Co-Sponsored by Presbytery of the Miami Valley

Dr. Alan Wolfelt, the noted and best-selling author, educator, and renowned grief counselor, will lead two seminars in April focusing on grief. The seminars are being co-sponsored by Presbytery of the Miami Valley.

A Community Seminar with Dr. Wolfelt will be held Tuesday, April 26, 6:30-8:30 P.M., at Hillside Chapel of Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Beavercreek. Understanding Your Grief: One Day at a Time will be an evening of hope and healing. When someone in your life has died you are faced with the difficult, but important, need to mourn. This compassionate program provides you support in your personal grief experience.

This event is free of charge.

A Professional Seminar with Dr. Wolfelt will be held Wednesday, April 27, 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. (includes continental breakfast and a 1 hour break with provided lunch) at Sinclair Community College, Dayton. When Grief is Complicated: A Model to Understand, Identify, and Companion Grievers is an advanced level workshop which will help chemical dependency, social work, counseling, and other members of the caregiving community explore the critically important topic of "complicated" grief. With special consideration around overdose, suicide, and traumatic deaths, Dr. Wolfelt helps caregiving professionals understand the various factors that often contribute to complicated grief.

Registration is $60 virtual, $80 in-person, with 6 CEUs available.

On Saturday, April 16, at 2:00 P.M., Covenant Presbyterian Church, Springfield, will present a benefit performance to support Ukrainian citizens under attack, with donations going to support relief efforts in Ukraine.

The event will feature award winning musicians from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

The concert will begin at 2:00 P.M. in the Covenant Sanctuary, with open seating. The suggested donation for the concert is $15, however all donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Cash, check, or credit card will be accepted at the door.

Southminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton, will host Stations of the Cross Monday April 11 through Friday, April 15. Hours each day are 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. and 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. Please enter through Door 1. All are invited to attend.

This year, our Stations of the Cross is an interactive liturgy of ten stations using elements from A Sanctified Art, Traci Smith’s book, Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection, and the Rev. Anna Owens and the Rev. Steve Schumm. Each station has an interactive element that connects Jesus’ suffering to the suffering we see in the world today. This year, we have included elements for children to participate as they go on this journey together. 

With thanksgiving and joy, we share with you the hiring of our new presbytery bookkeeper, Kathleen “Kat” Millhouse. Kat brings a background in bookkeeping, Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR), payroll, and attention to detail to this position. She also brings a love for all things purple and a great deal of enthusiasm and joy.

Kat’s email is bookkeeper@miamipresbytery.org. Please join us in welcoming her!

Now is the time to begin your planning to attend the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Covenant Gathering to be held July 29-30 in Dearborn, MI.

You are invited to join your PW sisters from around the Synod with a theme of Hope Renewed – New Visions Imagined. See the attached registration flyer to see what is planned for you.

Registration is now open for 2022 Summer Camp at Kirkmont Center, Zanesfield.

Twelve camping experiences for all ages are available from June 5 through August 12.

Camps include Quilt Camp I and II, Beginners Camp, PYC Camp, PYC Jr. Camp, Camp Kirkmont l-IV, Camp Rejoice, You and Me Camp, and Alumni Camp.

Connect with others from around the Presbytery of the Miami Valley for a time of prayer.

On the first Wednesday of the month at noon we will gather, via Zoom, for a time of prayer. This guided time of prayer will allow us to pray for one another, our neighbors, and our world. Those participating will have a chance to share their particular joys and concerns, celebrations, and challenges.

To receive the Zoom link to join in prayer with others in the presbytery:

Email PMV Executive Presbyter Terry Kukuk at ep@miamipresbytery.org .

A hybrid 225th General Assembly this summer

The 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will meet June 18 – July 9 and will be held both in-person and online.

The in-person portion of the assembly will be held in Louisville, KY, site of the PC(USA) national offices. The assembly’s 13 committees will hold in-person meetings over a two-week period, with plenaries and worship being held online.

Registration for the 2022 NEXT Church National Gathering, held May 16-19, 2022, is now open!

The 2022 Gathering will be in the mountains of Montreat, NC, 18 or so miles east of Asheville, at the Montreat Conference Center from Monday, May 16 to Thursday, May 19.

The National Gathering will feature worship, coaching cohorts, plenty of free time, plus keynotes with psychologist, professor, and preacher, Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes.

“We especially invite you to show up in the places that make you uncomfortable, to the conversations that require vulnerability, and to those moments where courage is needed. Because that’s how real change is manifested.”

If you can’t join in person, virtual participation is an option for individuals and groups.