Foothills Presbytery News
April 3, 2025
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LOUISVILLE — Whenever the Rev. Debbie Foster tells the “story” of Foothills Presbytery, the principal players are none other than the many gifted pastors and leaders she has “the honor of serving alongside.”
“As presbytery leader, I get to facilitate connections and then watch God do God’s ‘thang,’” she said.
Foster, a former youth director, Christian educator, pastor and nonprofit leader, has served the mid council — which comprises 57 congregations in the Upstate of South Carolina — as its presbytery leader and stated clerk since 2020.
“The whole connectional piece is what we do,” she added.
And it’s that spirit of connectionalism — at every level of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — that Foster says is truly the heartbeat of Foothills Presbytery. READ FULL ARTICLE
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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.
April Mission Newsletter
Disaster Preparedness
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Alary, Laura. Rise: A Child’s Guide to Eastertide. (E_232.97 Alary – New Titles Shelf)
As readers follow two children through the fifty days of Easter, they share in family and community celebrations, hear stories of the Risen Jesus, notice how the world around them is coming alive again, and ponder how growth and new beginnings are part of their own life. Alary emphasizes Easter as a season rather than just a day and leads readers to think about new ways of living as Easter people.
Rise is the fourth book in the "Circle of Wonder: Liturgical Year Resource Set.” Other titles by Laura Alary in this liturgical year resource set are:
All books in the set are available for loan from the Foothills Presbytery Resource Center.
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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)
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.)
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Clerk’s Session Minutes Review Form
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Financial Review & Audit Form
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Music Ministry Leaders
Our next gathering is Wednesday,
April 9 at 9:00 am
by Zoom.
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Christian Educators
Our next gathering is April 21
at Easley Church.
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Youth Leaders Roundtable
The next gathering will be
Thursday, May 1 at 10:00 am at the Presbytery office.
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CRE Cohort
The next gathering will be Wednesday,
May 21, 12:00 pm
at the Foothills Presbytery office.
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There will be a
Shared Ministry Marketplace at the next
Stated Presbytery Meeting
featuring artists, authors, and mission partners.
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
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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.
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For the 71st consecutive year, the Mother’s Day Offering will be collected on Sunday, May 11.
Resources available to you and to the congregations on our website at prescommunities.org and in the Mother's Day Ambassadors Toolkit.
This year’s art is an oil painting of a scene at the Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemassee, SC painted by Don Murray, a resident of the Columbia Presbyterian Community.
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Maundy Thursday Meditation
April 17 at 4:00 pm
Walhalla Presbyterian Church
600 E Main Street, Walhalla
Free Program!
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Volunteer opportunities for helping those impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western NC
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.
Black Mtn Presbyterian Project
Contact Mark McCain at mmccain2016@gmail.com for additional details for how your congregation may serve.
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Financial sustainability is a critical component of changes in PC(USA) global engagement
Interim Unified Agency leaders share insight into new strategy (PCUSA News Service)
READ FULL ARTICLE
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Synod Grants & Christian Education Scholarships
Hemphill Grant: Established by Mary E. Hemphill through the Synod of South Carolina. Grants to small churches with a membership of 100 or less in South Carolina, for church building improvement/relief. Deadline for applications to this grant is October 1, 2025.
For more information on this and other Synod of South Atlantic Grants, visit Synod of South Atlantic Grants.
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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.
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2025 King Legacy HBCU Fair
Saturday, April 19
2 - 5:00 p.m., Fluor Field, G'ville
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
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Dementia Care Workshop
This free workshop is Tuesday, April 29th at Trinity UMC in Aiken. This will be a morning of conversation and learning around the topic that affects all our congregations: dementia.
SC Fact Sheet
Click here to register.
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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! 4th Sundays: Apr. 28 & May 26
7:00 pm Eastern- The study will run for 75 minutes each session. Click HERE for info & Zoom
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Leader Formation Webinars
As ruling elders and deacons serving in local congregations across the denomination, webinars give us an opportunity to gather together virtually and in the presence of other leaders who walk alongside us on this formation journey.
All Webinar Series Recordings
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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, click here.
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PAM Worship & Music Conference:
Join musicians and worship leaders for the most widely-attended annual conference of the PC(USA).
June 15-20 & June 22-27, 2025, at
the Montreat Conference Center!
Register: presbymusic.org/conference.
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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
Please contact for more information at: peacenetworkforkorea@gmail.com
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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.
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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. READ MORE
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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.
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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.
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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.
montreat.org/summer-staff for more info
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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
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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.
Click HERE for More Info
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Foothills Music Ministry Leaders
HYMNFEST
August 24 at 4:30 pm
at John Knox Church
35 Shannon Drive, Greenville
Free Event
Love offerings accepted.
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August 4-6, 2025!
2025-26 Horizons Bible Study at Columbia Theological Seminary
Gather with other PW Bible Study leaders to dive deep into the study with author, Rhashell Hunter. Comfortable and affordable housing is available on a first come, first served basis.
For questions, contact Helen Blier: blierh@ctsnet.edu.
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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.
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Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events
2025
April
3 Committee on Ministry meeting
8 Coordinating Council meeting and Think Tank meeting
9 Music Ministry Leaders Gathering - Zoom
10 Investment Committee meeting and Committee on Shared Ministry meeting
16 FP Staff meeting
21 FP Office Closed and Christian Educators gathering
22 Financial Officers Forum
24 Committee on Preparation for Ministry meeting
26 Racial Ethnic Cabinet
28 Antiracism Ministry Team meeting
29 Session Minutes Reading at First, Spartanburg
Foothills Presbytery Featured Events
Foothills Presbytery Calendar
Foothills Presbytery Stated Meetings
- May 17, 2025, at Westminster Greenville
- November 11, 2025, at Nazareth
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