e-News for March 1, 2024

In this issue:

Notes from the Presbytery Office
News from the Presbytery
Events, Conferences, and Retreats
Prayer Concerns
Job Opportunities
Presbytery Calendar

In response to God‘s call in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the mission of the Presbytery of New Hope is to enable local congregations and presbytery as a whole, to function effectively as the body of Christ by actively exploring, facilitating, equipping, and establishing appropriate ministries with the covenant community and beyond.

A Note from the e-News Editor

The next e-News will be published on Friday, March 15, 2024.

All submissions should be sent to [email protected].

Please note the submission guidelines at the bottom of this email. Thank you!

News from the Presbytery Office

We Are Celebrating Presbytery Staff Member Katie Cashwell This Month!

Birthdate: March 3

Katie lives in Raleigh with her husband, two young sons, and a barky dog. Katie enjoys road trips with her husband, reading fiction, cheering for the Davidson Wildcats, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

We love Katie here in the office and we're blessed to have her on our team.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Photos from the 121st Stated Gathering

Please click the following link to view the remainder of the photos.

121st Stated Gathering Photos

News from the Presbytery

Spectrum News on the Presbytery

Loretta Boniti, In Focus host on Spectrum TV, interviews Dr. Carmen Cauthen, author and historian, who has written the book Historic Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh. This book focuses on the major African American influences in many North Carolina towns. This interview highlights the history behind some of the locations constructed by Black builders across the state. This interview takes place in Davie Street’s sanctuary and highlights some of Davie’s Street architectural history. The interview can be found at: https://spectruminfocus.com/section/in-focus/in-focus-shows/2024/02/19/in-focus--black-builders-have-made-a-mark-across-n-c-

More information about Dr. Cauthen can be found here: https://waltermagazine.com/community/people/community-champ-an-interview-with-author-and-historian-carmen-cauthen/

On January 20-21, 2024, First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh hosted the Peacemaking Summit Against Gun Violence in partnership with the NC Council of Churches and with the support of New Hope Presbytery, PCUSA Decade to End Gun Violence, and private donors. The summit welcomed voices from a variety of points of view to learn from one another and work together towards the common goal of peacemaking and ending gun violence. The summit included speakers on a wide range of topics including strategies to tackle gun violence, legislative advocacy, parenting in a violence-prone world, mental health issues, and community violence interruption. In addition, visiting artists conducted a bullet melting ceremony in which bullet casings were transformed into bells and a Guns to Gardens demonstration in which 3 guns were dismantled and will be crafted into garden tools. The summit concluded with Sunday services challenging congregants to put their faith into action as peacemakers.

The Moral Message Ministry

Please click the link below to read a writing from a MMM member,

Mr. James Henderson ("Jimmy").

Charge and the Challenge - by J. Henderson

New Hope Presbytery’s Outstanding Older Adults program

is accepting nominations for the 2024 recognition ceremony.

Each church may submit 1 nominee, either individual or couple.

Click the button below to view the nomination form and requested materials.

Nomination submissions are due by Sunday, March 31

The OOA recognition ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 19

at First Presbyterian Church, Rocky Mount.

Please contact Shauna Villela at the presbytery office with any questions.

OOA Nomination Form

Events, Conferences, and Retreats

Please join First Presbyterian Church of Durham for the 2024 McPherson Lectureship on Sunday and Monday, March 10 and 11, as we welcome Dr. Willie James Jennings.

Sunday, March 10

9:45-10:45 a.m.: Faith and Community Class, Watts-Hill Hall

11:00 a.m.: Worship Service, Sanctuary

3:30-5:00 p.m.: Community Conversation in Watts-Hill Hall

(Childcare available, but please RSVP by calling the church office: 919-682-5511)

Monday, March 11

9:00-10:45 a.m. Clergy Breakfast, Watts-Hill Hall

There is no cost for the breakfast, but a meal reservation is appreciated

Make a reservation by calling the church office: 919-682-5511

Willie James Jennings is associate professor of systematic theology and Africana studies at Yale Divinity School. He is a graduate of Calvin College, later earning an

M. Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in religion and ethics from Duke University. Dr. Jennings is an ordained Baptist minister who is widely recognized for his writing in the areas of liberation theologies, cultural identities, and anthropology. He is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race (Yale, 2010), Acts: A Commentary, The Revolution of the Intimate (Westminster/John Knox, 2017), and After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging (Eerdmans, 2020).

The McPherson Lectureship is dedicated to enriching the faith and life of First Presbyterian Church as well as the Durham, NC community. This lectureship is made possible through an endowment initially given to FPC by the McPherson family in memory of lifelong members Dr. and Mrs. Samuel D. McPherson, Sr., and Dr. Samuel D. McPherson, Jr. It was established in 1999 by Mrs. Margaret “Peaches” McPherson (wife of Dr. McPherson, Jr.) and her family. Following Mrs. McPherson’s passing in 2018, the lectureship now also honors her life of service and generosity.

Job Opportunities

Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church seeks to hire an associate director of middle school ministry (30 hours/week with benefits), whose primary focus will be the discipleship of students in sixth through eighth grade. Priorities include working with the director of youth ministry to plan curriculum and other youth programming, including service and social events. Through teaching and by example, this person will help youth grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. See https://blacknall.org/MSM-job for a complete job description. Interested applicants should have at minimum an undergraduate degree. Please send a cover letter, resume, and statement of faith to [email protected].

Blacknall Presbyterian Church is currently accepting applications for director of operations. More information can be found on the employment page: www.blacknall.org/employment. Please direct any questions and/or applications to [email protected] and include “DOO Position" in the subject line. A description of the position can be found at https://blacknall.org/DOO-job.

In Our Prayers

Prayers for Rev. Chris Grill, who has undergone surgery at the Duke University Cancer Center on February 26 to remove the right middle lobe of his right lung.
Prayers for Rev. Gordon Marshall who is the former pastor of Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church, who's wife Sharon has passed away.

Presbytery Office Information

March 2024

1-3 ~ NHP High School Retreat

7 ~ COM Executive

12 ~ Exams and Transfers

12 ~ Finance and Property Committee

13 ~ New Ministers Orientation

14 ~ Church Development & Evangelism

15 ~ Synod of Mid Atlantic Assembly

begins

15 ~ Peacemaking Network

20 ~ Coordinating Body

24 ~ Palm Sunday

26 ~ NHP Staff Retreat

29 ~ Presbytery office closed in

recognition of Good Friday

31 ~ Easter Sunday

Presbytery Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday

8:30 a.m. -12:00 noon (Remote)

Saturday and Sunday

Closed

Staff works remotely on Fridays from

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon and the office building is closed. Staff can be reached by email or phone.

Online Presbytery Directory

The Presbytery of New Hope directory of congregations and teaching elders is available online. Get the most

up-to-date information available, search anywhere you have an internet connection, or print a paper copy at www.nhpresbytery.org/directory.

You can look up your personal passphrase at the bottom of the directory homepage. If you have difficulty getting your passphrase or need to update your address, contact us at [email protected].

e-News Guidelines

Send all submissions to [email protected] by noon on Thursday. We reserve the right to edit, hold, return, or reject submissions based on space available or any other criteria below.
All submissions should be no longer than about fifty words (one paragraph). Longer submissions will be returned for editing.
The e-News will be published every other week.
Please highlight and/or separate dates, times, and locations.
Only items related to the work of congregations, committees, networks, and other related entities of the Presbytery of New Hope will be included.
Submissions for presbytery-related events will run for four weeks. Submissions from organizations outside the Presbytery of New Hope will run for two weeks.
Events with a start date in four months or later will be posted as a save the date. Events that are less than four months from starting can be posted as a blurb or article.
Submissions for joys and concerns must be related to minister members of the presbytery, staff of congregations, or others who have served in the life of the presbytery and will be included upon permission of the individual or the individual's congregation.
Job opportunities for non-pastoral positions with congregations and entities related to the presbytery will be posted for a maximum of four weeks. Please include a link to the full position description and a contact name and email address. Submissions longer than about 50 words will be returned for editing. Opportunities for installed pastoral positions will be included upon approval of the executive presbyter.