Whitewater Valley Presbytery News

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Friday 8:30am-4:30pm Dawn works remotely

Erin will be out of the office starting March 23rd - March 30th

March 21, 2025

The Midwest Call Finder site is live! We in the Synod of Lincoln Trails have a new resource for seeking FABULOUS applicants for positions in our congregations (including but not exclusive to pastoral positions)! See: https://midwestcallfinder.org/

Here’s the direct link to the form to submit an opening: https://midwestcallfinder.org/submit-a-position/

And, you can see all of the positions that have been shared here: https://midwestcallfinder.org/seeking-a-call/

Congregations with Community (CWC) is proud to announce that the Second Round of our grant is underway!!!

To receive an invitation to complete the grant application, you must first complete one of the following Grant Information Sessions:

Thursday, March 27, 6:30pm -8:00pm
Tuesday, April 1, 10:00am - 11:30am
Wednesday, April 9, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Thursday, April 17, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

We learned a lot from the First Round so we want to share those learnings with you and answer any questions you have. To register, please click on the link below.

https://centerforcongregations.swoogo.com/InfoSession

In the meantime, reach out to your Community Engagement Advisor to talk through any questions you have about the process.

Also, share this grant opportunity with others. Share our website, www.cwcin.org so they can learn more and submit a Contact Form.

Friends —

These are challenging times for leaders in churches and faith-based organizations. Declining worship attendance, falling volunteerism and aging buildings are just a few of the concerns that keep leaders up at night.

Faith & Leadership is the online magazine focused on these leadership challenges, bringing ideas, research, insight — and hope — to leaders in the forefront of congregational life.

Every two weeks we publish a free newsletter dedicated to equipping leaders with the insights and knowledge they need to navigate the evolving landscape of ministry in the U.S. Sign up today >

What you will find in Faith & Leadership:

Strategies for revitalizing congregations and fostering spiritual growth
Innovative approaches to church property management and community engagement
Lessons learned from pastors who have transitioned out of parish ministry
Stories of faith-based entrepreneurship and creative use of church spaces
Approaches to address the decline in volunteerism and cultivate a culture of service
Advice from practitioners about nurturing welcoming and inclusive congregations in a changing world
Practical guidance for leading churches in an era of unprecedented change

Whether you're a clergy member, lay leader or volunteer in a local church, ministry or parachurch organization, Faith & Leadership is here to support your journey. Join our community of dedicated individuals committed to strengthening the church and its role in nurturing thriving communities.

In hope,

The Faith & Leadership team

We are delighted to welcome Matthew Black to Southminster this April. In addition to being an incredible musician and songwriter, Matthew has played for numerous national PC(USA) conferences and is a well established worship leader in the camp and conference world. He will also be joining us for worship at 10:00am Sunday morning (Apr. 6th).

Get to know a bit about Matthew:

"Matthew Black is an indie-folk singer-songwriter known for incisive lyrics and singable melodies. The literal son of a preacher man, Matthew left his job as a mild-mannered IT manager in 2022 to make music full-time. His songs are honest, earnest, questioning, and provocative. Humorous to deeply serious. Profane to sacred. Simple, melodic tunes that can transport you and make you believe there might be meaning and kindness in a chaotic world. And you’ll still be humming the chorus days later. "

Registrater Here

Join us Saturday April 26th to help get Pyoca ready for summer!

Each spring Pyoca enlists members of our greater camp community to assist with our annual spring clean-up at camp! Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome. Projects typically include landscaping, cleaning, painting, small building/woodworking projects, and more. Join us from 10AM - 3PM -- free will lunch provided.

Let us know you're joining at the link below, and if you're bringing a group, please share how many will be coming with you. For any questions, please email program@pyoca.org. We look forward to seeing you in April!

RSVP Now

Registration for Summer 2025 is in Full Swing

Summer camp registrations are streaming in and we are anxiously awaiting another fun and faith filled summer season at Pyoca. Follow the link below to get your camper registered for camp and take a moment to flip through our summer brochure to learn about all the great programs happening in summer 2025!

Registration for Family Camp, Grown-Up Summer Camp, newly announced special July 4th week programming is now open are well. We would love to have you join us!

Book your retreat stay today!

Interested in scheduling an overnight or day retreat? We'd love to assist! Retreats are a great way to connect and deepen fellowship. Both weekend and weekday stays are available. Learn more about booking your retreat or event at Pyoca.

Don't forget about pastor respite stays! Pastors in Ohio & Whitewater Valley are eligible for a free two-night stay in the Poplar apartment. Contact program@pyoca.org to book your stay today!

We are hiring. Join our team!

Join our team and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of campers and retreat guests! Pyoca is currently seeking applicants for both year-round and part-time positions. Join our team full-time as one of our Program Directors! We are also seeking a part-time Assistant Cook and a Summer Groundskeeper.

Learn more about open positions here and apply today!

Help Support Pyoca's Ministry

Pass It On. Like the beloved campfire song, we know that in order to pass on the magic of camp to the next generation, we need the support of friends of camp and previous generations who have been transformed by this ministry.

Donate Now

There are a number of ways to support our ministry, including: donations to our Scholarship and Annual Funds, volunteer opportunities, in-kind gifts through our Amazon Wish List, and more.

You can also join our Alumni Association! All annual dues go to support camp and year-round program scholarships. Learn more and join today.

Want to learn more about what is happening at Pyoca? We encourage you to follow, like, and subscribe to our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok pages where you can keep up with the latest information on all things camp.

Follow our LinkedIn page to see all that's going on at camp and connect with other camper and staff alumni.

Learn more information about ways you can support Pyoca.

You're invited to a gathering on supporting ministry and wholeness through the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

A commitment to caring for those who serve the Church is the heart of our work at the Board of Pensions — which is why we offer benefits that reflect PC(USA) values and support wholeness. In keeping with this commitment, we’ve been privileged to talk in-person about these offerings with over 1,000 Presbyterians in the last two years. We valued that time and have planned a new series of one- and two-day events this spring, Benefits Regional Summit: Understanding the Value of the Benefits Plan.

At these events, you’ll gather with attendees and Board of Pensions staff to learn how benefits offered through the Benefits Plan of the PC(USA) work together to support ministries. The information shared at all the summits will be the same, regardless of duration. If you’ve already registered for these events, there is no need to register again.

Who Should Attend?

This event is open to anyone throughout the Church who would like to attend, including mid council leaders, pastors, personnel committee chairs, and church business administrators.

This email may be shared with all those who wish to attend. Interested attendees may select the Register button above to read more about the event and register online.

Dates and Locations

Following is the schedule for the Benefits Regional Summit: Understanding the Value of the Benefits Plan events. Select the event you would like to attend when you register:

Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3, noon to noon, Denver: The Westin Denver International Airport, 8300 Pena Blvd., Denver
Monday and Tuesday, April 7-8, noon to noon, Chicago: The Westin O'Hare, 6100 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois
Wednesday and Thursday, April 9-10, noon to noon, Philadelphia: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadelphia
Tuesday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dallas: Woodhaven Presbyterian Church, 3650 N. O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas
Thursday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Charlotte: CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1421 Statesville Ave., Charlotte, North Carolina
Tuesday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Orlando: Presbyterian Church of the Lakes, 4700 Lincoln Ave., Orlando
Thursday, May 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Atlanta: Columbia Theological Seminary, 701 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, Georgia

Registration Deadlines

March 21, 2025 — Denver, Chicago, and Philadelphia

April 14, 2025 — Dallas and Charlotte

May 5, 2025 — Orlando and Atlanta

We encourage you to register as soon as possible. Seating is limited.

We look forward to having you join us this spring and engaging together to support those we serve. Please note that travel expenses will be the responsibility of attendees, while the Board will provide lunch. If you have questions, please call the Board of Pensions at 800‑PRESPLAN (800‑773‑7752) (TTY: 711).

Are you Celebrating a Milestone in your church? Please let us know!!!

First Presbyterian Church of Grant County in Jonesboro

CRE Dan Bowell Commissioning

Blessings and congratulations to CRE Dan Bowell and First Presbyterian Church of Grant County in Jonesboro on the occasion of Dan's commissioning to this congregation.