Newsletter
October / 2 / 2018
Rules and Policy
Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard
Transitional Leader of the
Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Today I took part in Boundary Training for ministers in the presbytery. The training is required every three years for all Teaching Elders and Commissioned Pastors. We covered several topics including dating, touching, friendship, and intimacy between pastor and parishioner. We also talked about social media, and the challenges of pastoral identity on the internet. Around the question of friendship, we talked about the difference between being friendly and being a friend. We shared stories of accepting and rejecting gifts and discussed the separation policy regarding once a pastor leaves a congregation. 
Fun Follow Up
One of my all-time favorite holy family paintings from the Uffizi gallery in Florence. Mary is the small figure in the distance at the right. I'm always looking for the one picture in a thousand that makes the holy family approachable.
I love it that the baby Jesus is playing with Joseph's beard. 
(Send us your photos to highlight fun)
Called Presbytery Gathering for Wed., Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
The Gathering will be held at
Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church,
located at 16520 Clayton Rd, Wildwood, MO 63011.
Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket Update
  • Please pray....for Mental Health Awareness and Activism, and Caritas Presbyterian and their amazing work
What's Happening? Did you know?

  • Including the blind in worship…A blind couple opens a pastor’s eyes I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Christians often sing “Amazing Grace” without understanding what it is like to actually be blind — either legally blind with diminished vision or completely blind. Continue here.
  • World Communion Sunday – October 7  “All who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.” (I Cor. 11:29) The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world. Continue here.
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TRIENNIUM 2019
Ask Registrar Rev. Mel Smith for more details by contacting her here.
What is PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH
TRIENNIUM? Click Here
The Search is On! Do you have what we need?
Please return, as soon as possible, any books or other materials checked out from the Resource Center. As volunteers prepare to unpack boxes and shelve books, they need to know how much space is needed….
Upcoming Team Meetings - Locations Listed
(Wednesday to Tuesday)
PLEASE NOTE: The Oaks Conference Room (Oaks) and St. Andrews Conference Room (St. Andrews) are both located at the new Presbytery office, 1001 Craig Rd., Suite 170, St. Louis, MO 63146,
(Oaks) is on the first floor (St. Andrews) is on the second floor. Directions can be found here.
(Ladue) refers to Ladue Chapel, 9450 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124. Directions can be found here.
(WebGrov) refers to Webster Groves Presbyterian, 45 W Lockwood Ave, St. Louis, MO 63119 Directions can be found here.
This Week....
Tues., Oct. 9
10 a.m. - Finance (Oaks)
1 p.m. - Mission & Outreach (Oaks)
4 p.m. - Admin/Support (Oaks)
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Next Week:
Wed., Oct. 10
11 a.m. - PTCC (Woodlawn Chapel)
Thurs., Oct. 11
3 p.m. - Gathering Planning (Oaks)
5 p.m. - Cong. Vibrancy (Oaks)
Mon., Oct. 15
1 p.m. - Social Witness (Oaks)
Uprooting Hunger - 2018 Presbytery Wide Goal
Alleviating Hunger and Eliminating Its Causes
“Enslaving poverty in a world of abundance is an intolerable violation of God’s good creation.”—Book of Confessions, 9.46
Fighting hunger is at the heart of our Presbyterian understanding of mission. Jesus fed the hungry and told his disciples to do the same. Yet, we know that hunger is an extremely complex phenomenon with economic, political and social causesContinue here.
Uprooting Hunger - Hunger Action Team
The next sixteen months the presbytery will work toward establishing Certified Hunger Action Congregations. This handout will be helpful to your congregation, as we journey together in the year + ahead. We look forward to the year + ahead. If you have any questions, please contact us via communication@glpby.org
Session Records Review Date/Time
Sat., Oct. 13 - 10 a.m.
First Presbyterian - Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Directions can be
Sat., Oct. 20 - 2 p.m. -Westminster Presbyterian - Belleville, Illinois.
Directions can be found here.
If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact Stated Clerk, Rev. Joy Myers at  jmyers@glpby.org  or by calling 314-772-2395.
Clerk's Annual Questionnaire
Clerks of Session, please participate in the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire. To preview the survey, click here . Once ready, please click the Survey Link (left) and submit to the denomination. The survey provided is in English, if you require a different version please contact Stated Clerk, Joy Myers, at jmyers@glpby.org, or call the office at 314-772-2395.
Our Community Connected
“HEALING JUSTICE” 
On Sunday, October 28, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Webster Groves Presbyterian Church Advocacy Team and the Dismantling Racism and Privilege Team of the Presbytery welcome you to a special screening of Healing Justice. The screening will take place at Webster Groves Presbyterian, located at 45 W Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, Missouri 63119. Directions found here.
This powerful documentary addresses the school-to-prison pipeline, the need for comprehensive criminal justice reform, and the importance of healing and restorative practices. Designed for dialogue, Healing Justice is meant to prompt questions and open conversations, exploring trauma, justice, and healing. Full details can be  found here.
Fall Is Almost Here
Are You Ready for Holiday Shopping?
There are many congregations within our presbytery that host fall art, craft and vendor shows to support their mission projects. Shop for holiday gifts, that also give back to mission! Check our Online Calendar Here before shopping this year!
  • Sat., Oct. 6 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Craft and Vendor Sale at Maryland Heights Presbyterian Church, Maryland Heights, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Sat., Oct. 6 - 7:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rummage Sale at Elm Street Presbyterian Church, 101 West Elm Street Alton, Illinois. Directions here.
  • Sat., Oct. 6 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Salad & Holiday Shoppe at First Presbyterian, Brighton, Illinois. Flyer Found here. Directions Found here.
  • Sat., Oct. 13 - 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Old Argo Fall Festival at Old Argo Presbyterian Church, Bourbon, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Fri., Nov. 9 - 8 a.m. - Holiday Bazaar at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Sat., Nov. 10 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - PW of John Knox Presbyterian Church Craft and Vendor Sale, Florissant, Missouri. Directions here.
  • Tues., Nov. 13 (10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and Wed., Nov. 14 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ) St. Mark's Presbyterian Church Christmas Boutique, Ballwin, Missouri. Directions here.
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Is your church hosting an event? Please let us know so that we can share with the presbytery. Simply email: communication@glpby.org
UKirk - Calling all college students!
UKirk - StL leads a group from January 1-5, 2019 to the College Conference at Montreat, NC. Sign up by October 15!
Learn more about this year's conference theme "Compassionate Community"  Here
Perseid String Quartet in Concert
The Perseid String Quartet plays a concert at Second Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m. The ensemble is comprised of violinists Hannah Frey and Manuela Kaymakanova, violist Eliana Haig, and cellist Stephanie Hunt. The church is located at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End, St. Louis, 63108. The concert is part of the Couts Music Series and is free to the community. For more information call 314-367-0367 or   www.secondchurch.net .
Missional Opportunities
2018 Crop Hunger Walk & Concert at Eden Seminary
The 2018 Crop Hunger Walk and Concert is Sunday, October 7 at Eden Seminary in Webster Groves (475 E. Lockwood Ave. 63119) — check-in at 4:30 p.m., walk at 5 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. The Holy Crepe Food Truck will be on-site from 4 to 7 p.m. 
Register online at:  www.crophungerwalk.org/saintlouismo
The Concert is free, and is also the 7th Annual Eden Festival of Psalms, featuring Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (who has two pieces in our hymnal, “Glory to God”) and other excellent musicians. Questions? Call Clint McCann at 314-619-0599.
FREE Webinar!!!
#GivingTuesday will be here soon. Is your  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation or ministry ready? The Presbyterian Foundation is partnering with the Presbyterian Mission Agency to bring you this great session. Anyone is welcome!  #PCUSA It's FREE!!!!
Nicaragua Community Partnership
Annual Celebration and Fund-Raising Dinner
Celebrate and Support our successful scholarship students Learn about the recent national crisis in Nicaragua and the positive developments in Plan Grande #2 Explore ways to become involved in this mission Enjoy a terrific meal at one of St. Louis’ finest Italian restaurants. Save the date! Monday, October 22, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at LoRossa’s Cucina, located at 3121 Watson Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63139. Please make reservations by contacting Harriet Hall 314-963-7112, or by emailing  pg2nicaragua@gmail.com. Please find and like the Nicaraguan Community Partnership on  Facebook here.
Save the Date!
The Mound Ridge Dinner Auction committee set the date for the 2019 Dinner Auction. It will be held on April 27, 2019, at Andrea’s Banquet Hall on Telegraph Road. Save to your calendars now!
Complete List of Educational Opportunities: Found Here
Educational Opportunities - October 2018
Interfaith Meetings
Everyone is invited to attend the Interfaith Dialogue meetings in the lower level conference room at Aquinas Institute of Theology. Directions can be found here . These meetings will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: October 9, 16. At these meetings a group of Jews, Christians, and Muslims study the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospels, and the Qur’an together.
The Lost Art of Democratic Argument:
What’s Become of Civility?
Michael Sandel, Harvard political philosopher and best-selling author discusses this question at Ladue Chapel on Monday, October 8th at 7 p.m. Event flyer can be found here.
Imagination, Empathy, and Action:
Being a Christian in a Fragmented Age
On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Second Presbyterian, St. Louis, Missouri, presented by Rev. Marianne Borg. This even is free and open to the public.
Pastoral Leaders Retreat
Held on Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 at the St. Crispins Conference Center, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Complete details can be found here.
Educational Opportunities - November 2018
Underground Railroad Bus Tour
The Presbytery History Team is pleased to announce its 2018 bus tour featuring the Underground Railroad in the St. Louis and Alton areas. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 7. We will enjoy a delicious lunch at a favorite Alton restaurant. Full details can be  found here.
Educational Opportunities - Looking @ 2019
YMIM National Conference
 All youth workers, including volunteers, staff, pastors, and youth ministers are invited to Montreat, North Carolina, for our fifth annual Youth Ministry Academy . The dates are January 24–26, 2019, and the theme is "WHOLE." Come relax, learn, and share in fellowship with others in youth ministry as we seek wholeness together. More information can be found here.
Current Ministry Position Openings
Children's Music Director
St. Mark Presbyterian
P/T Treasurer
Cote Brilliante Presbyterian
Communications Coordinator
Webster Groves Presbyterian