I had never heard of the Platinum Rule before. The Golden Rule, I grew up with that. Probably had to memorize it when I was in Sunday school. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (...) The Platinum Rule, however, says, “Treat others the way they want to be treated.” The difference seems to be that with the Golden Rule, we make assumptions about how someone else would want to be treated. With the Platinum Rule, we ask questions and pay attention to the answers.

Earlier this month, Hinton First Presbyterian Church member Betty Giles was honored as a Hometown Hero by local news station WVVA. The Hometown Hero program honors those who have a huge heart and go above and beyond for their community. In Giles' case, that includes being instrumental in starting Hinton's first and only food pantry (at the church), distributing items to a local nursing home during the pandemic, actively serving at Hinton First, and always being available to help people in her community.

Per the opening lines of its orientation brochure, "Yakutat Presbyterian Church is in the isolated Yakutat community of around 600 people. Yakutat means 'place where the canoes rest' and is located on the Gulf of Alaska. The town has a beautiful mountain backdrop to some of the best fishing around...Historically Alaska Native, the congregation continues to celebrate Tlingit heritage and to promote the preservation of the Tlingit culture." Yakutat is accessible primarily by plane and lesser so by ferry. The congregation is small but faithful and caring. Without ongoing pastoral leadership, they have struggled to support and grow the congregation. Attempts to bring pastors to Yakutat for multiple weeks at a time to serve the congregation and the community are beginning to bear fruit. Other interested and available pastors are needed. If you are able to give two or more weeks to experience Yakutat’s beauty and participate in God’s mission there, please contact Rev. Steve Cort (HR) to learn more: stephencartercort@gmail.com or 724-991-3457. (Photo: Yakutat Chamber of Commerce)

Mountains of Hope, the statewide cancer coalition, will hold Ribbons of Faith, a free cancer prevention training for faith leaders, from noon to 2 p.m. May 18 and 25 on Zoom. The four-hour event will equip participants to use the cancer prevention and early detection curriculum provided to them in their faith community; share resources and materials about certain cancers, risk factors, and family history; discuss the role of faith communities in cancer prevention and early detection, and increase awareness and decision-making skills about important cancer screenings. Register by May 10.

Preaching for the Future Church is the theme of this year's Festival of Homiletics from Luther Seminary, which is online from May 17 to 21. The event invites participants into conversation around how the promise of the Gospel might shape hope and ministry for the future church and what the role of preaching is in forming the church of the future. Over five days, there will be more than 50 speakers, including Kate Bowler, Diana Butler Bass, Brian McLaren, Neichelle Guidry, Matthew L. Skinner, and Rebekah Lowe and Adam Walker Cleaveland of Illustrated Ministry. You can register for free or purchase a recording package ($75) for full access to all sessions, which you can watch on your own schedule, plus bonus material like additional speaker presentations and live workshops/lectures.

This year, PAM's annual Worship & Music Conference will offer both in-person and online options for participants. It is an intergenerational event for pastors, directors, organists, pianists, guitarists, percussionists, ringers, worship leaders, choir members, and anyone who loves and takes part in the worship and music of the church. Offerings include six worship services, the 2021 Routley Lectures, Adult Choir with Phillip Shoultz, handbell ensembles for all levels, a seminar on copyright law for churches, and evening concerts. In-person cost is $350 for PAM members, $525 for non-members, and $280 for youth; virtual cost is $175 for members and $250 for non-members, with group rates available.

Does your church offer an after-school program or other services for students? If so, the West Virginia Education Alliance invites you to participate in two upcoming training sessions online to learn age-appropriate strategies for supporting Social Emotional Learning, including activities to implement with students. The elementary (pre-K-grade 5) session is May 5, and the secondary (grades 6-12) session is May 12; both are on Zoom and begin at 4 p.m. Click to register for the elementary and/or secondary session.