Newsletter
July / 21 / 2020
Being Neighborly
"Instead of defining neighbor by neighborhood or zip code, Jesus reveals everyone is our neighbor, so we are to “act neighborly”
Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket

  • Please pray ... for our neighbors without air conditioning or access to cooling shelters
  • Please pray for... Educators as they explore what the new school year will look like
  • Please pray...for our Missions in Nicaragua and Peru
  • Please pray for... for churches as they plan to re-open to regular services, and for continuing to support of those home bound
  • Please pray for... for an end to the rising infection rates, and for a vaccine to become available.
PC(USA)
Quick Connect
Support Ministry
Help Wanted
Parish Paper

2020-2021 Planning Calendars
The 2020-2021 Planning Calendars will be $9.75 each. We can mail small orders for the cost of shipping. Orders over 5 will need to be picked up. PC(USA) expects them to be delivered mid to late August.
Email or call Leigh Porter to reserve your copy today, by reaching out to lporter@glpby.org or 314-772-2395.
Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
Upcoming Election Information
Absentee & Mail In Ballot Deadline Request July 22
Social Witness Policy Action Team
Missouri August 4, 2020 Election
VOTING ALERT
If you're fearful about contacting COVID-19 at the polls, please contact your Board of Election Commission to request an Absentee Ballot or Mail-in-Ballot. The request must be received no later than July 22!
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Although Illinois' next election takes place November Tuesday, November 3, applications are now being taken for mail in ballots. The deadline for requesting a Mail In Ballot is October 29.  Click here for details.
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church
Offering Free Notary Services
Sun., July 26
 12 p.m. to 3 p.m .
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church will offer free mail-in ballot notarization services. The notary services will be held on the parking lot on the east side of the church, 45 West Lockwood in Webster Groves.  Directions found here
Please share with your congregation, friends and family!
For more information, call:  Janice Seele 714-642-3376
Medicaid Expansion On the Ballot
Many Missouri families are slipping through the cracks in our healthcare system — forced to choose between paying for life-saving care and putting food on the table or making a mortgage payment to keep their home. These families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough to be able to afford coverage on the health insurance exchange.
Virtual Town Hall
Tuesday, July 21 | 4 p.m.
The League is proud to partner with the YWCA on this free virtual town hall meeting on knowing your rights as a voter, running for office and using your voice for change. Hear from League panelists Jennifer Lohman and Dr. Sabrina W. Tyuse. Dr. Gena McClendon will moderate and share results of her study "Unflinching: The Power of the African American Vote."
The one-hour virtual webinar will be next Tuesday at 4 pm. To get the link, register today at       https://www.ywcastl.org/event/vote   /.  You can post a question on the registration form.
Upcoming Team Meetings
NOTE: In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, meetings will be restricted to Zoom or conference call. If you are unsure how to participate, please contact your team moderator, or call the office 314-772-2395, and select Leigh Porter, Office Manager.

Presbytery Upcoming Virtual Meetings
This Week
Next Week



None
Wed., July 29
12 p.m. - Interim/Transitional Pastors - Click Here
Thurs., July 30
12 p.m. – All Pastors Meeting
10 a.m. - Presbyterian Women Gathering - Click Here 

Becoming Matthew 25
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How Do We Engage Socially Distancing and still participate in Mission & Ministry?
Creatively Serving Meals
During a Pandemic
First Presbyterian - Alton volunteers, Fred Delano, Karen Woods & Claudia Droste, served lunch on Saturday, July 11, passing out 36 meals of fried chicken & potato salad and 21 Good Neighbor bags.
Send us your stories of how your congregation is maintaining congregational vitality during this pandemic. Send stories to Office Manager, Leigh Porter at lporter@glpby.org
News & Activities
The Power of Faith
On Friday we lost two of the most important men of my lifetime - Rep. John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian. Their bravery in the face of imminent death as they demonstrated in the 50s and 60s was a beacon for all of us at the time. Their lifetime of commitment to justice in the name of love, in the name of Christ, must stay in our hearts and in our souls for the duration. Keeping the faith and changing policies that have been created in the name of white supremacy walk hand in hand. We can join so many efforts for establishing equal justice. Right here in St. Louis, the Bail Bond Project, voting for Medicaid Expansion on August 4th, supporting the Urban League and other organizations like Better Family Life and Fathers Support Center, are all ways we can work as individuals and in community to solve the problems of systemic racism. Let us, if we are white, use our privilege for the good of all. Black Lives Matter and, when they matter to us all, we all benefit.
Peace and Love, Diane McCullough – Elder at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church and member of the Dismantling Racism and Privilege (DRAP) team of the Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy
Joining Hands Mission
On behalf of the Peru Mission Network of the PC(USA), the Joining Hands Coordinating Team of the Presbytery of Giddings -Lovejoy is sending you an update on the situation in Peru and urges you to make a donation to COVID-19 Peru Relief Fundraising Campaign .  The Peru Mission Network (PMN), is a coalition of Presbyterian churches and organizations doing mission in Peru.  Read more here
Tip for Caring for God's Creation 
Nurture Nature Awareness in your Children, Grandchildren and others in the Church
Suggest nature trips to the children, such as visits to local nature reserves, bird sanctuaries, walks and other open-air activities. Complement these outings with books, nature guides, and reflections about how people of faith are called to care for God's incredible creation and our common home.
"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of presbytery composed of representatives from the 8 certified Earth Care Congregations of the presbytery and Mound Ridge Camp. For more info on becoming an Earth Care Congregation in the Presbyterian Church contact:  carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378
Racial Justice Summer Movie Series 
Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
AMEN St. Louis invites high school and college students to join us for a racial justice summer movie series featuring the films Just Mercy, The Hate U Give, Moonlight, and Whose Streets?. Watch the films and join AMEN staff for facilitated discussions via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7pm CST.
Zoom In - Click Here If you are calling in, please call 312-626-6799  and enter the meeting number 849 4257 5991, followed by the # sign. If prompted, the password is: 698732.
July 22 Discussion
Moonlight film presents three stages in the life of the main character: his youth, adolescence, and early adult life. It explores the difficulties he faces with his  sexuality  and identity, including the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up
Join us!
First Presbyterian Church - Sullivan
Movie Night on Wed., July 22 at 6 p.m.
Join Us As We Watch “Overcomer” Just Bring A Snack And Have Great Fellowship With Us!!! Free! Everyone Welcome!
Please contact the church for any safety protocals that might be in place at this time, prior to attending. Their Facebook page can be found here. Directions found here.
NWCC Dreaming & Discerning
Tues., Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.
The Holy Spirit may also be firing the imagination of some of you around Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery to see visions and dream dreams of inviting disciples into Jesus’ loving mission and ministry through launching a completely new worshiping community. As you look around your corner of God’s creation, the Holy Spirit may be breaking your heart for hurting people you are being called to creatively serve through launching something new. The Giddings-Lovejoy New Worshiping Communities Commission would love to partner with you in discerning and supporting your visions and dreams for launching a new worshiping community. Learn more here.
Summer Camp 2020
Campers go to  https://moundridge.org/virtual-camp/ to register for this free program. We then send packages of supplies to the campers and they follow along online! Space is limited so please register asap!
Camp runs June 15- July 17th and the website is open until August 1st.
Light for the Darkness
Meeting Day/Time Change
Join us Mondays at 7 p.m.
Feeling anxious or depressed, or know someone who is? Light for the Darkness has started a virtual group for anyone struggling with mental health to connect with others who understand and explore where God may be in the midst.Mondays at 7 pm. Please connect with Thirza Sayers, who is intimately aware of these struggles, if you have any questions at  thirzasayers@gmail.com   or 404.313.4549. Learn more about Light for the Darkness by clicking here.
Education & Training Opportunities
Child Abuse: Emerging Trends from the Biggest Legal Threat to Churches
Free Webinar | July 22 @ 11:00 am
What measures does your church take to prevent child abuse? Whether your church has faced a child abuse incident or not, it still remains one of the top reasons churches go to court each year. With that being said, it's important to make sure your church, and more importantly, your children are protected.
Join us on Wednesday, July 22, for a free webinar. We will look at emerging trends in church-related child abuse cases and provide best practices to keep your church safe from child abuse.
CLC Online Webinar:
Tips & Tools for Navigating the Online System
Wednesday, August 5 | 1:30 p.m. (CT)
Mid-Council Leaders and COM and CPM chairs, register to join Omar Chan and Mason Todd, CLC consultants, as they share valuable information about the online system. Manuel Silva, Manager of Call Process, will be also available to answer questions.
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Interim Virtual Training
Presbyteries of Grand Canyon and
de Cristo are co-hosting this fall:
Leading Emotional Systems Training / Interim I
Coaching healthy communication for individuals and groups Noticing your organizational system and knowing how to respond to what you observe Mediation strategies for small and large groups (and the limits of mediation) Clarity on your personal engagement style in low stress and high stress situation s Becoming aware of one’s perspective and narrative, while practicing empathy and interest -based negotiating.
Current Support Ministry Position Openings
Pastoral Opportunity - First Presbyterian, Ferguson

Administrative Assistant for Program and Pastoral Ministries – Ladue Chapel 

Organist/Pianist - First Presbyterian, Jackson, MO

Interim Pastor - John Calvin Presbyterian

Called Pastor - Faith DesPeres Presbyterian