July 13, 2023

We will celebrate the 75th Camp Anniversary with an

Open House and Lake Front Dinner

this Saturday, July 15.

Gates will open at noon for families and others who would like to bring a picnic and enjoy the waterfront. Swimming, games, crafts, pontoon rides, tours, and other camp activities will be available as scheduled throughout the day.

Everyone is invited to bring family and friends to share in this time for the camp to thank participants and partners for being part of programming over the past 75 years.

An evening meal will be served at 6:00 pm with a special program and worship dedication to follow.

There is no charge for the event, but donations are appreciated.

Does Your Church have a Cemetery?

Join us

July 25^th at 5:30 pm

at John Knox

for a Gathering to discuss the Perpetual Care of Church Cemeteries

Many of our congregations are the caretakers of cemeteries. These properties, hallowed ground that shelter the dead until the Resurrection, may be as small as a few gravesites or as large as 40+ acres. The responsibilities facing church Sessions and cemetery trustees are significant, as we have an obligation to provide for these properties’ perpetual care.

The Presbyterian Foundation is receiving increasing numbers of inquiries from congregations and presbyteries about the financial implications of cemetery maintenance and upkeep. Church leaders are seeking strategies to operate with proper care and provide for the funding of (especially older) graveyards and columbaria.

Paul Grier, a Foundation Vice-President and elder and trustee at Greenville’s Westminster Church, will be leading an informative workshop on the “hows and musts and must-nots” of cemetery operation. Time for group discussion of individual challenges and opportunities is included in the agenda.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) USA has trained more than

3 million people across the country to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

Foothills Presbytery is excited to partner with MHFA and provide training for pastors, educators, youth leaders, elders, deacons, and volunteers.

Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses teach adult learners how to assist fellow adults, while Youth MHFA courses teach adult learners how to assist adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18.

2023-2025 Book of Order

The updated Book of Order is now available. You can order individual copies for $10 HERE or if you would like to participate in the presbytery's bulk order for a reduced price, please contact LeAnne White. The Presbytery will have available copies for $8 - FP office pickup. (Available while limited supplies last. We have preordered but books are not available yet.)

Foothills Peer Ministry

Music Ministry Leaders

LUNCH

Wednesday, July 19

at Corelife Eatery on Woodruff Road

Young-ish Pastors Gathering

12 noon, July 20

Warehouse at Midtown in Greenville

Youth Leaders Roundtable

No meeting in July.

See you at our next Round Table on August 3. Place TBD

CRE Cohort

Tuesday, August 8

12:30 pm

at the Presbytery office

Bring your lunch.

Christian Educators Gathering

No meeting in July. Next gathering is August 14~

Validated Ministry

Pastor Gathering

Wednesday, August 16

11:30 am

at Westminster, Greenville

Resources we have found challenging & inspirational:

Four Spiritual Practices for the journey towards anti-racism

African American Clergy & Educator Retreat

September 11-14, 2023

Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, GA

Registration Deadline - August 1, 2023

A wonderful retreat is being planned, so please set aside the time from your busy schedule to participate. This will be a time for great worship, renewal,

relaxation, and fellowship. Our theme is IN LIVING COLOR with the focus

Scripture being Colossians 2:6-7. This is our first in-person gathering since

2019 and will be worth just being in fellowship and having space for relaxation.

Invitation Letter

Registration Form

KEEP AWAKE!!!

STEPS Registration Open!

What is this S.T.E.P.S. thing anyway? The acronym stands for Studying, Teaching, Equipping, Praying, and Serving and is an annual event sponsored by the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery. Participants have an opportunity to engage in faith formation and leader development sessions and worship together. Plan to join us on August 26th at Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church! Early Pre-registration deadline is July 24. Save yourself a few dollars and register now! Online registration is available or printed brochures are available at your church.

Montreat Wee Kirk Conference

October 16-18, 2023

The Wee Kirk conference aspires to provide Christ-centered opportunities for inspiration, encouragement, and community among leaders of small membership churches so they can do the same in their congregations and regions.

Ezekiel 37: 10 “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live!”

We are living in days when many in our communities of faith are feeling dry and spiritually lifeless, like the dry bones of Ezekiel’s valley. In the midst of Ezekiel’s communal desert, the hand of the LORD came upon the prophet and brought him out, in the Spirit of the LORD, and set him down in the middle of the valley. Learn More Here

Stewardship Task Force

The Stewardship Task Force was established in the summer of 2022 and charged with recommending a path forward for Foothills’ stewardship activities over the next 3-5 years. The group, comprised of ruling and teaching elders from churches across the area, have listened to reports from the Presbyterian Foundation, explored “best practices” in conversation with other presbyteries, read Sailboat Church, and talked endlessly about generosity. After a year of work, the task force now is turning its focus to recommendations on ways to educate our members about stewardship and, more broadly, the work of Foothills Presbytery.

Early in its time together, a member of the task force crafted a prayer that each member adopted as part of their daily devotional time. We invite you to pray alongside us as we continue this important work.

Gracious God, thank You that You have entrusted Foothills Presbytery to manage and steward your financial resources. Please help each one of us to be diligent and focused in our daily prayer as we ask for your guidance of this stewardship task force. We seek to discern how to engage and invite congregations to give out of the abundance and joy of being God’s people. (Continue with your own personal prayer.)

We pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen

Task Force Members:

David Beacham (RE, 1^st Spartanburg), Dennis Latham (RE, Easley), Stuart Mauney (RE, 1^st Greer), Stan Painter (RE, Fourth), Terri Price (TE, honorably retired), Stan Reid (TE, at large), Sandy Tolly (RE, 1^st Anderson), Russ Williams (RE, Westminster-Greenville) and Debbie Foster (ex officio)

Are you ready for a day of rest and renewal before the end of the summer?

Join us for Sabbath by the Pool at the home of Synod Executive Valerie Young on July 31st. It is a drop-in event, between 11-4, in Jacksonville, FL. Lunch, snacks and drinks will be provided.

We are considering reserving a hotel block close to Valerie's home to allow women from throughout the Synod to attend. Travel grants may also be available.

Registration information coming soon!

THRIVE Retirement Seminars

Montreat, NC: August 24-25

Decatur, GA: November 1-2

The THRIVE seminar takes a holistic approach to retirement planning. Participants are educated and engaged in personal financial planning as part of a larger exploration of identity, health, and vocation in retirement. THRIVE is available in two formats, as an e-learning series and an in-person seminar. Learn more and register HERE.

A report on the season

of rebuilding

FERNCLIFF MISSION TRIP

SEPTEMBER 9-16 2023

NEW Full Flyer with QR Code

A Day Workshop for Church Leaders

Presented by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program

Grants and Scholarships

As part of our mission, we have several grant and scholarship programs that assist people, organizations and congregations. View these opportunities and more HERE!

The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS) is excited to share that it will be offering two new master's degrees beginning fall 2023.

The master of arts in Reformed theology

The master of arts in ministry

Download the Border-to-Border Registration Form and pay by check

Click here to see additional

Available Jobs

on our website.

COVENANT CONNECTIONS

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Sign Language in Worship – Who’s it for?

Jun 15, 2023

by Shawn Thomas, Director of Music and Communications at Seneca Presbyterian Church

Have you ever been to a worship service that included sign language? How was it used? Was the entire service interpreted? Were there deaf attendees in the congregation? Was sign language used to interpret both spoken word and sung music? Or, are you unfamiliar with sign language being a part of worship and the idea is completely new to you? Good news! No matter how you answered those questions, this article is for you.

Okay, so this article is for you, but what about the title, “…Who’s it for?” Who is sign language in worship for? What’s the purpose of including sign language in worship? Well, as with all aspects of worship, the number one answer is that it’s for God. It’s part of worship, therefore it’s for God. Worship means to ascribe worth and we are encouraged to do just that throughout scripture, including in Matthew 22:37-38, “Therefore, as we sing praises to God, we are ascribing worth to Him. While the believer’s entire life should be characterized by worship.” We sing for God. We pray for God. We hear and speak the word for God. We bow for God. We stand for God. We play instruments for God. Everything we do in worship, we do it all in the name of Jesus for God (Colossians 3:17). Sign language is another way we can do something in worship for God. It’s another opportunity to present ourselves as an offering through our talents, and in this case, using our bodies in movement.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE