We look forward to seeing you!
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The Foothills Presbytery
Antiracism Ministry Team
Invites you to a
Screening of
“At the River”
Monday, September 12
6:00 pm
Fourth Presbyterian
703 Washington Street, Greenville, SC 29601
"At the River" Filmmaker, Carolyn Crowder will lead us in a discussion following the film.
Trailer:
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“At The River” is a feature-length documentary about a certain time and place in the deep south. In the Civil Rights era of the 50s and 60s, most Presbyterian ministers stood on the banks of the cultural river of segregation and white supremacy. Some opted not to stir the waters in their congregations and communities by speaking out. However, a few young southern Presbyterian ministers braved those currents through their sermons, community organizing, and participating in marches and protests. They faced dangerous, hate-filled consequences for these actions. "At The River" chronicles their lives and their decisions, as well as director Carolyn Crowder’s firsthand experience as a young white southern girl from Montgomery, Alabama. During those mean and turbulent times these ministers, through their love and example, had a huge impact on her life in helping her overcome her southern racist brainwashing.
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Antiracism Ministry Team, Foothills Presbytery
Resources we have found challenging and inspirational:
Did you know? We have an extensive list of
Antiracism Resources on our website:
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) enables congregations and members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events.
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Your gifts provide core funding for the work of PDA, enabling immediate response to national and international disasters and strengthening ongoing work such as training and development, refugee ministry, and response to disasters that do not receive media attention. To give now or learn about the current response efforts of PDA, visit https://pda.pcusa.org/page/give/
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On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the five SC Presbyteries collected $2,542 to support the work and ministry of PDA, Ukraine Relief. To learn more or donate to Ukraine relief, visit https://pda.pcusa.org/situation/ukraine/
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Join adults from across the Presbytery for a Mission Trip to the Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Little Rock, AK on October 8th – October 15th. Time will be spent preparing Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Gifts of the Heart Kits and working with area mission agencies such as food banks, soup kitchens, agencies assisting women and children, etc. (Work available for all physical abilities.) Trip capacity is 24 people with accommodations in the Williams Lodge, motel style, three persons per room. Cost of the trip is $350 per person cost of lodging and food on travel days to be determined. This trip is sponsored by Foothills Presbytery Committee on Shared Ministry. Please email Peggy Swann peggysswann@gmail.com to save your spot!
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PDA currently has 7 host sites receiving volunteer teams witnessing to the healing love of Christ by supporting rebuilding efforts in areas that have been affected by natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and fires. To learn more about mission opportunities at PDA host sites visit www.pcusa.org/pdavolunteersites.
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1st Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to pray continually. Following a disaster, our best response is first to seek God's presence on behalf of those in need. Worship resources available through PDA offer you and your congregation ways to pray, sing, and together invite the love of God to lead our response as we seek to reflect the hope that is found in Christ. https://pda.pcusa.org/page/pray/
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Music Ministry Leaders
The Music Ministry Leader's
next meeting is
August 10th.
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Christian Educators
The next lunch gathering is
Monday, August 29, 12 noon
at First, Anderson
302 W. Whitner St., Anderson
(Lunch plans to be decided.)
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Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) Peer Group
Wednesday, September 7
at 12:30 pm
Location TBD. Lunch offered.
All current CREs, those interested in CRE training, and any Elders interested are invited to attend.
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Young Clergy Lunch
Wednesday, September 21
12:00 pm
at
Willy Taco, Greenville
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General Assembly 2022
From Lament to Hope
Debbie Foster, Stated Clerk & Presbytery Leader
Anyone who has served as a Commissioner to General Assembly will tell you that a highlight is worship. The services are always thoughtful, inspiring, and appealing to both the eye and the ear. Worship centers the work of the Assembly in God’s wisdom/word and allows the Holy Spirit to use the liturgy, music, art, and proclamation to inspire and inform the commissioners for long days of committee work and decision-making.
In addition to planning worship, the worship planning team gave each commissioner a set of prayer cards inviting them to set aside moments throughout their days to pause, engage with scripture, reflect on questions, and be inspired by the art of Louisville artist Suyun Son. Suyun’s paintings, which she called “David’s Dance Series,” Suyun's work was also featured on worship bulletins used throughout the assembly. Her painting is featured above. Opening worship for the Assembly was held in the Chapel at the Presbyterian Center on June 18 and can be seen and heard here.
Foothills Presbytery elected four commissioners to GA 225: Robin Morris (RE, Limestone), Lauren Slingerland (TE, Westminster Gvlle), Ed Yokley (RE, North Anderson Community Church), and Craig Foster (TE, First Spartanburg). In the months ahead, they will be sharing more information about their experience of GA 225 and the committee work in which they were involved. If you are interested in reading more about the summary of actions taken at General Assembly (Presbyterian News Service) please click here.
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As Christians, we have good news to share!
This year’s theme is Planks and Pieces: Surviving and Thriving based on Acts 27, Paul’s trip to Rome, which included a shipwreck. Join others in our presbytery Saturday, August 27 for this awesome event.
S.T.E.P.S. provides opportunities for you to grow in your Christian faith through experiences of worship, learning, and fellowship.
Some of the workshops available at S.T.E.P.S. are:
- The Cosmic Trinity: A Contribution to the Trinitarian for the 21st Century
- Introduction to Enneagram
- Book Discussion: Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity by David W. Swanson
- Extending the Circle of Compassion: Caring for the Caregivers
- Preaching in These Times and For These Times: How Theology Can Help.
Believe it or not this is not all the options available. Go to the presbytery website to register/download a brochure or check with your pastor or clerk of session for a printed copy of the brochure.
Hope to see you August 27!
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Save the Date
for a
Mission Trip to the
Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center
Little Rock, AK
October 8th – October 15th
Time will be spent preparing Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Gifts of the Heart Kits and working with area mission agencies such as food banks, soup kitchens, agencies assisting women and children, etc.
(Work available for all physical abilities.)
Cost is $350 per person
(plus lodging and food on travel days to be determined)
This trip is limited to 24 people with accommodations in the Williams Lodge, motel style, three persons per room. Please email Peggy Swann at peggysswann@gmail.com to save your spot!
This trip is sponsored by Foothills Presbytery
Committee on Shared Ministry
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Supporting Presbyterian Women on PW Gives Day
(and All Days)
PW Gives Day is July 31—a day each year to celebrate the founding of Presbyterian Women as well as the loving relationships and the life-changing ministries Presbyterian Women cultivate.
Cultivating Presbyterian Women means putting our hands and hearts to work and love through our PW Purpose. Whether planting seeds through our ecumenical partnerships, building healthy communities through our Thank and Birthday Offerings, honoring faithful servants with Honorary Life Memberships, or taking time to be in beloved community through study, service and fun, we each choose to “live life in full bloom” by care-tending our bountiful and beautiful PW gardens.
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SC5 Presbyteries Retreat
(For Ministers, Educators, & Church Leaders)
October 24–26, 2022
Montreat, NC
Theme: Leadership Development Is Great And All That, And What I Really Need Is Some Time Rest, Refresh, & Renew!
How are you feeling these days? Really feeling? Energized, excited and engaged in ministry? Or are you dragging your feet into the pulpit? Contemplating the communion table might be a nice nap location? Or are you mentally designing an escape hatch in your office for that next visit with the pastor? Where is your spark for ministry? Is it possible to lead from a place of wholeness? Is there room for creativity, imagination, and play? How can you experience the fullness of life and living and leading? as Children of God?
See more details HERE, including leadership, registration, accommodations, and daily schedule.
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Weapons at Church: The Unthinkable in God’s House—A message from General Counsel Mike Kirk as our prayers and lamentations continue
We like to think of our churches as places of safety and refuge. A place to commune with God and join in fellowship with our church community. Unfortunately, others view churches as targets. White supremacist Dylan Roof murdered nine people at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina in 2015. Recently a Las Vegas man with a grudge against Taiwan entered the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, and shot members and friends of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church who were gathered at a celebratory luncheon.
It is unfortunate that church leaders must think about how to prevent such violence or how to respond to it if it happens. But sessions should discuss church safety. There are many resources available for churches, including the following:
Congregations and mid councils should consider organizing a committee to discuss and make recommendations for safety policies and procedures.
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Around the world, more than 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe water. In many countries, women and children walk more than three miles to gather water for their families. Oftentimes, the water collected is unsafe to drink.
But there is hope.
Join us for the 2022 Walk for Water-Greenville. Together, we will raise funds and awareness to fight the global water crisis by building safe water solutions for people in need around the world.
We walk, so others don’t have to.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian is a sponsor for a Walk for Water for the Water Mission. We will have a team walking from our church and there will be a team from John Knox walking also.
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Summer Camp Registration is underway! We encourage you to explore our summer camp options for children and youth (grades k-12) and register soon as some sessions are starting to fill!
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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 third in the series!
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Registration has officially opened for Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference offering outstanding plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences and unparalleled networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity. Scheduled from Sept. 26-28, the in-person program of this year’s hybrid conference will be held in Savannah, Georgia.
Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to ignite generosity in faith-based communities, give practical tools for cultivating generosity in congregations, expand the leadership capacity of those who lead stewardship initiatives, and cultivate adaptive approaches for funding Christ’s mission.
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"Good Stewards of God's Grace"
Webinar Recording
Ruling elders, deacons, and ministers from across the country recently gathered on Zoom for the first Leader Formation webinar of 2022. The recording of "Good Stewards of God's Grace," presentation slides, and additional webinar resources are now available on the Leader Formation website.
Engage in an opportunity to provide feedback about this webinar and offer ideas for future events by completing the survey here.
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Considering a call to seminary?
Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA (next-door to Atlanta) is a PC(USA) seminary with a diverse and inclusive community that offers a robust education and full scholarship programs for all masters-level degree students. A seminary education can lead to careers to congregational ministry, chaplaincy, non-profit leadership, education, and so much more. All of our students share one essential characteristic: God has called each one to faithful discipleship and leadership in Christ’s Church.
If you’re interested in more information or a discernment conversation, please contact Sarah Kate Bumgarner at BumgarnerS@ctsnet.edu.
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APCE
2023 ANNUAL EVENT
January 25–28, 2023
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
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Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
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PIANO AVAILABLE!
Baldwin Acrosonic Spinet piano (c. 1950s), free to any congregation that has need of it. Good working condition; “buyer” to remove. Spartanburg, SC. If interested contact Mary Ada Poole (maryadapoole@gmail.com).
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Mediation Skills Training Institute
or Church Leaders
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders
- August 1-5, 2022 (in person)
- November 14-18, 2022 (in person)
- The June session will be held in Fort Mill, South Carolina; the August session will be held in the Chicago area; and the November session will be held in the Phoenix area. Please check our website for updates.
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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Available Jobs
postings on our
website.
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A Gathering of South Carolina’s Five Presbyteries
Jul 14, 2022
Charleston-Atlantic, Foothills, New Harmony, Providence and Trinity
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the five South Carolina Presbyteries gathered at Presbyterian College and Thornwell in Clinton, SC for Convocation, Worship, and meetings. The Moderators and Vice Moderators from each of the presbyteries served as liturgist in worship. Their varied voices reminded us that while we have differences, we are united in serving our Lord. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), delivered a message on “God is Doing a New Thing,” based on Isaiah 43: 18-19. We raised voices in song, centered in prayer, and celebrated the Lord’s Supper.
Rev. Terri Price from Providence Church led us in the following Prayers of the People:
God of creation –
the clear blue skies and the tumultuous storm,
the insignificant wildflower and the carefully nurtured rose,
the open prairie and salt-laden seashore and fierce mountain;
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events
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2022
July
31 PW Gives Day
August
4 Committee on Ministry meeting
8 FP Staff meeting
11 Investment Committee meeting and Committee on Shared Ministry meeting
18 Finance & Stewardship committee meeting and Examinations Committee meeting
25 Committee on Preparation for Ministry meeting
27-28 PYC Planning Retreat
29 Stewardship Task Force meeting
November 01, 2022
10:00 am - 2:30 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting # 121
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Travelers Rest
February 21, 2023
Presbyterian Communities, Easley
May 20, 2023
10:00 am - 2:30 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting # 123
Location TBD
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