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Guided by the Holy Spirit, our mission is to equip, support, and connect our congregations as they faithfully serve Jesus Christ in a changing world.
July 20, 2009 Volume 5, Number 28
Join the Common Ground Youth Program
Several youth leaders, pastors, and Bethelwoods staff representatives have been meeting to plan monthly youth events at Bethelwoods. This youth ministry is to be called “Common Ground” and will ordinarily gather on the 1st Sundays of the month at 5:30 pm. Our next planning meeting will be Wednesday, August 12th at 5:30 pm at Bethelwoods with supper provided. Contact Sam McGregor at pastor@allisoncreekchurch.com or Jan Tuthill at jantuthill@hotmail.com for more information.
Local Response to Economic Crisis
Tirzah Presbyterian (Y) will be hosting a special event called “Hope in the Midst of Crisis.” It includes a panel discussion, a mission fair, and a brief worship service designed to raise awareness of how the economic crisis is affecting people in our communities and how the church and local outreach agencies are being called to respond. The event will be from 3:00-5:00 pm on Sunday, August 23. All churches in Providence Presbytery are invited to attend. Please call Jim Moss at 981-3764 for more information.
Nominate Your Older Adult of the Year Today!
Older Adult of the Year Nominations are due by August 14. Talk with your session NOW about who you will nominate. Please be sure and complete the section that indicates why you chose your nominee as this information is used to honor your nominee at the event! Submit your Nomination Online or Print the form and mail it to the Presbytery Office. Don’t miss this opportunity to let your older members know they are appreciated! The Annual Older Adult of the Year Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15th at Bethelwoods.
News from Tito in Guatemala
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Without you we would not be able to do what we do! In this last month we have had 4 visiting teams and served over 1,400 Guatemalans with medical, dental and optical assistance at our free clinics. Many of our patients walked away with medicine that will greatly improve their health, many received glasses that improved their vision and changed their livelihoods, and many received professional dental care for the first time. And most importantly, they were all served with the tender Love of Christ! Read more online.
Education Opportunities Abound this Fall
Fall Montreat Conference just for CLPs!
Join other CLPS for a time of renewal and refreshment as you build your skills and knowledge in the area of prayer and worship at a continuing education event at Montreat just for CLPs. “The Place of Prayer in Reformed Worship” will be help Oct 21-23 at Montreat Conference Center. More info: http://montreat.org/current/2009-continuing-education-for-commissioned-lay-pastors-preachers
Do You Want to Be a Missional Leader? LI is for you!
Application Deadline is approaching for clergy and lay persons who are interested in becoming transformational, missional leaders in their congregations. You should apply for the Leadership Initiative today. Offered by Mark Tidsworth, leader of our recent Providence Leadership Seminars, the 9-month-long program will provide 1 group coaching session per month, 1 one-on-one coaching session each month, and reading targeted to the LI goals. LI runs from September 2009-May 2010. Read more about the program online.
Elders, Church Leaders, Clergy will Enjoy Fruitful Churches Workshop
Mark your calendar and join Providence Presbytery churches for the Spiritual Foundations for Fruitful Churches Workshop September 26 from 9:30AM-1PM. Joan Gray, author of Spiritual Leadership for Church Officers and moderator for the 217th General Assembly, will lead this important workshop for our churches. Pastors, Elders and other church leaders are encouraged to attend. The workshop will be held at Grace Presbyterian in Lancaster and will include lunch. Cost is $5 per participant. Registration will be available online in August. Wondering if your church would benefit? Click here to find out more about Gray’s program.
CTS Accepting Applications for Clergy Group Study Program
Group project applications are being accepted through September 28 for participation in Columbia Theological Seminary’s S3 (Sabbath, Study and Service) Project. S3 offers small, self-selected groups of clergy and other church professionals the opportunity to design and participate in learning projects that strengthen their practice of ministry. Groups will receive $500 per person to fund their self-directed group work. Participants must attend two retreats: February 2-4, 2010, at the beginning of their year-long project and another at the conclusion in February 2011. The application procedure requires a group proposal and individual applications for each group member. Information and application materials are available online, or by contacting Sarah Erickson at 404-687-4526 or ericksons@CTSnet.edu. Groups will be notified of acceptance by October 16. S3 is funded by the Lily Endowment.
Scholarship Money Available
Remember that Providence Presbytery has scholarship money available for lay people and church staff to attend continuing education events that will benefit your ministry in the local church. Application: http://www.providencepres.org/Communications/forms/leadership%20scholarship.pdf
How Calvinist ARE you?
In this month of John Calvin celebrations, it’s interesting to see how this 16th century reformer’s ideas affect our 21st century attitudes and lifestyle. Here is a thought-provoking questionnaire to share with your church family and friends. Accompanying each of the questions is an explanation how Calvin and his followers might answer. See the bulletin insert.
Opportunities to Serve
Pianist Needed
Doby’s Bridge Presbyterian Church is seeking a pianist to play for choir rehearsals on Wednesday evenings and for worship on Sunday mornings. Any applicants may contact Edgar McCall at the church at 803-547-5240 or by email at edgar@dobysbridge.org.
Presbyterian Communities Seeking Chaplain
Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina is seeking a part-time Chaplain for our Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Florence, SC. To learn more about us please visit www.preshomesc.org. Please send your PIF/resume to the administrator at Florence, Walter Hickman, whickman@preshomesc.org. Deadline for submissions is August 28th.
Check out the events below on the Presbytery Calendar–for event details, click on the event!
This Week in Providence Presbytery
7/20 Glocal Committee-5:30PM (Presbytery Office)
7/21 Third Tuesday Together-Catawba Queen Cruise-9:30AM (Bethelwoods)
7/22-26 Montreat Middle School Conference (Presbyterian College)
7/25 Prayer Fellowship-9:15AM (Presbytery Office)
7/26 Hunger Action Team-6:30PM (Presbytery Office)
Next Week
7/30 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Unity Presbyterian, Fort Mill)
Mark your Calendar!
8/25 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Oakdale Presbyterian, Clover)
9/10 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Mt. Zion Baptist, McConnells)
9/15 Older Adult of the Year Luncheon-10:30AM (Bethelwoods)
9/17 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Flint Hill Baptist, Rock Hill)
9/26 Fruitful Churches Workshop 9:30-1PM (Grace-Lancaster)
9/27 Youth Rally and first Youth Worship Event (Bethelwoods)
10/1 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Union Baptist, Rock Hill)
10/27 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Unity Presbyterian, Fort Mill)
11/5 Second Harvest Partners Mobile Food Pantry (Hermon Presbyterian, Rock Hill)
Please submit articles to jill@providencepres.org with In the Know and the date you would like your article to run in the subject line by Friday at 5 PM for the following Monday’s issue.
Providence Presbytery 