Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Weekly Newsletter

Newsletter

August / 2 / 2022

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

"In May of 2021, the congregation made the decision to sell the current building and downsize a bit in order to become mortgage free for the first time. Now, we find ourselves in a new neighborhood."

--- --- ---

Blog Post by Rev. Kathleen Henrion

Interim Pastor at John Calvin Presbyterian Church, Bridgeton, MO

Member of Gathering Planning Team and Presbytery Technology Consultant

Click Here to Read

Our Presbytery - Our Work

Weekly Prayer Basket

Please pray for...for John Calvin Presbyterian and Rev. Kathleen Henrion as they get to know and engage in their new neighborhood.
Please pray for...for the churches and members of this Presbytery that have been impacted by the heavy rain and flooding, and in thanksgiving for those that responded by helping those in need.
Please pray for... for students and educators of all ages, as they prepare to enter a new school year

Submit a Prayer

PC(USA)

Quick Connect

Support Ministry

Help Wanted

Positions Available Found Here

Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings

This Week

Next Week

No Meetings Scheduled

Wed., Aug. 9

11 am – NWCC Click Here

4 pm – Administration Click Here

Thurs., Aug. 10

11 am - Transitional Pastors Click Here

12: pm – COM Click Here

Fri., Aug. 11

9:30 am - History Team - Southminster

3 pm - Gathering Planning Click Here

Responding to Flooding Victims

Third Presbyterian Helping Their Neighbors

Community Flood Relief

Living out our mission to provide resources to our community, Third Presbyterian church sought to meet the need for flood relief and provided 150 flood kits to the community today to aid in the remediation from the storms in the St. Louis Area this week. Some went to support Amen House, a ministry of Oak Hill Presbyterian.

Thank you to all the members who showed up to help and together we will continue to transform our community.

To God be the glory forever Amen

(Photos from Rev. Cedric Portis and Ramona Williams)

Upcoming Installations

Rev. Racquel Tomacruz

Installation Service

Sunday, August 7 at 2:00 pm

Farmington Presbyterian Church

403 W. Columbia Street

Farmington, MO 63640

Directions Found Here

Rev. Bill Vincent

Installation at Yoked Congregations

First Presbyterian Church, Union

Pacific Presbyterian Church, Pacific

Sunday, August 14 at 3:00 pm

will be held at Pacific Presbyterian

410 West St Louis St., Pacific, MO 63069

Directions Found Here

Pastor Kathi Kraus

Pastor Ron Koppleman

Commissioning Service

Saturday, August 20 at 2:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church

285 E Springfield Rd.

Sullivan, MO 63080

Directions Found Here

Commissioning Service

Sunday, September 4 at 10 am

Boeuff Presbyterian Church

407 S Pine St.

Gerald, MO 63037

Directions Found Here

Prayer Art Retreat

Friday, August 5^th| 6:30-9:30pm

Light for the Darkness is hosting Julie Gvillo, Pastor and Certified Zentangle Teacher, for a Prayer Art Retreat where worship unfolds and art is in response to prayer and scripture. No previous art experience is required -- if you can form the letters i, s, c, and o, you can tangle, Julie will teach you all you need to know. Communion will be shared as part of the worship experience. Come and spend time with God in art and healing community. Supplies will be provided. Donations are welcome. RSVP by 25th to thirzasayers@gmail.com.

News & Updates

Presbytery Leader, Rev. Ryan Landino is back from a restful vacation. If you would like to reach out to him, his contact information can be found below.

New Commissioned Pastor Class Forming

A Commissioned Pastor is a ruling elder in the Presbytery who, once training is complete, is eligible for limited pastoral services. Commissioned Pastors may, for example, moderate the session of a congregation to which they are commissioned, administer sacraments, and officiate at marriages where permitted by law.

Many current Commissioned Pastors in the presbytery serve as sole pastors of smaller congregations. Others use their training to strengthen leadership roles in their home churches and throughout the presbytery generally.

Many candidates for the Commissioned Pastor Program complete their training while also employed full-time.

Learn More Details Here

Caring for God's Amazing Creation

Use non-toxic cleaning products at

home and at church

Choose environmentally friendly and biodegradable household cleaning products, which do not contain the most dangerous substances or petroleum, which is a nonrenewable resource. Vinegar and baking soda are two simple household substances that make very effective cleaners.

'TIPS' is brought to you by the Earth Care Work Group of the presbytery. Contact: carletonstock@aol.com or 314-941-9378 with questions or comments.

Webinar: Serve Better – Sustainable Practices

The Board of Pensions welcomes you to join them in a webinar named Serve Better - Sustainable Practices which will be held on Tuesday, August 9 at and again on Thursday, August 18 – each from 1:00 – 2:00 pm CDT. Both webinars will be “live” and will cover the same content on each date.

Those who will benefit from the content includes church treasurers, personnel committee members, congregational decision-makers, plan administrators, COM members, presbytery leaders, and any who help establish benefits policies/ employment procedures for local churches and governing bodies.

Please include in your regular electronic communication information about the webinar, and the registration link may be found at https://cvent.me/43EL44

Mobile Market & School Supply Giveaway

Sat., Aug. 6th

8:30 am to 11 am

Florissant Presbyterian Church, located at 660 Charbonier, will be having a Mobile Market (a variety of free food) and a School Supply Giveaway on Saturday, August 6th, from 8:30-11 am. Directions Found Here

2022 Tech Grants

The Vision Team, at its June meeting, approved releasing $16,000 to fund another round of tech grants. Congregations are invited to complete the application linked HERE which includes pertinent details. Grants are given to congregations seeking to establish or expand their online ministries. Please contact Liz Kanerva, Associate Presbytery Leader, if you have questions not answered on the application form.

Fillable Application Found Here

Tips for Caring for God's Amazing Creation:

Vote for Candidates that Prioritize Creation Care

Laws matter in caring for God's creation. In the upcoming Primary Elections on August 2, please consider voting for the candidates that have a sense for caring for creation. Check out Creation Justice Ministries voting guide (http://creationjustice.org/elections.html) to help with your decision.

"TIPS" is brought to you by the Earth Care Team of presbytery. For information, contact carletonstock@aol.com or call 314-941-9378.

Education Month

The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy has offered educational opportunities for church support ministries within our boundaries, pre-pandemic, and we are pleased to announce we have planned new educational experiences for our presbytery members this year.

This September, each Thursday evening at 6:30 pm, we welcome you to join us in learning how to answer the call in some of the support ministries and missions of your church. If you are newly answering a call to serve, exploring answering your nominating committee, or just want a refresh of the call, please join us.

All sessions will be conducted online, using Zoom.

Registration is required and can be found below.

Learn More Here

Ongoing Grant/Scholarship Opportunities for Church Leaders

We provide scholarships and grants for educational programming, workshops, and seminary study to ordained pastors, commissioned pastors, and church program leaders.

Click Here for Grant Information