‘O God of All Creation’ can be freely used in worship services and in support of relief efforts
by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian pastor and hymn writer the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a new hymn, “O God of All Creation,” after Hurricane Fiona brought devastation to Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean before turning toward the Maritime provinces in Canada.
“This new hymn was written after severe storms caused massive flooding and damage in Pakistan, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and other places,” Gillette wrote. “It is written in a general way so that it can be used in the future after other hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones, which are unfortunately becoming more severe due to climate change.”
The new hymn is set to Samuel Sebastian Wesley’s “AURELIA,” the tune for “The Church’s One Foundation.” Winfrey Gillette grants permission for churches to use the lyrics in worship and in support of relief efforts.
O God of All Creation
O God of all creation, as ocean waters warm,
we grieve the devastation that comes with violent storms.
We pray for people struggling — who need your help and grace
on every flooded island and in each flooded place.
We pray for all your children, so dearly loved by you,
who know such great destruction as winds and rains crash through.
We pray for all those hurting, who grieve for what is gone —
for neighbors, friends and siblings who struggle to go on.
We pray, O Lord, for churches that help to build anew.
We pray for rescue workers and all the good they do.
We pray for those with vision who serve as they restore —
who make homes more efficient and stronger than before.
O Christ who calmed the waters and stilled the stormy seas,
You teach us: “Love your neighbors!” and “Humbly care for these!”
Now lead us by your Spirit to gladly lend a hand —
on every struggling island and in each hurting land.
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Honoring All Saints
Foothills Presbytery has a tradition of recognizing and celebrating the lives of Ruling Elders and Ministers (and their spouses), who have entered the Church Triumphant in the last year. We rely on you, our church leaders, to let us know the names of your saints who have faithfully served your congregation and God's beloved community.
Please send the names of those Elders and Ministers (and their spouses) who have died since November 2021 through the present. We will honor and recognize them during worship at our November Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
Please send names to Warren Templeton, wtempleton@foothillspresbytery.org no later than October 19.
Thank you!
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Registration for both retreats due Monday, October 3, 2022!
After Monday, registration goes up to $200 pp.
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Resources we have found challenging and inspirational:
If you missed the screening of At the River: Struggle and Grace in the Segregated South but still want to see the movie, we have another opportunity in Foothills:
Fort Hill Presbyterian will host a screening of
At the River: Struggle and Grace in the Segregated South on
Monday, February 6th, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary.
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Children's Educators
The next lunch gathering is
Monday, October 24
at John Knox
(different Monday due to school holidays)
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Youth Leaders Roundtable
Thursday, Oct 6
at 12 noon
at the Clemson PSA Building on the Fort Hill Church campus
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Music Ministry Leaders
The Music Ministry Leader's
next meeting is
October 12, 9 am
by ZOOM.
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CRE Peer Group Gathering
November 15, 12:30 pm
Foothills Presbytery
Please bring your lunch. Dessert will be provided.
All current CREs and any Elders interested in the CRE program are invited. Any questions, please contact Jeff Motes or Elizabeth Jones.
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Montreat will be providing refunds.
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What are the top things to do before you retire? Ask Fidelity!
Join Fidelity Workplace Financial Consultant Dan McCarthy for a 30-minute, interactive, virtual presentation on important things to consider — before you retire — that may impact or influence your financial decisions.
Top Things To Do Before You Retire, a free webinar from Fidelity Investments (Retirement Savings Plan recordkeeper), is designed to help you get your financial house in order, create a retirement income plan, understand Social Security, and prepare for the unexpected. From creating your financial blueprint to preparing your estate and legacy plans, Top Things To Do Before You Retire will offer ideas and resources to take the next step on your financial wellness journey.
Following the presentation, Dan will be available to answer your general questions. You can also schedule a complimentary, one-on-one consultation with Dan to discuss your unique circumstances.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Noon ET
Register here for the webinar.
· Select Attend a learning event.
· On the next page, enter The Board of Pensions of the PC(USA) as the employer, choose Virtual as the event type.
· The screen will refresh and you will see two events listed for October. Click the green Register button for the October 11 Ask Fidelity event and provide the requested information on the next page. Be sure to click the blue Schedule Event button to complete your registration.
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We would love to have any high school youth who are interested in coming as prospective students, but everyone is welcome to attend. | |
October 6-8, 2022 | Bloomington, MN
A Hybrid Event: Attend In-Person or Virtually
Up to 9 CEUs Available
REGISTER NOW!
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Practicing Inclusion
A PC(USA) Leader Formation Webinar
October 13, 2022; 7 - 8:30 pm (eastern)
Registration Deadline: October 5, 2022
Register HERE
Diversity. Participation. Inclusion. These are not just socially of-the-moment words, but foundational values related to our openness to the work of the Holy Spirit within the PC(USA). Creating spaces where we can listen to all who are seeking God’s will together can help us discern where God is calling and leading us in mission and ministry, but how do we create and foster those spaces? What are some things that can get in the way? In this webinar, we will talk about the impact of implicit bias, why it’s important to consider and reduce implicit bias as Christians in the PC(USA), and some tools you can use to create spaces that invite and welcome full participation of a diverse group of people in the discernment processes and governance of the church.
This event is provided for free for participants and is funded through your per capita dollars. It does not come without cost, however. Knowing the diversity of language within the PC(USA), this webinar will be provided in several languages with interpretation based on requests made through the registration process. As a result, there is a registration deadline of October 5, 2022, in order to be able to have time to arrange for those services. This event will be recorded and will be available in English following the event.
Register for the webinar by October 5, 2022, here.
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When Faith Hurts:
Empowering the Faith Community to Recognize and Respond to Child Abuse & Sexual Assault
A conference for members of faith communities
and community partners
October 12-14, 2022, Furman University
The Julie Valentine Center is pleased to invite you to attend When Faith Hurts. We are excited to bring Victor Vieth, the Chief Program Officer for the Zero Abuse Project, to Greenville to conduct the training.
This training will prepare attendees to recognize and respond to cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. We will discuss the prevalence of child abuse, the impact of abuse on spirituality, the interest offenders have in churches and faith-based camps and schools, and will offer suggestions for working to assist a child in coping with maltreatment. The training will also discuss ideal child protection policies for a faith based institution, including handling a situation in which a convicted sex offender seeks to join a congregation.
Please RSVP no later than October 3, by registering online at https://www.julievalentinecenter.org/when-faith-hurts.html
For more information, please feel to contact Carrie Nettles, cnettles@julievalentinecenter.org or call 864.331.0560 ext. 230. Scholarships available upon request.
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Wee Kirk Conference 2022
Bearing Much Fruit
October 17–19, 2022
The Wee Kirk conference aspires to provide Christ-centered opportunities for inspiration, encouragement, and community among leaders of small membership churches so they can do the same in their congregations and regions.
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Seeking PW Churchwide’s Future Leaders
You know the one. She embodies every point of the PW Purpose and responds to the moving of the Spirit in her life. She cares about Presbyterian women and Presbyterian Women (the organization). You see her at work and prayer—perhaps you know her from your congregation, perhaps at presbytery or synod—and know that she has so much to offer Presbyterian Women. If only.
Are you called to transform her life and the life of Presbyterian Women? If so, PW Churchwide is seeking leaders, and your nomination can move an “if only” to abundant blessing on a potential leader and your shared PW ministry.
Candidates should have a passion for PW’s ministry and the time and energy to participate in shaping and promoting PW’s ministry.
Some leadership positions have additional requirements. Visit www.presbyterianwomen.org for more information and to Download a Nomination Form.
Nominations are due December 15, 2022.
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Plug In & Recharge at PW SOSA
Epworth Triennial Gathering
October 21-23, 2022
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PW Foothills will give scholarships to everyone from Foothills who attends, payable after the Gathering | |
The Manna Retreat
A weekend for young adults
January 27–29, 2023
Hosted by Montreat Conference Center
According to The Defining Decade by psychologist Meg Jay, “eighty percent of life’s most defining moments take place by age thirty-five.” Translation: being a young adult is hard. In an effort to support both young adults navigating the messiness of this time in their lives, as well as to support young adult ministries at the local church, we have created The Manna Retreat. The Manna Retreat is three days, 100 young adults, one old hotel, and ten small groups dedicated to creating deeper faith and deeper relationships. If your faith could use a spark plug, if your spirit could use a deep laugh, if your heart could use some new friendships, or if your body could use a place to belong, then this is for you.
Click here for more information.
Registration Opening November 1st
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POAMN is thrilled to offer this retreat at a significantly discounted rate! Your conference registration includes lodging, meals and retreat programming. Pastors, educators, volunteers and all of those that work with and among older adults are encouraged to attend this retreat.
- Need a change of scenery?
- Come hear the Good News!
- Live in Hope!
- Connect!
- Love to Work with Older Adults?
- This is the retreat for you!
- All meals included
- Single rooms $300 per person before Sept. 9
- Double rooms $200 per person before Sept. 9
- Commuters $150
- Discounted rates for POAMN members
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Registration is open 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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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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The Friends of the Greenville County Library is looking for space to rent for housing/sorting donated books and holding public booksales to support the Library. Optimally seeking around 4,000+ square feet, ideally climate-controlled. For more information, please contact Lee Turza, 864 270-8636; lturzasc@yahoo.com. | |
Mediation Skills Training Institute
or Church Leaders
You are invited to attend Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders, a 5-day event that helps participants deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. The next in-person session is on November 14-18, 2022 at the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ. The next online session will be March 13-17, 2023. Registration is now underway at https://lmpeacecenter.org/all-events/.
We would also like to introduce our new one-day event called Restorative Conversations. Devon Miller, LMPC Associate Director and the author and facilitator of this course, describes it this way: Restorative conversations are useful when working through difficult or polarizing topics, processing shared painful experiences, building community, and dealing with certain levels of conflict in the church setting. The workshop will benefit all levels of leadership including pastors, lay leaders, youth leaders, and Sunday school teachers. Three sessions of this workshop have been scheduled for next year: Feb. 23, May 23, and Nov. 2, 2023.
Please contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (630-627-0507 or Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org) with questions about this or any of our outstanding workshops.
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Anger (Mis)Management
Sep 22, 2022
by Rev. Jackie Putnam and Eva Grow
Scriptures: Psalm 33 and John 2:13-16
On Sunday, August 14th at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Rev. Jackie Putnam and high school senior Eva Grow partnered to lead worship. Eva, who currently serves as Co-Moderator of the Foothills Presbytery Youth Council, is discerning a call to ministry. As part of her discernment, she asked to shadow Pastor Jackie for a week. Together they prepared a worship service centered around the theme of anger and the story of Jesus flipping the tables in the temple recorded in John 2:13-16. The service was inspired by this year’s Montreat Youth Conference at which students were challenged to ask the question, “What makes you angry?”
Jackie: “What makes you angry? Can you remember the first time you felt genuine anger?”
Eva: “Well the first time I can remember feeling angry was of course over fashion. I was 5 years old and my lifelong best friend and neighbor showed up to our side door one day wearing not only MY dress, but MY FAVORITE dress. She swore that it was hers, and would not take it off no matter how much I elaborated on the fact that it was MINE. This dress was a brown maxi number with a tropical pattern perfect for any summer day. This particular day though just happened to be her dad’s birthday and we were assigned cake decorating duty “as a team.” I could not get over the fact that she was lying to my face about MY dress. I was having such a difficult time with her deceit that I decorated that cake as quickly as possible so I could go back to my house and never have to see her again. Luckily, she did give it back the next day, and we have remained friends since the dress incident of 2010.”
Jackie: “I have a very vivid memory of feeling anger in the third grade. There was a little boy in my class who we’ll call Ben. I am convinced that Ben spent his days trying to come up with new ways to bother me. Read More
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events |
2022
September
29 Finance & Stewardship committee meeting
October
4 Coordinating Council meeting
6 Nominations Committee meeting, Committee on Ministry (COM) meeting, & Youth Leaders Roundtable
9 PYC meeting
12 Music Ministry Leaders meeting by Zoom
13 Investment Committee meeting, Committee on Shared Ministry (CSM) meeting, and CRE Supervisory Committee meeting
14-15 Fall Lay School
Foothills Presbytery Calendar
2022 Foothills Presbytery Stated Meetings
November 01, 2022
10:00 am - 2:30 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting # 121
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Travelers Rest
February 21, 2023
10:00 am - 2:30 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting #122
Presbyterian Communities, Easley
May 20, 2023
10:00 am - 2:30 pm Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting # 123
Location TBD
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