Nurturing Faith Ideas are intended to link worship with our daily lives. In 2019, they are organized around a common theme each month. The Presbytery's Nurture Committee encourages you to share them in your newsletters, bulletins, etc., as a way of nurturing faith in members of all ages. Ideas for the entire year can be found here.
March 17
During Lent, Christians often speak about giving up something – chocolate, meat, etc. – or we think about adding something into our daily life. Whatever you choose to do or not do over these next 40 days, remember this is a time to deepen your relationship with God. Consider adding a spiritual discipline into your day, such as fasting, prayer, or the Ignatian practice of examen, reflecting where you have experienced God's presence in your day and where you have felt more drained and disconnected from God. Commit to what you choose, and trust God to be at work in your life.
March 24
There are many important symbols throughout Lent, many taken from the Scripture, which remind us of Jesus's ministry and the events of Holy Week. These are a few examples of Lenten symbols: Ashes, Palms, Alabaster Flask, a Donkey, 30 Silver Coins, a Wash Basin and Towel, the Cross, Crown of Thrones and more. Consider taking one of these symbols and prayerfully exploring what the Bible says about them. You can find information about them here.
Beneath the banner, introduction and grant buttons, you'll find 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.
Click on an underlined title to go to the full article
Last Sunday, we started our second annual Road Show/Listening Tour. It’s a two-hour opportunity to have your Session Records reviewed, consult with our Treasurer/Financial Administrator about any questions regarding your church’s finances, and talk with me about trends in the Presbytery. In the second hour, we ask questions to learn more about how your church is doing, and we give you the chance to tell us how we as a presbytery might be able to help your church. This is open to everyone who is interested, not just clerks and treasurers. There are six more stops on the tour...
"Being Church Today" is the theme of this year's event, held April 6 at First Presbyterian, Charleston, with keynote presenter Brian McLaren speaking on "Being Church in a Time of Division." Additionally, participants can go to two or three workshops, engage in times of worship and fellowship, visit a Presbyterian Publishing Corporation bookstore, and attend a book signing by McLaren. After Monday, the registration cost increases, and you can no longer order lunch. Complete information, including registration and lunch order forms, is here and on the Presbytery website homepage. Contact Susan Sharp Campbell (
susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com, 304-645-4568) for more information.
All pastoral leaders who have not completed a Healthy Boundary Training workshop after 2014 must attend an event by June 15. They will be offered in Bridgeport (March 28), Lewisburg (April 24), Huntington (May 10) and Charleston (May 23).
If you have youth in grades 8-12, please encourage them to consider being part of the presbytery’s delegation. PYT is an opportunity to grow in faith with more than 5,000 youth from across the country and the world. If you need more information, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell (304-645-4568, susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com).
For those engaged in educational ministry in their congregation, whether as paid staff or a volunteer, these an opportunity to share questions, lift up issues, support one another and learn from each other.
Will Messer and Sky Kershner of the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center will lead this workshop, which focuses on communication, as well as the Enneagram and its 9 personality types. Cost is $60. Register by April 22.
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. Click for MARCH news in the format of your choice: two-sided color, two-sided black-and-white, color booklet or black-and-white booklet.
The Synod of the Trinity's Presbyterian Men's Network does not currently have a representative from the presbytery; anyone interested can contact Larry Ott of the Beaver-Butler Presbytery at 724-630-5770 or
larryott1952@gmail.com. The group meets twice a year in Bedford, PA.
Oct. 7-10. Cost: $322.50-$650, group rate available; rates rise by $75 after Aug. 26. A conference addressing systemic racism in the church. With preacher Traci Blackmon and key leaders Lis Valle-Ruiz, Raj Nadella and Jennifer Harvey.
Presbytery of Detroit's Hands-On Mission Work Group invites volunteer groups for summer and school break mission trips. Visit
hands-on-mission.com to learn more, or contact Michael Barconey at 313-903-6609 or michaelbarconey@gmail.com.
April 27 at Northminster Presbyterian Church, New Castle, PA
Author, teacher and futurist Dr. Leonard Sweet is the keynote speaker for this inaugural event that asks
pastors and church leaders to consider how the church of tomorrow will take shape. Registration is $35, but Westminster College is offering a $10 discount with the "ilovewestminster" code.
Many of us have fond memories of our college and young adult years; however, for a growing number of college students, young adulthood is a time when depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns are increasing. On April 8, Westminster Foundation will host Soul Shop for Collegiate Ministries, a daylong training for leaders in campus ministry settings to learn how to minister to people impacted by suicidal desperation. (Later in the year, the Presbytery will host an event for congregations.)
Editor's Note: In order to keep PWV News fresh, articles sent for publication will generally run for two consecutive issues. If you would like a piece to continue to run, please update (with refreshed content, new wording and/or a different photo) and resubmit, so that news stays fresh.
