e-News for May 5, 2023

In this issue:

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

Read this issue on the web!

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. 

The EP Speaks

In this week's edition of " The EP Speaks," Rev. Grady reflects on God's call to us as the Presbytery of New Hope to be the Body of Christ. Everybody can't be a hand, everybody can't be feet, everyone can't be a mouth. We are one body with many parts. What will your part be? Watch Rev. Grady's message below.

Life In the Presbytery

Rev. Lori Pistor pictured here with West Raleigh Presbyterian Church colleagues, Anna Richardson Raab, Baby Nora, Rev. Katherine Rick- Miller, and Rev. Kat Kussmaul, on Lori's last day in the church office before her time as parish associate comes to an end on Sunday. Lori has been serving as West Raleigh's "pandemic pastor" since summer 2020.

Farm Church, one of the presbytery's new worshipping communities, recently delivered fifty pounds of collards, beets, spinach, and lettuce to one of our churches, Iglesia Presbiteriana Emanuel, which runs a major food distribution ministry to the food insecure in Durham. We love to see this shared and partnered ministry! God is good!

She's presbytery office manager, par excellence, but did you know Christine Kelson also volunteers with a non-profit animal wildlife rehabilitation and educational organization and regularly handles large and injured birds of prey? Christine is pictured here with red-tailed hawk Aradia and Katie Cashwell, (who does not regularly handle birds!), with pied crow Grip at the recent Songbird Festival at Blue Jay Point County Park in Raleigh.

The pastors and program staff of University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill pause for a photo during a planning retreat for the 2023-2024 program year. Pictured: Rev. Berry French, Joey Fala, Nancy Myer, Hadley Kifner, Rev. Meg Peery McLaughlin, Rev. Jarrett McLaughlin, and Erin Collier.

Passion Driven Ministry Partnership Grants

Round Three Application Deadline Approaching: 

May 31, 2023

Passion Driven Ministry partnership grants are designed to support projects that connect two or more congregations and/or community entities. If you have a project that offers a sustainable impact on the church and community to further the vision and mission of the presbytery and its congregations – then please apply.

PDM grants seek to help us transform the way we serve our communities and how we work together serving Christ across our presbytery and beyond. A total of $35,000 in grants will be awarded for 2022-2023. Once funds are exhausted, no further applications will be considered.

For more information on these grants and the application process contact the PDM team of the Coordinating Body at pdm@nhpresbytery.org or visit the PDM webpage.

2023-24 Presbytery of New Hope Youth Council Applications

The Presbytery of New Hope Youth Council is excited to begin accepting applications for our 2023-24 team! The Youth Council (YC) is a group of 10th – 12th grade students who commit to sharing their gifts with the presbytery by planning and leading retreats for middle and high school youth each year (middle school retreat in the fall and a high school retreat in the spring). Youth must complete 9th grade by fall of 2023 to apply. Applications and references are due by June 15. You can learn more about Youth Council and see what we've been up to on our website.

Save the Dates!

A gathering around Matthew 25

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church

Raleigh, NC

Led by Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett

President and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency

The Installation Service of the Rev. Dr. Bruce T. Grady 

to the office of Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of New Hope 

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church

Durham, NC

Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett will preach.

Black Authors Book Sale

Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church

Saturday, May 6

Inviting all teachers, parents, kids (accompanied by grown-ups), and neighbors! Come shop books from local authors of African descent, educational products, and services from entrepreneurs near and far. The Black Authors Book Fair is bringing the community together to serve a greater purpose: build cultural competence. Entry is FREE! Products and services are available for a fee and there will be a raffle! Seeking vendors, entertainers, and volunteers! If interested, email Quentesa Pierce (wbpcsocial@gmail.com) or the church office (admin@wbpresbyterian.org). Click HERE to RSVP and for more information.

Make a Joyful Noise!

First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount will host a concert by the Rocky Mount Chamber Choir at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, May 7. Of the several professions represented by its 22 members, more than half are active or recently retired teachers and administrators in the Rocky Mount/Nash County and Wilson school systems, where many of them taught or teach music. Sunday's program will include music from the British Isles, primarily Ireland and Scotland. The concert of both sacred and secular music is free and open to the public.

Celebrating Rev. Robert Johnson

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church New Bern

The congregation of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church cordially invites you to join them for a retirement reception on May 7, honoring Rev. Robert Johnson on his final Sunday in the pulpit as he concludes 43 years of ministry to the church. Those who would like to extend their good wishes to Rev. Johnson and his wife Martha on this occasion are welcome to drop in for a floating farewell reception anytime between 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Click here to read more about Rev. Johnson's faithful ministry.

A cautionary conversation between African American mothers and fathers and their children about how to respond if stopped or confronted by law enforcement is a chilling reality. Dr. Sonny Kelly faced this reality with his own son in 2015. Dr. Kelly's response to this experience was to write and perform a one-man show entitled "The Talk." This eclectic performance weaves together interactive theater, poetry, and a muti-media production with American history and literature. In "The Talk" Dr. Kelly portrays over 20 characters in telling the story of a father talking to his young son about what lies ahead in life for him as a black man.  At it's core, "The Talk" is about a father's profoundly abiding love for his children, his family, and his nation.

White Memorial Presbyterian Church is hosting a live performance of "The Talk," co-sponsored by several churches in our presbytery: Kirk of Kildaire, St. Andrews, Western Boulevard, and West Raleigh.

After the performance, Dr. Kelly will hold an hour discussion with members of the audience covering some of the topics that come up in the show.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Please register below.



The North Carolina Council of Churches

Legislative Seminar 2023

Come and learn about policies on the General Assembly agenda and to get involved in shaping North Carolina's public policy changes.

Workshop topics include reproductive justice, workers’ rights, immigration, tax and budget, LGBTQ+ legislation, gun violence prevention, voting rights, opioid/overdose response, and environmental justice.

Governor Roy Cooper will be receiving our Faith Active in Public Life Award, and he will be making remarks during the event.

Your participation in this event is crucial for ensuring that faith-based advocacy remains strong and effective. Register now for the council's Legislative Seminar and get ready for an enlightening and inspiring event!

“The Fire of Freedom”

A Mike Wiley Production

June 3, 2023

West Raleigh Presbyterian Church

West Raleigh Presbyterian Church welcomes Mike Wiley and vocalist Mary D. Williams for a production of "The Fire of Freedom" based on David S. Cecelski's book of the same name.

"The Fire of Freedom" is the story of Abraham H. Galloway (1837-1870), a fiery young slave rebel, radical abolitionist, and Union spy, who rose out of bondage to become one of the most significant and stirring black leaders in the South during the Civil War. Throughout his brief, mercurial life, Galloway fought against slavery and injustice. He risked his life behind enemy lines, recruited black soldiers for the North, and fought racism in the Union army’s ranks. He also stood at the forefront of an African-American political movement, even leading a historic delegation of black southerners to the White House to meet with President Lincoln and to demand the full rights of citizenship. He later became one of the first black men elected to the North Carolina legislature.

Long hidden from history, Galloway’s story reveals a war unfamiliar to most of us. This riveting portrait, based on the book of the same name by David Cecelski and adapted by playwright Howard Craft, illuminates Galloway’s life and deepens our insight into the Civil War and Reconstruction as experienced by African Americans in the South.

This event is free and open to the general public, but, due to limited space, a ticket is required.

We lift up in our prayers Rev. Betty Connette and her entire family as her mother, Liza, died Saturday, April 29 after the last several weeks being under hospice care. A service to celebrate her life will take place at a later date in Wilmington, North Carolina.

We pray for Nicholas Malomo, a high school student in need of healing and prayers for his family, as they care for him.

Prayers for Beth Radford, a member of Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, whose father died recently. We pray for God's comfort for her and her entire family.

• Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill seeks a part-time minister of community engagement. We are looking for someone who connects new visitors and new members with our existing congregation. This pastoral position will also participate in Sunday worship. For a job description, contact Karen Fisher at Ksf411@gmail.com. For more information on Chapel in the Pines, click here.

• Hudson Memorial Presbyterian is ready to add an accounting coordinator to our family. Our new accounting coordinator will spend 20-30 hours per week working alongside our business administrator and our collaborative staff to help keep the church finances on track for a welcoming congregation in midtown Raleigh. Read the job description here, then submit resumes to jobs@hmpc.org.

• First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro, NC has an opening for a director of children’s ministry and Christian education. This individual will foster the spiritual formation of children, their families, and adult Christian education. The full job description and more information can be found here.

• Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church is seeking an associate pastor for public witness. Trinity Avenue is a Matthew 25 congregation that is earnest, good-humored, and inclusive in nature. It embraces risk-taking for the gospel, is eager to grow, and great fun to serve with, just three blocks north of downtown Durham. The person in this full-time position will be a welcome colleague in shared ministry with me; dividing their time between generalist responsibilities and shepherding our community organizing, Thriving Congregations, and outreach mission ministries. Click here to view the MIF.

May 2023

9 ~ Exams and Transfers - 8:30 a.m.

10 ~ Commission on Ministry - 10:00 a.m.

11 ~ Church Development and Evangelism -10:00 a.m.

17~ Coordinating Body- 1:00 p.m.

18 ~ An Evening with Rev. Dr. Charles Heyward - 7:00 p.m.

29~ Presbytery office will be closed for Memorial Day