Foothills Presbytery News
October 2, 2025
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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
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Sunday October 19, 2025
1:00pm – 6:00pm
https://hpporchfest.org/
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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.
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Celebrate Thornwell’s
150th Anniversary with Us!
From our founding 150 years ago, Thornwell has been rooted in faith and committed to building strong children and families. This milestone is a celebration of everyone who has been part of the journey.
🎶 150th Anniversary Concert
Featuring: Christian contemporary duo Caleb + Kelsey Friday, October 3 at 8:00- 9:30PM
Presbyterian College, Belk Auditorium $28.52
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Music Ministry Leaders
Our next gathering is Wednesday,
October 8 at 9 am on Zoom.
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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!
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Youth Leaders Roundtable
No meeting
in November
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Western Area Presbyterian Pastors Lunch
Monday, November 3, at noon at the
Social Tap in Anderson!
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Church Financial Officers Forum October 21
Foothills Presbytery Office
Topic: Tax Implications of
Year-End Giving
Our time together will begin at noon and adjourn on or before 1:30 pm. A light lunch will be served.
To assist us with preparation, RSVP by email to confirm your attendance to Olanda Carr or LeAnne White.
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Side by Side Respite
John Knox Presbyterian Church
Upcoming Events:
Sunday, October 5 - 4:00 pm
Respite For All (Documentary): A Place of Belonging. John Knox Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.
Popcorn and Conversation Included
Wednesday, October 15 - 9:00-12:30
Side by Side Volunteer Training
John Knox Presbyterian Church
Contact John Knox for information: 864-244-0465
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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!
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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 the week of October 13 and running through the week of November 17, 2025. Registration deadline is October 3!
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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.
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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
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Check out the
NEW
South Carolina Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
website: SCPDAT.org
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Nurturing Presbyterian Women's
Heart-filled Ministries
PW’s Annual Mission Fund financially undergirds, in whole or in part, all we do as an organization. Its importance in making real the ministries of Presbyterian Women cannot be overstated.
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.
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University of Dubuque
courses offered October 7, 2025-December 8, 2025:
- Introduction to the New Testament
- Introduction to Preaching
- Presbyterian Polity
- Foundations of Christian Education
Congregational Leadership and Administration is being offered as an elective or continuing education offering. Click HERE for more information.
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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
https://www.upsem.edu/psce/
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First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota
along with PDA partners at FLAPDAN are
hosting a work program
site in Florida
Full Flyer
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Chairs - Free to a Good Home!
Fourth church has chairs do dontate 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.
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"Improving Public Health within the Faith-Based Community"
The time has come to register for the 7th Annual Faith Symposium. This event will be held on October 9, 2025, at the Department of Archives and History. Registration is open until September 5, 2025. If you have questions, please contact Sherri Caldwell via email or at 803.734.9903. Learn More Here
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2025 When Faith Hurts Conference
Julie Valentine Center
When Faith Hurts: Equipping the church for faithful response to child abuse and sexual assault and its implications for congregational care.
October 14 - 16, 2025
St. Michael's Lutheran Church
2619 Augusta Street Greenville, SC 29605
Learn More
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2025 Fall Discovering Renewal
October 13–16, 2025
featuring the Rev. Paul Roberts
Join us as we seek to discover renewal through activities as a way to be reminded that we can find this renewal in the most common of places.
Click here for more information.
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PW’s Triennial Gathering
Synod of South Atlantic and Synod of Living Waters
Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons, GA
October 17-19, 2025
Our PW Synod Gathering, held once every three years, is an opportunity for women to nurture faith, exchange ideas, discover mission opportunities, strengthen relationships, and relax.
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October 20–22, 2025
Rev. Audrey Hartness Reese – Conference Preacher
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.
Scholarships are available. Please contact Pressley Cox for more information.
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Leader Formation Webinars for Ruling Elders and Deacons
October 23, 2025; 7:00-8:30 pm eastern
"Presbyterian Polity"
Registration opens on September 15
More information will be available on the
Leader Formation webpage and in the September Leader Formation Newsletter
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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
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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.
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Foothills Presbytery
Women of the Church
Gathering
February 21, 2026
Save the Date...details coming!
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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
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Roberts Presbyterian Church
Cross Ministry
Sep 24, 2025
Roberts “Hand-Held Cross Ministry” evolved in 2017 through Elder Mike Seaborn. In 2017 Roberts Congregational Care was purchasing hand-held crosses on-line for church visitation needs when Mike became aware of this out-reach project. He told Congregational Care he had plenty of cedar wood on hand and would like to handcraft some crosses to see if they would meet their needs. Ernest Walker and Cecil Hazen began working with Mike on this project and these crosses have been much used by the church and its outreach ministries through the years.
Each cross is hand-crafted and designed to fit easily in your hand or pocket, and its smooth finish highlights a beautiful wood grain. These crosses are a labor of love and are stamped with either the word “LOVE” for non-veterans or “HONOR” for Veterans or for those currently serving. Each cross is given with a prayer card specific to that cross. Read More
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events
2025
October
2 Youth Leaders Roundtable, Finance & Stewardship, Committee on Ministry
3-4 SC5 School of Theology
7 Stewardship meeting, Coordinating Council meeting
8 Music Ministry Leaders - Zoom
9 Investment Committee meeting, Committee on Shared Ministry - Zoom
12 PYC meeting
13 Board of Pensions Retiree luncheon
14 Large Church Pastors Gathering
15 FP Staff meeting
16 Examinations Committee meeting
17-19 Synod Women's Gathering
20 Property Advisory Committee meeting and Educators Gathering
21 Financial Forum and Think Tank meeting
23 Committee on Preparation meeting
25 FP Black Presbyterian Caucus meeting
27 Antiracism Ministry Team meeting - Zoom
29 Disaster Preparedness Workshop
Foothills Presbytery Featured Events
Foothills Presbytery Calendar
Foothills Presbytery Stated Meetings
- November 11, 2025, Nazareth, Moore
- February 17, 2026, St. Giles, Greenville
- May 16, 2026 - Central, Anderson
- November 10, 2026, First, Spartanburg
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