Please take a minute and visit the new items list on our website here!
|
|
"Preaching in the Purple Zone is a resource for helping the church understand the challenges facing parish pastors, while encouraging and equipping preachers to address the vital justice issues of our time. This book provides practical instruction for navigating the hazards of prophetic preaching with tested strategies and prudent tactics grounded in biblical and theological foundations. Key to this endeavor is using a method of civil discourse called "deliberative dialogue" for finding common values among politically diverse parishioners. Unique to this book is instruction on using the sermon-dialogue-sermon process developed by the author that expands the pastor's level of engagement on justice issues with parishioners beyond the single sermon. This book equips clergy to help their congregations respectfully engage in deliberation about "hot topics," find the values that bind them together, and respond faithfully to God's Word." --Provided by publisher.
|
|
Are you beginning to look for great resources for Lent
that are suitable for faith formation of all ages?
If so, I would like to tell you about an exciting resource that the Church Educators of Foothills have been working on for you and your church to use this Lent. Using Google classroom format, we have created interactive gardens that will invite people to open the door to a Lenten world of discovery and transformation. This resource is easy for its users as well as easy for you to upload to your church website, Facebook page, or share through a weekly email.
If you’d like to be one of the first to see the interactive gardens live you can join a Zoom Launch Party on Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 pm. There you will be able to check out some of the music, stories, and activities for yourself. We will also be time for conversations about other Lent ideas you might want to consider and find out details about current publishers resources.
If you cannot attend the Zoom Launch Party and would like to receive more information, please email Pressley Cox pcox@foothillspresbytery.org.
|
|
Staying Connected:
Our next Town-hall Opportunity for Pastors
to check-in and support each other (via Zoom) is on
Tuesday, January 19 at 2 pm
We will center our time in prayer, check-in with each other, share ideas, and connect resources.
|
|
Three very full days of equipping, enrichment, inspiration, and connection.
Wise and challenging speakers and preachers every day.
Loads of resources in the Marketplace, and opportunities to connect with those who create them.
Terrific and useful workshops.
All of this would make participating in the APCE 2021 Virtual Event worth the investment of your continuing education time and funds.
BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE!
Your registration entitles you to two components of the APCE Virtual Event 2021:
- the live presentation on February 4-6, 2021, and
- access to the recording of it later!
|
|
Empowering ministry leaders to save lives in their faith communities
Sooner or later, suicide is something every ministry leader will encounter. Whether it's someone experiencing suicidal thoughts or a community that needs comfort after a loss, what's important is to be ready.
Blending Scriptural wisdom and proven best practices, LivingWorks Faith is designed for all Christian ministry leaders who want to learn to effectively prevent, intervene, and minister around the issue of suicide in their congregations.
LivingWorks Faith has a groundbreaking skills training program that will give you that readiness and confidence and is available to you free of charge through the South Carolina Department of Mental Health’s Office of Suicide Prevention’s Zero Suicide Initiative Grant from SAMHSA . Yes---your wonderful state has an Office of Suicide Prevention and we are here to help!
LivingWorks Faith is a 5-6 hour online learning program featuring information, simulations, and stories from over a dozen faith leaders and suicide survivors. In this engaging program, you'll learn key skills for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention within your faith community setting in South Carolina.
You can let us know you are interested by sending us your contact information. We need you!
Dennis Gillan
State Agency Liaison, Office of Suicide Prevention, SC Department of Mental Health
Cell: 803-727-4301
|
|
|
|
The next
Youth Roundtable
is
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Tuesday, February 2
by Zoom
|
|
The next gathering of Foothills
MUSIC MINISTRY LEADER’S
is
9:00 am
Wednesday, February 10
by Zoom
|
|
SC Presbyterian Lay School
The S.C. Lay School of Theology is for lay persons who wish to:
1. Participate in an in-depth study of the Bible, Theology, or Church History.
2. Be trained as a Commissioned Ruling Elder.
3. Better prepare themselves to teach the Bible or Church School.
4. Serve as Directors of Christian Education.
5. Be certified by the Association of Presbyterian Administrators.
Lay School is held over a weekend at Presbyterian College twice a year. The next session will be held March 19-21, 2021. The school has two tracks. The Lay Pastor (LP) Track is for ruling elders who would like to become eligible for lay preaching. The Lay Enrichment (LE) Track is for any Presbyterian who wishes to learn more about theology, polity, Bible, Church History, etc. For more details about upcoming Lay School weekends, please sign up for the CHATLine to receive updates. To get on the Lay School mailing list, contact Janis K. Blocker, registrar, at dajaview@lowcountry.com or janisblocker@gmail.com.
|
|
2021 Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greenville
Heritage Lecture Series
Jonathan L. Walton, Dean of the Divinity School at Wake Forest University, will preach virtually and teach an adult Sunday School class via Zoom at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville on January 17, 2021.
Trained as a social ethicist focusing on evangelical Christianity, his work and insights have been featured in national and international news outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and the BBC. His latest book, A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018), blends his work from the pulpit and classroom. A Lens of Love explores the Bible from the perspective of the most vulnerable and violated characters toward developing a Christian social ethic of radical inclusion and human affirmation.
Dr. Walton earned his Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. He served as the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard University prior to his appointment at Wake Forest. Along with serving as the Dean of the School of Divinity, Professor Walton also occupies the Presidential Chair in Religion & Society and is the inaugural Dean of Wait Chapel at Wake Forest.
The Heritage Lecture Series seeks to expand the religious horizons of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Greenville community by inviting guest lecturers to challenge and inspire us toward deeper understanding and renewed commitment to Biblical teachings, our Judeo-Christian heritage, and our responsibilities in the world.
Worship services at Westminster are streamed from the church’s website at 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. as well as on its Facebook page. Services are also archived on Facebook and YouTube. For a link to Dr. Walton’s Zoom Sunday School class at 10:00 a.m., contact the Church Office.
|
|
Synod Address Update
The Synod offices have moved and will be sharing office space with the Presbytery of St. Augustine. Their new address is:
1937 University Boulevard West
Jacksonville, Florida 32217
|
|
At the 2021 Festival of Homiletics, you’ll hear respected and thoughtful speakers present on the theme: Preaching for the Future Church.
Since this year’s event is
But to get the most out of the Festival of
Homiletics, purchase the recordings for full access to on-demand content you can view anytime:
- All sessions in audio and video formats
- Live workshops
- Bonus sermons and lectures from top speakers
- Private social networking with other pastors and leaders
|
|
STEPS in Winter is Coming
The 2021 S.T.E.P.S. (Studying, Teaching, Equipping, Praying, Serving) Planning Team is offering a one session online STEPS event on Saturday, February 27 from 8:45-10:00 am followed by a worship service with Sanctified Art. The workshop options will be Helping Children and Youth in Crisis lead by Rachel Ward; Planning for Holy Week and Easter lead by Sanctified Art, and Holy Disunity: How What Separates Us Can Save Us lead by the book’s author Layton Williams. There is no cost for this event. Watch the CHAT Line for registration information coming soon. The Planning Team is also at work on our in-person STEPS event Saturday, August 28 which will offer many workshops and leaders you won’t want to miss.
|
|
Available Jobs
postings on our
website.
|
|
Dear Friends,
It is now time to complete your 2020 Statistical Report!
Reminders:
-
Church User Name & Password: User Names and Passwords are the same as last year and previous years. If you need this information, please call or email LeAnne at LWhite@foothillspresbytery.org or reply to this email.
-
Paper Copies: If you need us to print out a blank copy for you to fill in by hand, call or email LeAnne at LWhite@foothillspresbytery.org or reply to this email.
We urge you to complete your report by February 1
to avoid any last minute issues.
THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR ENTERING STATISTICS
IS FEBRUARY 11, 2021.
|
|
We know some of our churches use Eco Palms for Palm Sunday. We want to share this note we received from them:
COVID has created some difficulties for Eco-palms but they do plan to provide palms this year and orders should open on the 15th. Thank you!
https://ecopalms.org/
|
|
Redesigned. Streamlined. Everything You Need to Find.
The Yale Youth Ministry Institute website has been redesigned to make it even easier to find the training materials, curriculum, videos, and other resources that you need for ministry. Find everything you need to enrich your development, and train and equip your team at Yale Youth Ministry Institute.
|
|
ONLINE WORKSHOP:
SOCIAL MEDIA DEEP DIVE FOR CHURCHES
JANUARY 21, 2021 @ 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Online Workshop: Social Media Deep Dive for Churches
Dates: Thursdays, Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, & 11 , 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. EST (Note: This online workshop is a four-part series).
Led by: Christen Kinard, Founder, Digital Congregations
Workshop Description: This 4-part workshop is designed for anyone who communicates—or wants to communicate—on behalf of a church via social media. It will demystify social media platforms and teach you how to use them most effectively in connecting with your congregation.
|
|
NEXT Church
BREAKING, BLESSING, BUILDING
A Call For The Common Good
A FREE Live-Streamed Gathering for ALL Church Leaders
March 5-7, 2021
|
|
Interested in having a Zoom Video Conference Meeting,
but you don't have an account? The Presbytery can help!
If you have a request, please have your Pastor or Clerk of Session contact LeAnne White (via email) and include the following information:
- Name of person making request
- Church
- Phone
- Date for Zoom Meeting
- Time (begin and end) no more than 2 hours
- Approx number of those attending
|
|
A NEW EARTH:
THINKING THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Sunday, June 13-Sunday, June 27, 2021
What does it mean to care for creation?
Are Christians called to respond to climate change?
Is it possible to live sustainably for the benefit of future generations?
Theologically curious high school students are invited to apply before January 1, 2021 for the 2021 Lux Summer Theological Institute. Safety permitting, the program will be held in-person at Presbyterian-related Monmouth College (Monmouth, IL).
Funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Lux Institute is an opportunity for students to engage with a topic of global importance and participate in a living-learning community through study, worship, service, recreation, and vocational exploration.
Scholarships are available to cover all program expenses for the two-week program, with the exception of travel.
A free shuttle to/from Chicago airports is provided.
|
|
By Dennis Tedder
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,[a] says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. -Jeremiah 31:31-34
As we cope in a rapidly changing world, communicating with others is a crucial skill. This ability remains important while our methods of communication have changed so much in the past few generations… and are changing still.
When I entered school as a child, one early, foundational subject was handwriting. All of us were instructed in holding a pencil & shaping letters… then forming words… then stringing words together in sentences… writing to express thoughts & ideas… Younger folks, now taught keyboarding skills, find it curious & quaint that earlier generations received a grade in handwriting.
Handwriting is still a basic skill for most & we begin learning the same way – tracing letters. We copy a pattern to guide our hands in forming letters & words. Some of us as children excel at clear, clean, legible handwriting, while others struggle with handwriting. Then, my generation had to learn writing in cursive!
|
|
Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events |
January
14 Finance & Stewardship meeting, Educators Gathering, Personnel Committee meeting
18 The Foothills Presbytery Office will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
19 Coordinating Council meeting, Pastor Check-In
20 Nominations Committee meeting
21 Examinations Commission meeting
25 Foothills Presbytery Staff meeting
26 Antiracism Ministry Team meeting
28 Transition Think Tank meeting, Committee on Preparation for Ministry Committee meeting
February 16, 2021
May 15, 2021
Nov 9, 2021
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting # 118
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
