Be the Match - A Call to Serve in Body and Spirit |
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A Beautiful Story Continues Because of Hope, Faith and Love |
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From Jim: "I don’t know what the system is in Germany to get a DNA registry, but obviously you had to volunteer to actually donate your blood to extract the stem cells to send to me. i hope that process was relatively painless and not a great inconvenience for you."
From Ludwig: "We really had a great time there and even though I didn't expect anything from the donation other than the feeling of doing a good deed, it still felt like being rewarded in a way. Also hopefully this inspired some more people to register."
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Blog Post by Jim Cook, Ruling Elder Member of our Presbytery and Past Interim Presbytery Leader, along with his Stem Cell Donor, Ludwig |
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Our Presbytery - Our Work |
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Weekly Prayer Basket
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Please pray for... those waitng for transplants, as well as for those willing to be a donor.
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Please pray for...for our GA#225 Commissioners this month
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Please pray for... for safe travel for all of our presbytery members this summer.
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Please pray for... law makers as they work toward addressing gun violence in our nation
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Support Ministry
Help Wanted
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Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings |
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2022-2023 Planning Calendar |
This 16-month calendar (starting with September 2022, and ending with December 2023) contains many planning aids for pastors and other church leaders. Cost is $15/Calendar
Calendars arrive in August.
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From Your Presbytery Leader |
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Next week will be another edition of “Infrequently Asking Questions!” Feel free to send any questions you would like our presbytery leader to address to [email protected] or [email protected] by end of day Thursday, and we will see if we can make it a part of the next newsletter! It can be anything from “how do we can change the world?” to “what are your favorite chips?” to “what are your favorite preaching commentaries?” Looking forward to checking in with you later! |
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By a tally of 203-151 Saturday night, commissioners to the 225th General Assembly elected the Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace and the Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis as Co-Moderators. Together they’ll serve a two-year term, the fourth straight team of Co-Moderators to win election.
Employing the theme ‘unbound we thrive,’ the pair pledges to spend the next two years as ambassadors of hope. Learn more by clicking here.
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Call to Prayer for our Commissioners and Delegate Volunteers! |
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May we keep in prayer our commissioners, delegates, and volunteers to the 225th General Assembly who are preparing their staggered travel schedules now and over the next week. We thank God for the opportunity to serve, and pray our blessings over: Teaching Elder Ramona Williams, Rev. Karen Dumey, Ruling Elder Amber Geiger, Rev. Jeff Ott, and our Youth Adult Advisory Delegate Maggie Cleeland. (Associate Presbytery Leader Liz Kanerva is also on site serving as a Committee Assistant)
May we pray for our faithful commissioners and delegate going forth with our blessing to serve and shape the future of the church. We pray for them wisdom, discernment, stamina, and grace as they serve the first “hybrid” virtual/in-person General Assembly in PC(USA) history!
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Follow Our Overture to the General Assembly! |
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This Thursday morning, June 23, the General Assembly will be deliberating on how to move forward with RGJ-08 “On Offering an Apology to African Americans for the Sin of Slavery and Its Legacy.” Their recommendation will then go before the larger General Assembly, when they meet by Zoom in a few weeks.
To view the livestream of the committee deliberations, click here: https://ga-pcusa.org/, and then on the Race and Gender Justice Committee livestream. Here is the schedule (all times in Central):
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7:50 AM - 9:15 AM: Consideration of Business: RGJ-08 “On Offering an Apology to African Americans for the Sin of Slavery and Its Legacy”
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9:15 AM - 9:30 AM: Break
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9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: RGJ-08 Continued
May we pray for the discernment of the 225th General Assembly about this important overture. May our words inspire action, focus our efforts for justice, and codify our commitments. May we strive together in partnership and understanding!
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Final Report of the Special Committee on
Racism Truth and Reconciliation
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Some of you may be aware that our Presbytery Leader Rev. Ryan Landino serves on the Special Committee on Racism Truth and Reconciliation for the PC(USA). That Special Committee’s charge was to lead a listening campaign with particular attention to voices long silenced and will be presenting its final report to the Committee on Race and Gender Justice the day after that committee takes action on our apology overture. That committee will take up this report and its recommendations on Friday, at 12:40-1:40pm and 1:50-3:50pm Central, with some scattered breaks in between. The final report can be found here: https://www.pc-biz.org/#/search/3000989, with comments from other entities of the PC(USA). Ryan was one of the lead writers for this report, as well as the Informational Progress Report presented at the 2020 General Assembly, which can be found here: https://www.pc-biz.org/#/search/3000652.
May we pray for all the work of this General Assembly, that these actions may be an instrument of positive peace and proactive justice. May we fully see one another, hear the voices we have long ignored, and become aware of the patterns that we perpetuate so that we may thrive together in the beloved community that we are called to create on earth as it is in Heaven!
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Join Light for the Darkness for
Grounded Gardening and Generosity!
Sunday June 26, 2022 at 7:00pm in South City
Enjoy a time of grounding, mindfulness, and connection to the Creator while gardening. All are welcome! Text Thirza for directions and further information 314-266-8007. Light for the Darkness is a New Worshipping Community of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) led by Rev. Thirza Sayers. L4TD facilitates support groups and other events for people with mental health variances (such as anxiety or depression) to provide a place for people to be heard and connect with others who understand.
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Presbyterian Women Giving Day - 2022
A message from Susan Jackson Dowd, Executive Director of Presbyterian Women
“PW Gives Day, a day to remember the many ways Presbyterian women support the promise of God’s kingdom, is fast approaching. July 31, the day Presbyterian women’s organizations officially combined to become Presbyterian Women, was chosen as a day to acknowledge and honor our PW founders—those foremothers who provided us with the shoulders we stand on. My shoulders—your shoulders—provide PW’s ongoing foundation. PW Gives day supports the annual fund (Mission Pledge), which undergirds PW program from the congregation to the national level.”
Support PW on PW Gives Day 2022
Give online at http://ow.ly/xAY150JyoOi. Then select PW Gives Day and your gift amount. Or mail your check to Presbyterian Women Inc., PO Box 643652, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3652. Please indicate annual fund and PWGDay22 in the memo line of your check.
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In light of the recent mass shootings, we have received questions about how to support the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s response to public violence through PDA. Out of respect for the victims and survivors, and to avoid sensationalizing violence and trauma, PDA never sends specific appeals for funds in response to gun violence events. Nevertheless, we do provide response and ongoing support and resources, including grants, to communities affected by gun violence. PDA is currently responding in Buffalo, Laguna Woods, Uvalde and Tulsa. If you would like to support this aspect of our ministry, please designate gifts to our Public Violence account, DR000188: https://bit.ly/DR000188
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Art & Sabbath Sunday
Pastors: Are you looking for something different for a summer sermon? A Place of Grace would like to invite you to try an art and sabbath Sunday where art is created in response to scripture and throughout the service in front of your congregation’s eyes! Pastor and Certified Zentangle Artist/Teacher, Julie Gvillo, will set up in your sanctuary and create art with congregational interaction while you lead worship. Opportunities exist for congregational reflection on the artwork at the end of the service. Call 618-410-506 or email Julie at [email protected] to schedule your Art and Sabbath Sunday today! A Place of Grace is supported by offerings.
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Mental Health First Aid Classes July 16
Why Mental Health First Aid (for Adults and Youth)? Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders (in adults and youth). It gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
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HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS
The Synod of Mid-America has funds available for Presbyterians to use for higher education. These scholarships can be used for any accredited institution of higher learning (including trade schools and graduate study programs). Scholarships are available/awarded per school year and renewable with application annually.
Scholarships are open to active Presbyterians within the Synod of Mid-America, and whose church of membership qualifies as follows:
- in Kansas (total of 90 members or less),
- in Missouri or Illinois (total of 50 members or less),
as determined by membership reported December 31, 2021.
Applicants will be judged on financial need, academic achievement, and involvement in the local church, school, and community. All scholarship applicants must be endorsed by their session, and obtain a letter of support from the Clerk of Session or Pastor.
The deadline for application for Higher Education Scholarships is August 1, 2022 at 5:00pm. Scholarship recipients will be notified by August 31, 2022.
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Federal Student Loan Relief for Pastors
The Synod of Mid-America wants you to know that relief is available! Apply soon because this offer expires on October 31.
More information can be obtained here:
The form is here:
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Called to Serve? We Need You! |
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Have You Considered Presbytery Service?
There are many ministry team positions available in the coming year, and we just know you would be a good fit for a committee or commission
Please fill out and return the form below.
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Current Support Ministry Position Openings |
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Part-time custodian - Second Presbyterian Church.
(PT) Coordinator of Christian Education - Southminster Presbyterian, Crestwood, Missouri
Seminary Summer Intern - First United Presbyterian, Belleville, IL
Church Office Manager - St. Mark Presbyterian, Ballwin, MO
Organist/Accompanist - First Presbyterian - Cape Girardeau, MO
Director of Youth Ministry + Digital Media - First United, Belleville, IL
Music Director - Glendale Presbyterian Church, Glendale, MO
Head of Music - First United Presbyterian, Collinsville, IL
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Off Hours Help Needed? Contacts Found Below |
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Rev. Ryan Landino
Presbytery Leader
314-409-9002
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Rev. Liz Kanerva
Associate
Presbytery Leader
314.779.6809
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Rev. Joy Myers
Stated Clerk
815.501.5522
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Leigh Porter
Office Manager
314.225.9470
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Janice McMillen
Communications Associate
573.578.3960
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Keep Connected
We love to hear about the work of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Congregations. Have an event, fundraiser, or concert and want to get the word out? Simply email that information in by 6 p.m. on Monday of the week you want your event published. Help keep us connected by simply emailing your information to [email protected]
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