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September 27, 2018 Issue 131
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Use the QUICK LINKS at the bottom of this column to be directed to additional news.
Email Presbytery staff using the directory below.
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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 Facilities Director
Sarah Specht
Bluestone Program Director
Amy Robinson
Office Administrator/Communications
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Prayer List for Churches
Week 39 - September 30
Parsons Presbyterian Church
Smithers Presbyterian Church
St. Marys Presbyterian Church
In Kenya:
Hubuini (Hobo-ENN'nay) Presbyterian Church
Week 40 - October 7
Spring Valley Presbyterian, Huntington
Upper Glade Presbyterian Church
Whittico Memorial Pres., Keystone
In Kenya: Ihithe (Ee-HITH'they) Presbyterian Church
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Nurturing Faith Ideas
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.
Christians pray a lot. James 5:13-20 tells us that we should pray for everything. If you are suffering, pray. If you are cheerful, sing songs of praise. If you are sick, the members of the church should pray for you. We need to pray for one another. "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective," the author of James says. Who needs your prayers this week? Offer prayers each day for those in need.
October 7
In Mark 10:13-16, the disciples try to stop parents from bringing their children to see Jesus. They didn't want to bother Jesus with children, but Jesus loves people of all ages, especially children. What is something you can do to make sure everyone, even children, know they are loved by Jesus? If possible, do it this week.
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(Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)
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On our Home page
You will find located on the Home page of the website (scroll down past the banner, introduction and grant buttons) direct links to recent newsletters, the Pray For church list and Nurturing Faith Ideas for the year and more. Please let us know how we can improve the website and whenever you encounter any problem with it. Thank you.
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Click on an underlined title to go to the full article
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Ed Thompson
In her first column in the alumni magazine, the new President of the College of William and Mary, Katherine Rowe, writes about "How Constraints Spark Creativity." ... Constraint sparks creativity for colleges and for churches.
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This fall, the Presbytery is offering
training for ruling elders to celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Ruling elders must be approved by the session to participate, and Clerks of Session are asked to register participants with the Stated Clerk.
Remaining events are
in Lewisburg and Oak Hill on Oct. 7, and
Parkersburg and Gilbert on Oct. 14. Registration is one week in advance of each event, making Monday the deadline for the Lewisburg and Oak Hill events.
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Registration deadline is today
 Presby Prep course in October
Would you like to know more about what we believe as Presbyterians who share in the Reformed Tradition? The Reformed Theology course of Presby Prep will provide you an opportunity to do so. It's offered the first three Saturdays of October, each in a different city; you choose your location. Cost is $10, with registration due today.
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Registration deadline: Monday
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Help those affected by Hurricane Florence
If your congregation would like to create
Church World Service
cleanup buckets and/or
hygiene kits to go to the areas affected by Hurricane Florence, we are willing to collect them at the presbytery office. Please bring $5 per bucket and $2 per kit to defray the cost to Church World Service of transportation and handling.
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From the Presbytery's Treasurer
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Presby Prep course in November
As Presbyterians, we trace our history and traditions back to the early church, through the Protestant Reformation and into the 21st century. Learn more about our history and how it has shaped us today in this course. It's offered the first three Saturdays in November, each in a different city; you choose your location. Cost is $10, with registration due Oct. 8.
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October 31 is the deadline to apply for a Presbyterian Historical Society Heritage Preservation Grant, which
covers up to $500 of the cost of digitizing official records (which includes storage at HPS). It's for congregations 250 members or smaller that are at least 50 years old. This is a great way to preserve the story of a congregation from flood, fire, and the memories of our congregations.
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On Sunday, two congregations will celebrate notable staff retirements.
First,
Rev. Rick Wilson will conclude his ministry with Highlawn Presbyterian Church in Huntington; he has been pastor at the church for the past eight years. Second, First Presbyterian Church of St. Albans will honor longtime church secretary Andi Pease with a retirement reception immediately after worship. Congratulations to Rick and Andi, and thank you for your service.
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Beginning Oct. 7 at First Presbyterian, Charleston
This new Lay Academy course, How to Make Stress Work for You, will focus on helping you leverage stress to your advantage. It is free and meets 4-5:30 p.m. Sundays Oct. 7-Nov. 11, Jan. 13-Feb. 17 and March 10-April 14. For more information or to register, call the church office at 304-343-8961 or Dr. Bob Newman at 304-345-0225.
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 Oct. 26 at Embassy Suites, Charleston
On Oct. 26, the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center will host Friday Night Lights (formerly known as the Dent Dinner) at Embassy Suites in
Charleston. Tickets are $85, with proceeds helping
provide fee subsidies for counseling services.
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Oct. 15-16 in Charleston
The 137th West Virginia Council of Churches Annual Assembly will be held Oct, 15-16
at St. John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston. It will feature Rev.
Cherisna Jean-Marie of Bethany College and Bethany Memorial Church and Rabbi Victor Urecki of B'nai Jacob Synagogue and
offer four tracks: Faith and Order; Prison Ministry; Substance Use Disorder; and Compassion Calls Us. Registration is $30, with additional costs for meals. Scholarships are available.
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By Donna Frischknecht Jackson | Presbyterians Today
Racial and gender diversity, drugs, hunger - big-city challenges have come to Main Street U.S.A. Presbyterians Today is launching a three-part series, "Rural Realities," to explore the challenges and blessings for today's rural churches as they navigate a new reality. In the first installment, PT talks to pastors (including Rev. Anna Pinckney Straight from Old Stone Presbyterian) about the racial diversity and gender identification issues in their small communities.
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Regarding Ruling Elders is a monthly PC(USA) series for spiritual leaders. This piece by Joan Gray focuses on how places and times of
insufficiency are invitations to experience God's sufficiency.
You can find more Regarding: Ruling Elders articles here, or sign up for daily or weekly PC(USA) news digests, which will include them when they're available.
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will be July 16-20, 2019 on the campus of Purdue University. This is preliminary information, with complete information sent to church leaders the week of Oct. 29. Cost is $450 per person, which includes all programming, food (minus meals while traveling), lodging, transportation and two t-shirts.
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Oct. 27 at the Presbytery office
 Do you preach every week? Once a month? Once a year? It doesn't matter. If you preach at all, this course if for you! Richard Voelz, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary, will lead this final 2018 Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox course. Cost is $75. Registration deadline is Oct. 15.
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The Presbytery will go on a discipleship safari to the Nyeri Presbytery, our sister presbytery in Kenya, Aug. 21-Sept. 2, 2019. Make plans now to join the trip! Maximum cost is $3,000. First payment should be made by Nov. 1.
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2018 Older Youth Retreat
Nov. 16-18 at Bluestone
Jen Evans, Associate Pastor for Youth, Young Adult and Families with Children Ministries at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, AR, will lead this retreat for youth in grades 9-12 and adult advisors/chaperones. Throughout the weekend, we will explore what encourages us in our faith and recharges our batteries of faith. Information has also been sent to congregational leaders by email and can be found on the website. If you need printed information or have questions, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell at 304-645-4568 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com.
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With several of our churches in the midst of minister searches, we thought it important to pass along information from Associate General Counsel April Davenport from the Office of the General Assembly in regards to the effect of the recent tax law changes on moving expenses. After reading this notice, if you have any questions or need additional information, please give me a call at 304-744-7634 or send an email to treasurer@wvpresbytery.org.
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Old Stone Presbyterian celebrates its 235th anniversary
On Sunday, Sept. 9, Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg held a special worship for its 235th year, including a brief service near the site of the first church building, which is located about a mile and a half from town in what is now a cow pasture. (Photos by Ed Thompson.)
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LEFT: Marker at the site of the original church location.
ABOVE: Rev. Anna Pinckney Straight, the pastor at Old Stone, discusses the church's history with two young congregation members. |
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 Westminster Foundation of WV celebrates Rev. Dr. Shelly Barrick Parsons in her 15th year of ministry. Shelly was ordained in August 2003 in the Presbytery of New Hope and started her call at West Virginia University as Presbyterian Campus Pastor on Sept. 1, 2003. In addition to that primary call, she is a lecturer in WVU's Department of Religious Studies, the Executive Director of the Harless Center, and Director of WVU Campus Ministry.
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Oct. 26-27
The Evolving Faith conference is sold out, but all general sessions, including keynote speakers and panel discussions, are being recorded. Those who register for the webcast can livestream the events as they happen and have replay access through Dec. 15. Registration is $59 per connection, with each connection allowing an numerous people to view the webcast from a single access point. Click here to register.
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Editor's Note:
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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 update (with fresh content, new wording and/or a new or different photo) and resubmit,
so that news stays
fresh and interesting.
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Presbytery of West Virginia,
520 Second Avenue,
South Charleston, WV 25303
Phone (304) 744-7634, Fax (304) 744-7649,
Office Hours: Monday -Thursday 8:30AM-5:30PM
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