Issue 160 | January 9, 2020
Click on an underlined title to go to the full article
Overall, I did pretty well on my goals in 2019, which included the primary goal of strengthening the relationship between congregations and the presbytery. For 2020, I kept some of the same goals and added others; my primary goal has remained the same.
Clerks of Session should have received a letter outlining year-end information in early December, as well as a summary flyer included in the year-end Presbytery mailing. The letter included information on covenant renewals and the Statistical Report, as well as updated Pastor’s Compensation and Necrology Report forms. Covenant renewals are due Jan. 17, Pastor Compensation and Necrology reports are due Jan. 27, and Statistical Reports must be completed by Feb. 20. Additionally, information was included about the 2020 Listening Events, which include Session Record Reviews. Be sure to click the underlined title for more information on all of these things.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Presbytery office
LAST CHANCE! REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY!
We've been asked if this toolbox course is still happening, and it is! Open to anyone interested in learning more about preaching beyond the lectionary, it is $50, which does not include lunch. Pay online with Paypal or mail cash/check to the Presbytery office, 520 Second Ave., South Charleston, WV 25303.
Click on images for articles
  • 2020 Standard Mileage Rates
  • Congress repeals "parking tax"
  • Now's the time to designate housing allowances
  • 2020 Per Capita
  • 2020 Shared Mission Pledge Request
  • 2019 Year-End Benevolence Processing
  • Change to IRS W-4 Form
We invite you to print and include this newsletter in your bulletins or church newsletters, share it with your members and distribute it widely in your community. Click for the JANUARY newsletter in color or black-and-white.
CONDOLENCES
Richard Dean “Dick” Riddle, 88, of Weston passed away on Monday, Jan. 6, in Bridgeport Health Care Center following an extended illness. A former member of Weston First Presbyterian Church and a member of Clarksburg First Presbyterian Church, he was active in the presbytery, including serving multiple terms with the Trustees.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home, 730 N. Main Ave., Weston, with the funeral, officiated by Rev. John Koerner, following immediately in the funeral home's chapel. Interment will be in the Lewis County Memorial Gardens; full military honors and Masonic rites will be conducted. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 175 W. Main St., Clarksburg, WV 26301.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 1
Formerly the Youth Day of Service, this is a day of service on Saturday, Feb. 1, that will be based in different parts of the presbytery: Bream Memorial, Charleston; First, Clarksburg; and Highlawn, Huntington. People ages 10 through adults are encouraged to join together at the sites to participate in local mission in a variety of forms. Registration required by Jan. 23 to help event coordinators at the various sites plan.
Feb. 17-18 at John XXIII Pastoral Center, Charleston
The focus of this retreat will be on how a more literary understanding of the Bible can enrich the life of faith communities. Sarah Ruden, a poet, translator, essayist, and popularizer of Biblical linguistics, will be the presenter. Open to all Christian Educators, Pastors, Commissioned Pastors, Authorized Lay Preachers and their spouses. Cost $80-$200 depending on rooming preference.
The PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly is now receiving overtures to the 224 th  General Assembly, June 20-27, 2020. The Presbytery’s policy defines an overture as “an item of business that has been approved by a presbytery or synod that requests the General Assembly to take a particular action or approve or endorse a particular statement or resolution.” In accordance with our policy, a link to overtures filed with the General Assembly is now available on our home page, or  click here  to access it directly.
The 2020 Montreat Youth Conference, July 11-18, will provide opportunities for youth in our churches to connect with hundreds of high school youth from across the country to engage in faith conversations exploring who God is and who we are. Youth currently in grades 8-12 are invited, though space is limited as the Presbytery only has room for 14 people, including adults.
A note on requesting background check

As we start a new year, if your church has new staff members or volunteers you need background checked before they start, please click here for the most current background check request form. Check your church’s Child Protection Policy to see how long volunteers’ background checks are good. Finally, if you have a time-sensitive request, please let us know when it is sent the date by which you need the results. 
Are you ready for the new year?
The Presbytery still has available 2019-2020 Presbyterian Planning Calendars, which run through December 2020. Besides dates, they contain helpful resources and planning aids. If you need one for the new year, they're $10 each, plus shipping costs if mailing is required.
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Editor's Note: In order to keep PWV News fresh, articles will generally run for two consecutive issues. If you would like a piece to run longer, please update (with refreshed content, new wording and/or a different photo) and resubmit.