|
|
COVID-19 UPDATES
From St. Luke's Hospital
Our Partners in Health
|
"In the last year, we have faced tremendous loss and disruption." |
|
Presbytery Staff COVID19 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
|
|
Our Presbytery - Our Work |
|
Weekly Prayer Basket
-
Please pray for... our partners in health, St. Luke's Hospital, and all employees
-
Please pray for...Larissa Jennings who is hospitalized because of diabetes complications
-
Please pray for... children in foster care who are separated from both their parents and their siblings
-
Please pray for... for those young people/families who have recently become ill with COVID in the most recent surge.
|
|
Support Ministry
Help Wanted
|
|
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 [email protected]
|
|
Presbytery Gathering Follow Up |
|
|
|
Presbytery Gathering Survey
We Value Your Feedback
|
|
We had many requests for the New Worshiping Community Commission.
|
|
Sharing News from the Synod |
|
The Synod of Mid America affirmed Ruling Elder Tony De La Rosa as the Transitional Synod Executive to begin work on May 1, 2020. |
Ruling Elder Tony De La Rosa is the former Interim Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. He was the Interim Lay Pastor and Head of Staff at Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington, and former Interim Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of New York City.
Prior to his church executive experience, Tony served as the Associate Counsel and Director of Board Administration of L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public HMO, with over 1.2 million Medicaid, S-CHP and Medicare members.
Tony received his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity and Juris Doctor degrees from Yale University. He and his husband of five years, Michael Bendgen, are originally from Los Angeles, California.
|
|
CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION
Commitment to a Host A Student
in a Community Learning Placement for Students
- Serve and learn through placements in social justice agencies, non-profits, health care settings, and more
- Choose from urban, suburban, and rural opportunities
- Experience year-long internships in the US and abroad
- Receive clinical pastoral education basic units and residencies
- Participate in hands-on learning from enrollment to graduation
- Excellent theological library resources, databases, and university library
|
|
Earth Day Vespers at Second Presbyterian
on Sunday, April 25
The Second Presbyterian Church in the Central West End of St. Louis celebrated Earth Day with a special Earth Day Vespers service in the parking lot on Sunday evening April 25 around a fire, planned and led by the church's Earth Care Team. Afterward, worshippers enjoyed fellowship time eating s'mores and listening to accordion music played by a church member. Second Church is one of nine certified Earth Care Congregations in the presbytery and one of over 275 such churches in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
|
|
Save the Date
Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering
Sat., May 1 | 10am-12pm
If calling in, dial 312-626-6799,
enter Meeting ID 817 0035 4292.
|
|
Writing Church History
Rev. Dr. John C.B. Webster
Thurs., Apr. 29 | 5:00 p.m. EDT
PHS welcomes Rev. Webster on Zoom and Facebook, who will share insights about writing a history of your congregation. Check out Rev. Webster's guidelines here.
The Rev. Dr. John C.B. Webster was a Presbyterian mission co-worker in India, where his academic specialty became the history of Christianity in India. Back in the U.S.A., he was Visiting Professor of Church History and World Mission at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
|
|
May: Mental Health Awareness Month
May, which is right around the corner, is Mental Health Awareness Month. Pre-pandemic, 1 in 5 adults would experience mental health variances during their lives. According to the CDC, "In June 2020, forty percent of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance use.” For youth the percentage is higher, and according to the National Institute for Mental Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death for those 10-34 years old…just think about all those preventable deaths of young people. Due to lack of resources or knowledge, stigma or cultural inhibitions, it takes an average of 11 years from the onset of mental health variances until a person seeks treatment. As pastors, elders, and as Christians, we can change that as we care for those with mental health variances and encourage them to care for themselves and seek care.
|
|
Light for the Darkness, both a new worshiping community and the mental health ministry of Giddings-Lovejoy, provides educational opportunities to reduce the stigma of mental health variances and increase mental health resources knowledge. We also facilitate spiritual, worshipful, community groups for those struggling with where God is in the midst of their darkness; in these groups, members truly feel heard, valued, and connected. If you would like Light for the Darkness to speak briefly at your church, sharing some facts about Mental Health to increase awareness, decrease stigma and share resources available, we want to help shine a light in the darkness. Perhaps you are willing to include a Newsletter snippet about mental health and resources available, or about Light for the Darkness and the work we do? Please email us.
If you are depressed or anxious and need somewhere to start, someone to listen, or would like to try our Monday night (7-8pm) community group via Zoom, call, text, or just show up. Light for the Darkness does not provide diagnoses or treatment, but we are genuinely familiar with the darkness, will listen, will find some helpful resources for you, if necessary, and can hopefully point you toward the glimpses of light that God provides us in the midst of the darkness.
|
|
Presbyterians Association of Muscians
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.
|
|
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 [email protected]
|
|
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
|
|
Education & Training Opportunities |
|
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 [email protected]. |
|
Union Seminary: The Basics of Digital Church Communication
Learn about more continuing education opportunities
|
|
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.
For questions related to the content or assignments of Weeks I and II or Executive Training, contact Beth Wagner: [email protected]. For administrative and registration questions contact Danelle O’Connell at the Synod of Mid-America office: [email protected]
|
|
|
|
Becoming Matthew 25
--- --- ---
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 [email protected]
|
|
Current Support Ministry Position Openings |
|
Senior Staff Assistant - Webster Groves Presbyterian
Part-Time Pastor - First Presbyterian, Perryville
Associate Pastor - Dardenne Presbyterian, Dardenne Prarie
Interim Pastor - John Calvin Presbyterian
|
|
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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
