The Pathways to Home Ownership Project assists Dayton area families displaced from tornado-damaged rental housing in becoming first-time homeowners.

The Pathways to Home Ownership Project has been supported by the Presbytery of the Miami Valley through financial gifts and volunteer labor.

The Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold of Week of Compassion, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has worked to establish a host site and site leadership to assist in the renovation of two upcoming Tornado Survivor Pathway to Home Ownership homes (Smith and Natchez). This is a fantastic project that is helping tornado impacted renters become first-time homeowners.  Pathways is using properties donated by the tornado impacted jurisdictions, volunteer teams, and donated/grant funds to build houses for tornado survivors that were renters at the time of the tornadoes.

Volunteers that can commit to a minimum of three days of work are needed for the weeks of May 16, 23 and 30 . Teams can stay at the host site or commute if they're local. There is limited ability to handle individual volunteers, but maybe an an ad hoc team can be formed from those. Volunteer opportunities are also anticipated for weeks in June, July and August.

Congregations around the presbytery with questions about volunteering are encouraged to reach out to Caroline at 203-772-8597.

The Synod of the Covenant is offering Higher Education Scholarships for Christian Leaders to Presbyterian students within the bounds of the synod, which includes Presbytery of the Miami Valley.

Information and applications are now available for students pursuing vocational, associates, undergraduate, or first master’s degree (in theology). Candidates have the opportunity to discuss their work to strengthen congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism, and/or eradicate systemic poverty. Completed applications are due on May 15, 2022.

Contact Betty Angelini at bettyangelini@fpcwarren.org or Lisa Allgood at lisa@cpresby.org.

A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

The Pentecost Offering is usually received on the day of Pentecost, this year on June 5.

Greetings from UKirk Cincinnati!

Do you have any graduating high school seniors at your congregation heading to UC or Xavier in the Fall? Do you know of any college students already living in the Cincinnati area? Then let us know as we at UKirk would love to reach out and connect with them!

UKirk Cincinnati is the official PC(USA) Campus Ministry at the University of Cincinnati. We are a progressive and inclusive group of passionate Jesus followers committed to loving God and others in a diverse and complicated world. Our goal is to provide students with a safe place to explore their faith through authentic community, honest conversation, and radical service. We gather once a week at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Clifton for book studies, dinner church, movie nights, and local volunteer projects.

So if you know any students who might be interested in UKirk, send them our way! I can be reached at 937-789-2836 or Ukirk@cpresby.org. We would love to connect and invite them to some exciting orientation events this summer.

Thanks so much!

Jonathan Sparks-Franklin

Campus Minister, UKirk Cincinnati

Stewardship Kaleidoscope September 26-28

Registration is opened for Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference offering outstanding plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences and unparalleled networking opportunities for all who are passionate about stewardship and generosity.

Scheduled from September 26-28, the in-person program of this year’s hybrid conference will be held in Savannah, Georgia.

Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to ignite generosity in faith-based communities, give practical tools for cultivating generosity in congregations, expand the leadership capacity of those who lead stewardship initiatives, and cultivate adaptive approaches for funding Christ’s mission.

Featured speakers this year will be best-selling author A.J. Jacobs, the Rev. Dawn Hyde, Dr. Michael Bos, the Rev. Kathryn Johnston and others.

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.