We are a team. When we gather to worship and do the business of our Presbytery it is a time of fellowship and renewal. Thank you to all who took the time to come to the September Presbytery meeting. It is sincerely appreciated. Sharing those few hours together reawakens our covenantal connection to each other. 

Thank you to the wonderful and gracious folks at Huntsville Presbyterian Church for hosting the September Presbytery meeting. The warm welcome, goodie bags, spectacular PC (USA) cookies, delicious dinner, and fellowship time was appreciated by all in attendance. It can be hard for small churches to host the Presbytery, yet our Huntsville friends did so with grace, ease, and thorough enjoyment by all. Everything was organized perfectly. 

Gratitude is also extended to Pastor Herbie Miller who gave an uplifting sermon, Pastor Ben Beres who presided over Holy Communion, the Huntsville choir who sang beautifully, and the organist who was outstanding. As always at Presbytery meetings the sound of so many voices raised in song, praising our Lord, is beyond words to describe, but it is felt with the heart. 

The worship sections of our Presbytery meeting were used, with permission, from some of the churches I have been honored to worship with these last few months. Thank you to Covenant in Springfield, Clifton, Corinth, Westwood in Hamilton, and my home church of Bath. Please know that the spirit prevalent in each church is also included in other ways at Presbytery. It is with gratefulness I thank the many churches who have warmly welcomed me in many ways these last few months. 

There are events happening in many of our churches during September and October. Go visit Applefest which runs September 22 - 24, and see our friends at New Paris PC who work tirelessly at this event. Reily PC will be hosting a delicious Pork Chop Supper on October 7th.

Northminster in Springfield will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation each Sunday as monologues will be delivered in character from Calvin, Luther, Zwingly, and Henry VIII. These are just a taste of the varied events happening around our area churches. Also of note will be a tree planting at Kirkmont Center in memory of Laurie Elder on September 24th at 2:30 pm. All are invited to come throw a shovel of dirt, plant a tree in Laurie's name, and celebrate her life together in a space she loved. 

For churches who would like help setting up a website there will be a workshop on Saturday, September 30, at the Presbytery office from 10 - 12 noon. This idea came from a visit with our friends at Seven Mile PC. Indeed, we are a team together. Each church, no matter the size of the building or membership number, is very important. We find this in 1 Corinthians 12:12 & 27, " There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body... You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it."  

Sharing in the words of Presbyterian minister Mr. Fred Rogers: "As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has - or ever will have - something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression." 

Our next opportunity to gather together will be November 11 at Fairmont Presbyterian Church. Be there early for special music just prior to the start of the meeting. Our Executive Presbyter, Dennis Piermont, will be preaching as this is his last event with us. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend as we connect and inspire each other in friendship. Come and see how God is working through our 49 churches. God's love and peace be with each of you.