Three new COVID-19 Resources
About these resources -
The COVID-19 Update (January 2021) and the COVID Vaccine information materials are provided as a resource to Presbytery Leaders across the PCUSA. They have been summarized by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Cincinnati. Lisa spent 36 years as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry before her work at the Presbytery level. She is a trained immunocytochemist, and a graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry NJ.
Core Recommendations for Reducing Airborne Infections document is provided as a resource from ASHARE. Founded in 1894, ASHARE is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability within the industry.
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Spring Lay School Cancelled
It is with much regret that the spring session of Lay School scheduled for March 19 - 21 is cancelled. Presbyterian College is not permitting outside groups on campus, and the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery office where the fall session was held is now fully furnished and does not lend itself to a classroom setup. Our hope is that the October session may become a reality.
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Are you looking for great resources for Lent that are suitable for faith formation of all ages?
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Church educators and leaders from Foothills Presbytery and Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda (Presbyterian Church of Canada) have been working in collaboration to create weekly, interactive Lent Gardens that are designed to invite us all to read and reflect on the scriptures and stories of this season as we journey together with Jesus and his followers toward Jerusalem.
With this garden project we imagined lots of reading and conversation in our homes around these life-changing stories. We also imagined a broad variety of additional, multi-sensory activities for all ages that connect and expand our understanding and experience of this season.
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 receive more information about this resource, please email Pressley Cox, Associate for Shared Mission and Ministry, at pcox@foothillspresbytery.org
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THE REVEREND TOD BOLSINGER
Pastors and church leaders of the Synod of South Atlantic, save the date for an upcoming Church Leaders’ Forum:
Leading the Church into the Post COVID World
Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
via ZOOM
Presenter: Tod Bolsinger (MDiv, PhD), Associate Professor of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, author of Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience.
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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!
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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
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The next
Youth Roundtable
is
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Tuesday, February 2
by Zoom
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The next gathering of Foothills
MUSIC MINISTRY LEADER’S
is
9:00 am
Wednesday, February 10
by Zoom
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Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully
Leaders Listen
by Rodger Nishioka
…For 15 years I was privileged to serve as a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary. One of the last courses the seniors are required to take before they graduate is titled Final Things. In it, we professors try to prepare them for whatever ministry to which God is calling them. One essential practice we highlight is listening… Read the full article
This article is the first in a 12-part series focusing on PC(USA) leader formation as a part of the Year of Leader Formation: Investing in Ruling Elders and Deacons. Additional resources are available at www.pcusa.org/leader-formation/.
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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
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May 17-21, 2021
At the 2021 Festival of Homiletics, you’ll hear respected and thoughtful speakers present on the theme: Preaching for the Future Church.
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
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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.
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Available Jobs
postings on our
website.
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NEW Virtual Social Justice Conference
Called to Justice:
Seeking Change within the Classroom, Congregation, and Community
February 24 - 25, 2021
Keynote Addresses led by:
Dr. Marvin McMickle (pictured), Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Dr. Brian Blount, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Dr. Rodney Sadler, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Workshop Leaders: Dr. Brandon McCormack (pictured), Dr. Rebecca Davis, Rev. Jason Williams & Nikkeia Lee
This two-day event, co-sponsored by the Seminary's Center for Social Justice & Reconciliation (CSJR) and the Leadership Institute, features two keynote address and four workshop choices. Learn more and register HERE.
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Dear Friends,
Don't forger to complete your 2020 Statistical Report!
Reminders:
-
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.
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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!
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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.
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NEXT Church
BREAKING, BLESSING, BUILDING
A Call For The Common Good
A FREE Live-Streamed Gathering for ALL Church Leaders
March 5-7, 2021
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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
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“Prayers of lament are petitions to God that come out of real need. When we offer prayers of lament to God, we declare our trust in God and our dependence on God.”
—P. Lynn Miller, Into the Light: Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament
The season of Lent provides us a time to take a look at our lives, think about our journey with God, and turn away from darkness and towards the light of the risen Christ.
The 2020–2021 PW/Horizons Bible study, Into the Light: Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament, by P. Lynn Miller, can be used as a timely Lenten Bible study for any group, or the basis for a sermon series that helps listeners understand that lament is a faithful response to the difficult situations of our world.
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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.
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-Laura Smith Conrad, Class of 1993
“Presbyterians honor the life of the mind and insists that only a life of love exceeds it as a means of praise to God,” I shared with the Class of 2020.
In a pandemic year, when all life was interrupted in an effort to protect one another from the coronavirus, COVID-19, the school year at Presbyterian College sputtered to a close. Graduates were mailed a degree, and families like ours celebrated on the back porch with a photo to honor the completion of a degree. We tried to mark the milestone by making up announcements and like many, made a yard sign to share the good news with our neighbors.
The closure that a Commencement Ceremony and Baccalaureate Service brings to college graduates each year, was noticeably missing.
On October 3, on the grassy plaza facing the historic Neville Hall, hundreds of masked faculty, graduates, and families gathered to hear inspiring and comforting words, and to hear her or his name called honoring this significant step. As many of our celebrations have been of late, the mood was subdued, poignant, and, even more reverent, due to the gravity of the state of our world. In a matter of days our lives changed drastically.
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Among those graduates was our son, Avery Conrad, and his friends, who still posed for the typically photo at the front sign, but noticeably missing were the parties and celebrations. Some students watched live stream from other parts of the world as they served in the military abroad or returned to their home country.
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events
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January
28 Transition Think Tank meeting, Committee on Preparation for Ministry Committee meeting
February
2 Youth Roundtable
4 Committee on Ministry meeting
5 BCE Exam at the presbytery office
8 Foothills Presbytery Staff meeting
9 Presbytery Stated meeting Orientation
10 Music Ministry Leaders meeting
11 Statistical Reports Due
16 Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting #116
February 16, 2021
May 15, 2021
Nov 9, 2021
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting # 118
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