emailed)

Clerks of Session

Statistics Season Has Arrived

We are Here to Help!

There will be open office hours at the presbytery office on Mon., Jan. 23, and Mon., Feb. 6, from 10 am – 2 pm, if you would like to drop by and receive help with your statistics.

Upcoming Zoom Presbytery Gatherings

Stated Gathering

Thurs., Feb. 2

Called Gathering

Sat., Feb. 18

Click Here for Details

Saddened to Report

Mark Miller Templeton, Jr., died on January 3rd. He was a long-time staff member of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, and at the time of his retirement in 2002, he was serving as Associate Executive for Congregational Development.

Services will be held at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church on January 23rd at 11 am.

The obituary can be found by clicking here.

Peggy Ennis Swing died on January 12th.

She served as an Elder at St. Mark Presbyterian, and later as a Deacon at Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian, but most will remember her for her work at the presbytery, as the moderator of the Dismantling Racism and Privilege Team (now DRAWP)

Services were held at Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church, on Monday, Jan 16 at 11 a.m.

Her obituary can be found by clicking here.

Now Installed

Rev. Kathleen Henrion, has now been installed as the Pastor of Glendale Presbyterian Church. Congratulations to Rev. Henrion and Glendale Presbyterian Church in their new ministry together.

We look forward to seeing what God has in plan for them.

Historical Highlight

The Lutesville Presbyterian Church is nestled in Bollinger County, Missouri. The area was settled by Swiss Germans from North Carolina, led by George Bollinger, on Spanish land grants along the Whitewater and Castor Rivers in 1800. Lutesville was laid out in 1869 by Eli Lutes. He donated land to the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad for a depot to assure that the line ran through town.

In 1904, Reverend J.D. Reeder held a revival meeting in Lutesville which converted twenty-five people, and the Presbytery of St. Louis organized the Lutesville Presbyterian Church. The cornerstone for the church building was laid in 1905. Soon thereafter, Ladies’ Aid was established. Mrs. R.I. (Lucille) Caldwell was the first female elder of the church. She was ordained and installed in 1949. In 1978, the sanctuary and fellowship hall were destroyed by fire. The congregation met in the Lutesville Community Center and then the church’s Educational Annex. The rebuilding of the church structure was completed in 1981.

by Julie Nicolai

History WorkGroup Member

News & Updates

JOINING HANDS MEETS TONIGHT

The next meeting of Joining Hands will be on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. We will begin at 6:30 pm (CST) on Zoom. The Zoom link is below.

Jed Koball will give us updates from Peru. This will include a presentation on the new initiatives of Joining Hands Peru (“The Red.”) This will be an important update for our future programming and planning. You don’t want to miss it!

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking here. If using the Zoom app, please use Meeting ID: 840 1635 8336. The Passcode is: 532134

Tips for Caring for God's Amazing Creation:

Watch an environmental film on January 19

The Earth Care Work Group of presbytery is inviting all to join a Zoom call and watch an excellent environmental film on January 19 at 7PM called, "Living in the Future's Past". Hosted by actor Jeff Bridges, in concert with scientists, profound thinkers, and a dazzling array of Earth's creatures revealing eye-opening concepts about ourselves and our past, and providing fresh insights into our future. Please register for watching the film on the attached flier and receive the link for the film. There will be a brief group reflection on the film immediately afterwards.

Conversation to follow the film

To Register for Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/FETJan2023

For more information: (314) 521-8418 or [email protected]

Shareable flyer found by clicking here

Commissioning Service of Darlene Tricamo

Sunday, January 29 at 2 pm

Rock Presbyteriann Church, Imperial has called Darlene Tricamo to serve as their Pastor.

Please join us in prayer and thanksgiving.

Rock Presbyterian is located at 6439 US Highway 61/67 Imperial, Missouri. Directions can be found by clicking here.

Art and Sabbath

Did you set a New Year's resolution to spend more time with God? to try something new? to spark your creativity? On Thursday, January 19th, Julie Gvillo -- pastor and Certified Zentangle(R) Teacher -- will lead her monthly non-contracted Prayer Art Retreat at Von Dell Gallery & Studios (102 E Ferguson, Wood River, IL) at 6 p.m. Worship unfolds, and art is created in response to prayer and scripture. No artistic experience is required. All materials are supplied. Communion will be served. Please reserve your spot here: https://www.aplaceofgrace-juliegvillo.net/upcoming-events.html . A Place of Grace is offering-based. We hope you will join our art and sabbath community!

Love Yourself as Your Neighbor:

A Virtual Retreat in Everyday Life for

those in Formal or Informal Ministry

Pray on your own each day and meet one-on-one with a spiritual companion one hour each week for four consecutive weeks. Starts January 29. All meetings will be virtual (Zoom or via phone if you prefer). Weekly meeting times will be set around your schedule. This retreat will be personalized to what you are hoping for, whether that is to make more time for prayer, to learn new ways to pray, to pray about a certain issue in your life, etc. Visit www.momentsofgraceandprayer.org for more information and to register contact Clarence Heller ([email protected], 314.258.9066).

Celebrating 75 Years!

Sunday, March 4

Florissant Presbyterian Church welcomes you to join them in celebrating 75 years of outreach and ministry, on Sunday, March 4, with worship at 10:30 am, followed by luncheon and an Open House.

To support their local schools they will be collecting school supplies to celebrate this special occasion.

Florissant Presbyterian Church is located at 660 Charbonier, Florissant

Missouri. The directions can be found by clicking here.

Fraught & Flummoxed, a conference for those seeking courage and creativity as they elevate the Gospel. Join us January 30–February 2, 2023, as we engage mind, body, and spirit in the analysis of anti-racism.

Have you been trying to engage your congregation in conversations on anti-racism in light of the myriad of issues brought to light over the past two years? These are important - albeit hard - conversations to be having, and we want to do everything we can to help support ministers and lay people alike as their congregations tackle issues of social reform in an ever-polarized political landscape.