Issue 209 | February 24, 2022
Click on an underlined title to go to the full article or link
“If we do nothing different, by 2040, all of our current churches sized 100 members and less will be gone.” There’s a PowerPoint slide that will get your attention. The quote comes from Dr. Bill Drummond and was included in the workshop “Designing for the New Norm,” led by Jim Kitchens and Deborah Wright at the Association of Mid Council Leaders/ Association of Stated Clerks Winter Workshop Gathering. The footnote to that slide was even more troubling. “*Post covid estimates that to 2030.” (...) The caveat, of course, is the first part of that phrase – “if we do nothing different.” So the question becomes “What do we need to be doing differently?”
Register by next Thursday!
March 19 at Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church, Charleston
With all the things that distract us from God, it’s easy to lose oneself in today’s world; this day for youth in grades 6-8 and their adult advisors will be a time to consider opportunities and find one’s spark again in community with others. Youth Council members will provide leadership. Masks will be required. Cost per person is $15, which is due with registration, as are lunch orders.
9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at Charleston First Presbyterian Church
Do you have questions about
  • Incorporation of churches
  • Work as a Clerk of Session or Church Treasurer
  • Becoming an Authorized Lay Preacher or Commissioned Pastor
  • Online giving for your church
  • Planning for a disaster
  • Worshiping through media
Do you like:
  • Star Trek
  • Singing
If so, Festival of Faith has workshops for all that and more, plus the keynote “Just Creation: Shalom for our Common Home,” by Columbia Theological Seminary Professor of Old Testament William P. Brown. Early registration deadline is Thursday, March 17. Registration must be received in the office by that date to order lunch. The cost by March 17 is $20 per person or $30 per family, with lunch an additional $13 per person.
We invite you to print and include this newsletter in your bulletin or church newsletter, share it with members, and/or distribute it in your community. Click for the March newsletter in color or grayscale.
  • Financial Markets Commentary
  • Employment Guidance for Sessions and Session Personnel Committees
  • 2022 IRS Standard Mileage
  • 2022 Per Capita
  • 2022 Shared Mission Pledge Request
  • 2022 Benevolence Remittance Form
  • Board of Pensions news
  • 2022 Special Offerings
Presbyterian Youth Triennium cancelled...
In a time when there are fewer youth in our congregations, the presbytery’s Youth Council offers a place for youth to find support, develop leadership skills, and grow in their faith. Are their youth currently in grades 9-11 in your congregation that might be interested in serving on the Youth Council? If so, please share the information linked above with them. There is also a need for adults who enjoy working with youth to serve in partnership with the youth. If that’s you, please consider applying; if that’s someone you know in your congregation, please share the information with them. Application deadline is March 31.
Registration is open - sign up now!



Click the image for
News from PWV's

By Rev. Robin Blakeman
So, after hearing Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley’s presentation during the November Presbytery meeting, you want to save money on energy usage in your church? I am here to provide you with some information to get started. Many of you know me from my work with the Stewardship of Creation Ministry Team; I am also now the Director of Energy Efficient WV and a steering committee member of WV Interfaith Power and Light. Both organizations have informational resources to share regarding energy efficiency, renewable energy, and land/property stewardship. (Image via vecteezy.com.)
Ashes to go at Enslow Park on Wednesday
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and on that day, Enslow Park Presbyterian in Huntington will host a drive-thru distribution of ashes in the parking lot from 11:30-1 and 4-5:30. Additionally, there will be a devotional service at 6:30 p.m., which can be viewed on the church's YouTube page. In April, the church will host more devotional services during Passion Week.
Charleston's Bream Memorial seeks a musician

Musical requirements:
  • Strong piano skills (organ a plus, but not required)
  • Sight-reading proficiency
  • Ability to accompany congregational singing

Position requirements:
  • Available to play on Sunday mornings, 10:45 AM-12 noon
  • Music selected in consultation with pastor each week; includes 3 hymns, plus 2-3 instrumental selections
  • Payment per diem: $100
  • Option to play for additional services as needed

For more information or to apply, please contact Pastor Dawn Adamy at 304-410-6391 or breamspastor@gmail.com.
Edgewood Presbyterian holds a Saturday of Service
Recently, Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg warmed up a cold, snowy Saturday with SOS, or Saturday of Service, wherein they prepared a free hot meal and served it through drive-thru. Nearly 400 meals were served to community members in a three-hour span.
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Additionally, they collected nonperishables for their community food pantry as part of the annual Souper Bowl of Caring.
UPCOMING WEBINARS -- Click each image for more information
Nonprofit Security Grant Program
The Struggle is Real
Focus: Rural poverty
Day of Learning
Focus: Planned giving
From the Stated Clerk: PCUSA Employment Guidance for Sessions & Session Personnel Committees
Has your session looked recently at its personnel processes and policies? This PCUSA guide, designed for congregations of all sizes, explores hiring and oversight of staff, roles of various individuals and groups in the process, compliance with civil law, and more - with reflections on Presbyterian theological perspective and a commitment to equity/inclusion.
God’s timing is always right. Sharon Bell was working a secular job, living in Teays Valley, and looking for a call to a Presbyterian church in the area. She had been looking for quite some time and had just decided that with the Covid-19 pandemic going on, she would take her name off the list for a while. Before she did that, she decided to look at the online opportunity list one more time. That was when she saw the Ministry Information Form from Highlawn Church in Huntington. She was attracted to their open and affirming stance and to their love of mission, so she applied, and things went quickly from there. In July 2021, The Rev. Sharon Bell became the pastor of Highlawn Presbyterian Church in Huntington!
Has your church sent in its 2022 directory info?
If not, please do so by MONDAY! You can fill out this form, then email it to office@wvpresbytery.org or mail it to Presbytery of WV, 520 Second Ave., South Charleston, WV 25303. It is important that we get this information, so we can keep the directory up-to-date. Thank you.
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.