March 30, 2023

As news of another school shooting reaches us, we find ourselves once again brokenhearted. The Covenant School is an elementary school connected to Covenant Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian Church in America, congregation in Nashville, TN. In the wake of such a horrific event and senseless tragedy, if you are looking for words, we invite you to pray this prayer written by Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar, pastor of Government Street

Presbyterian in Mobile, Alabama:

A PRAYER FOR NASHVILLE AND COVENANT SCHOOL

based on Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where will our help come?

Oh, Lord, who wept love-laden tears for this broken world,

Our hearts are aching today.

Those children.

Those adults who cared for them.

At a school.

At a church.

From where will our help come?

It would be unimaginable if we hadn’t seen it so often.

Our shock, our anger, our horror have all melted into deep and suffocating sorrow for your children lost,

the lives changed,

the community marred with a “before” and an “after.”

From where will our help come?

We know we all fall short of the glory that you intend for us,

but do we have to do it so often?

With such horrific consequences?

From where will our help come?

Our help comes in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Make us better than this, God, for the sake of our children.

Bring us to our knees in confession and to our feet in movement toward a safer world.

Our help comes in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Give us once again righteous anger,

unrelenting compassion,

and unflinching determination.

Protect us from complacency, despair, and cynicism.

Shield our children and all our citizens while we summon the courage and the will to work together for what is right and good.

Our help comes in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Make us brave for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ

who never stopped loving this violent, broken, sinful world,

and never wavered in his mission to bring his kingdom to us.

Our help comes in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Help us beyond what we know to ask for, Lord,

as we follow a suffering Savior on this rocky path to resurrection.

Amen.

Late Friday, March 24, tornadoes tore across Mississippi killing at least 25 people and leveling hundreds of buildings.

The damage from the storm- one of the worst on record in Mississippi's history — presents tough challenges for the majority-Black communities that were most affected. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has reached out to affected presbyteries following the deadly tornadoes to offer support, resources and prayers.

Gifts can be designated to DR000015

Please join us in praying for the affected communities.

Please share this information with your congregations!

Cost is $60 per participant for workshop including lunch.
Participants attending will be able to purchase Sarah Lund’s books at a 20% discount off current sale price. Books are guaranteed only to those who Register by this Monday, April 3!
The books will be distributed on the day of the event.
Regular Event Registration deadline – Tuesday, April 11.
Register early – space is limited.

Please contact your church or Presbytery if you need financial assistance to attend.

REGISTRATION LINK HERE or with the Bar Code

Bethesda Presbyterian Church to offer Computer/Media Literacy training.

Bethesda Presbyterian Church, USA, will offer basic computer and media literacy training workshops on the first Saturday of every month, beginning in April. This workshop is for people wanting basic knowledge about such popular programs as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and working with Google docs.

In addition, it will also cover more complicated programs and topics. They will include such as how to: use Audacity (a free audio editing program); produce podcasts; produce flyers, logos and infographic resumes with Canva; write for the web; design websites; produce social media videos and slideshows with express.adobe; write a press release and maximize positive news coverage for your church or non-profit; visualize data; and set up and use Zoom for remote meetings.

The first workshop will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 1 and are limited to 10 people. Bring a charged laptop or tablet. The workshops are free for the moment but donations to the church are encouraged and can be made on site. Bethesda Presbyterian Church is located at 431 Hetty Hill Street in Gaffney, S.C.

For more information, email Dr. Smith at [email protected]. Or call 704-953-3290. Learn more about Dr. Smith at his LinkedIn page

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimsmith3/

Registration

2023 King Legacy Historically Black Colleges & Universities Fair will be held live again on Saturday, April 15, 2023,

from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.,

at Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St. in Greenville, South Carolina.

Free admission, lunch, baseball game tickets, and entertainment will be provided along with representatives, presentations, and workshops from 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Many of the HBCU representatives will accept applications for admission and financial aid onsite.

We invite you, your church high school students, parents, and youth directors to join us for the 2023 King Legacy HBCU Fair, and stay for the Jackie Robinson Day baseball game. All of the King Legacy HBCU Fair events are free to the public.

We ask that you register on the Eventbrite link below:

SC 5 Lay School Fall Semester

The dates for the Fall term for the

SC5 Lay School

have been changed to

October 27 -28, 2023

at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC.

We will update the site with Registration materials as soon as they are available.

Foothills Peer Ministry

Youth Leaders Roundtable

Thursday, April 6

12 noon

at First, Anderson

CRE Cohort

Tuesday, April 11

12:30 pm

at the Presbytery office

Bring your lunch.

Music Ministry Leaders

Wednesday, April 12

at 9 am

by ZOOM

Christian Educators Gathering

Thursday, April 20

12 noon at St. Giles

Greenville, SC

Resource we have found challenging & inspirational:

Selma (movie)

.....And the South Carolina Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Team (SCPDAT) are joining together to recruit and train volunteers from our churches and Presbyteries who are interested in learning how to be a Crisis Cleanup Volunteer in the event of

a natural disaster impacting our state.

"Crisis Cleanup is a collaborative disaster work order management platform that improves coordination, reduces duplication of efforts, improves efficiency, and improves volunteers' experience.”

Volunteers can be anyone who can use a computer or a phone, and has the willingness to listen to survivors tell their story as they seek help from volunteer work groups who are responding to the disaster. As a Crisis Cleanup (CC) volunteer you complete an online “form” on the CC website for each survivor you speak with, which will then alert work teams as to who needs what kind of help/assistance. Once trained, volunteers are asked to commit to at least 1 hour/day, calling survivors of a disaster and inputting their information into the CrisisCleanup software.

This link will take you to the Crisis Cleanup website where you can learn more

about Crisis Cleanup and even watch the short training video.

CrisisCleanup is an ingenious tool that has been used to help thousands of

survivors across the USA to get the help they need in the aftermath of a disaster. SCPDAT seeks to train volunteers BEFORE a disaster happens in our state, so we can serve survivors in a more timely way. Training is easily accomplished by watching an online video with a follow-up Zoom meeting with a CC staff person to answer your questions.

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please contact Sally Dyer ([email protected]), Foothills Presbytery SCPDAT member.

In the fall of 2022, Presbyterian College unveiled a new strategic plan that introduced a new market position—America’s Innovative Service College. The strategic plan includes seven pillars of focus, one of which emphasizes our Presbyterian-relatedness. PC’s distinctive approach uses innovative service as a tool of self-discovery, an amplifier of problem-solving skills, and a catalyst of curiosity. Some of the new church-related initiatives include:

THE PRESBYTERIAN PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP AN $80,000 SCHOLARSHIP OVER 4 YEARS FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE PRESBYTERIAN
SEMINARY ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
CENTER FOR SOUTH KOREAN AND EAST ASIAN STUDIES
EXECUTIVE CERTIFICATE IN RELIGIOUS FUNDRAISING

Read Full Flyer

St. Giles Presbyterian Church

... is celebrating its 50th anniversary this spring! Thanks be to God for the investment of the Presbytery through the years. St. Giles will welcome two former pastors back to lead worship, as well as engage in extra mission commitments and educational programming.

Please visit their website for more information. Everyone is invited to join in worship and special programming through these weeks.

April 23, former pastor, Rev. George Wilkes will return to lead worship (10am).
April 30, 10am worship will be held in the current Fellowship Hall (original Sanctuary)
May 7, Anniversary Sunday! A special luncheon will be held after worship.

Potluck suppers will be held on Saturdays, March 18 and April 22, to allow people to visit with Rev. Matthews and Rev. Wilkes.

Good News: I am excited to share the news that The Presbyterian Agency for the Developmentally Disabled (PADD) is preparing to open its third residential home in Florence. This will be licensed as a Community Training Home II, and will become home for 4 men with an intellectual disability.

For Whom: This news could be of interest to members of your Presbytery who have a family member or friend with an intellectual or related disability and is seeking a residential option.

Background: In 2020 the mission known as InDwellings donated $86,750.00 to PADD. I believe this was a mission project supported in part by Foothills Presbytery. At that time InDwellings was attempting to build homes for people with disabilities, but unfortunately this attempt was not successful. Therefore, InDwellings was dissolved, and their Board decided to donate a portion of the funds they raised to our mission in New Harmony. We ultimately designated this gift to a fund we established to build a third home. It took some time…but now the third home is almost ready.

I believe there may be people in the Foothills Presbytery who may have an interest in exploring residential options with PADD. If you know of people who may be interested, please share this information with them. Following are some Frequently asked questions about PADD, and contact information. Read More

Presbyterian College is proud to partner with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (Indiana University) to offer the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF). This will be the first time this incredible program will be taught in the southeast region. The executive certificate program provides the research, tools, and customized training to meet the growing needs of leaders in religious communities and fundraisers of faith-based organizations. The focus of the ECRF is on the cultural, organizational, and philanthropic practices unique to religious institutions. These practices in turn enable donors motivated by spiritual and religious values to experience the joy of generous giving.

Registration and more information can be found HERE.

GREENVILLE CONFERENCE DATES

MAY 22-24, 2023

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2310 AUGUSTA STREET

GREENVILLE, SC 29605

College Scholarships

Let youth and young adults in your churches know that the PC(USA) supports their formation and education through 2023–2024 scholarships. PC(USA) undergraduate and seminary students are eligible for $4000–$8000 from the Presbyterian Mission Agency through the Office of Financial Aid for Service.

Applications are open from now till May 15, 2023, for full-time students enrolling for the 2023–2024 academic year. For more information see our full-page advertisement in Presbyterians Today.

To apply in English, Spanish or Korean, follow the QR codes pictured or click links below.

in a world of disaster, hunger, and oppression

Millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity.

One Great Hour of Sharing Daily Calendar of Family Activities

Each day at or after meal time, consider these reflections and questions for the week ahead. Place a coin or a “gift” in your fish coin bank or a jar, and end by saying the prayer of the week or one of your own.

Monday

After a natural disaster, it can be hard to find places to cook or to even find food. Say a prayer for those struggling with food insecurity and give a gift for each meal you ate today.

Tuesday

Using the online map, find a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance partnership near where you live. Say a prayer for those recovering from natural and human-caused disasters. Organize a group to make Gift of the Heart kits.

Wednesday

Communication can be very difficult after a disaster. Give a gift for every call, text or email you received from a loved one today.

Thursday

In some countries, people have to travel for miles to find clean water, especially after a disaster. Share a gift to help clean water reach people who need it.

Friday

Who are the helpers in your life? Whom do you call upon when you face difficult situations? Thank someone in your life for the specific ways they support you.

Find daily activities for the entire Season of Lent HERE.

Give Now

Jump to Resources

Summer Camp Registration is LIVE!

DID YOU KNOW...

...that Since 1948, Camp Fellowship has provided unique summer programs for children & youth of all ages. We strongly believe camp is for everybody and work diligently to create exceptional programs that engage campers and guests in faith formation, community building, personal growth and development, and fun!

...that the first 25 campers who register from Foothills Presbytery churches will automatically get a $50 Campership

...that Foothills Presbytery has limited need-based scholarships available. *See Camp Scholarship Application linked below.

...that this is the 75th Summer on the lake!

Check out the 75th Anniversary Celebration Activities below and on the Camp Fellowship Website

Summer Camp Registration

Camp Scholarship Application

Faith Formation Leader Connection

With Stephanie Fritz, Coordinator, Office of Christian Formation

and Miatta Wilson, Mission Associate, Office of Christian Formation

2nd Thursdays at 1PM EST and 4th Tuesdays at 8pm EST each month

One-hour sessions: to share resources on the topic and

then open to general conversation, questions, and sharing

https://zoom.us/j/92294289022?pwd=L3c1VlQ3VU9zVUU5cEFaMTZPYnRUUT09

Meeting ID: 922 9428 9022 Passcode: 165642

April Topic: Adult Resources

Thursday, April 13 at 1PM EST Tuesday, April 25 at 8PM EST

May Topic: Children’s Resources

Thursday, May 11 at 1PM EST Tuesday, May 23 at 8PM EST

Reflective Leadership Grants provide Christian leaders “balcony time” to reflect on accomplishments, broaden perspectives and discern next steps

The Reflective Leadership Grant supports an opportunity for structured reflection for lay or clergy leaders of Christian organizations that are advancing their mission following the multiple pandemics — COVID-19, racial inequity, economic disruption and mental distress — that emerged and/or intensified throughout the past few years.

While all leaders are encouraged to practice some form of ongoing reflection, this grant aims to support those leaders whose work has made a demonstrable contribution to their organization’s mission. These leaders are at a pivotal moment for stepping back and reflecting on what has been accomplished, what is changing and what is stable. The Reflective Leadership Grant allows leaders to broaden their perspectives and gain clarity about what needs to happen next in their personal and professional life.

Grant timeline

Application opens: March 15, 2023

Q&A session 1: March 20, 2023 (1:00 – 2:30 PM ET). Sign up here.

Q&A session 2: April 13, 2023. Sign up here.

Q&A session 3: May 3, 2023 (1:00 – 2:30 PM ET). Sign up here.

Application deadline: May 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET

Award notification: July 14, 2023

Funding available: September 1, 2023

Grantee convening: September 25 - 27, 2023, in Durham, NC.

Applicants are asked to commit to attend the convening. This convening will bring all recipients together for a collaborative learning experience as they begin their balcony time. All reasonable expenses for the retreat will be paid separately from the grant.

Final reports due: March 31, 2025

LEARN MORE

You are invited to

Come See Columbia Seminary!

For almost two hundred years, Columbia Seminary has nurtured pastors and leaders for the Presbyterian Church and beyond. Come experience your seminary for a day!

Come See Columbia Day - April 20, 2023

Save the Date

Reclaiming Our Calling:

Deacons & Ruling Elders and the Care of Souls

A Leader Formation Webinar

April 27, 2023

7:00 - 8:30 pm (eastern)

Are you seeking a more vibrant ministry of pastoral care that does not solely rely on the pastor? Have you ever wondered what to say when visiting someone who is navigating cancer or a chronic illness? Do you find yourself struggling between how to validate people's emotions and how to assure them of the promises of God? Join us as we explore the care of souls in a congregational context and the role that ruling elders and deacons play in that important work.

More information will soon be available here

Festival of Homiletics 2023 | Minneapolis

& Live Online

May 15 - 18, 2023

Join us this year for the 2023 Festival of Homiletics in Minneapolis: "Preaching Hope for a Weary World"

“Preaching Hope for a Weary World” is the Festival’s response to the hardships and heaviness that have been our reality the last few years. In these wearying days, what is our call to preach?

Hope.

The Festival of Homiletics 2023 will inspire us to a renewed sense of our radical calling. Our weary world needs us, preachers.

Come renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit!

Mission Trip to the

Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center

Little Rock, Arkansas

September 10-15, 2023

Join Foothills Presbytery for a mission trip to the Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ferncliff is home to a 10,000 sq ft Disaster Assistance Center, commonly referred to as “the DAC”. They have a covenant relationship with Church World Service (CWS) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). The DAC serves as a site for the CWS Gifts of the Heart kits, as well as the national warehouse for tools and equipment used in the PDA volunteer villages around the country. Read Full Flyer

The Worship and Music conference is an intergenerational conference for children, youth, & adults, who serve as pastors, directors, instrumentalists, ringers, worship leaders, choir members, or anyone who loves to sing, play, learn, worship, and fellowship.

Information & Registration

Introducing the

2022–2023 PW/Horizons Bible Study

The 2022–2023 PW/Horizons Bible study, Celebrating Sabbath: Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight, by Carol M. Bechtel, is truly buzzworthy! That’s why this series of emails has taken flight! Don’t miss an update—check your inbox often. This is the ninth in the series!

2024 Churchwide Gathering for Presbyterian Women

August 8 - 11, 2024

St. Louis, Missouri

March is Women's History Month

PW wants to hear from you! How will you or your group observe Women's History Month? Click here to email the PW your story and photos.

If you need ideas, consider the following:

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum commemorate and encourages the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

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

Click HERE for Full Fyler

Click here to see additional

Available Jobs

postings on our

website.

COVENANT CONNECTIONS

Subscribe to Covenant Connections

DR MISSION TRIP 2023

Mar 23, 2023

By Rev. Leslie Lang

As part of my ordination service, Pastor Tim Reynolds read aloud a story that was taken from My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. This story tells about a little girl who receives a small cup of dirt from her grandfather and is told, “if you promise to put some water in the cup every day, something may happen.” Every single day, this little girl watered that paper cup of dirt, at first with great anticipation of what would come of it. By the second week, she became discouraged, but continued to water the cup everyday anyways. By the third week, she would often forget about that cup completely until she was already in her bed, at which point she would drag herself out and water it in the dark. And then finally, one day there were two green leaves that appeared in that cup of dirt that had not been there before. She runs to tell her grandfather the news, at which point he explains to his granddaughter that life is everywhere, hidden in the most ordinary and unlikely places. “All it needs is water, Grandpa?” the little girl asked. “No,” he said. “All it needs is your faithfulness.”

This story plays in my mind as I reflect on the most recent mission trip that First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg took to the Dominican Republic last month. Other than our three year hiatus during Covid, our congregation has been making regular trips to the Dominican Republic since 1994. For almost three decades, our congregation has partnered with Solid Rock International to provide medical and dental care in the San Juan region. For almost thirty years, we have developed and maintained relationships with the people of Solid Rock and San Juan to do the work of Jesus Christ together.