Because Presbyterians love celebrating birthdays
The crowds on Zoom, mostly from Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana in Brownsville, gather to celebrate the 75th birthday of their pastor, Joel Martinez! Joel is on the top row, 3rd one over. See another picture below!
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MISSION PRESBYTERY
WEEKLY NEWS
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Presbytery Staff to Continue Working from Quarantine |
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It's still not clear whether we have a Covid case among the staff or not, so again, out of an abundance of caution, the staff is going to continue working from home for the next 10 days. The office will be back open on Monday August 9, God willing. You can continue to reach all of us via the office phone or by email. We apologize for the inconvenience, but this is so that we all have the best chance of getting, and staying, healthy. |
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Last week I wrote about a couple of things:
Nominations: We are praying for folks who feel called to serve on presbytery commissions or committees. Would you consider it? Here’s the link to the nominations form:
Monday, September 13, 2021: I need a few Clerks of Session who would volunteer their time to help get the minutes from 2019 and 2020 reviewed. I already have one volunteer! Let me know if you can help: statedclerk@missionpby.org.
The Committee on Representation and Participation is also taking applications for General Assembly Commissioners for the 2022 meeting. I’m attaching the form to the article, as well as what to expect for that meeting. Do prayerfully consider this service to the life of the church.
Praying for Mission Presbytery, her churches, pastors, church employees, elders, and members,
Laurie
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With August 1st being "National Friendship Day", Sallie believes that church friends will be a reason why people will return to the sanctuary from "pajama church".
Call up your bestie and read this week's Ponderings together.
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Conway Taliaferro Wharton, Jr. died on July 25th in San Marcos at the tender age of 101. He was born in Bulape, Belgian Congo, (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), March 20, 1920, to the Reverend Dr. Conway T. Wharton, Sr. and Ethel Susan Taylor Wharton, who served as missionaries to the Belgian Congo for several years. Eventually he made his way back to the United States, where he graduated from Austin College. While at Austin Seminary, he met his wife Ann Windrow Wharton.
He served many different places during his distinguished career, but largely within Mission Presbytery. His places of service include First in Edinburg, Covenant in Corpus Christi, First in San Marcos, First Luling, First Lockhart, First Kingsville, and finally Wimberley until his retirement; he was named Pastor Emeritus there. He also served as Moderator of Western Texas, South Texas, and Central Texas Presbyteries.
Ann and Conway together had three children, ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
According to his family, "His outstanding characteristics were his 'outgoing personality'. He was always a happy person, outstanding leader and never defeated no matter what happened. Though he wasn't a 'Holy Joe' he was a man of integrity and his morals were above reproach. He always defended and cared for the downtrodden, the needy and the underdog. He has driven across the state of Texas to help people more times than we can count. He's a shining example of what it means to be a Christian and he knew that 'God's in His Heaven and all's right with the world.' His three outstanding traits were Love, Stamina and Optimism, but the greatest of these was Love."
A memorial service is scheduled to be held at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church at 10:00 on Saturday, August 28. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit. They rest from their labors, and their works follow them.
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A memorial service for our former Executive Presbyter, Sylvia Washer, is being held next Thursday, August 5, 10:00am at Northwoods Presbyterian Church in Houston. Pandemic allowing, Sallie Watson and Laurie Palmer are planning to attend on behalf of the Presbytery.
If you would like to be part of a memorial gift for Sylvia, a good place to do so would be the Sylvia Washer Scholarship here in Mission Presbytery. It provides funds for children and youth to attend camps and conferences, and is overseen by the Education and Congregational Nurture committee. Please direct your gifts to Mission Presbytery, and indicate "Sylvia Washer Scholarship" on the check.
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Synod Sunday is August 22nd |
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Join 750+ congregations in the 11 Presbyteries of the Synod of the Sun in seeing or hearing the same message. Help us to celebrate the mission and ministry of the Synod of the Sun.
Synod Sunday is not one location - It happens in all the churches of the Synod of the Sun as part of their worship service!
Find Synod Sunday resources, including litanies and bulletins at
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Mission Presbytery PW Celebrates Spring Gathering |
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The Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering was held on April 9-10, 2021 via Zoom. We had over 125 women each day with 34 Mission congregations represented and all regions in Mission Presbytery represented.
Our theme was Hitting the Reset Button. Our theme was picked long before we knew anything about Covid-- the planning of our Spring Gatherings are a year ahead of time, but Hitting the Reset Button was a very timely theme!
Women in the Valley Region joined together naming themselves The Valley Chicas and hosted the event. Sheri Dittman was the Keynote Speaker and women around our Presbytery and beyond led workshops such as Mental Health during a Pandemic, Harp Music Ministry, Church Outside the Box, Chair Yoga, and Signing the Lord's Prayer on Zoom break-out rooms.
Each year the host of the Spring Gathering chooses a recipient for the offering; this year Su Casa de Esperanza and Young Christian Latina Leaders (YCLL) received $1,000 each.
Mark your calendars for our Spring Gathering 2022, March 18-20 at the beautiful Mo-Ranch Conference Center.
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Because Presbyterians are grateful to share space
First Presbyterian Church in Rockport are worshiping together in the Fellowship Hall of Rockport First Baptist Church. FBC welcomed the Presbyterians to use this space on Sunday mornings until the Presbyterian Church can be repaired after the entire downstairs was flooded the weekend of July 10.
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Because Presbyterians love Vacation Bible School
Gethsemane Presbyterian Church in Kingsville celebrates a very successful Vacation Bible School this month!
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Because Presbyterian youth love to stay home to do mission too!
Youth and adult sponsors from FPC/Austin served on an in-town mission last week. This photo is from Community First! Village, a community for the formerly homeless in Austin through Mobile Loaves and Fishes.
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Because Presbyterians love birthday boy pictures!
When the congregation of Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana in Brownsville celebrated the 75th birthday of their pastor Joel Martinez, they were also entertained with pictures from his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th birthdays (left to right).
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Hope Presbyterian Church in Northwest Austin is seeking a part-time organist for a permanent position. lease contact Nick Boltz, Director of Music at nick.boltz@hopeaustin.org or call the church at 512-258-9117 x 225.
Faith Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX, searching for a FULL-TIME solo pastor. Inquiries may be made to Cindy Zimmerman, faithpresbypnc@gmail.com.
Hospice Austin has a PRN-on-call chaplain position.
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We are Mission Presbytery, serving Christ in the World. In the Reformed Tradition, together we,
- Establish and equip congregations and session to carry out their missions;
- Recruit, receive, ordain, develop, and care for those called to service in the church;
- Enable mission and witness to the Gospel that congregations cannot accomplish alone; and
- Steward our resources faithfully and generously.
We are better together.
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