Foothills Presbytery News

October 16, 2025

"Gracious Presence of Peace.

_____we open our troubled hearts;

_____we reveal the turmoil in our souls;

_____we confess that when we look at the world and at the church,

_____we see persons in terrible pain and an institution in crisis;

_____often despair or cynicism overtakes us.

Sacred Mystery, Surprising Spirit,

_____we open our hands as a gesture of trust,

_____hoping to receive the power of your peace;

_____we reveal our need to feel the possibility of transformation

_____in our attitudes and our actions.

Gentle Companion,

_____fill us with vision and vigor,

_____with hope and healing energy,

_____with commitment and caring action

_____that we may challenge what needs changing

_____and celebrate what changes

_____and be ever willing to be surprised. Amen."

Sacraments & Seasons

Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, 1989

United in Christ, we weave a tapestry of faith, hope, and love. Because of our faith connections, we go forward together in our shared mission and ministry. We are better together as a community of witnesses, as we share the love of Christ in our six counties and beyond.

The Woven Together in Christ packet was mailed to all congregations earlier in the month, and the Stewardship team has been asked to share its contents across the presbytery. The digital Stewardship Brochure is attached below. Please share with your congregation

Stewardship Brochure

Stewardship Letter

Bulletin Insert

130th Stated Meeting of Foothills Presbytery

Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025

10:00 am

at Nazareth Church

680 Nazareth Church Rd, Moore, SC

Sunday October 19, 2025

1:00pm – 6:00pm

https://hpporchfest.org/

Join us for an afternoon of music at the fifth annual

Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest!

PorchFest is one of our community’s most vibrant events—a walking neighborhood festival that brings together thousands of people from across the city and county. This year, Mattoon is hosting two time slots, and we’d love for our churches to be part of it!

Questions? Email: Anthony Dawson, tgkeeper@gmail.com or Pastor Lerone Wilder - leronewilder@leronewilder.com.

Church Financial Officers Forum October 21

Foothills Presbytery Office

Topic: Tax Implications of

Year-End Giving

12 noon - 1:30 pm

A light lunch will be served. RSVP by email to confirm your attendance to Olanda Carr or LeAnne White.

Foothills Presbytery Peer Ministry

Christian Educators

Our next gathering is October 20

at the Presbytery office, 1 - 2:30 pm with Becky Davis from the Center of Excellence in Christian Education

Optional: Bring your lunch and come at 12:00 to enjoy fellowship and resource sharing!

Youth Leaders Roundtable

No meeting

in November

Western Area Presbyterian Pastors Lunch

Monday, November 3, at noon at the

Social Tap in Anderson!

Music Ministry Leaders

Our next gathering is Wednesday,

November 12 at 9 am on Zoom.

Creating a Disaster Plan Workshop

Every congregation received a packet of information from the Foothills Presbytery Disaster Preparedness and Response Commission (DPRC).

Recognizing that each of our churches is different, the DPRC is hosting a workshop at 10:00 am on Wednesday, October 29 in the Foothills Presbytery Resource Center.

RSVP to LeAnne White by Monday, Oct 27

The Sanctuary Choir of Westminster, Greenville, will present G. F. Handel’s

Utrecht Te Deum at 4 pm on

Sunday, Nov. 9.

Guest soloists: Kathryn Knauer, soprano; Salleigh Harvey, mezzo-soprano; Zackery Morris, tenor; and Craig Price, bass. We’ll be accompanied by Baroque period instruments. All are welcome to attend!

APCE Annual Event 2026

Registration is now available online. November 15 is the early bird registration deadline!

The Foothills CSM Scholarship is available for leaders who provide faith formation in Foothills Presbytery congregations.
The amount of the scholarship will vary depending on need and number of scholarship requests.
The deadline is November 5, 2025.

Presbyterian College partners with Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Lake Institute on Faith and Giving to offer the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF).

Thriving in Ministry Conference Registration Form 2026 For Clergy and other church professionals: Join us April 27-28, 2026 for two days filled with learning, reflection, and fellowship. There is no cost to attend the conference, and hotel expenses will be covered for the first 20 participants that register.

Presbyterian College Summer Youth Ministry Experience 2026 July 6-9, 2026 --A week of service and discernment, primarily for middle school youth, on the campus of Presbyterian College and the surrounding community. Please complete this form to secure space for your group. We will follow up soon with additional information.

Promise Scholarships Promise Scholarships at Presbyterian College unlock opportunities for students to achieve academic and personal excellence. These scholarships provide significant financial support, ensuring you thrive in a community that values service, leadership, and academic excellence.

FULL PC FLYER

If you have any questions, please email Buz Wilcoxon at bwilcoxon@presby.edu

Presbyterians for Earth Care

is inviting young adults ages 18-35 to join the Creation Action Network of Presbyterian Young Adults - CANOPY!

Together, this group is connecting, educating, learning, and taking action in solidarity with creation and with one another.

To learn more visit their Instagram (@canopy_pec), complete their interest form or email Emma Marshall, CANOPY’s organizer, at pecyaorganizer@gmail.com. Join us, and share with a friend!

Fall 2025 Collective Cohorts

Welcome faith leaders & friends to the event and cohort registration portal, where we embrace the sacred journey of spiritual growth and community engagement. Stay connected with the latest news, upcoming events, and enriching resources. Come and network with us!

These 90-minute cohorts will meet once a week for 6 weeks beginning October 13 - November 17, 2025. Registration deadline is October 3!

Courageous Conversations

Discipleship and Faith Formation

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The next greatest commandment was to love our neighbor. But how can we truly love our neighbor if we don’t know our neighbor?

The Antiracism Ministry team and Courageous Conversations writing team invite you to engage in “Courageous Conversations” in order to know your neighbor. These videos feature people in Foothills Presbytery telling their own stories – stories that may be very different from our own.

The interviews and curriculum can be found on the Foothills Presbytery website.

The Courageous Conversations Writing Team is available to lead small groups through this seven session study.

Journey to Freedom

Civil Rights & Social Justice

Travel Seminar

December 29 - January 6, 2026

Union Seminary Students, Staff, Alumni/ae,

Community Members & Spouses

Detailed Information Here

Check out the

NEW

South Carolina Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

website: SCPDAT.org

Nurturing Presbyterian Women's

Heart-filled Ministries

As we prepare for 2026 and a new year of PW possibilities, the 2026 Presbyterian Women Annual Mission Fund Promotional Resource is available to share in newsletters and in circle meetings, on bulletin boards and over prayer.

P.S.C.E. – Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education

Union Presbyterian Seminary

The PSCE initiative continues to raise the profile of those serving in all areas of Christian Education and has expanded to the support of those serving as CRE/CP (Commissioned Ruling Elder/Commissioned Pastor).

All cohorts meet on Zoom. For further information, contact Marilyn Johns, Registrar

Wonder of Worship

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Hurricane Relief Work Site Programs in Florida:

First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota

along with PDA partners at FLAPDAN are

hosting a work program site in Florida

There is also a Hurricane Relief Team Host Site at Oakhurst United Methodist Church in Pinellas County, Florida

Chairs - Free to a Good Home!

Fourth church has chairs to donate that they no longer need but are still in good shape. There are 40 of the gray and 16 of the blue in the photo to the left.

If interested please contact Lily in the church office at office@fourthpres.com

or 864-232-8123.

Wee Kirk Conference 2025

October 20–22, 2025

Rev. Audrey Hartness Reese – Conference Preacher

Christ-centered opportunities for inspiration, encouragement, and community among leaders of small membership churches.

Scholarships are available. Please contact Pressley Cox for more information.

Leader Formation Webinars for Ruling Elders and Deacons

October 23, 2025; 7:00-8:30 pm eastern

"Presbyterian Polity"

More information will be available on the

Leader Formation webpage and in the September Leader Formation Newsletter

NEXT Church National Gathering

November 11-14 in Grand Rapids, MI

A Gathering for Leaders Committed to Transformation. With courage and openness, you will find new ways to courageously transform the uncertain world around us all.

Learn More Here

Honor Begins at Home: Recognizing Veterans in Our Pews

Veterans Day: November 11

This initiative encourages congregations to identify veterans within their church family, honor their service, and connect them with resources and fellowship opportunities through UWS.

Veterans Day 2025 Church Toolkit

You're Invited: Join UPSem's Next Travel Seminar!

Travel to India this winter with Dr. Sam Adams and Dr. James Taneti to unpack Christianity, country, and culture. December 27, 2025 - January 16, 2026

Please contact Dean Dan Ott (daniel.ott@upsem.edu) or Sarah Amick (sarah.amick@upsem.edu) for details. Deadline to apply is August 7.

Click here for full flyer and detailed information!

Pansy Duke Scholarship

The Scholarship has been established by Ms. Pansy E. Duke, a longtime and faithful member of the Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, Clemson, South Carolina. The Scholarship is awarded annually to qualified individuals based on leadership, academic excellence, and the commitment to explore means to attain a life of faith-based servant leadership. Deadline is January 10, 2026.

Application and Information