October 11, 2018        Issue 132
Use the QUICK LINKS at the bottom of this column to be directed to additional news.

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stafflist
Presbytery Staff

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
Prayer List for Churches
Week 41 - October 14
Belington Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church, Charleston
Bramwell Presbyterian Church
In Kenya:  Kiamutiga (Kay-ah-MOOT'ee-gah) Presbyterian Church

Week 42 - October 21
Davis Memorial Presbyterian, Gassaway
Fleming Memorial Pres., Fairmont
In Kenya: Mathakwaini (Mah-THAH-kwab-ENN'nay) Presbyterian Church
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.

October 14
In Mark 10:17-31, Jesus told the man before him, "Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." The man went away grieving and shocked for he had too many possessions and couldn't give them up. Not everyone is blessed to have everything they need. Too many people lack good food, water, even a place to live. If you are blessed to have enough and a little to share, choose a charity to give to this week. You may take some cans of food to a food pantry or clean out your closet and take clothes to a clothes closet.

October 21
Mark 10:35-45 tells the story of two disciples of Jesus, James and John, who ask Jesus if when they die they will be able to sit on each side of Jesus in heaven because they thought that would make them great. Jesus said he is not able to make that decision, and Jesus said that is not the way to become great. To become great, you must be a servant. What are ways you can be a servant to others? How can you be a helper?
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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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Ed Thompson
In preparation for the Mid Council Leaders Gathering in Chicago, we were asked to read the book  Fear+Less Dialogues  by Gregory C. Ellison II. It's a good book, and I recommend it to you. Even better than the book, though, was the process the author lead us through. On paper, it seemed kind of hokey; in person, it was profoundly moving.
From the Presbytery's Treasurer
Submit your Employer Agreement by Friday, so your employees will be able to enroll for 2019 benefits beginning Oct. 29.

People older than 70-and-a-half  can make a donation from their traditional IRAs to charity. Learn more at the link. 
Don't forget the Friends of Bluestone Golf Outing on Saturday at Little Creek Golf Course in South Charleston. It's captain's choice and starts at 1 p.m., with lunch at noon. Cart and green fee is $30, and donations to Friends of Bluestone are accepted. RSVP to bluestone.friends@gmail.com.
Ruling elders participating in Communion training Sunday at Gilbert Presbyterian Church and Beechwood Presbyterian Church, Parkersburg, should complete the advance assignment - sections W-3.0401 (page 92) and W-3.0409-3.0414 (95-98) - from the 2017 Book of Order (older versions will not work) and bring their book/those pages with them. Download the Book of Order here. 
Registration deadline is Monday!
Oct. 27 at the Presbytery office
If you preach at all, no matter how often, this final 2018 Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox course is for you! Richard Voelz, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary, will lead it. Cost is $75. Registration deadline is Oct. 15.
Background check consent form updated
The provider we use for background checks updated their  consent form and reporting in September due to updated federal and state requirements. Telephone number, which was not previously requested, is now a required part of the check. Our consent form, located in the Documents section of the website, has been updated. Please download a copy of the new form, or let us know if you'd like it mailed to you.
from your Presbytery Resource Center

There is a new fund at the Presbytery of WV with a goal of assistance for rental housing deposits for low-income older adults. Learn more, including how to donate, at the link above.

Many of you may not know that there was a short but significant water crisis in Kincaid, Fayette County, in late August. We contacted Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and they sent us a grant.

In September 2017, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance graciously granted the WV VOAD bridge project $90,000 to fund the building of bridges in WV.  Since then, the funds have made an astounding difference in the bridge project's ability to move forward more quickly and efficiently. 

If your congregation would like to create Church World Service  cleanup buckets and/or hygiene kits to go to areas affected by Hurricane Florence, we will collect them at the presbytery office. Click the above link for more information.
Nov. 1 at Davis & Elkins College 
The Davis & Elkins College 2018 William E. Phipps Interdisciplinary Lectureship presents "Why Don't Muslims Condemn Terrorism? Racist Scapegoating and Western Violence in an Age of Islamophobia" by Islamophobia expert Todd H. Green . Admission is free, and a reception follows.
Relations Committee seeking photos for November Presbytery meeting slideshow 
The Relations Committee is compiling photos from across the presbytery for a slideshow to be shared at the Nov. 15 Presbytery meeting. If you have photographs from congregational or presbytery events you'd like to include, please email them to Elizabeth Campbell-Maleke at  damaigrace@hotmail.com  or Chris Bailey at  baileych@marshall.edu  by Oct. 20. Please also include a few details about the photo (names of churches and/or participants pictured, description of the event, etc.).  We look forward to celebrating our sharing of God's grace and goodness together.
Jan. 2-5, 2019. Registration now open. 
The 2019 College Conference at Montreat will respond to God's call for compassion in a broken world. Keynote speakers are Eboo Patel, residents of the Swannanoa Valley Correctional Center and chaplains Carol Dalton and Shannon Spencer. Registration is $145 and $253, increasing by $10 each on Nov. 1 and Dec. 1. 
The  Presbyterian Planning Calendar is seeking photo submissions for use in its 2019-2020 edition. Focusing on congregational vitality, fighting poverty, dismantling racism and other mission activities, the request also asks, "Who are the unsung heroes of your congregation?"  Submission deadline is Feb. 14, 2019.
will be July 16-20, 2019 at Purdue University. Complete information will be 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. 
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.  
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 high school youth and their adult advisors. The weekend will explore what encourages us in our faith and recharges our batteries of faith. Information has also been emailed to congregational leaders and can be found on the website. Questions? Please contact Susan Sharp Campbell at 304-645-4568 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com. 
Monday and Tuesday 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.

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 the October newsletter in t he format of your choice:  two-sided color ,  two-sided black-and-white ,  color booklet  and  black-and-white booklet .
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.
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.
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 PC(USA) news digests, which will include them when available. 
Oct. 26 at Embassy Suites, Charleston
On Oct. 26, the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center will host Friday Night Lights at Embassy Suites in Charleston. Tickets are $85, with proceeds helping  provide fee subsidies for counseling services.
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 update (with fresh content, new wording and/or a new or different photo) and resubmit,  so that news stays  fresh and interesting. 

Presbytery of West Virginia, 520 Second Avenue,  South Charleston, WV 25303
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Office Hours: Monday -Thursday  8:30AM-5:30PM