Newsletter
February / 25 / 2020
Creative Leadership
  My vision of the church is one of good pastors with a strong session. The church can only go as far as prayerful, discerning leadership can take them."

Our Presbytery - Our Work
Presbytery Education Day

Saturday, March 21
10 am to 3 pm
Registration at 9:30 am

Ladue Chapel Presbyterian
9450 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63124
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Former National Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and long time instructor at Columbia Seminary where he taught pastors to be teachers and leaders in the church’s educational ministry, specializing, in particular, on youth and young adult ministry. 

This FREE education day features several breakout sessions for congregation members, deacons, elders, and pastors. All are welcome to join us! The workshops are designed to entice everyone to imagine and re-imagine what the church can be. 
Weekly Prayer Basket

  • Please pray for...those who are battling viruses, particularly children and the elderly
Ash Wednesday
The season of Lent begins with a public act of confession and contrition, acknowledging that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we stand in solidarity as fellow creatures before our Creator, acutely aware of our mortality. Let us prayerfully enter this time together.
PC(USA)
Quick Connect
Support Ministry
Help Wanted
Parish Paper

Presbytery Slavery Apology Featured
Upcoming Team Meetings
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.
Week of: Feb. 26 to Mar. 3

Thurs., Feb. 27
9:30 a.m. - History (Abereen Hgts)


Week of: Mar. 4 to Mar. 10

Mon., Mar. 9
11 a.m. - Dynamic Leaders (WG)
5:30 p.m. - DRAP (Cote Brilliante)
Tues., Mar. 10
10 a.m. - Finance (Oaks)
11 a.m. - NWCC (St.Andrew)
1 p.m. - Mission/Outreach (Oaks)
4 p.m. - Admin/Support (Oaks)
Becoming Matthew 25
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2020 Presbytery Wide Goal
White Privilege Conference
Members of the Dismantling Racism and Privilege Committee (DRAP) invite you to attend the White Privilege Conference April 1 - 4, 2020 in Mesa, Arizona, along with three members of the committee. DRAP is offering one $750 scholarship to a member of the Presbytery who is interested in learning more about privilege and oppression. We hope this person will develop an interest in engaging in the work of anti-racism through DRAP, the Presbytery and their local congregation. Information about the conference can be found at: https://www.whiteprivilegeconference.com/wpc21mesa.
The White Privilege Conference (WPC) “examines the challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work towards a more equitable world.” Workshops are designed to meet the attendee’s level of understanding and awareness of the issues of privilege, anti-racism, oppression, and intercultural issues. The registration fee is $600, by using the discount code 20pcusa20 you will receive a 15% discount. (Register at the non-profit rate to receive the lowest rate.) Everyone, of course, is welcome to join the DRAP members at their own expense at the discounted rate.
Registration includes conference materials, box lunches, all concurrent workshop sessions Thursday - Saturday, meet the speaker and book signing sessions, keynote lectures, film screenings, and the closing celebration. Lodging information is available on the website.
Click here to apply for the scholarship (Deadline to Apply is March 1) DOWNLOAD OR SAVE THE APPLICATION TO YOUR DESKTOP PRIOR TO SUBMISSION.
For more information about the conference contact Gary Naylor (2019 WPC attendee) 636-484-6029 or Donna Cook 314-807-3949. 
Ministry Teams News & Activities
Pancake Supper - TODAY
Oak Hill Presbyterian | 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
to Benefit Isaiah 58 Ministries
Join us for our 12th Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper!
This event has grown to be a much-loved tradition for Isaiah 58 Ministries. So join us as we share in a wonderful meal of pancakes, eggs, breakfast meats and other items to kick off the Season of Lent! There will be live music, crafts for the kids and fun for everyone! Learn more about the event here.
Light for the Darkness
We're starting a New Community Group for anyone with any mental illness, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar. If you would like to explore where God may be in the midst of your mental health struggles, while connecting with people who understand, please join us. Sundays starting April 19th at 1pm at our partner congregation, Trinity Pres. Feel free to refer friends and family. If you have questions, please email me at thirzasayers@gmail.com. Learn more about what the Light for the Darkness does and its ministry, by clicking here. Be a part of the ministry by engaging through Social Media and "Liking" on Facebook here.
Place of Grace - Prayer Art Retreat
Are you feeling defeated? Anxious? Frustrated? Hopeless? Julie Gvillo, Pastor and Certified Zentangle (R)Teacher, will lead two three-hour Prayer Art Retreats at Von Dell Gallery & Studios in Wood River, IL on Thursday, February 27th, the first at 2:30 pm and the second at 6:00 pm with both Lectio Divina and Visio Divina. The focus passage will be Matthew 5:13-20. Worship will unfold, and art will be created in response to scripture. Everything you need to know will be taught as we go. No artistic experience required. We will conclude with Communion. Check our Facebook wall for details, by clicking here.
History Team Highlight - Webster Groves
In 1865, Mrs. Martha Moody headed a group of sixteen people to sign a petition to found a Presbyterian church in Webster Groves, a small community of 100 residents. The Presbytery of St. Louis approved the petition and a church was built on the site of the current church in 1867. The building materials and land were funded by the 26 new members and the Presbytery. The church was a diminutive wooden structure facing Church Street (now North Gore Avenue).It was officially established on March 29, 1866 through a covenant signed by the original members. Six pastors served the church through 1890, when it burned down. A new structure was built on the site of the current Elizabeth Holloway Woods Memorial Chapel. This building was damaged by fire in 1918. The cornerstone was laid in 1924 for a new sanctuary. In 1958, the chapel and adjacent buildings were ravaged by fire. Remodeling and additions followed.
Thanks for the Divestment Vote!
The Earth Care Team of presbytery would like to thank the presbytery for its concurrence for the overture going to General Assembly this summer regarding the divestment of funds in fossil fuel companies in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The vote took place at the Presbytery Gathering February 6 at St. Marks PC in Ballwin.  As is so obvious these days, caring for God's good earth is in emergency mode because of the rapid warming of the Earth's atmosphere caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). We must shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, water, etc) if our descendants are to have a habitable planet to live on. We hope that this overture may help all to see the critical nature of caring for this Earth, our common home. Students are speaking out on many university campuses and the Church must show by example as well. Questions or comments:  carletonstock@aol.com or (314) 941-9378.
Attention Presbyterian Women! 
The Presbyterian Women of Giddings Lovejoy Midwest/South Metro Cluster Winter Gathering will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 11 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the Sunny Street Cafe in Des Peres, MO. Please view the linked flyer for more information about this stimulating event. RSVP to Ann Schmid, ann_schmid1@yahoo.com by Friday, March 6, 2020.

First Presbyterian - Edwardsville
Trivia Night/Silent Auction for Youth
Sat., Mar. 14 | 7 p.m.
Learn more about this event by viewing their Facebook page here. You can contact Stacey Towell via email here, or by calling 314-591-0242 for more information.
Festival of Sharing Next Community Meeting
Sat., Mar. 14 | 9 a.m. at Lifewise StL
The Festival of Sharing is a cooperative response to world hunger, poverty, and injustice. These concerns motivate our actions to raise awareness of the causes and generate solutions. Our goal is to promote and support projects and programs by providing funding and resource goods. When people of faith come together and share, we can make a positive and powerful difference in the lives of people in need.
Community meetings found here. | Learn more here.
Presbyterians Care Movement 
March 20 to March 22
The Presbyterians Care Movement is a planned quarterly event in which your congregation communally engages in a community based activity. Learn how your church can participate in this weekend of compassion and care.
2020 Mission Opportunities
2020 GLPBY Annual Mission Trip to Nicaragua
Plan Grande #2, Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua
July 11-18, 2020
Join us for an Exciting, Multi-Generational Opportunity to follow Christ’s example to love one another. This is an ideal experience for Christians hoping to expand perspectives and be active peacemakers. Learn 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.
Planning Your Youth Mission Trip - Consider....
Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA) has partnered with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for a unique Summer Mission and Leadership Program for Youth. This coming summer we will be the host site for Summer Youth Institute North.  This program will be part of The Rev. Dr. Roy F. Miller, Ph.D., and Mrs. Florence Lantz Miller Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Congregational/Event Happenings
Kid Brother with Organ Accompanist Andrew Peters
Second Presbyterian Church
Sun., Mar. 1 | 4 p.m.
Harold Lloyd shows his talents in this 1927 American classic comedy silent film. Still considered by critics and fans as one of Lloyd’s best films, The Kid Brother blends comedy, romance, and drama in one action-packed film. Lloyd stars as the town sheriff’s bashful son who has the chance to prove himself when a medicine show comes into town. Andrew Peters provides live organ accompaniment to this 84 minute film. Directions found here.
Journey with Jesus - Childrens Fun
First Presbyterian - Sullivan
Sat., Mar. 14 | 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Crafts, Stories & Fun
Click here for more information. | Click here for directions
Complete List of Educational Opportunities: Found Here
Transitional Ministry Education
May 18–21
It has been said that the church is in a time of great transition and needs skilled pastors in transitional ministry. Are you exploring how to cultivate new pastoral, organizational, professional skills that will support you in your present call and in a possible new call to come? Have you wondered if you might be interested in transitional ministry or an interim call? We highly encourage you to consider the Transitional/Interim Training from May 18-21 in Parkville, MO.
Continuing Education Classes Announced
Union Presbyterian Seminary Theological Institute Upcoming Continuing Education Events offered January through March 2020, can be found by Visiting their Events page
Current Support Ministry Position Openings

Seeking Pastor - Yoked Congregations (Presbytery of the Pines)

AMEN St. Louis Director - Oak Hill Presbyterian

Full Time Interim Pastor - Grace Presbyterian

Called Pastor - Faith DesPeres Presbyterian

Versatile Soprano Choral Section Leader - Westminster St. Louis
Youth Ministry Coordinator - Cote Brilliante Presbyterian

Christian Educator - First Presbyterian -Edwardsville

Children, Youth and Family Ministry - Second Presbyterian