Greetings from Simeon Harrar! I am the pastor of Wrightsville Presbyterian Church, and also serve in the presbytery as the Facilitator for New Worshiping Communities. In October I attended the Kaleidescope Stewardship Conference, along with one of the ruling elders from our congregation.
 
I was incredibly impressed with the quality and content of the conference! I left feeling energized. I’m much better equipped to tackle stewardship in a brand new way. Keynote speaker and author Eric Law did a brilliant job weaving a wholistic and theologically based approach to stewardship. He provided a host of practical applications. I feel like my cup runneth over with ideas for this coming stewardship season! The good news for those who weren’t able to attend is videos of the main sessions and seminars as well as PowerPoint presentations are available for free on the Kaleidoscope website:  https://stewardshipkaleidoscope.org/conference-resources/2019-conference-resources/

I strongly recommend you take some time and look through the materials provided. Consider attending next year’s conference in Cincinnati, OH on October 21-23. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at  simeon.harrar@gma
2020 Per Capita &
Mission Support
To the congregations of the Presbytery of Donegal: Thank you. Thank you for your generous support of God’s Work in the world through the mission of the presbytery. This week the annual letter for Per Capita and Mission support will be emailed to all pastors and clerks of session. Also included are treasurers and administrative assistants when the presbytery has that contact information.

At the September 2019 Presbytery Gathering, the presbytery set 2020 per capita as follows:
General Assembly: $7.73; Synod of the Trinity: $2.40; and the Presbytery of Donegal: $25.25 for a total of $35.38 per member. 

The letter highlights how your per capital dollars are used, and also showcases some of the ways that your mission contributions support amazing work in the presbytery and around the world. 

We ask that you discuss your per capita commitment and your mission pledge with your session and return the commitment forms promptly. And, once again, Thank You!
Opportunities for Service in the
Presbytery of Donegal
The Mission of the Presbytery of Donegal is to participate in the Gospel of Jesus Christ by equipping the ministry of congregations and leaders of congregations, and by carrying out the mission that we do better together as a presbytery to fulfill the Great Ends of the Church.

The presbytery’s capacity to carry out that mission is as strong as the people sharing their gifts and passion on Presbytery Committees, Commissions, the Leader Team, and in Mission Task Groups. 

The Discerning Gifts and Passions Committee are seeking suggestions for the upcoming classes on all committees and commissions. A Vice Moderator for 2020, to become Moderator of the presbytery for 2021-2022 is also needed. 

Please use this link to make your suggestions for positions in the presbytery. You are free to suggest yourself! The Presbytery Manual describes all commissions and committees, including what the committee does, the gifts and skills needed, and the time commitment. You can find the manual here. 
What Happened at the
September Presbytery Gathering?
“Silence is the Welcome Mat to Hate”
On September 24, 2019 the Presbytery of Donegal gathered for the Fall Stated Gathering at Wayside Presbyterian Church.  

A highlight was a presentation on “Silence is the Welcome Mat to Hate.” This is a part of a Synod of the Trinity focus on “Hate” and “Hate Groups.” Presenter Ann Van Dyke, former civil rights investigator/trainer for PA Human Relations Commission, focused on ways to shine light on hate behavior and raise awareness in our congregations that leads to engagement. There are 36 hate-related groups in Pennsylvania, and 41 more in West Virginia and Ohio. The PowerPoint presentation and more information may be found here: www.syntrinity.org/silencehate/

  • In other news, A pre-presbytery event showcased the Mission Priorities of the Presbytery and offered the chance to take a “deep dive” into the 2020 budget. Highlights of the presbytery gathering included:
  • Unanimous approval of the 2020 Presbytery Budget, www.donegalpby.org/docs-forms/mission-per-capita/ 
  • Welcoming the Rev. Yung Me Morris as pastor of the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Chadds Ford (Mendenhall)
  • High School Reality Conference, November 8-10, 2019 at Sandy Hill Camp, registration information, http://realityretreat.org/ 
  • News about the brand-new New Worshiping Communities Commission
  • Proposed updates to the Presbytery Manual of Administrative Operations
  • Evening Prayer and stirring music featuring Grace Notes, the Wayside band

Documents related to the presbytery meeting are available on the Presbytery of Donegal website here: www.donegalpby.org/presbytery-gatherings/ with the password: welcomedonegal . Feel free to contact the presbytery office for more information.
Important Info from
 the Board of Pensions
First Call, First Steps – Changed Date!
  • For seminary students, candidates under care, anyone else seeking a call, and their spouses!  
  • Dinner provided, and child care with advance notice.  
  • Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA, November 5, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Please RSVP by October 14.
  • Participants do not need to be current or former Union students – all candidates and students are welcome!

  • Providing finance and benefits education for clergy and congregations, and grants for clergy.
  • Schedule seminars in your area with your Church Consultant, Martha Reisner.
Annual Enrollment
  • Annual Enrollment for employees eligible for Board benefits: October 28 - November 15.
  • Technical questions? Call Employer Services, 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN), 8:30 am – 7:00 pm, M-F.  
  • Questions about options and details? Check out pensions.org or contact your Church Consultant, Martha Reisner.

Call to Health deadline – November 15! 
  • Earn lower deductibles and gift cards; learn strategies for health and wholeness!

  • Communication aids for churches with their staff.
  • For Annual Enrollment, Call to Health, Retirement Savings Plan, Employee Assistance Program and mor.e

The Board of Pensions website, pensions.org , contains detailed program information and links to your Benefits Connect account, vendor sites, and forms and applications.

Martha Reisner is your Church Consultant for most of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, plus presbyteries of Donegal and Philadelphia: call 215-587-7049 or email [email protected].
Local Church Events Coming Up:
Rev. Dr. Marsha Brown Woodard
"Living Faithfully in a Hate-Filled World"
Wednesday, October 23 / 6:00pm
First Presbyterian Church, Strasburg
101 South Decatur Street
First Forum welcomes Dr. Marsha Brown Woodard who will speak on the topic of walking in faith as a Christian in a world of increasingly divisive issues. More info HERE
Caroline Kurtz, longtime PC(USA) missionary
to visit Highland Presbyterian OCT 18-20
There are two luncheons to which everyone is invited. Friday, October 18 at 11: 30 Caroline will be speaking at the Presbyterian Women's fall luncheon. ($6.00). On Sunday, October 20 Caroline will be speaking at a noon luncheon following the Sunday worship services. (freewill offering)

Highland has supported Caroline and her husband Mark (now deceased) and their work since the early 1990's. Caroline was teaching at a school in Addis Ababa. Her husband worked on the maintenance of the school buildings and supervised money spent out in the villages. Caroline wrote an English curriculum to be used in the schools. A small team from Highland visited Ethiopia in 1993. Mark took them around the country and they were there for the dedication of a church. Highland had paid for a floor and a roof on the church. Since then Caroline has worked with the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship as a liasson between Ethiopia and the U.S. Currently she is working with the village of Maji where she has been bringing electricity to the village through solar panels. Much of her work is with the women of the village. Highland has continued support of Caroline and her work.  

Caroline will have two different presentations at the luncheons.

Please call Highland's office (717-569-2651) for reservations .
Highland Presbyterian Church
500 E Roseville Rd, Lancaster, PA
Poverty Simulation
Saturday, October 26, 2019 / 10am
Westminster Presbyterian Church , West Chester
Poverty is often portrayed as a stand-alone issue, but this simulation allows participants to walk a month in the shoes of someone who is facing poverty and demonstrates how complex and interconnected issues of poverty really are. Participatin gin this 2 1 2 hour simulation will help us understand the realities that some in our society are experiencing. www.westminsterpc.org
Annual Holiday Bazaar
Saturday November 2, 2019 / 8am-1pm
Middle Octorara Church
1199 Valley Rd., Quarryville, PA
Featuring Holiday Crafts, breakfast and lunch eat in, frozen soup and bake table for take outs. Vendors selling crafts and many other Holiday gift ideas, door prize given every ½ hour.
Experience A Food Tasting In Oxford
Shiloh Presbyterian Church, Oxford
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Tasting 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Doors Open at 1:30pm

Held at Oxford Area High School
705 Waterway Road, Oxford, PA

Featuring: Food Tasting / Crafters / Vendors / Live Music
For Tickets Call: 610.932.9256