What's Happening Around PWNC?

My apologies for this duplication! There were two inaccuracies listed in the first article and I wanted to be sure everyone had the correct names of those serving on the Revisioning Task Force.

Blessings,

Tonya

PWNC NEWS

& EVENTS

September 23, 2022

Revisioning Task Force Update

The Revisioning Task Force, established by the General Council of PWNC in the fall of 2021, has resumed its work after a brief hiatus over the summer. The Task Force has narrowed its focus to two areas: 1.) thoughtfully considering the mission and vision of the Presbytery for the next 2-5 years; and, 2.) how the committee and staff structure of the Presbyter may need to adjust in order to dovetail into the mission and vision.

What the Task Force has learned in our time together over the last nine months is that mission, relationships and worship are core values that undergird our Presbytery’s current mission statement to Strengthen, Equip and Engage members of PWNC. To that end, a consultant, Ann Philbrick, will be joining us for at least two meetings this fall to help our group “flesh out” what this may mean in a new season of ministry post-Covid while church participation around the Presbytery is, in many places, struggling to return to “normal.”

We are not without hope, however! Our monthly conversations continue to highlight a variety of things that make our Presbytery a wonderful place to worship, serve and connect. We look forward to presenting the outcome of our conversations and a recommendation to General Council in the Spring of 2023.

Until that time, I give thanks for the time I am able to spend virtually with the talented, competent, and joyful people who serve alongside me in this endeavor:

Byron Wade—General Presbyter

Blake Daniel—MWS, First-Sylva

Heather Wood Davis—MWS, First-Hickory

Bob Forsythe—RE, Trinity, Hendersonville

John Hagmann—MWS, First-Morganton

Helen Hall—RE, Dulatown

Bill Neely—MWS, honorably retired

Laura Russell—RE, First-Banner Elk

And most especially, continued thanks to those of you across the Presbytery of Western North Carolina who continue to prayerfully remember the work of this Task Force. It makes a difference today and it will make a difference as we navigate our bright future together.

Peace,

Rev. Lauren Sease Vanacore

Member-at-Large, Gaston County

Recruiting for Pulpit Supply!

The Presbytery office maintains a list of persons interested and available to provide occasional pulpit supply to our congregations. This list has greatly diminished over the last few years and we need to rebuild the roster again to fill vacancies throughout the Presbytery as circumstances arise. If you are a teaching elder - active or honorably retired, associate pastor, ruling elder commissioned to pastoral service, ruling elder, inquirer or candidate under the care of our Committee on Preparation for Ministry, there are churches in our realm with pulpit needs for Sunday mornings. There are also churches that presently are without coverage on a regular basis that could use help longer term.

If you are available to serve in either capacity, please contact the Presbytery office (828/438-4217 or email mpuckett@presbyterywnc.org).

A tremendous thank you to the individuals who are currently listed in the Supply Directory for your ministry in this way, and to all the Clerks of Session and church contacts who welcome pulpit supply and provide the logistics of having their vacancies filled. Your work does not go unnoticed!

NC Presbyterian Historical Society Hosts Fall Meeting

The North Carolina Presbyterian Historical Society's Fall Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 8, in Hillsborough at the lovely Presbyterian Church, built in 1816. The meeting will include history of the church and cemetery, and a program on "Presbyterians and the Founding of the First State University." Registration is $22 including lunch. More information and the registration form are in the newsletter on their website, www.ncphsociety.org.

What are the top things to do before you retire? Ask Fidelity!

Join Fidelity Workplace Financial Consultant Dan McCarthy for a 30-minute, interactive, virtual presentation on important things to consider — before you retire — that may impact or influence your financial decisions.

Top Things To Do Before You Retire, a free webinar from Fidelity Investments (Retirement Savings Plan recordkeeper), is designed to help you get your financial house in order, create a retirement income plan, understand Social Security, and prepare for the unexpected. From creating your financial blueprint to preparing your estate and legacy plans, Top Things To Do Before You Retire will offer ideas and resources to take the next step on your financial wellness journey.

Following the presentation, Dan will be available to answer your general questions. You can also schedule a complimentary, one-on-one consultation with Dan to discuss your unique circumstances.

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Noon ET

· Select Attend a learning event.

· On the next page, enter The Board of Pensions of the PC(USA) as the employer, choose Virtual as the event type.

· The screen will refresh and you will see two events listed for October. Click the green Register button for the October 11 Ask Fidelity event and provide the requested information on the next page. Be sure to click the blue Schedule Event button to complete your registration.

If you have medical coverage through the Board of Pensions, you can earn 25 Call to Health points for participating in this webinar! Join the Ask Fidelity challenge (available October 3-16) and points will be awarded within two to three weeks after the event. Call to Health is not available to members enrolled in Triple-S, GeoBlue, or the Medicare Supplement Plan.

Not in the Retirement Savings Plan?

You can participate in the virtual webinar regardless of whether you currently participate in the Retirement Savings Plan (RSP). If you are not enrolled in the RSP, talk with your employer to learn more and get started. All employees who work for a PC(USA) church or affiliated employer can participate if their employer offers the plan to them. If your employer does not offer the RSP, ask them to contact the Board of Pensions at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).

Quaker Meadows Holds

Outdoor Experiential

VBS for Youth

Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church hosted a youth VBS featuring the brand new Triennium curriculum. We walked through Valdese Lakeside park through to McGalliard Falls as we explored the “mad libs” version of Psalm 23, performed a blind trust walk, and string geometry, building trust in God and each other along the way. We left with an understanding of when/where/how we see God throughout nature and everyday walks with our individual faith.

The following day, the youth lead our worship service.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S

FALL GATHERING

You are invited to join Presbyterian Women of PWNC for the Fall Gathering!

Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 10:00 AM

Trinity Presbyterian Church

900 Blythe Street, Hendersonville, NC

Four Workshops will be offered:

The Horizons Bible Study – Celebrating Sabbath, led by the Reverend Carol Steele
Front Porch Chat – led by Dot Descieux
Guatemala Partnership: Updates from the Health Committee, the Education Committee, and the Sister Churches. Led by Ellen Dozier and Linda Abel.
The Work of Our Hands as Sabbath. Led by Ellen Phillips.

Registration is $15.00 and lunch is free. You can access the registration form by going to the "Fall Registration" button below or by emailing Sue Hyde at suehyde617@outlook.com. The deadline for registration is September 17.

Fall Registration

Presbyterian Women

Check out Presbyterian Women's latest edition of Joyful Noise by clicking HERE.

70th Anniversary Reunion Weekend

Open to anyone past, present, or future that loves Camp Grier.

Join us for a weekend of fun, friends, and family at your favorite place

as we celebrate 70 years of Camp Grier with a reunion this fall!

OCTOBER 7-9, 2022

Dear friend,

I wanted to let you know about a special event taking place this fall at First Presbyterian Church of Sylva. On Saturday, Oct. 15, we will be hosting Dr. John Swinton from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, who will give a presentation on mental health and Christian discipleship. John is a former mental health nurse and chaplain, an ordained minister in the Church of Scotland, and the Professor of Practical Theology & Pastoral Care at Aberdeen. His presentation is entitled, "Finding Jesus in the Storm," based on his most recent book.

Again, the event will take place on Saturday, October 15. We will gather from 10am-2pm in the FPC Fellowship Hall. A light lunch will be provided and childcare is available upon request (just notify our church office at office@sylvapres.org). The event is free of charge, although donations will be gratefully accepted.

You can click here for more detailed information about John, and if you have any questions about the event itself, don't hesitate to let me know.

Yours,

Blake Daniel, Pastor

Feed MY Sheep Ministry

Feed MY Sheep is a joint ministry of the Grassy Creek, Newdale, and Micaville Presbyterian churches. Established in 2014, this ministry is dedicated to feeding disadvantaged residents of Mitchell and Yancey Counties. The ministry originated through a Water to Wine Grant from the Small Church Committee of PWNC. Since its inception, it has drawn funding through each of the three churches as well as individual donors and the Nickel-A-Meal program. It has become a vital part of the lives of our congregants and our clients.

Members of all three churches assist in unloading trucks, packing boxes, and delivering food. Some of our clients pick up their own boxes. We deliver to others who have a problem getting to our distribution site at Micaville. A number of our long-established clients also help us out by carrying food to other clients who live near them. Over the years, many of these clients have become very much a part of the lives of the three churches. We feel that they belong to us, just as we belong to them. We have formed enduring friendships that reflect the love of the Kingdom. In this way, Feed MY Sheep has fed us all in a variety of ways.

Family Gardens Exceed Goal

Now that the gardening season is winding down, here is an update from the Siloam congregation. The three family gardens of the Siloam members have far exceeded their goal for fresh vegetables. They have provided over 500 Pounds of fresh vegetables to the Food Hub in Marion!

Fraught & Flummoxed:

Courage and Creativity for the Elevation of the Gospel

October 10-13, 2022

Sometimes we have to disengage in order to find the strength to fully reengage. After three years leading communities through unforeseen challenges, now is the time to seek new sources of inspiration. See how you can take time for yourself and become reengaged in the conversation by visiting montreat.org/fraught-flummoxed.

Leadership includes Jessica Vasquez Torres, Shawna Bowman, and Rodney Sadler.

Full details can be found here:

https://montreat.org/events/fraught-flummoxed

PWNC Disaster Recovery Trip

October 2-8, 2022

to Help our Neighbors in Canton

The Canton, North Carolina area was devastated by flood waters on August 17, 2021. The Presbytery is hosting another work trip to help our neighbors in need from October 2 – 8, 2022.

The work is very similar to working on a house for Habitat for Humanity. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn new skills and help people in need. Cost for the week is $25, which includes food & shelter for the week. The team will stay at Canton Presbyterian Church. The maximum number of participants for week’s stay is 20.

Opportunity for working 1-3 days and/or spending 1 or 2 nights is available for $10/night.

Not sure about staying all week? Come up for the day! There is no up-front cost for this option, but donations for on-site materials are always welcome. You must register just like other participants.

Vaccinations are no longer required for participants. If someone prefers to wear a mask while on the trip, please respect and support that person’s decision.

The deadline to submit registration forms is Monday, September 19, 2022. More information and registration can be found at the following link:

Disaster Assistance Trip to Canton

Funds Critically Low!

Our "Daily Change" fund (formerly "Nickel a Meal") is at a critically low point. This affects the PWNC Hunger Committee's ability to fund grant requests received bi-annually from agencies across our Presbytery. We are already receiving requests for the fall funding cycle, so we need your help!

*Please encourage your members to contribute to this worthwhile cause! Consider taking up a special offering during Sunday worship in the coming weeks, or designate 5th Sundays as an opportunity for this collection.** Make it a staple in your annual budget.

The Parables Adult VBS that was held recently at Green Mountain took the opportunity at their event to collect an offering for Daily Change. $57.55 was received to go toward helping those who are food insecure. How wonderful!

Please help us replenish the fund! Give the change you want to see in the world.

Opportunity for Safe Gatherings Training for Congregations in PWNC

Some churches have asked whether Presbytery might help in providing training for their volunteers who work with children, youth and vulnerable adults. In addition to the policy that was adopted by PWNC last year on child and youth protection, we have made arrangement with the Safe Gatherings organization to allow any congregation of the Presbytery to have their volunteers access online training that may help ensure safety in their ministries.

Here is a brief description of the course that is available:

Safe Gatherings Training Course is a comprehensive training empowering leaders to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults through greater awareness of:

o Sexual predators and their habits

o Types of abuse

o Signs of abuse

o How to respond to disclosure of abuse

o Mandatory reporting

o and more!

To begin the registration process, click here This takes you to the home page. To register for the Safe Gatherings Training Course, click the red button at the top of the page labelled “Get Started.”

The next page will ask you to establish your own account, working your way through several pull-down menus. After you choose “Church or Faith Based Organization,” then “Presbyterian” as the denomination, you are asked to indicate your specific organization. Begin typing “western” and the option for the Presbytery of Western North Carolina will appear. Next you will enter your personal information to establish your account with a password. This will take you to the next screen where you enter additional details and agree to terms of service. On the following screen you are asked to pay $24.00 for your course online with a credit card. Churches may work out arrangements with their members for reimbursement as needed. When you take the final quiz for your course, presbytery will receive a notification that you have completed it. On request, the Presbytery office can certify whether a particular individual has completed the course.

If you encounter any difficulties in this process, please be in touch with Cam Murchison (cmurc1@gmail.com; 404-556-8041) or with Tonya Williams (twilliams@presbyterywnc.org; 828-438-4217). Thanks for joining us in exploring new ways to ensure healthy and sacred boundaries in PWNC.

Bulk Orders

Is your church needing to purchase Books of Order, Books of Confession or Planning Calendars? If so, visit the PCUSA Store!

Presbyterian Collegiate Ministries of North Carolina (PCMofNC) is hiring an Executive Director to join the Board of Directors in the important work designed to support all North Carolina campus ministries, facilitate opportunities for campus ministers to foster healthy collaboration and fellowship among them, maintain relationships with each of the five NC presbyteries, and to help (re)introduce Presbyterian campus ministry on campuses. The job description and contact information can be found here: https://bit.ly/PCMofNCExecDir.

Interested candidates, please send an email and cover letter to admin@pcmofnc.org.

Please send qualified candidates our way and spread the word!

QR Code (also takes you to the job description!)

Click the buttons below to explore other current job

opportunities that are also listed on the PWNC website.

PWNC Job Opportunities

OGA JobOpportunities

We Love to Share Your Good News!

If you have items of interest to share with the Presbytery in the weekly newsletter, please email Tonya Williams.

Information should be sent electronically, preferably with an image, 10 days in advance, for inclusion in the following week's distribution. Submissions may be edited for brevity. The General Presbyter or Stated Clerk will make final decisions about what may be included.

The e-news publication goes out each Friday to members across the Presbytery. We look forward to sharing your good news!

In an effort to help ease the burden of fuel prices on our staff, until further notice, all PWNC staff will operate remotely on Fridays. Please make note of the contact information provided below as the best way to reach respective staff members during this time.