Our Advent Journey Begins - December 2

During this holy season of Advent, we are invited to pray and contemplate with Mary in her Song of Praise — the Magnificat — found in Luke 1:46-53.

This year’s devotional is very special. The paintings and poems are the work of Andrew Weatherly, a young Presbyterian man born with Down syndrome, who uses his gifts to raise awareness of the capabilities of those with special needs. 

It is free to download by clicking here.

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

Christmas Joy Offering: 

Supporting Past, Present, and Future Leaders

The Christmas Joy Offering is traditionally received during the Advent Season. Learn how you can take part in this yearly offering here.

Today we are celebrating  #GivingTuesday ! Help us share the love and joy of Triennium with generations to come through a gift to the Triennium Legacy Fund. Your gifts allow us organize and engage the more than 4,500 young people that attend Triennium in the Presbyterian tradition. Give at:  https://bit.ly/2DqsJt5 #PCUSAGives

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.

Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery Office Holiday Schedule

The office will be closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1 to spend time with family for the holiday season. We will be accessible by email, albeit it with a delayed response, during this time.

Fair Food

People of faith, students, and other consumers can support human rights and fairness for farm workers in Florida and the southeast through the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program. Learn about ways you and your congregation can be involved in this farmworker-driven, consumer-powered initiative which:

Learn how you can become involved in this or other hunger action practices as a body of faith, by clicking 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. If you have any questions, email: [email protected]

Room at the Inn - Giving Hope to the Homeless

Let’s face it: homelessness is a huge problem, and no one person can do much to solve it. But any of the volunteers at our host congregations can tell you that one person can make a real difference in the life of a homeless person. By making a special dinner or chatting with a young mother or playing with a child, our volunteers show our homeless clients that they care. That’s an important message at any time but means even more when you’re at your most vulnerable.

Room at the Inn operates with nearly 60 locations in St. Louis County. However, most of these locations are in use only one night a month. It is an uncommon structure, and it is one of Room at the Inn’s greatest strengths! Those participating in our presbytery are Calvary, First–St. Louis, First–Kirkwood, First–Ferguson, and Glendale Presbyterian.

Learn more about how you can help by clicking here.

Winter Outreach: Join Us! 

Homelessness Happens - Did you know that St. Louis has no 24-hour shelter? Would you like to do something about it? Oak Hill Presbyterian Church (4111 Connecticut St.) works with St. Louis Winter Outreach, a group of concerned citizens who volunteer to provide emergency housing and help during the coldest St. Louis nights.If you’re interested in volunteering, or would like more information, please contact Dena Roper at [email protected] or at 314-562-4533. 

Blackwood Brothers Gospel Quartet

in Concert

The Blackwood Brothers will perform at Westminster Presbyterian - Cape Girardeau, located at 1820 Perryville Rd., Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Thursday, November 29th at 7:00 p.m. No tickets are necessary. A freewill offering will be collected. Come early and be entertained by Cape Girardeau's own Faith and Harmony who will begin performing at 6:30 p.m. Directions to the church can be found here.

Fall Is 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! .

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Is your church hosting an event? Please let us know so that we can share with the presbytery. Simply email: [email protected]

12th Annual Gospel Christmas Concerts

Two opportunities to enjoy this glorious celebration of gospel music, as we sing praises to the birth of the newborn King. On Saturday, Dec. 1 at 4 pm at Kirkwood Baptist Church located at 211 N. Woodlawn, Kirkwood, MO 63122 if you can’t make that concert, consider Sunday, Dec. 2 at 4 pm, at Northside Seventh Day Adventist Church, located at 9001 Lucas & Hunt Rd., Jennings, MO 63136

The concerts are free. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit the work of Community Gospel Choir. Uniting God’s People in Song. Learn more about this group by visiting www.communitygospelchoir.com

Advent Sing: Many Churches - Many Voices

The choirs of First Presbyterian-Jackson, First Presbyterian-Perryville, Westminster Presbyterian-Cape Girardeau, St. John's UCC-Jackson, and Emmanuel UCC-Jackson will perform Sunday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m. at Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 304 E. Adams, Jackson, Missouri. Directions can be found here.

Con Spirito Concert - The Christmas Skates

On Sunday, December 2 beginning at 2:00 pm the Imaginary Theater Company Presents: The Christmas Skates, in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian - Kirkwood. The true spirit of the holiday season shines brightly in this new musical adaptation of Mary Griggs Van Voorhis’s short story, “The Boy with the Box”. Inspired by kindness and spirit, plans are hatched to create a holiday surprise to remember. Directions can be found here.

Antonio Vivaldi’s Magnificat

The Second Church Chorale and Orchestra presentation of Antonio Vivaldi’s Magnificat with conductor Andrew Peters on Sunday, December 2 at 4:00 p.m. The music, part of Advent Vespers, The church is located at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End, St. Louis, 63108. The movie is part of the Couts Music Series and is free to the community. Call 314-367-0367 or visit www.secondchurch.net , for more information about this event.  

Blue Christmas Services

This time of year can be difficult if you have lost family and friends. Several churches in our presbytery will have services for those who will be struggling with these emotions. Please share these locations with anyone who might need support through the holiday season.

*Thursday, December 20 at 7 p.m. - Boeuff Presbyterian

Directions found here. Flyer found here.

*Friday, December 21 at 7 p.m. - Westminster Presbyterian - St. Louis. Directions found here.

* Saturday, December 22 at 3 p.m. - Westminster Presbyterian - Belleville. Directions found here.

Love Your Bible

Lectio Divina Online Course by Gary Neal Hansen

You want Advent to be a time of spiritual growth – but you need a new way to connect with God. You try to pray -- but the conversation is one-sided. You go to Scripture -- but study leaves you dry. And wouldn't it be easier if you had some company in the journey?

This four week online class will teach the classical approach to Lectio Divina -- and make Advent the renewal you need it to be for nearly 2000 years, Christians have grown deeper in relationship with God through the practice known as "lectio divina" It means "divine reading." It is a prayerful, thoughtful, faithful way to let the Bible lead to connecting with God. More information found here