A New Thing
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume.
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43: 1 & 2, and 18 & 19
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These words paint a picture of God’s promise. The message is meant to assure us of God’s presence along the journey of life’s ups and downs. That does not include a literal guarantee against pain, illness, grief or loss. It does include a promise that God is present with us and that we can step forward without paralyzing fear. Since the “beginning of”, or the Bereshith (בְּרֵאשִׁית), God has exhibited a gallery of new things springing forth from chaos, darkness, confusion and people’s bewilderment.
In the season of Advent and Christmas God invites us to the beginning of a new thing. Through Christ's birth "hope entered the world." In the celebration of Christmas, we encounter God fulfilling God's promise that we are not abandoned. That promise is echoed in the French Christmas carol, O Holy Night:
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!
These times are unpredictable, but they also hold immense potential for our lives and values to be transformed by God’s wisdom, generosity, and grace.
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Presbytery Leader & Stated Clerk
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Dear Friends,
It is time to start working on your 2021 Statistical Report. This is a reminder that the reporting portal is open!
We urge you to complete your report by the FIRST of FEBRUARY
to avoid long waiting times when you log on.
THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR ENTERING STATISTICS
IS FEBRUARY 10, 2022.
User IDs and church passwords are the same as in previous years. Please email LeAnne White or call the Presbytery office if you need log-on information for your church.
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November 28 - December 19, 2021
Christmas Joy
By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor God's gift of Jesus Christ by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
The Christmas Joy Worship Resources for Sunday, December 19th were written by the Rev. Mary Margaret Flannagan, co-pastor of the St. Giles Church in Greenville. Download worship resources HERE.
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Resources for the Dec. 26 Virtual Worship Service
will be available by December 15th.
This will include audio and visual links as well as the bulletin.
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Western Region Gathering
9:00 am
Monday, January 3
by ZOOM
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Youth Roundtable
12 noon
Tuesday, January 4 by ZOOM
January’s meeting will include a conversation with
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Educator's
12 noon
Monday, January 10
by ZOOM
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Music Ministry Leader's
9:00 am
Wednesday, January 12
by ZOOM
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SAVE THE DATE!
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022
9 am – 3:30 pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1715 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC
John Roberto will present seven essential elements that seek to address the challenges the church faces today in nurturing faith of all ages. Then participants will engage in models for putting these elements into practice.
The event will be available in person and by zoom.
Registration begins in January. Space is limited.
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SYNOD OF SOUTH ATLANTIC
ZOOM WEBINAR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022, 4:00 PM EASTERN
Together is Better: How Small Membership Churches Fulfill Their Missional Call Through Partnerships
This webinar will introduce Together is Better, and present the rationale and methodology for working together through the missional cluster model of collaboration. The conversation will also include the foundational principles, the rationale of urgency and necessity, the process and procedures, as well as case studies for forming missional clusters.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has made life harder for just
about everyone.
To uphold the health and safety of our community and yours, we’re excited to offer a hybrid event in 2022. The Festival of
Homiletics will be hosted in-person in Denver and will also be available online as a virtual event.
of Homiletics, May 16–20, 2022.
We’re excited about the superb
thinkers and teachers who will present on this year’s theme,
“After the Storm: Preaching and Trauma”
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UPCOMING ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Thursdays, February 3 - 24, 2022
4-part series, 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. ET
Led by: Rev. John Cleghorn, Pastor and Author,
Resurrecting Church: Where Justice and Diversity Meet Radical Welcome and
Healing Hope
Mondays, February 7 - 14, 2022
2-part workshop series
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. ET
To view a FULL list of upcoming opportunities, visit:
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2022 Montreat Youth Conferences
June 5–August 6, 2022
A Montreat Youth Conference affirms youth in their calling to be and to shape the church of Jesus Christ.
Our desire is to help youth come to know and believe that they are the beloved of God and to be a place where authenticity, community, connection, and God’s truth thrive. We seek to be an inclusive space where each voice can be heard and where each heart can be molded; where change is invited, challenge is expected, and where all are embraced.
We have spent the last year, and more, in a season of disconnect through our challenges and circumstances. God calls us to be connected in all aspects of life. Through the stories of Mary and Martha, Jacob and Esau, Jeremiah, and many others, we are reminded that we are all inter-connected in God’s intentional actions. Join us as we explore the many ways that we can reconnect to live out God’s call.
Youth leave Montreat knowing that:
Their faith matters.
They are loved as they are.
They are part of a community of faith.
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Bring your group to stay at Myers Park Presbyterian and engage this community through urban ministry. Whether you have a week or a weekend, CROSS will challenge you and your group to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and love those in need.
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Applications for summer staff are OPEN. For more information visit:
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For more information Contact:
Rev. Brandon Ouellette, Institute Director
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New Online Leader Training Helps Churches Begin or
Expand Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministries St. Louis is now training caring ministry leaders through a live, interactive online training experience called the Bridge Leader’s Training Course (BLTC). This event fully trains Stephen Leaders—the pastors, church staff, and lay leaders who begin and lead Stephen Ministry in their congregation.
The BLTC draws on newly redesigned and updated Stephen Ministry resources to equip participants with the skills and know-how to lead all aspects of their congregation’s Stephen Ministry. This includes training a team of congregation members as lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers), matching them with hurting people in the congregation and community, and offering ongoing guidance and support to Stephen Ministers as they provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people experiencing a wide range of life difficulties. READ MORE
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Let us set our sights on being together February 9-12, 2022, for the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) Annual Event, “Circle of Faith: 50 years + one and beyond,” where God will meet us as we are and nurture us into what God dreams and hopes for us! To learn more about the event click here: https://apcenet.org/2022-annual-event/
Registration is now open
for the 2022 Annual Event!
Foothills Presbytery has a small number of scholarships
still available for those who would like to attend APCE.
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November/December 2021
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
How do you start over after a job loss, a divorce or just a lifetime of bad choices?
Where do you find the energy for day-to-day living when a serious illness, the loss of a loved one or a global pandemic demand all your attention?
What does it take to change your surroundings, change your life or just change your attitude?
In this issue, four writers share some of the ways they embody this approach—from physical healing to personal transformation, from problem solving to resourceful solutions. Plus, we have our annual Celebrate the Gifts of Women resource and one of the longest-running examples of doing what you can, with what you have, where you are: the Fellowship of the Least Coin.
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We made it to the holidays! Winter break and holiday celebrations are right around the corner! Kids will be on their devices or asking for devices over the break. Join Rick Floyd and Julie Valentine Center as we discuss internet safety over the holidays, and some tips to think about if your child will be receiving a device this holiday. Whether it’s a phone, computer, tablet, or gaming system, Rick will provide valuable information for you and for you to share with your child about online safety!
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Upcoming Worship Webinar
Join us in the spring of 2022 for a webinar that will assist ruling elders and deacons in the vital role of worship leader, both in the context of the Service for the Lord's Day and within other services that connect to the church's ministry of compassion and nurture (such as communion and ministry with the sick). The date and time have yet to be determined but information will be available through future issues of this newsletter and on this website.
Regarding Ruling Elders
To stay connected to resources for ruling elders and the Regarding Ruling Elders monthly series of articles, subscribe to updates here.
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When: Sunday, December 12th at 5:30 pm
Where: Belton Presbyterian Church
*Bring a canned food item for BIMA instead of purchasing a ticket.
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Event details, registration information and more coming in summer and fall of 2021. Registration is expected to begin in January or February 2022.
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Mediation Skills Training Institute
or Church Leaders
The June session will be held in Fort Mill, South Carolina; the August session will be held in the Chicago area; and the site for the November session has yet to be determined. Please check our website for updates.
- March 14-18, 2022 (online)
- May 9-13, 2022 (online)
- June 13-17, 2022 (in person)
- August 1-5, 2022 (in person)
- November 14-18, 2022 (in person)
Everyone Has to Deal with Conflict
Conflict is normal and inevitable – whether in the home, school, community, church or workplace. Leaders in all walks of life often have a responsibility to help others work through their conflicts.
The Mediation Skills Training Institute presented by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC) is designed to equip church leaders with the skills necessary to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. The five-day institute 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. Thus, managers in business, attorneys, experienced mediators, and others in leadership will be enriched by the training as well.
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Tyger River Presbyterian Church,
Moore, SC:
Director of Christian Education and Communication (20 hours)
The Director of Christian Education and Communication, in coordination with the Pastor and the Christian Education and Communication Ministry Teams, will be responsible for implementing and overseeing educational and communication strategies and opportunities at Tyger River Presbyterian Church, including (but not limited to) Sunday School, VBS, and Website & Social Media Presence.
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Available Jobs
postings on our
website.
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Presbytery Worship Service
Nov 25, 2021
”I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now.” -Philippians 1:3-5 (Common English Bible)
On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Foothills Presbytery gathered for its first in-person meeting since February of 2020. It was a joy to begin our time together in worship. The service included Naming the Saints, musical reflections, and Stories of Hope, which highlighted the grief and hope that we have experienced over the past twenty months. Read More
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events
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December
14 FP Staff Meeting
17-31 The Office will be Closed for Christmas Holidays!
February 15, 2022
May 20 - 21, 2022
November 01, 2022
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