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Elder REFRESH Training
February 3 at Providence Church
10 am - 3 pm
This workshop, led by the Rev. Tom Malone, is for newly ordained Elders and those who have previously served. It will focus on the four areas on which our Book of Order requires each new officer to be examined:
1) Personal Faith
2) Reformed Doctrines and Beliefs
3) Presbyterian Polity
4) Duties of the Office of Elder or Deacon
Lunch will be served. The cost for the workshop is $10 to offset the cost of lunch.
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During the weekend of
Nov 10-12, 2023,
150 youth and 45 adults gathered at Asbury Hills for the PYC Middle School retreat.
The theme for the weekend was “Called to the Table” based on Luke 14:15-23.
Rev. Lindsey Wells Peery served as keynoter and Trey Duncan served as the music leader. As part of the activities, the participants engaged in a community action project. Every church group donated food items that were used to pack over 90 Thanksgiving food bags. These bags were given to the Mt. Zion Food Pantry in Sandy Springs, SC to serve to families during the week of Thanksgiving. In addition, the youth collected an offering of $1003.25 that will be used to purchase turkeys and other perishable items for the bags.
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NEW!
Willimon, William H. Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation. Abingdon Press, 2023. (242.332 Willimon)
It’s not within our own power to make a fresh start. If we’re to have a future different from the past, it must come as a gift, something not of our devising. What we need is a God who refuses to be trapped in eternity, a God who not only cares about us but is willing to show up among us and do something with us, here, now.
Willimon introduces the God who does just that, bringing heaven to earth and changing everything. In Advent we celebrate and anticipate the earth-shaking, life-transforming good news that God is coming to us.
When using this book as part of a four-week study, four videos—each 11 minutes long— featuring Will Willimon may be streamed using Foothills Presbytery’s Audacity subscription. User accounts are available to each congregation in the Presbytery. Video topics match the book chapters: “Meanwhile”, “Surprised”, “Light”, and “Rejoice.”
Accompanying material available for purchase but NOT owned by the Resource Center: a separate Leader’s Guide, and a DVD for use in locations where the Audacity videos cannot be streamed.
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Save the Date
SC5 School of Theology
2024 Spring Semester
March 8 & 9, 2024
at Presbyterian College
Additional information will be provided in January.
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The Mattoon Presbyterian Church celebrated its 145th Church Anniversary on November 11. The theme for their anniversary program was “We Have Come This Far by Faith.”
The following are photos from the grand unveiling and dedication of Mattoon’s historic marker in the Hampton Pinckney neighborhood.
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Youth Leaders Roundtable
December 7
12 noon
at Central Church.
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Christian Educators Gathering
No Gathering in December.
Next gathering is January 8 at First Anderson.
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Music Ministry
Leaders
No Gathering in December.
Next meeting is January 10
at 9 am - Zoom.
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Resources we have found challenging & inspirational:
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Nazareth Church will begin a new holiday tradition this December and participate with thousands of other cemeteries in Wreaths Across America. The purpose of the event is to honor all veterans who served in war or peacetime. The event is sponsored by the Battle of Cowpens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Nazareth Cemetery has 254 veterans going back to the Revolutionary War. Each will have a wreath placed on their resting place from December 16th until the first week in January.
The commitment of Nazareth is to allow the organizers to access our grounds and to identify the veteran’s graves that will be decorated. They are confident that Nazareth members will respond with full support and participation in the event. However, they will need the help of other sponsors from the community. They are asking for everyone to visit the Wreaths Across America website and follow this link to go directly to Nazareth’s dedicated page.
Full Flyer
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THE PRESBYTERIAN PROMISE
AN $80,000 SCHOLARSHIP OVER 4 YEARS FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE PRESBYTERIAN.
The Presbyterian Promise Scholarship is a commitment by Presbyterian College (PC) to recognize students for their merit and affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. PC seeks to develop students academically and spiritually in this signature scholarship. Students who are of members of Presbyterian churches will receive a scholarship for a minimum of $20,000 per year for up to four years—that’s an $80,000 commitment to you. For more information and to apply visit our site: www.presby.edu/presbyterian-promise
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226TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
NEXT SUMMER...
Click the button below to view the October -
On the Road to GA226 Newsletter
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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Presbyterian Women’s Annual Mission Fund (the Mission Pledge) makes possible every mission, program and resource of PW. Give now to support Presbyterian Women’s witness in the world.
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Presbyterian Women’s Church-wide Gathering
August 8-11, 2024 in St Louis, MO
Are you making plans to attend?
Want to know what happens at such a gathering? Click video on the right!
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Save the Date!
COM,
CPM,
PJC, PDA
Retreat
will be
February 23 & 24
2024
Forest Lake Church
Columbia, SC
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Charleston Atlantic Presbytery BUS transportation to St. Louis!
Transportation—Kelly Tours:
• Trip to St. Louis, MO takes 12 hours & 37 minutes. Bus will depart August 7, 2024
• Bus seats 56 passengers, to be comfortable we are looking for 40 ladies to commit. Last time we picked up ladies in Columbia & Spartanburg.
• There will be a Relay Driver and regular driver due to regulations.
Read More Here
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Young Adult Leadership Link (YALL) | |
JULY 22-27, 2024
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE, CLINTON, S.C.
Join us for an enriching five-day gathering at Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C., where rising high school juniors and seniors will come together to explore their callings and gifts for leadership in the church.
Co-hosted by the Miller Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Office of Spiritual Life at Presbyterian College, this unique event offers students the chance to learn from experienced faculty and staff from both institutions, to delve into vocational discernment activities, and to engage in guided theological reflection. This gathering promises to be a transformative experience for those seeking to explore their callings and who want to learn more about what the path to leadership in the church might look like!
Students can expect to engage in group discernment activities, enjoy downtime on the Presbyterian College campus and in the City of Greenville, and participate in worship. Room and board will be provided on the PC campus.
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Apply for Montreat Summer Staff!
Do you know a young adult looking for a summer job? Montreat Conference Center is currently accepting applications for its 2024 Summer Staff season. All young adults who are at least one year out of high school are invited to apply.
Available positions cover a wide range of skills and interests such as A/V production, childhood education, marketing, environmental studies, hospitality, and more! All positions are paid and include the option to live on campus. Plus, certain positions may qualify for college credit.
This is a great opportunity to gain valuable job experience and enjoy life in our close-knit mountain community. If you think someone you know would be interested, please encourage them to apply at montreat.org/summer-staff!
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Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully
Studying Scripture and the Issues of Christian Faith and Life
Baptism is a life-defining event that emphasizes a commitment from God to God’s family and from us to God’s creation. It is not a checkbox occurrence, but a lifetime process that is complete only in death. Therefore, it is important for the leadership of the church to keep the commitment of baptism always present as it gets involved in Christ’s mission by “studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life.”
Most baptismal services in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) include liturgies that echo the Book of Common Worship and ask the congregation two questions:
“Do you, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture this person by word and deed, with love and prayer? Will you encourage her/him/them to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of his church?” READ MORE
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2024 Offerings:
Leadership & Hybrid Ministry in the New Media Landscape with the Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell
Zoom | January 8, 15, 22, and 29 | 11 am - 1 pm Eastern | 4 Sessions
Living in a new media landscape is as daunting as it is exhausting. You may be feeling fresh out of resilience, creativity, and agility. This course will help you to lean into your expertise while attending to what matters most for ministry in a new media landscape.
The Sequel: Jesus Continued in the Book of Acts with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton
Zoom | Jan. 11 – Feb. 29 | 7:30 pm Eastern | 8 Sessions
Luke’s intro to the Book of Acts summarizes his whole 24-chapter Gospel — Jesus’ birth, childhood, teaching, preaching, wonder-working, passion, death, and resurrection — as "all that Jesus began to do and teach.” (Acts 1.1)
Developing Your Praxis for Building Diverse Youth Communities with Dr. Brian Ragsdale, Ph.D.
Zoom | February 7 | 12 - 1:30 pm Eastern
In this interactive presentation and dialogue, we explore youth identity development from understanding the synergies between holding multiple identities, for example, Black, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA. Geared toward youth leaders, layperson, and youth ministers.
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On March 5, 2024, we will be hosting our Healthy Congregations workshop in Fort Mill, SC. The training will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill. Here is a brief description of the workshop:
- The Healthy Congregations workshop is designed to equip leaders to respond to the presence or potential threat of anxiety in a congregational system in ways that prevent destructive conflict and help the church stay focused on its unique mission and purpose. This workshop will help you:
- Learn how you as a leader can influence the health of your congregation – how to detect and avoid unhealthy patterns of living together in community
- Learn how to keep anxiety from becoming infectious
- Gain confidence in responding to challenges and opportunities
- Learn how to put limits on invasive behavior, manage reactivity, and overcome sabotage
- Discover how leaders can function as the congregation’s immune system
- Learn to focus on strengths, resources, options, and the future
Additional Training Opportunities:
Conflict is a normal part of life; unfortunately, the church is not exempt. This workshop will give participants the knowledge and skills necessary to manage conflicts within their congregations in a healthier manner.
This 5-day event is designed to equip church leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. It also includes a component on congregational mediation and consultation, placed within the context of family systems theory. Although focused primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are directly transferable to other settings, including the business and academic worlds.
https://lmpeacecenter.org/
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Click here to see additional
Available Jobs
on our website.
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events | |
2023
December
4 Antiracism Ministry Team meeting
7 Committee on Ministry meeting & Youth Roundtable
11 CPM Student Connect - Zoom
12 FP Staff Development Day - Office Closed
Foothills Presbytery Calendar
2024 Foothills Presbytery Stated Meetings
February 20, 2024, at Fountain Inn
May 18, 2024, at Limestone
August 3, 2024 (Virtual)
November 12, 2024
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