The first Stated Meeting of Trinity Presbytery will be held via Zoom on Saturday, February 13, 2021, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The Commissioners’ Handbook will be available on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.
Please be sure that Trinity Presbytery office has the current clerk of session information, as the handbooks will be sent to them.
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The 2021 Stated Meetings of Trinity Presbytery have been *scheduled for following dates:
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Saturday, May 8, 2021
+Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
*Pending approval of the Presbytery Coordinating Team at their January meeting
+Subject to change to later date in August to accommodate the start of school year
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Attention:
Clerks of Session & Church/Financial/Business Administrators
Statistical Reports
Statistical Report online entry credentials were sent to the clerks of all of our churches in December. The reports need to be submitted online by the February 1 deadline. Please remember that all statistical information has to have session approval before submitting.
Additionally, there are forms (see below) which will need to be completed for COM and Presbytery. These forms may be printed or completed online using the form links below or by accessing our website page here.
Forms for Commission on Ministry
2021 Minister’s Salary Form – (for called pastors ‐ not supply pastors) ‐‐ This form provides the salary package of ministers to the Commission on Ministry (COM) and Presbytery for information purposes. This information will be used to prepare the required annual Changes in Terms of Call Report to the Presbytery.
2021 Educator’s Salary Form – This form provides the salary package of educators working full or part time to the Commission on Ministry (COM) and Presbytery for information purposes. Information received is confidential, though the information in aggregate or summary is sometimes shared by the COM with administrative committees or personnel committees of churches as they search for and employ Christian Educators.
Forms for Presbytery Office Files
2021 Church Directory and Staff Information – This form provides this office with updated information for the Presbytery database.
2020 Deceased Elder Form. Use this form to report the deaths of ruling elders from your congregation in 2019. The names will be read during the worship service at the February 13, 2021 Stated Meeting of Trinity Presbytery.
Lexington, SC 29073 by February 1, 2021.
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ASC Online Conference March 19- 20, 2021 |
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Dear Presbytery Leaders,
The Association of Smaller Congregations (ASC) will be hosting the annual conference online on March 19-20, 2021.
Keynote speaker will be Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana, writer, free-range pastor, speaker, and coach. Her most recent book is God, Improv, and the Art of Living blends Scripture, psychology, theology, and pop culture in a wise, funny, down-to-earth guide to improv as a practice for life.
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Conference registration by January 31, 2021 is FREE using code"COMMUNITY".
After that it will be $80 per person.
Keynoter is Maryanne McKibbon.
Please use this link to get to the special registration form:
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Consider Financially Supporting
The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for South Carolina (LECSC)
We are a Non-Profit Chaplaincy program which ministers statewide to over 17,000 officers in all 46 counties of South Carolina. Because we are in partnership with The South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program, we have no on-going salaries, rent or utilities.
We are able to use the gifts given to LECSC to provide critical outreach programs and support to state and local police officers from the mountains to the coast. visit the website and app referenced below and see some of the exciting programs which support these modern-day peacemakers.
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Public Safety Chaplaincy Training Program graduates and Trinity Presbytey members
Lilly and Calvin Gallman and the Rev. Dr. J. Eric Skidmore (SCLEAP).
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The PC(USA) Store wants to help make 2021 a great year for you and your communities by providing free book chapters for group study and leaders, a month of free devotions from These Days, congregational resources for Lent, and Bible stories for children! Click here to learn more.
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Join us March 2 for a Day of Interactive Stewardship Education
We are excited to offer a Day of Learning that will include three workshops with stewardship and church leaders in a casual, virtual setting. There will be time for questions and answer and an opportunity to see colleagues from across the country.
Join us March 2 for great content from the Presbyterian Foundation:
8:30 am PST/11:30 am EST -
Church Mission and Sustainability with Stephen Keizer and Rev. Gail Monsma
11:00 am PST/2:00 pm EST -
Virtual Campaigns and Online Giving with Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley and Karl Mattison
2:30 pm PST/5:30 pm EST -
Practical Tips for Church Budgeting with Olanda Carr and Rev. Dr. Jonah So
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In This Issue:
- 2021 Church Commitments
- Preparing W2 forms for Employees
- Preparing 1099 forms for Vendors
Click HERE to read the full article. |
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Ms. Sherry Martin completed her examination at the November 10, 2020 Stated Meeting of Trinity Presbytery to become a Qualified Commission Pastor for the Presbytery. Following was a service to commission Ms. Martin to serve as Commissioned Pastor for our Providence Church in Lowdnesville.
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Inquirers Mr. Ed Black (pictured) and Mr. Parker Lucas were moved to Candidate Under Care status at the November 10, 2020 Stated Meeting of Trinity Presbytery.
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ReKindle is Columbia Theological Seminary's Lilly Endowment-funded Thriving Congregations grant initiative. reKindle will award Impact Grants of up to $15,000 to congregations accepted into the program.
Grant projects will support a congregation’s capacity to enhance their vitality in a post-COVID-19 context. The program will help congregations realize their goal of being a thriving congregation by supporting their focused attention on an identified need and mission priority. Congregations will be accepted by application only.
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The APCE 2021 Virtual Retreat - Anything But Ordinary
APCE invites all involved in educational ministry to embark on a 3-day, “Anything But Ordinary Time” virtual adventure like never before! While 2020 may have felt like anything but ordinary, we know God is “making all things new.” While we yearn to be with one another face-to-face, we will instead have a closer-than-front-row seat to every plenary speaker, preacher, musician, and workshop leader. These trailblazers will inform, inspire, and challenge us to:
- Create and build community through technology
- Grow in how we lead through the strength of diversity, and
- Build hope for the church, for our ministries, and for ourselves.
Whether you are a seasoned educator/pastor, inquiring student, or a parent teaching from home for the first time, we will all walk away from our screens with a renewed sense that we are the church and God is with us no matter what.
Don’t forget…if you have any questions regarding curriculum or resources for you or your church, Andrea Paschal is our Presbytery POINT person.
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Certified Christian Educator
Director of Purposeful Education,
First Presbyterian Church, Aiken
POINT Person for Trinity Presbytery
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Calling All Youth And Volunteers!
Mission Opportunity !
Cherokee Presbyterian Church in Gilbert, in coordination with Group Mission Trips, is hosting a Workcamp this summer in Lexington County,
offering FREE home repairs for qualified elderly, disabled, veterans, and low-income residents of Lexington County
Here are some ways churches can participate:
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Spread the word to those who may benefit from free home repairs. Flyers and applications can be provided to you. Applications are available on our website as wellhttps://www.lexcoworkcamp.org/
- Provide an afternoon snack for approx. 400 campers when they return from work sites.
- Donate to help sponsor the camp. Donations are tax deductible and you will receive publicity in a variety of formats. We have different levels of sponsorship which are highlighted on our website.
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Sign your youth groups up to attend at https://groupmissiontrips.com/trip-types/home-repair/gilbert-south-carolina
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Click the image above to read/use/print flyer. |
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Laura Jordan is a member of our Downtown Church. She’s seeking to recruit persons from other congregations of Trinity Presbytery to serve along with her. Therefore, be sure ask if persons would like to serve on Trinty Presbytery’s Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Team to call Laura Jordan at (803) 466-8440 or to email her at laura@creativeeventsandmeetings.com.
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In 2020 the Presbytery Coordinating Team (PCT), on a recommendation from the Administrative Enabling Team (AET), approved offering grants ($950 per church) to help with the missions and ministries of our congregations struggling in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. One of the requirements in applying for the grant was that each recipient would share how the grant funds were used in their missions and ministries. We will be sharing those stories this year in each edition of E-NEWS. Offering the TPCC Grant was a HUGE leap of faith for the PCT and Trinity Presbytery, but one that has brought rich rewards as we continue to live out the Great Ends of the Church.
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Click the image above to read the testimonial. |
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Featured in the Laurens County Advertiser |
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"The group is getting more help from several other small churches which passed on grant funds from the PCUSA’s regional Trinity Presbytery. The regional organization has been providing churches with small grants designated specifically for outreach needs during the pandemic, and Holden said it’s allowed them to buy more items to meet the greater needs this year."
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Click the photo above to read the full story. |
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COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY RECEIVES THRIVING CONGREGATION GRANT FROM LILLY ENDOWMENT |
Columbia Theological Seminary has received a grant of $969,528 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the “reKindle: Congregational Development in a Post COVID-19 Era” program through its Center for Lifelong Learning. The reKindle Impact Grant will help realize the goal of the Thriving Congregation initiative by helping congregations focus on an identified need and chosen priority for ministry and congregational vitality.
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Click the CTS Logo Above to Read More |
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Ministry Resources- Navigating COVID-19 |
Connecting during social distancing: This week's resources for worship, study and navigating COVID-19.
Click the logo for more information!
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The Presbytery Coordinating Team has gathered helpful, factual information, along with their recommendation for returning to buildings or in-person gatherings and provided it here for your guidance.
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Here are the latest offerings from the Center for Lifelong Learning.
Please share with your pastors, leaders, congregations or peers.
Click the image above for more info.
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Liability Issues to Consider on Returning to In-Person Worship |
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The Presbytery office in Lexington will remain closed until further notice.
The staff is working remotely during summer business hours: 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday.
We continue to monitor the pandemic situation and follow all safety precautions recommended by the CDC and the State of South Carolina.
See the PCT’s Recommendation and Guidance for Returning to Buildings or In-person Gatherings (above).
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