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Quickly go to the articles listed by clicking on the title below.
(Mobile users, you must hit "Click here for easier viewing" above to go to a webpage in order to use this feature.)
Use the QUICK LINKS at the bottom of this column to be directed to additional news.
Email Presbytery staff using the directory below.
When's the last time
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Ed Thompson
General Presbyter
Maureen Wright
Stated Clerk, Associate for
Congregational Support
Rocky Poole
Financial Administration/Treasurer
Barbara Chalfant
Associate Presbyter for Mission
Susan Sharp Campbell
Associate for Educational Ministry
Nellie Howard
Resource Center Director
Mark Miller
Bluestone Camp Director
Sarah Specht
Bluestone Program Director
Amy Robinson
Office Administrator/Communications
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Prayer List for Churches
Alexander Memorial, Stony Bottom
Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Shinnston
Pres. Church of the Covenant, Hurricane
In Kenya: Mutathini (Moh-tah-THEE' nay) Presbyterian Church
Week 7 - February 18
First Presbyterian Church, Huntington*
Cabwaylingo Chapel **
(*denotes sponsoring church and
** denotes chapel of that church)
In Kenya: Giakanja (Gie-uh-KAH'juh) Parish
Week 8 - February 25
Lakeview Presbyterian Church, Lakebottom
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro
In Kenya: Giaichamwenge (GAY-shah-MWEN'gay) Presbyterian Church
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Nurturing Faith Ideas
Feb. 11, 18 & 25
Nurturing Faith Ideas are weekly suggestions and activities from the Presbytery's Nurture Committee to link worship and home and to nurture faith development in the family. They are intended for all ages and family types. Add one to your bulletin each week or put them in your monthly newsletter. They could also be sent via email or added to a Facebook page.
Ideas for the entire year can be found here.
Our transformation may not be as dramatic as Jesus', but take time this week to transform something in your life. Consider improving your prayer life, changing your attitude, or maybe just smiling more often.
February 18
As the Lenten season begins, take time to revisit your own baptism and what it means to you. This season begins with baptism and ends with resurrection and salvation. It's a time to reflect and celebrate.
February 25
As you proceed through the Lenten season, share with others what Jesus' sacrifice means to you and what you do to remember that gift throughout the year. If you don't want to share with another, write it down to review throughout the year.
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Ed Thompson
Toward the Better Country is one of the best books I've read in the last few years. Written by L. Gail Irwin, it flows out of her experience as a pastor and things she learned during a sabbatical, as well as more than 30 interviews with pastors and various church leaders from eight denominations. It was not an easy journey. She had served as the pastor of a Presbyterian Church for 11 years before she was asked to resign. The church closed about a year after she left.
A phrase she repeats several times throughout the book is "You are not alone, your church's decline is not your fault, and your church is not a 'failure.'"(pg. 6) The reality is lots of churches close every year. She mentions that research shows that churches typically have a lifespan of 80 years. I had never heard that before, but I have no reason to doubt it's true.
The book helps churches to look at themselves honestly and encourages them to imagine the future in light of the resurrection.
Click here to read more
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You are invited to join the Presbytery of West Virginia for its Stated Meeting on February 24 at First Presbyterian Church in Huntington. The Leadership Team will present its work to date on a vision and plan for the Presbytery for the next five years. In addition, Presbytery will join together in worship, fellowship and the work of the presbytery.
The deadline for
advanced registration and childcare is February 14. Each congregation of the presbytery is asked to send a voting, ruling elder commissioner to all presbytery meetings. Those ministers and churches seeking to be excused should contact the presbytery office at 304-744-7634 or office@wvpresbytery.org.
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Clerks of Session are reminded that the deadline for completing the annual Statistical Report is next Thursday, February 15.
Both the instructions and the report are online here. (You can also find the
link to this on the Presbytery's website under Documents - Statistical Report Information & End of Year Reports.) You may wish to download the worksheets to assist you as you put your data together. Once the form is finished, you can then enter it online. The user IDs and passwords have not changed; if you need your ID and password, please contact the office. Ministers serving as Moderators in other congregations are expected to assist in getting reports completed for these congregations. You do not need to send an electronic or paper copy of the Statistical Report to the office, as I am able to access these online. I am here to help if you have difficulties.
Please note that membership numbers are based on the successful completion of this report
. Churches are responsible for completing the annual statistical report. The membership numbers reported to the General Assembly are the basis for each church's Per Capita Assessment; the membership numbers reported for 2017 are the basis for the 2019 Per Capita Assessment.
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This coming Sunday, February 11, is Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Camp and Conference Ministries Sunday - a day for congregations to celebrate camp and conference ministries, like our Bluestone Camp and Retreat. Every year, the Presbyterian Mission Agency prepares materials to help pastoral and church leaders as they plan celebrations;
click here for the 2018 resources. For more on Bluestone,
click here.
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We invite you to print and include this newsletter in your bulletins, give it to your congregation and distribute widely. We hope it is helpful for your congregation and community.
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March 2-4. Register by Feb. 15.
The registration deadline for the Younger Youth Retreat is Thursday, February 15. This is a great opportunity for youth in grades 6-8 to join with others for a time to consider some of the building blocks of our faith that help us get through times of doubt, struggle and uncertainty. Our Presbytery Youth Council will provide leadership for this event, which will be held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center.
The cost per person is $75, and the registration deadline is Thursday, February 15. Complete registration information can be found
here.
For more information or questions, contact Susan Sharp Campbell at susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-645-4568.
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March 16. Register by Feb. 15.
 On Friday, March 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Ray Jones, the Acting Director of Theology, Formation and Evangelism for the PC(USA), will lead this first course in the 2018
Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox series.
The workshop is designed to help people live into the fullest expression of the gospel. It is designed for pastors, Commissioned Ruling Elders, Authorized Lay Preachers, Christian Educators and chairs of Evangelism (or whatever your church calls it) Committees to explore their own faith stories and what it means to join God in what God is doing in their communities, to consider who they are as "sent" people, and to get to know their neighborhoods.
Cost per person is $75. Participants are encouraged to read "Engage the Gospel, the Participant's Book" which can be ordered
here
.
For more information and to register, click here.
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On Saturday, March 10, the Presbytery will host a free workshop in Charleston on how to create and manage a church website, led by former PWV minister Frank Cunningham, representing Union Presbyterian Seminary. The workshop will teach participants how to use Wordpress to set up and manage a free website for their church or organization.
To help us gauge the interest level and determine the size of the location required, please contact Amy Robinson at 304-744-7634 or office@wvpresbytery.com by February 22 if anyone from your church plans to attend.
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March 19 at the Presbytery office
The next Educators' Gathering will be Monday, March 19, at the presbytery office, beginning at 10 a.m. This is an opportunity for anyone involved in leadership in the educational ministry of their church, whether as paid staff or a volunteer, to share ideas, resources, concerns and support. We will end at approximately 1:30 p.m., following lunch together at a nearby restaurant for those who can stay. For more information, contact Susan Sharp Campbell at susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-645-4568.
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April 17. Register by March 19.
On Tuesday, April 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the presbytery office, Kathy Dale McNair will lead the second 2018 Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox Course, about mental health concerns and how they affect individuals, their families and your congregations. Experience a new model for adult education that links faith and hope to loss, loneliness, anxiety, depression and grief. Kathy serves in the Presbytery of Chicago, specializing in mental health ministries.
This workshop is designed for pastors, Commissioned Ruling Elders, Authorized Lay Preachers, Christian Educators and others who would like to know more about mental health issues that affect those we love and with whom we live and serve. For more information and a registration form, click here.
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April 7. Early bird registration through March 12.
This year's Festival of Faith, a day of learning opportunities, fellowship and worship, will be held Saturday, April 7 at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and things kick off at 9:30 a.m. with worship and a keynote by Jan Edmiston, Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly of the PC(USA), who will speak on "The State of the PC(USA): The Good, the Bad, the Ugly," giving us an update on what's happening within our denomination.
As always, there will also be a wide variety of workshops to choose from, several of our mission/ministry partners to hear from, a bookstore and fair trade coffee and other items for sale. Some of the workshops include an Introduction to the 2018-2019 Horizos Bible Study, a Church Treasurer's Roundtable, The Joy of Inclusion and Our Pastor Left? What's Next?
Click here for complete information and registration, which is also on the website and has been sent to church leaders. If you or someone you know would like to receive a copy by snail mail, please let the presbytery office know.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
and
PLAN TO BE PRESENT for this EXCITING EVENT!
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June 9-16. Register by March 31.
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PWV at Montreat Youth Conference 2017 |
Montreat Youth Conferences provide opportunities for youth in our churches to connect with hundreds of high school youth from across the country to engage in faith conversations through keynote, worship, small groups, fellowship and recreation.
Youth currently in grades 8-12 are encouraged to join the presbytery's delegation. The cost per person is $350, with $175 due at registration. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis until the deadline of March 31. Click here for information and a registration form. Please contact Susan Sharp Campbell at 304-645-4568 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com with questions.
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This is the second in a series highlighting PWV's Authorized
Lay Preacher/Commissioned Ruling Elder Program. In September, we begin a new set of Presby Prep courses, which are prerequisites for this program. Click here f
or more information about Presby Prep. Is God tugging at your heart to participate? Presby Prep is a great way to learn more. 
I didn't know what to do with the papers my pastor gave to me about the ALP/CRE program.
"It sounds like a good opportunity," she said. "Do you know anyone who might be interested?"
"I'll ask around," I replied.
I carried those papers around in my purse for weeks, not sure why. Every once in a while, I would dig them out...
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This year's Association of Presbyterian Church Educators' two highest awards were given to Christian Educators with roots and/or service in the Presbytery of West Virginia. The Educator of the Year (ENRICH) Award is given to educators in full-time professional service who "enrich all of our lives through their educational work and vocational outlook." The Lifetime Achievement (SUSTAIN) Award is given to retired educators "who leave behind a trail of services that will be long remembered and emulated."
The
2018 Lifetime Achievement Award winner is
Forrest Palmer. Forrest has served the Presbyterian Church in a variety of ways throughout his professional career - as camp director, Christian Educator, Associate Presbyter and Interim Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of West Virginia for several years, as well as on a variety of presbytery, synod and General Assembly committees. Though "officially" retired, Forrest continues to be active in ministry, particularly at First Presbyterian Church in Dunbar, where he assists by preaching, teaching and providing pastoral care.
The
2018 Educator of the Year is
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Davis, Associate Professor of Religion and Director of the Christian Education program at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. Becky grew up at Bates Memorial Presbyterian Church in Huntington, and, while a student at Marshall University, served as the Director of Christian Education at Enslow Park Presbyterian Church. Becky has a passion for justice for children and, in the last several years, has spoken several times in our presbytery on the whys and hows of child protection policies.
Congratulations to Forrest and Becky, who have served and continue to serve Christ and Christ's church in a variety of ways, sharing their faith and skills with people of all ages, reminding us all in many ways that we are all beloved children of God.
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Sympathies
Rev. William Ward Murray, an Honorably Retired member of Cascades Presbytery, passed away on February 4 in Albany, OR. In West Virginia, he served Bramwell Presbyterian Church.
Please keep his family and the Bramwell church in your prayers.
Tommy Novak, stepfather of Riverlawn Presbyterian Church pastor Chris Kilbert,
passed away following complications from a house fire on
February 7
in Elizabethtown, KY. Arrangements are pending.
Please keep Chris, his mom Pansy Novak, and their family in your prayers.
Rev. Robert Rasmussen, an Honorably Retired member of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan, passed away on January 25 in Kalamazoo, MI. In West Virginia, he served the Colcord and Clear Creek Presbyterian churches. Memorials may be sent to
Presbyterian Church USA, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700, designated to the Malawi mission.
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The Presbyterian Mission Agency's
Lent 2018 daily reflection-action calendar, "Tread Lightly for Lent," is
now available here. It
was created by the Presbyterian Hunger Program's Environmental Ministries and Enough for Everyone offices.
In Lent, we reflect on Christ's ministry, death, and resurrection. We slow down, take time, and examine our internal spiritual lives and the way we live out our Christian faith in the world around us. This Lenten calendar begins with ways to prepare ourselves for the Lent and Easter season and then moves to weekly foci of women, creation, water, consumption, and social justice. Ideas for action can be used by congregations as well as individuals.
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