Issue 165 | March 26, 2020
Click on an underlined title to go to the full article
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Presbytery office is closed. Staff is working remotely and available to help. Contact information is below.

Ed Thompson, General Presbyter
[email protected] or 304-543-0016

Maureen Wright, Stated Clerk/Associate for Congregational Ministry
[email protected] or 304-546-9820

Rocky Poole, Treasurer/Financial Administrator
[email protected] or 304-481-7239

Barbara Chalfant, Associate for Mission
[email protected] or 434-944-0137

Susan Sharp Campbell, Associate for Educational Ministry
[email protected] or 304-645-4568

Amy Robinson, Office Manager/Communications Director
[email protected] or 304-206-6173

Nellie Howard, Resource Center Director
[email protected] or 304-481-8027

Mark Miller, Bluestone Facilities Director
[email protected] or 304-466-0660

Sarah Specht, Bluestone Program Director
[email protected] or 304-690-6667
God is at work in the midst of the disruption we are experiencing. Our churches have quickly adapted to online worship, online Bible study, and online meetings. Many have adopted online giving as well. I wouldn’t have thought this was possible. Presbyterians typically move slowly. While I hate the saying “God’s frozen chosen,” there is an element of truth to that motto. I’m sure there are churches that have been talking about doing things online for years but weren’t quite able to convince themselves that they needed to or they couldn’t agree on what to do or how to do it or perhaps they felt that it was going to be too expensive or wasn’t really necessary. Now, as a result of the coronavirus, many churches have stepped into the 21st century in less than month. It’s a miracle.
A number of our churches have asked for guidance about celebrating communion in this time of the coronavirus pandemic. As pastoral leaders gathered by Zoom last week, my initial response was no due to the fact that our tradition and the Directory for Worship start with God’s people gathering physically at the Lord’s Table. It has been a week of back and forth, with Mid Council leaders discussing the issue, the Office of the General Assembly issuing a confusing opinion, and the Advisory Committee on the Constitution of the PC(USA) offering another opinion. On March 24, the Office of the General Assembly issued a longer, clearer Advisory Opinion...
As most of our congregations have suspended services at the church and are moving to electronic means for worshiping, a consideration of this change is how to maintain receiving a regular offering. Below is some information on ways that we can help our members continue their faithful giving and to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the church.
Building on their earlier pastoral letter  to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the COVID-19 health crisis, denominational leaders the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II and the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett have  recently released a video  created in the Chapel at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
J. Herbert Nelson, II calls on Presbyterians to worship in their homes.
Presbytery Youth Council & Scholarship/Loan applications
Easter & Holy Week in a Time of Social Distancing webinar
Watch here; free but registration required
Job opening - Application deadline: Tuesday!
Choir Director and Organist
First Presbyterian Church, Charleston
First Presbyterian Church has a long tradition of excellence in music coupled with an intellectual, liturgy-based worship style while incorporating a wide, eclectic mix of music.The church has a cathedral-like sanctuary with two pipe organs, including the only C.B. Fisk organ in the state. The Choir Director/Organist will serve as the principal musician of the church, providing leadership, management, collaboration, and coordination of the music ministry program. Click here for a position description, including job qualifications and ways to apply.
This year’s Festival of Faith at First Presbyterian, Charleston has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Festival of Faith planning team has been in contact with keynote speaker Jill Duffield, editor of the Presbyterian Outlook, and has two potential dates later in the year to reschedule. As soon as we know the exact date, we will share far and wide! If you have already paid by Paypal, your money will be refunded to your method of payment; if you have already paid by check, you will be contacted by email by the end of the month regarding your payment. Contact Susan Sharp Campbell at  [email protected]  or 304-645-4568 with questions.
Save the date for the 2020 Small Church Conference in September!
In our efforts to reach out to various parts of the Presbytery, we are taking the Small Church Conference a little more to the north this year. Our host church will be First Presbyterian Church of Clarksburg for the conference scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12. As the planning team continues its work, we will periodically share updates and information.
  • Faith Climate Action Week
  • Earth Day Sunday resources
  • Pizza Garden seed kits
Click above for a PDF of available jobs with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in a variety of sectors.
CONDOLENCES
Willadean (King) Pleasants, the aunt of Winfield Presbyterian Church pastor David Bush, passed away Friday, March 20. Click here to read her obituary. Services were held this morning, with Rev. Bush officiating. Memorial donations can be made to Hubbard Hospice House West, 4605 MacCorkle Ave. SW, South Charleston, WV 25309. Please keep David, his wife Theresa, and the rest of his family in your prayers.
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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  MARCH newsletter in  color  or  black-and-white .
Need minute books/paper or church registers?
A note from Pres. Historical Society's David Staniunas
Good day, friends, from the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia! My name is David Staniunas. I'm a records archivist at the Presbyterian Historical Society, and in February, it was my pleasure to spend some time with your presbytery at the Stated Meeting at Riverlawn. I wanted to thank you all for your hospitality! You can read about what I learned during my visit on our blog. I hope I can see you all again soon. Blessings.
Eleanor says goodbye to Pastor John Yeager
The congregation of Eleanor Presbyterian Church said their goodbyes on March 8 as Pastor John Yeager departed after 5 years at the church. He will begin his new ministry at Enslow Park Presbyterian in Huntington on Sunday.
Edgewood's "Get Together Tuesday" ministry
At Edgewood Presbyterian's last "Get Together Tuesday" ministry, the women present enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship, playing bingo and board games, putting together picture puzzles and relishing a nice lunch of salad and dessert. (Photo by Carolyn Napier)
Eleanor Presbyterian Church once had stained Blenko Glass windows that were dismantled when newer windows were installed many years ago. Some of the old windows were given away, others were sold, still others were broken and a few were saved but then lost. Recently, three of them were found in an old shed when the Scout Troop at the church did a spring cleaning. These windows were re-framed and mounted in the sanctuary, with lightboxes added to highlight the stained glass colors. There are twelve panes of glass mounted in three window boxes. The project was completed by Pastor John Yeager and others before he departed for his new ministry at Enslow Park in Huntington.
QUICK LINKS
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.