Newsletter
May / 4 / 2021
On The National Day
of Prayer
“Words are life.” I could not agree more. Sometimes words are all that stand between life and death. 
Presbytery Staff Update
Presbytery Staff Now Allowed Limited Travel
Fully vaccinated staff may now travel for work 14 days after the final vaccination has been administered and as long as the party that they are visiting has consented to and is comfortable with an in-person meeting. Staff must continue to wear masks when traveling on Presbytery business, even if the state the staff is traveling to does not require them. Staff must also continue to follow all other CDC guidelines for social distancing and proper sanitation while traveling.
Bridge Presbytery Leader
Rev. Bob Jensen
Associate Presbytery
Leader
Rev. Liz Kanerva
Presbytery
Stated Clerk
Rev. Joy Myers
Office Shuffle
The Presbytery Office will be moving some shelving units and desks on Wednesday, May 5. This may interfere with normal business calls and emails. We apologize for any disruption this may cause and will be completely back to normal on Thursday, May 6. Thank you for your patience.
Our Presbytery - Our Work
Weekly Prayer Basket

  • Please pray for... our guest blogger, Rev. Dr. Dieter Heinzl, in thanksgiving for his reflection on Words of Life.
  • Please pray for...India, as they are living through unimaginable pain during COVID19 spread and death. Pray for their leaders, their citizens, and all of those who mourn.
  • Please pray for... children in foster care who are separated from both their parents and their siblings
PC(USA)
Quick Connect
Support Ministry
Help Wanted
Parish Paper
Upcoming Team Meetings
If you have any questions regarding team meetings, please check with your Moderator for meeting dates and times, or call the office at 314-772-2395, or email Office Manager, Leigh Porter at lporter@glpby.org
Mon., May 10
5pm DRAWP Ed Team-Click Here
Tues., May 11
11am NWCC-Click Here
Wed., May 12
Thur., May 13
3pm Gathering Planning-Click Here

Mon., May 17
12pm-New Pastors-Click Here
Thur., May 20
9:30am History Team-Click Here
10am Public Witness - Click Here
4pm Vision Team-Click Here
Fri., May 21
10am PW Cord Council-Click Here
Congregation in Presbyterians Today
Bluebirds Find A Home
in Church Garden
Wings of Joy Delight Community

The Washington Presbyterian Church is in the May/June 2021 Edition of Presbyterians Today, and we hope that you take the time to read the article. It is joyful!
News & Activities
Answering Call to Pray
Rev. Bob Jensen, Presbytery Bridge Leader, calls us to pray for victims of violence in North St. Louis.
Second Presbyterian, St. Louis, prayed for the families now mourning and sent well wishes to those who are in recovery, as a group.
Thank you to all who participated!
Westminster Presbyterian-St. Louis
COVID Memorial
Thur., May 6 | 6pm
As we sadly anticipate the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the United States to soon reach 600,000, we will hold another time of remembrance on Thursday, May 6, at 6:00 p.m. on the church lawn. We will begin gathering be-tween 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. A brief service of remembrance will take place at 6:00 p.m. followed by the ringing of bells. Those attending will be wearing masks and remain physically distanced from one another. Directions found here
Public Witness
Summer Mission Grants Available
The presbytery funds to conduct summer programs are available to member churches and social agencies in relationship with the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy. The funds will be awarded through an application process directed by the Public Witness Ministry Team. The purpose of the grant is to provide opportunities for summer Christian education and witness, personal growth, faith formation, and recreation (if sanctioned by the local government) to children and adults in communities of need.
Tips for Caring for God's Good Creation:
Get low-flush and dual-flush toilets
Replace your old toilet with low-flush and dual-flush toilets (solid and liquid amounts of water). They both reduce your household water consumption considerably.
"TIPS" are submitted by the Earth Care Task Force of Presbytery's Public Witness Team, represented by the members of the nine Certified Earth Care Congregations in the presbytery and over 275 in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For information, contact: carletonstock@aol.com.
Joining Hands Peruvian Partnership Meeting
Wed., May 12 | 6:30pm

This meeting will be a time for checking in, celebrating good news, and focusing on the August Presbytery meeting. At the August 26th Presbytery Meeting, Peru will be the focus of our year-long global ministry emphasis. Jed, Jenny, Chenoa, and Jose will make presentations on the work they do with our partners in Peru. Zoom Link Here
If calling in, please dial 312-626-6799 and enter meeting ID: 840 1635 8336 with Passcode: 532134 
Good news:  Jose Luis Claure, Chenoa husband, has received his green card! He will now be able to visit the US and work as Mission Co-Worker for the PC(USA). Jose, Chenoa, and Leandro will be visiting the US this summer for leave and interpretation.
Webster Groves Social Justice Film Club
Wed., May 12th | 7:00pm
Watch this month's Social Justice film, John Lewis: Good Trouble then join us for discussion on May 12th from 7:00-8:00pm on Zoom. The film is available on Amazon Prime.
Embrace Thy Neighbor
Thurs., May 20 | 6:30pm

Embrace and Light for the Darkness are hosting an interview of Rev. Thirza Sayers in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Thirza has lived with Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety for thirty years, come through 4 years of disabling PTSD and now is back to work full-time, leading a mental health ministry, Light for the Darkness, and a church, Hillside Presbyterian. She also is pursuing her Doctorate in the Ministry of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Her research focuses on what hope looks like for those with mental health variances and what spiritual practices help mental health variances.
Weekly she facilitates spiritual groups for those with mental health variances--those from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and bipolar. These 1 hour groups have elements of worship, conversational scripture study, peer support, and always try to point to where God is in the midst of the darkness of mental health struggles.
Monday nights at 7pm central: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4373484461
Oak Hill Presbyterian
Outdoor Pentecost Worship Service
Sun., May 23 | 10:30am
We will gather, masked and distanced, outside for worship on Pentecost Sunday, which is May 23rd. Bring a chair and meet us on the front lawn of the church for an in-person, outdoor service. We will bring the technology with us, so if you’re not comfortable, ready, or able to join in person, you can still connect and participate in the service on Zoom. *In case of rain, we will have worship on Zoom only.
2021 Tech Grants
Over the last year, GLPBY congregations have worked hard to move vital ministries online. We have connected for worship, learning, and fellowship utilizing resources we never imagined incorporating into our ministries pre-pandemic. To that end, GLPBY granted more than $46,000 in Tech Grants to assist churches in their efforts to establish and/or update their online presence.
Wave 1 and Wave 2 Grants are now phased out. GLPBY is pleased to announce a new round of Tech Grants is available to GLPBY congregations. The Presbytery will pay 75%, up to $2,000, of the grant request with the church commitment to paying the balance. Just to be clear the maximum grant will be $2,000. This round of grants will assist congregations that are expanding their online presence. The grant could be used for upgrading equipment, tech training, or developing hybrid worship for example. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Rolf Kanerva, Associate Presbytery leader at ekanerva@glpby.org
The Great Divide: Race in Our Region
YWCA Metro St. Louis is partnering with the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and area Interfaith groups for four important conversations on how systemic racism permeates our city and our region.
These programs will provide background, share stories of how area residents are directly impacted, and explore what action you can take to create change. Each hour-long program will be followed by an opportunity for small group discussion and reflection.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming programs:
May 12th - Court Systems
Register Here
Education & Training Opportunities
Presbyterian Association of Musicians
June 20-25 & June 27-July 2
We at PAM are excited about our Worship and Music Conferences at Montreat this summer, and we hope you will help us pass along information to all the churches in your presbytery or synod! Please feel free to use this information to create an announcement of your own.
First and foremost, we are dedicated to holding a summer conference that is safe and enjoyable. We are so pleased to be able to offer both of our conference weeks in-person for individuals or groups! We also are offering our conference online for the second year in a row as we hope to bring the Worship and Music Conference experience to everyone! We've even created special pages that talk about what an online conference can look like for you or even a group!
Lifting As We Climb: Furthering the
Conversation on Race - A Pentecost Retreat
May 21-22
Join us for a retreat designed to bring awareness to the sin of racism, discuss how covert and overt racism ties in with spirituality, and provides opportunities to reflect on how racism has affected one's life and the lives of others. Presented by: The Office of Racial Harmony, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Father Tom Santen, Retreat Manager
Individual Retreat Week at Mercy Center
May 24-28
Schedule your next private retreat for 2-5 days during the period May 24-28. Give yourself some time away with God in our safe, beautiful space!
Are you looking for a safe, beautiful place for some time away with God this year? While you can always make an individual retreat at Mercy Conference and Retreat Center as space allows, we are setting aside a week dedicated just to this purpose. From Monday, May 24 at 9:00 AM through Friday, May 28 at 3:00 PM, space will be reserved for individual retreats, either private (with quiet time on your own) or directed (with a daily session with a spiritual director).
2021 NEXT Church National Gathering Online Resource Subscription
GLPBY is pleased to offer free subscriptions to this year’s recorded NEXT Church National Gathering held March 5-7th. By subscribing, your congregation will have access to the national gathering in its entirety, plus additional resources. Over the years, GLPBY Teaching Elders and lay leaders have participated in NEXT Church national gatherings and have appreciated its focus on resourcing the Presbyterian Church for the 21st century. To learn more about this year’s conference, its presenters, and workshops, please navigate to https://nextchurch.net/product/2021-next-church-national-gathering-subscription/.
If your church would like to take advantage of the free subscription please sign up, following the NEXT Church website’s instructions, and be sure to select the appropriate church size when purchasing the subscription. When checking out use the coupon code: “GiddingsLovejoyGroup”. Once you have purchased, you will receive an email with instructions for how to pass on your access to the rest of your church. You may only use ONE coupon code purchase per church. If you have questions, please contact Liz Rolf Kanerva, Associate Presbytery leader at ekanerva@glpby.org.
Union Seminary: The Basics of Digital Church Communication
Learn about more continuing education opportunities
at Union Seminary by clicking here.
Transitional Ministry
Please mark your calendars for the next offering of the  Art of Transitional Ministry Education. The orientation will begin at 1:00 pm on Monday, October 18, 2021, and will conclude the evening of Thursday, October 21, 2021. At this time, the in-person orientation will be hosted at the Parkville Presbytery Church in Kansas City, Missouri. 
Registration is now open. To register click here
For questions related to the content or assignments of Weeks I and II or Executive Training, contact Beth Wagner: pastrb7@gmail.com. For administrative and registration questions contact Danelle O’Connell at the Synod of Mid-America office: office@synodma.org 
Becoming Matthew 25
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How Do We Engage Socially Distancing and still participate in Mission & Ministry?
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
Current Support Ministry Position Openings
Senior Staff Assistant - Webster Groves Presbyterian

Associate Pastor - Dardenne Presbyterian,
Dardenne Prarie

Interim Pastor - John Calvin Presbyterian