PWV NEWS Issue #91

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. These are intended for all ages and all family types - with children or grandchildren or families with no children. Add one to your bulletin each week or put in your monthly newsletter. They could also be sent out via email or added to a Facebook page.

January 15

The psalmist (40) writes that he waited patiently for the Lord and the Lord heard the cry of desperation that the psalmist expressed. If you are not suffering from a desolate spirit, there is someone you know who is. Visit the hospital or nursing home today to tell the glad news of deliverance of the Lord. Do not conceal what great things God is doing. Let those who need to hear a word from the Lord hear that word from you.

January 22

Paul spoke of divisions in the Corinthian church. Division not only occurs in the family of God, but also in your biological family, in your workplace, almost everywhere. The balm that heals division is to look at what we have in common and not what separates us. To nurture your faith this week, remember the power of the cross and spread the wisdom of God everywhere you go. This ain't about us but about Jesus.

January 29

Micah 6:8 reminds us of what the Lord requires of us and that is "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God". With this new year, God gives us another chance to get it right. Seek to not only do justice, but also speak out against injustice. Seek to not only love kindness, but also to do acts of kindness especially to the least of these in your community. Walk humbly daily with God in prayer and study of the word of God.

Quick Links

Presbytery's Resource Center

The Beech Tree

APCE Blog

Westminster Foundation

A Word from our General Presbyter

Ed Thompson

Many people make New Year's Resolutions. For years I was one of them. I have been keeping a journal (although not always very faithfully) since I was in high school and for many years I would write down several resolutions on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. They never made much difference in the way I lived my life. And, at least while I was in college and seminary, those resolutions almost always seemed to be the same if not fairly similar.

For the last few years, I have tried to set goals for the coming year. Click here to read more

A Note from the Stated Clerk

The Presbytery of West Virginia will gather at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston on Saturday, February 25 for a Stated Meeting. The proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sent to the presbyteries by the 222 nd General Assembly will be presented for consideration, debate and voting. In past years a printed booklet of amendments was available to all commissioners. However the Office of the General Assembly has chosen to be good stewards of available resources and per capita dollars so printed booklets are not available. The booklet has been prepared and posted electronically at pcusa.org/amend/. All members of presbytery are encouraged to attend the Equipping Disciples events on January 22 or 29, which will look closely at the proposed revision of the Directory for Worship. (Please see workshop details in the News from the Associate for Educational Ministry below ).

From the Presbytery's Treasurer

Important Financial Info

2017 IRS Standard Mileage

On December 13th, IRS announced the following changes to the standard mileage rates. Beginning January 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) is:

- 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 54 cents for 2016

- 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down from 19 cents for 2016

- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

Important Dates for Employee Tax Forms

W-2: Beginning with 2016 forms , employers will now have one filing deadline for all Federal W-2s, January 31 . This is true for both employee and agency copies, or whether filing paper or electronic returns.

1099: The new January 31 deadline also applies to certain types of 1099s. If you're filing Form 1099-Misc and reporting amounts in Box 7 : Nonemployee Compensation , then you will need to meet the new filing deadline of January 31. If you don't have amounts in Box 7, then the deadline remains February 28 for paper filings or March 31 for electronic filings.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rocky Poole, PWV Treasurer/Financial Administrator, at (304) 744-7644 or at [email protected].

Prayer Concerns

Betty Chalfant, the mother of Presbytery of West Virginia Associate Presbyter for Mission Barbara Chalfant, was recently hospitalized and is now back at the Sunnyside Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, VA. Pray for her recovery.

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Sympathies

Sympathy to Jean Sutton and her family on the death of her father, Robert Culbertson, who passed away Dec. 30. in Illinois. Please keep Jean and her family in your prayers.

Sympathy to Anna Marie Oehlmann on the death of her husband, Lester Oehlmann, who passed away Jan. 2 in Cleveland, OH. Please keep Anna Marie in your prayers. Condolence cards may be sent to Anna Marie Oehlmann, PO Box 5273, Vienna, WV, 26105.

News from the Associate for Educational Ministry
Susan Sharp-Campbell

Equipping Disciples Events Are Back

Sunday, January 22 and Sunday, January 29

The proposed Revised Directory for Worship will be the focus of these events taking place at several sites across the presbytery in late January.

At the February 25 meeting of the presbytery, Teaching Elders and Ruling Elder Commissioners will be voting on amendments from the 2016 General Assembly to revise the Directory for Worship in our Book of Order. These events...Click here to read more

Youth Day of Service - Mission Possible

Saturday, February 4, 10 am-4 pm

A Day of Service around the Presbytery for youth in grades 6-12 and their adult advisors.

Youth across the presbytery are encouraged to join together in a variety of mission projects during SOUPER BOWL weekend; these events will take place at three different sites - First Presbyterian Church, Clarksburg; Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg; and South Park Presbyterian Church, Charleston. Click here to read more

Communication Workshop with Sky Kerschner

February 10-11. Register by January 18.

Good communication is critical to successful leadership. This workshop, the first in Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox, will go over three models of communication, practice each... Click here to read more

Self-Care Workshop with Stephen McCutchan

(Part 2 of Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox)

Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18

In addition to the stress of providing comfort and spiritual guidance in response to the recent natural disaster, church professionals are intimately involved with the normal emotional roller coaster of people in their community. How can we be intentional about addressing our own health needs so that we both model and guide people in loving self and neighbor? Click here to read more

Younger Youth Retreat

The Presbytery's Younger Youth Retreat, "SUPER" HEROES: Ordinary People who do Extraordinary Things,'' will be held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, Friday, March 3- Sunday, March 5. This Youth Council-led retreat is for those in grades 6-8 and their adult advisors. Complete information and registration forms will be sent to churches in mid-January. The registration deadline is Monday, February 20. For more information, contact Susan Sharp Campbell.

Montreat Youth Conference IV

Saturday, July 15-Saturday, July 22

A Montreat Youth Conference is a special place for nurturing faith through worship, keynotes, fellowship, small groups and recreation. In July 2017, the Presbytery will take up to 16 youth, rising 9th graders in fall 2017 - those in the class of 2017, and 4 adults to Youth Conference IV. Due to limited space and the desire to have as many churches represented as possible, there will be a two-tier registration process; this is fully described in information sent to churches in December. The cost per youth is $350, which includes conference costs, housing, transportation and most meals. The registration deadline for this event is Thursday, February 16. For more information, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell.

Educator Clergy CRE Retreat

February 27-28 at Hawks Nest State Park

The focus of this event is Challenges for the Church in a Time of Change. Carl Horton, of the Peacemaking Program of the PC(USA), will be our leader for this retreat. Click here to read more

St. John's Bible Workshops

Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston

The St John's Bible (SJB) is the first handwritten, illuminated Bible of its scale in more than 500 years. Written in English, using the NRSV translation, the SJB took an international team of six artists and six calligraphers fifteen years to complete (1995-2011). With 1,150 pages of handwritten calligraphy, plus 160 major illustrations, the SJB is the only full-scale, illuminated, fine art edition of the Bible. Click here to read more

Festival of Faith

April 1 - Mark your calendar!

Jessica Tate, Director of NEXT Church ( www.nextchurch.net ), will be our keynote presenter for Festival of Faith, April 1, at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston. In addition to the keynote presentation focusing on how there has been a shift in American religious life in the midst of cultural trends affecting church life and signs of new life in the church, Jessica will also lead a workshop looking at patterns and practices that creative and courageous congregations are using to navigate the cultural changes in religious and community life . In addition, there will be worship, workshops, fellowship and fun for all ages.

Information packets will be sent to churches in mid-January and posted on the presbytery's website.

MISSION FAIR

The Mission Co mmittee of the Presbytery of West

V i rginia will pre sent "Mis sion Fair: Passport to Ministry," an inform a tion fair regarding the ministries supported by the presbyter y and its congre gations, fro m 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, F ebruary 25 at First Presbyterian Church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston. If you have a min istry to share and would like to reserve table space at the fair, p lea se call Barbara Chalfant at the Presbytery office, 304-744-7634. Click to learn more

Clergy Renewal Program

The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary provide funds to congregations to support renewal leaves for their pastors. Congregations may apply for grants of up to $50,000 to underwrite a renewal program for their pastor and for the pastor's family, with up to $15,000 of those funds available to the congregation to help cover costs for ministerial supply while the pastor is away. There is no cost to the congregations or the pastors to apply; the grants represent the Endowment's continued investment in renewing the health and vitality of American Christian congregations. Find more information at www.cpx.cts.edu/renewal .

Part-Time Church Organist Wanted

First Presbyterian Church - St. Albans

Part-time 10-15 Hrs/week

Responsibilities include planning, leading, and playing for Sunday morning sanctuary worship service as well as any additional special services and events. Salary based on expertise and experience. Send cover letter, resume, three references, and salary requirements to: First Presbyterian Church C/O Staffing - 201 Kanawha Terrace St. Albans WV 25177. Direct telephone inquiries to 681-235-2232 . Please, no in-person or telephone inquiries to church.

Introducing New Resources

Church Mutual Insurance Company has a new series of eight videos to help your congregation protect itself and its members from possible injuries and other problems. Included are these DVDs:

Abuse at Camp
Wrongful Termination, Harassment, Discrimination
Preventing Workplace Injuries Is No Accident
Improving Safety at Your Worship Center
Preventing Youth & Child Sex Abuse
Crime-Proof Your Worship Center
Fire Safety at Your Worship Center
The Road to Safer Transportation

Each video is about fifteen minutes and designed to make your church a safer place to worship, meet and enjoy fellowship. Available now to check out from the Presbytery Resource Center.

Synod Seeks Hopeful Stories

In 2017, as part of the Synod of the Trinity's 300th anniversary, it is planning to share stories of hope about people maintaining faith while overcoming great obstacles. The feature is called "Revealing Hope," and the Synod is seeking stories to share. If your church might have a story, either from a member or someone your church helps through social services and/or ministry, contact the Synod directly at [email protected] or 1-800-242-0534.

Daily Prayer App

If you haven't already, be sure to check out PC(USA)'s Daily Prayer app, which allows users a simple and convenient way to practice daily devotions. The app selects texts from Bible readings and Book of Common Worship prayers and preassembles them according to the day of the week or hour of the day.

Click here to read more

*Also on the webpage

You will find located on the Home page of the website (scroll down past the photo) direct links to recent newsletters, Equipping Disciples events, Ministry Toolbox events, the Pray-For church list for 2017, e-news Archives and more. Please let us know how we can improve the website and whenever you encounter any problem with it. Thank you.

Editor's Note:

In order to keep the PWV Newsletter fresh, articles sent

for publication will generally run for two consecutive issues.

If you wish for a piece to continue to run, please resubmit.

We encourage you to reword, add a photo (or different photo),

or change the piece in some way so that the news stays

fresh and interesting.

Presbytery of West Virginia, 520 Second Avenue, South Charleston, WV 25303

Phone (304) 744-7634, Fax (304) 744-7649,
www.wvpresbytery.org

Office Hours: Monday -Thursday 8:30AM-5:30PM

[email protected]