Foothills Presbytery News
July 24, 2025
| | |
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. As we listen, we learn, and we become better informed. With greater understanding of our neighbor, we can live in ways that encourage deeper, more authentic relationships. Listening deeply to these stories, and having intentional conversation around them, we open ourselves to a better understanding of issues we often avoid. Christ calls us to love one another (John 13), to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and to be compassionate to one another (Luke 6:31). Engaging in courageous conversations helps us answer that call.
| 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. | | | | |
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.
July Mission Newsletter
Children & Youth
| | | | |
Youth Leaders Roundtable
The next gathering will be
Thursday, August 7 at 10 am at the Presbytery office.
| | | | |
Music Ministry Leaders
Our next gathering is Wednesday,
August 13 at 9 am on Zoom.
| | | | |
Christian Educators
Our next gathering is August 18
at First Pres Anderson from 1 - 2:30 pm.
| | | | |
CRE Cohort Gatherings
Our next gathering
is Tuesday, September 23
at noon at the
Foothills Presbytery office.
| | |
Youth Leaders, Educators, Pastors, and Elders:
We need your Input!
You’re Invited to a Listening Session!
Join us as we explore big questions together and help us shape the future of God’s church in Foothills Presbytery. We are holding several listening sessions across the presbytery and we want everyone’s voice to be heard, including yours.
Note: New Listening Session for Ruling Elders on August 27
has been added.
If you are unable to join in your region, please feel free to participate in another gathering if that date is more convenient….Or you may want join more than one!
Listening Sessions for Validated Ministers
will be added soon.
RSVPs are appreciated to LeAnne White.
| | | | |
Presbyterians Respond Quickly and Compassionately to Rapid Flooding in the Texas Hill Country
While search and rescue efforts continued Saturday following Friday’s devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country, staff at Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly, after ensuring their guests were safe and after the facility’s closure, were exploring ways to help their neighbors in Kerrville, Texas.
Read Full Story
| | | | |
PW Gives Day is July 31
—a day set aside each year to commemorate the founding of Presbyterian Women. “Legacy in Motion: Celebrating Our History, Trusting Our Future,” the theme for 2025, recognizes that our legacy is not static, but instead dynamic, providing women an opportunity to participate and build upon the foundation of all that is good and hopeful. Let us commit ourselves to “give forward” so that new voices, new opportunities and new ministries can find full and loving expression in Presbyterian Women.
CLICK here to learn how to participate!
| | |
| |
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.
Foothills PW Scholarship Application
(due August 11)
| | | | |
Cert in Pastoral Crisis Intervention (PCI)
Dewey Center for Chaplaincy at Charleston Southern, in collaboration with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), is pleased to offer the world’s first university-based certification in Pastoral Crisis Intervention (PCI). This examination-based certification is an attestation of knowledge in crisis intervention within the pastoral context.
| | | | |
Are you looking for resources for Christian Education and Ministry?
If so, follow this link to find what you need for group study, leadership training, ministry building, Sunday School classes, and children's ministry.
You may use the interactive catalog or download the pdf version.
| | | | |
Nicholtown Church has several items they would like that are being offered as donations on a first come, first served basis:
- Pulpit
- Communion table
- Baptismal font
- Choir Robes: 11 green and 13 burgundy
- Wooden Chairs: About 30 wooden chairs
Please contact the presbytery office if you are interested.
| | | | |
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
| | | | |
Frontera de Cristo
Beginning in 2026, FDC's budget will increase substantially not only because of the financial responsibility of the two mission co-worker positions but also because of the exciting expansion in the Children's Enrichment Ministry and continued growth of the Love Mercy, Do Justice ministry.
Donate today so that FDC will be well positioned to finish this year strong, and be able to expand its impact in 2026.
DONATE NOW
| | | | |
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.
| | | | |
Small & Mighty
Leaders of small membership churches in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
are invited to the Association of Smaller Congregations (ASC) Monthly Zoom Conversation
We meet on the First Tuesday of the month from 7-8 pm EST
Register to Receive the Zoom Link
| | | |
Synod of South Atlantic 1st Wednesday SACK Lunch
South Atlantic Community Knowledge monthly zoom conversations.
When you register here, (or use the bar code) each month you will receive a reminder and zoom link to attend the 1st Wednesday SACK Lunch conversation (noon - 1:30pm ET).
| | | | |
New Around the Table
Quick Sheets - free downloadable:
Church Leader Quick Sheet:
Includes ideas and QR code to examples and printables to create and give to families.
Parent Quick Sheet: This one is for parents and grandparents with suggestions for short family moments together to share a prayer, a story, give thanks, or notice where they see God.
| | | | |
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.
| | | | |
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.
| | | | |
2025 Woods Lecture Series to Discuss
“The Church’s Witness in the World” with Two Prominent Church Leaders
Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai, episcopal leader of the Iowa Conference UMC and co-bishop of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference UMC, will preach on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Rev. Tony Larson, MDiv, co-moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the PCUSA, will preach on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. (Free event open to the public)
To register for the luncheon by Friday, August 1, 2025, please email UDTS@dbq.edu.
| | | | |
Prism 2025 Event
This online leadership event is available through Union Presbyterian Seminary and the Center for Excellence in Christian Education. The event this year is on
August 9, 2025, with a focus on stewardship.
Click here for more information.
Questions: Email Renda R. Brinson
| | | |
2025 Women’s Connection
Pull Up a Chair
August 8–10, 2025
Women’s Connection 2025 will be a time for women to connect with old and new friends, a time to care for yourself; a time for space and Sabbath.
More Information
| | | | |
The Art of Transitional Ministry
is again offered at the Montreat Conference Centre during the week of August 10–15, 2025.
If you are curious, or need a week in the North Carolina Mountains to discern your future in ministry, go to https://montreat.org/events/transitional-25 for more information.
| | | |
S.T.E.P.S. 2025
Saturday, August 23, 2025
(Pre-registration deadline August 12)
This event will offer two workshop sessions, with worship in between. A time for fellowship and lunch will follow the second workshop and a boxed lunch may be purchased for an additional cost. The preacher of the day, The Rev Cecelia “CeCe” Armstrong, will offer a workshop during this time entitled Lesson Planning for Learners.
Register HERE: https://capresbytery.org.
| | | | |
Foothills Music Ministry Leaders present
1st Annual HYMNFEST
August 24 at 4:30 pm
at John Knox Church
35 Shannon Drive, Greenville
Free Event - Love offerings accepted.
Featuring Combined Choirs and Musicians from: Pickens, First Spartanburg, First Greer, Seneca, Eastminter, St. Andrews, Walhalla, John Knox, Westminster Greenville, Central Anderson, Limestone, Liberty
Full Flyer
| | |
| |
ZOOM Meeting
for Church Record Keepers
August 27, 3 pm
Keepers of church records will want to join this ZOOM meeting on August 27, 3 pm. Join Presbyterian Historical Society archivist David Staniunas to discover how to handle your own congregation’s records for the long term and learn how we do it at your national archives. More information will be forth coming.
| | | | |
The Leadership Institute - TWO New September events!
Compassion Across Borders - September 16-18, 2025, a call for solidarity with, and justice for, migrants in the church. Learn more and register here!!
BTSR Legacy Celebration - September 23-25, 2025, in collaboration with the Baptist House of Studies and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. Learn more and register here!
| | | |
2025 Fall Craft Week
A Kaleidoscope of Art!
September 21–26, 2025
Come gain proficiency in an art form of your choice, and enjoy the community of other artists during a fall week in the mountains. Bring a group from your church, community, family, or come alone. We can help you figure out the details! Learn More
| | | | |
"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
| | | | |
Border to Border
Delegation Coffee
Migration & Faith
will be held October 31 through November 8. Travel to the Guatemala border and learn about the Café Justo cooperative. Dates include an introductory visit with all of Frontera de Cristo's ministries.
Download the flyer here.
Register and pay online.
| | | | |
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.
| | |
On Jul 03, 2025
by Kim Smith
Melvin Leland, wearing a red-and-striped shirt, jeans, and a U.S. Marine Corps hat, sprayed himself with OFF to keep the mosquitoes at bay on this warm Thursday morning in May. Before him and his helper, Chris Anderson, stood rows of cucumber, tomato, squash, and watermelon plants in black plastic containers that they had unloaded from a trailer behind Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Gaffney. They needed to plant them in ground softened by an overnight rain, which still carried the familiar, earthy smell that comes when water hits dry soil.
Leland had been dreaming of starting a community garden for several years. Now, finally, the first step was underway. It was time to break ground on a project that could help feed this community in the Hetty Hill section of Gaffney.
“We do this because we need to give back to the community,” said Leland, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran-turned-farmer. “What’s the purpose of a church if it doesn’t help its community? We’ve got to find a way to get young people and adults back in the church. This is one way to do it.”
Read More
| | | | |
