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. Contact the office at 314-772-2395 if you are unsure where you will be meeting.

In Your Neighborhood

We are excited to announce that the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Office Staff will be traveling to southern Missouri for a remote office day on Thursday, March 28 and will assume office space from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Shawnee Room at the Drury Inn, located right off of I-55, at 3351 Percy Dr., in Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701. Directions can be  found here.  

We recognize that it isn’t always easy or even possible to travel into the St. Louis area, so we are traveling to those to our south this month. We hope to see you there!

We are saddened to report the death of Carole Thornberry, wife of Bob who was a past moderator of Justice and Compassion within the Presbytery, on March 15 at their home in Alton. Services will be at the First Presbyterian Church, 4th and Alby, Alton, Illinois on Saturday, March 23.  Visitation begins at 10 am, Funeral at 11 am, and Lunch at Noon. Bob’s address is 715 Riverview Road, Alton, IL 62002.

Great Tomato Give Away

The Presbytery of Detroit is fighting hunger by giving away tomatoes - Churches sign up in March or April.

·         On a Saturday in May, congregations pick up a flat or more of seedling tomato plants at prearranged sites throughout the presbytery.

·         The next day they give the plants to Sunday school children, or anyone else in church, to take home, plant, and lovingly tend through the summer.

·         The plants will grow and bear fruit in about eight to ten weeks.

·         Each church sets up a program to have members bring in the tomatoes, along with other fresh fruit or vegetables (grown or purchased) to church each Sunday through the harvest season. The gathered food is taken to a food bank or soup kitchen that will get it into the hands and mouths of hungry neighbors

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. If you have any questions, email:  [email protected]

Summer 2019 Mission & Outreach Team

Grant Applications Now Available

The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Mission and Outreach Moderator, Joyce Wilks-Love has announced that 2019 Summer Grant Applications are now available. You can find the application and details about the grants here.

Social Witness Policy Action Mission Team

Opportunity to Serve

If you have a passion for Social Issues and how to relate to our congregations for action - we invite you to join us.

We meet once a month, the third Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. at the Presbytery Office or call me for more details, Jesse C. Swanigan, Moderator 314-862-7158.

Presbyterian Women's Annual Spring Gathering

Presbyterian Women's Annual Spring Gathering is quickly approaching The Gathering will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Ste. Genevieve on Saturday, April 27, 2019. The theme is “Creation Covenant”. We’ve scheduled to dynamic speakers on the program, Dr. Clarice Hutchens, President of Partners for Just Trade and Alyson Miller, Executive Director of Partners for Just Trade. The registration form and directions can be found on page 7 of this issue of the Linkletter. Please send in your registration form and fees by April 20, 2019.

Don’t receive the Linkletter? Here is the latest copy. Make sure you subscribe so you too can receive Presbyterian Woman information and events!

Tracking the Vote

Have you ever thought about the amendments after our presbytery has vote on them? Here is an update of how those amendments are doing today, as they have appeared before other presbyteries across the nation.

Click here.

Paris To Pittsburgh

The Climate For Change Is Now

Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m.

The Ferguson Ecology Team Video Night, featuring Paris To Pittsburgh, The Climate For Change Is Now. The flyer can be found here.

These video nights are sponsored by the Ferguson Eco Team, composed of some members of Presbyterian Churches in the presbytery. For info, contact [email protected] .

Communion Training for Elders

If your church is without a permanent pastor and wants to celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly without having a Minister of Word and Sacrament present, then send a couple of elders to this training. The training will take place Saturday, March 30, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at 1st Presbyterian Church of Perryville. Once an elder completes the training, the elder can be the celebrant at the table at his/her church beginning in May after approval at the Presbyter Gathering. Please RSVP to Stephanie Knopf, 314-420-9477 or [email protected] .

Lenten Prayer Retreat at Ladue Chapel

Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 9 am – 12 pm

You are invited to rest in God’s presence and allow yourself to receive the pure gift of God. This morning of prayer includes an opportunity to pray with words (lectio divina), music (audio divina), and art (visio divina). Join Dieter Heinzl and Anne Peacock, as we nurture contemplative practices to enhance life’s journey. The labyrinth will also be available to walk in Fellowship Hall before and after the retreat. Friends welcome. RSVP to Anne Peacock: [email protected] or 314-993-4771 x3122. Directions can be found here.

RSVP by

March 22

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UKirk students are excitedly preparing for the Open House and Dessert Auction. As this event quickly approaches, they would love to have those planning to attend RSVP via email here , by March 22.

15th Annual - Praise Is What We Do Concert

The William G. Gillespie Scholarship Committee of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church invites you to join us as we celebrate our "Fifteenth Annual Praise Is What We Do Concert" on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church. Directions can be found here.

The concert will feature spirit-filled selections of praise dancing, poetry, vocal and instrumental performances. Admission is free; however, a free-will offering will be taken to benefit the scholarship fund. Joyce Addison & Richard Massey are Program Co-Chairs; Pasadena Weathersby - Scholarship Committee Chairperson, welcome all!

Annual Mound Ridge Dinner Auction

Save the date for 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.

Copier Available

Pacific Presbyterian Church has a copier to donate. It is a Toshiba model E-Studio 352 digital copier. It can use letter size, legal size, and oversized paper. We printed in black/White, so I’m not sure about color options. It prints very well, has 1 and 2-sided copying and collating. Comes with extra toner cartridge and ink collection container, plus all manuals and CDs. Some parts to connect copier to computer no longer available. Dimensions 26” x 28” x 29” (W x D x H). Weight Approximately 177 lbs. We would need you to arrange for pickup and delivery. Call 636-257-2742 if interested.

For a full detailed spec sheet, go to https://www.digitalsystemcopiers.com/Images/Toshiba_E_Studio_350.pdf

HELP!! Seeking Old Photos

 Uni-Pres Kindercottage is preparing a video of the last 50 years of ministry at the day care center in East St. Louis--the old location and our current building. If you have pictures, especially pictures including Brenda Crisp in them, please get them to us. You can e-mail digital copies to [email protected] . And please save the date, June 29, for a fabulous "Golden Gala" celebrating 50 years of ministry and looking forward to the future. A twice a century party you don't want to miss!!

Movement: Mission, Body, and Justice

Forum on Youth Ministry - Princeton

April 23 ^rd -26 ^th , 2019

The Forum on Youth Ministry is an event for Christian leaders who work with young people. At the Forum we gather thought leaders, pastors, and scholars together on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary for 4 days to provide lectures, seminars, and worship that feeds our work in youth ministry, and creates space for ministry leaders to network, rest, and learn.

If you would like to know more about the Forum you can find more information at   https://iymforum.ptsem.edu , or you can email our director, Abigail Visco Rusert at  [email protected] .

2019 Starpoint Reformed Youth Festival "Unity"

July 23-27 in Debrecen

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 29th

Every two years, thousands of Reformed youth from all over the Carpathian Basin and international guests from around the world gather to worship, fellowship, and grow in faith with one another at the Starpoint Reformed Youth Festival. Each year, during the festival, youth participate in various programs, including opening and closing worships, daily keynotes, roundtable discussions and workshops, and evening devotions and small groups. Unlike other festivals, Starpoint is a festival for youth by youth, with a group of more than 600 people taking part in organizing and running the event.

Learn more here .

Upcoming Online Continuing Education

The Leadership Institute is committed to equipping and inspiring church and ministry leaders. Our desire is to foster the continuing, ongoing process of leadership development for pastors, educators, and lay leaders alike. We invite you to explore how we may partner together to strengthen our witness and service to the church in the world. 

Learn more here.

Opportunity to Talk about the Confessions

Our conversation about the confessions has reached the 20 ^th century. Thursday [ note change of day] we will talk about the 1934 Barmen Declaration, drafted primarily by Karl Barth, and endorsed by what came to be known as the Confessing Church in Germany. While even its author said it left out important objections to what Hitler was doing, the Confessing Church was the only organization or group in pre-World War II Germany to so boldly challenge the German leadership. Barmen still has much to say to the church today.

If you’d like to join the conversation, contact Barbara Willock, [email protected]

SAVE The DATE

Stewardship Kaleidoscope

September 30 – October 2, 2019

Catamaran Resort, San Diego, CA

Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity. Drawing leaders from across the Lutheran Church (ELCA) and the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and beyond, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship, in its many colorful dimensions! Read more here.