Foothills Presbytery News

March 20, 2025

Three Reasons Why Giving to One Great Hour of Sharing Makes a Difference

People’s Lives Are Changed: You help real people in the U.S. and around the globe recover from disasters, fight systemic poverty and hunger, and develop the skills they need to transform their communities in ways only they know how.

We Are Called to be Repairers of the Breach: Isaiah 58 says, “If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted … you shall be called repairers of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”

We can do so much more together than individually: Each of us can make an impact in a small way, but when we join together, through One Great Hour of Sharing, we can do so much more. It is the single largest way Presbyterians come together to make a difference in the world.

Find resources here on our new website, including worship, curriculum, and minutes for mission. All resources and information for Offering interpretation are present, just organized a bit differently. If you can’t find something you are looking for, email us at special.offerings@pcusa.org. Special Offerings dates and seasons in 2025 are available on our website.

Want to Learn More? Download the Leader's Guide Here

CSM Mission &

Outreach News

During 2025, the Mission and Outreach team of the Foothills Presbytery Committee on Shared Ministry will highlight partner ministries and mission opportunities every month. Each month's newsletter will include ways to engage in the featured ministry on the calendar to the left.

March Mission Newsletter

One Great Hour of Sharing

Session Minutes Reading

The time has come for the annual reading of session minutes. This year we are grateful that we offer three opportunities to gather and review minutes. We find that we learn from each other with these review gatherings.

You may choose whichever option is better for you.

Tuesday, April 29 - noon at First Church (Spartanburg)
Tuesday, May 13 - 6:00 pm at Central Church (Anderson)
Monday, June 9 - noon at the Presbytery office (Greenville)

If you are unable to attend one of these gatherings, you may drop off your 2024 Session Minutes at the Presbytery Office, 2242 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville. Or you may contact Robin Morris at the Presbytery Office to make other arrangements. (Email is rmorris@foothillspresbytery.org or telephone: 864.288.5774.)

Please complete two forms that you will bring with your minutes to the review.

(Click on the title of each form below to open the document.)

Thank you for your continued service to the church and for your faithful work as a Clerk. We look forward to seeing you at one of the regional gatherings where we can learn from each other as we complete the annual review of Session minutes.

Grace and Peace,

Representation & Review Committee

Foothills Presbytery Pastoral Support & Peer Ministry:

Christian Educators

Our next gathering is APCE Share

and dinner at the home of

Joan Jones- March 27 @ 6:00!

Youth Leaders Roundtable

The next gathering will be

Thursday, April 3 at 10:00 am.

Music Ministry Leaders

Our next gathering is Wednesday,

April 9 at 9:00 am

by Zoom.

CRE Cohort

The next gathering will be Wednesday,

May 21, 12:00 pm

at the Foothills Presbytery office.

There will be a Shared Ministry Marketplace

at the next Stated Presbytery Meeting

featuring artists, authors, and mission partners. The Marketplace will be open to Ministers, Commissioners, and members of Foothills Churches betweem 11:45 am - 1:00 pm. If you are interested in being a part of the Marketplace, please contact Pressley Cox for more information.

Foothills Presbytery Stated Meeting #129

May 17 at Westminster, Greenville

Guest: David LaMotte

Raising ‘Chickens for Jesus’

The catchy ditty was coined after Robin Bell and Debbie Clapp, both charter members of Providence Presbyterian Church in Foothills Presbytery, wondered what more their small membership congregation in Powdersville, South Carolina, could do for the sake of the gospel.

Bell explained that although the church already actively partners with several community organizations and a local elementary school to support their neighbors in need through a variety of outreach and programmatic ministries, they also wanted “to make some type of global contribution.”

That’s how “Chickens for Jesus” was hatched.

“We are a small church with only a few that come to morning Sunday school,” said Bell, a retired health care professional and ruling elder who serves on the mission committee. “Our combined class ranges in age from 10 to 80.” READ MORE

Worship Service in Celebration

of the faithful witness

of Jesus Christ

Nicholtown Presbyterian Church

Sunday, April 20

3:00 pm

Guest Preacher:

The Rev. Dr. Grady Butler

Reception to follow

This will be a closing worship for

Nicholtown Presbyterian Church.

Congregations of South Carolina are called upon to serve through volunteer opportunities for helping those impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.

Teams of 5-10 may be guest at the South Carolina Inn at Montreat and work projects will be coordinated by Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. The need is great, and the connection with impacted communities will be rewarding in sharing God’s help to address small to mid sized projects that need helping hands.

Black Mtn Presbyterian Project

Contact Mark McCain at mmccain2016@gmail.com for additional details for how your congregation may serve.

Religious Freedom Symposium: God Created Humans to live in Harmony

March 22, 2025 | 8am – 1pm

University of South Carolina

Pastides Alumni Center

900 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Click HERE for information and tickets.

The event is free to attend but a ticket is required.

Monthly Advocacy Hour

Fourth Wednesdays — Second session will be on Wednesday, March 26th, 12 p.m. (EST)

Focus: IMMIGRATION

Each month we’ll dive deeply into one area of concern and provide the knowledge you need to take effective and focused action. The hour will start with spiritual grounding and then move to in-depth analysis of key issues.

Summer Camp 2025

Registration is OPEN!

Join us June 1 for Camp Fellowship Open House!

The first 25 campers who register for summer camp from Foothills Presbytery churches will automatically get a $50 Campership! When registering, use Campership Code: Foothills50

Foothills Presbytery also has limited, need-based scholarships available.

Click Here: Scholarship Application

Scholarship Deadline is April 3.

Ambassador Meeting:

March 27 at 10:30 am

Foothills Retirement Community

Mother’s Day Offering: This offering has been a special way of remembering and caring for older adults since 1954. The monies received from the Mother’s Day Offering are used exclusively for those residents who, through no fault of their own, have outlived their financial resources and need assistance to remain in Presbyterian Communities.

National Black

Presbyterian Caucus

Community News

for Everyone in the Pews

Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation

Please join Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) for this unique monthly opportunity for community and meaningful study!

Fourth Sundays: Mar. 23rd, Apr. 28th, May 26th

7:00 pm Eastern- The study will run for 75 minutes each session. Click HERE for information & Zoom

Get the latest information about Spring Sabbath Getaways; Arts, Recreation, and Worship Conference; Women's Connection; Youth Conferences; Worship & Music Conferences; and much more.

Click here to receive "March in Montreat."

First Presbyterian, Spartanburg

Chamber Singers Spring Concert

"Mendelssohn in the Wilderness"

March 23 at 5:00 pm

The choir will be joined by a chamber orchestra and excerpts from Elijah will be featured.

1^st Wednesday South Atlantic Community Knowledge (SACK) monthly conversations

First Wednesday SACK Lunch Topics:

4/2/2025 Immigration

5/7/2025 LGBTQIA

Here is the link to the zoom.

The University of Dubuque Theological

Seminary (UDTS) and Theology Matters

(TM) announce a new Master of Arts degree in Reformed Theology. The degree will focus on a Reformed understanding of the Scriptures and study of classic texts and practices valued by the Reformed tradition.

For more information please contact Dr. Richard E Burnett, Exec. Dir. of Theology Matters and Co-Director of the Master of Arts in Reformed Theology Program at 864-378-5416 or email him at rburnett@dbq.edu.

Pondering with Presbyterians: What do we Believe & Why?

A Leader Formation Webinar: On March 6, Martha Moore-Keish, the J.B. Green Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, led the first Leader Formation webinar of 2025. With her leadership, participants explored the mystery of the Trinity, justification by grace through faith, and the puzzle of predestination.

All Webinar Series Recordings

SC Department on Aging

Free webinars:

Dementia 101: The Basics (virtual) Click here to register for Dementia 101: The Basics.

SCDOA Dementia Seminar Series (virtual) Click here to register for Advancing the Science.

Dementia 201: Positive Interactions (virtual) Click here to register for Dementia 201: Positive Interactions.

2025 Montreat Youth Conferences - Light My Path

June 1–August 2, 2025

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

For more information on Youth Conferences and other happenings at Montreat,

click here.

PAM Worship & Music Conference:

Join musicians and worship leaders for the most widely-attended annual conference

of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination.

June 15-20 & June 22-27, 2025, at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina!

Together, we will create music, learn, and worship. Your participation is an investment in the dynamic growth of our denomination as we explore the promising future together.

2025 King Legacy HBCU Fair

Saturday, April 19

from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., at Fluor Field, Greenville, SC

We cordially invite you, your church, youth, parents/guardians, youth directors, and members to join us for the 2025 King Legacy HBCU Fair.

Read More Here

Korea Peace Journey:

October 21 – 30, 2025

Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea (PPNK) Mission Network of PCUSA. Led by

Kurt Esslinger & Unzu Lee, Mission Co-Workers

Registration: May 1, 2025

Total Cost: $2300 + Airfare

Participants: 20 – 25

Please contact for more information at: peacenetworkforkorea@gmail.com

The Presbyterian Promise Scholarship

The Presbyterian Promise Scholarship is a commitment by Presbyterian College (PC) to recognize students for their merit and affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. Students who are of members of Presbyterian churches, or who attend Presbyterian/Reformed secondary schools, will receive a scholarship for a minimum of $24,000 per year for up to four years—that’s an $96,000 commitment to you.

2025 Season of "The Sounds of Music" Concert Series

at Seneca Presbyterian Church

Saturday, March 29th at 6 pm: The Oconee Winds (under the direction of Gena Sykes), an ensemble known for their dynamic instrumental performances.

Friday, May 9th at 6:30 pm: Concluding the series, The Cannon Cohen Band will bring the vibrant sounds of acoustic Americana and Bluegrass to the church.

For more information, please contact us at hello@sprez.org.

Come See Columbia Day

April 24, 2025

Come spend a day in the life of Columbia Seminary! Join us Thursday, April 24, for a day of worship, classes, lunch and a tour of Mission Haven. Come solo or with a group from your church. This makes a wonderful outing for your PW or Older Adult Ministry group! You will learn, be inspired and enjoy seeing what God is doing in the world.

Thriving in Ministry Conference

April 29 - 30

Come explore the liberal arts of ministry with experienced church leaders thriving in their respective contexts.

4 Spaces available. There is no cost to attend the conference. Hotel rooms provided for the first 20 participants.

Click HERE for FULL Flyer.

Presbyterian College Summer Youth Ministry Experience 2025

July 21 - 24

A week of service and discernment, primarily for middle school youth, on the campus of Presbyterian College and the surrounding community. If you have any questions, please email Buz Wilcoxon at bwilcoxon@presby.edu

Click HERE for FULL Flyer .

Summer Staff Applications Open for Montreat

Each summer, Montreat Conference

Center employs over 100 Summer

Staff to help keep things running

smoothly during our busiest season.

These young people gain practical

work experience and form a

close-knit community among their

peers as they live, work, and play in

our small valley town.

Visit montreat.org/summer-staff for more info

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 10: UPSem Alum & author Andrew Taylor-Troutman is joining us at 6pm in Lake Chapel to discuss his new book, This Is The Day. Click here to learn more.

May 5 - 7: It's a ReUnion Event! Sprunt Lectures 2025

Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF)

May 19-21

at Trinity Pres Church, Atlanta

The ECRF program provides the research, tools, and customized training to meet the growing needs of leaders in religious communities and fundraisers of faith-based organizations. PC(USA) leaders can receive a Church Financial Leadership Grant through the Presbyterian Foundation to assist in attending the ECRF.

Click HERE for More Info

2025 Presbyterian Youth Triennium

The 2025 Presbyterian Youth Trienniumwill take place on July 28-31, 2025 in Louisville, KY, at the Kentucky International Convention Center and surrounding hotels – all located very close to the Presbyterian Center in downtown Louisville.

* Stephen Price from Central is serving as the Presbytery registrar. If your church is interested in participating, please contact Stephen before March 1!

Foothills Music Ministry Leaders

HYMNFEST

August 24 at 4:30 pm

John Knox Presbyterian Church

35 Shannon Drive, Greenville

Free Event

Love offerings accepted.

Save the date - August 4-6, 2025!

2025-26 Horizons Bible Study at Columbia Theological Seminary

Make plans to gather with other PW Bible Study leaders to dive deep into the study with author, Rhashell Hunter. Comfortable and affordable housing is available on campus on a first come, first served basis. Stay tuned for registration information this spring!

For questions, contact Helen Blier: blierh@ctsnet.edu.

Mediation Skills Training Institute - June 16-20, 2025 (Online)

The Mediation Skills Training Institute 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.