PWNC NEWS
& EVENTS


March 24, 2023

On the Western Front

Check out Byron's latest adventure to the beautiful mountains of Franklin, NC. This "On the Western Front" video tells about his visit to the First Presbyterian Church of Franklin on March 12, 2023.

Marcia Puckett, PWNC's

COM/CPM Coordinator, Retiring


We would like to invite everyone to share their well-wishes with Marcia as she officially embarks on full-time retirement after 29 years of service! Marcia's last day with the Presbytery of Western North Carolina will be Wednesday, April 5, 2023.


We will miss her wit, knowledge of all things COM and CPM related, and her friendship tremendously.


Please take a moment to send her a card (114 Silver Creek Road, Morganton, NC 28655) or email wishing her all the best in this next chapter of her life.

Get Registered Now!

REGISTRATION

Click the picture to hear Lisle share about her ministry at "A Sanctified Art".

Validated Ministry Report with

Lisle Gwynn Garrity and A Sanctified Art


A Sanctified Art emerged as a ministry to support worshiping communities in integrating art and creativity into their spiritual practices. Initially representing the art and ministry of one person, A Sanctified Art expanded to become a team of artists and pastors in January 2016. In 2019, they began intentionally welcoming guest contributors and partnering with organizations, musicians, creatives, and scholars to bring new energy, insight, and wisdom into our resources.

 

Their team works with co-contributors and with supporting pastors, worship and arts ministry teams in churches, and individuals through our seasonal offerings. They worked with CREDO to add creative visuals to their worship and online retreats and are growing in their connections to both guest contributors and new communities of worship and learning. 


The Validated Ministry video with Rev. Lisle Garrity and A Sanctified Art can also be viewed HERE.

The PWNC Christian Education Committee invites all those serving as leaders in faith formation ministries to join monthly live webinars offered by the PC(USA) Office of Christian Formation. These one-hour online sessions provide resources and time for open conversation, questions, and sharing about Christian Education in the church. 

 

Upcoming dates and topics are:

 

April Topic: Adult Resources

Thursday, April 13, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, April 25, at 8 p.m.


May Topic: Children’s Resources

Thursday, May 11, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, May 23, at 8 p.m.


For Zoom information, and to see all the topics and dates for 2023, go here. To engage with other faith formation leaders, join the Office of Christian Formation’s Facebook group. To access all resources by the Office of Christian Formation, go here.


Future Topics:

June Topic: Help Me Find …

Thursday, June 8, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, June 27, at 8 p.m.


July Topic: At-Home Resources

Thursday, July 13, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, July 25, at 8 p.m.


August Topic: Youth Resources

Thursday, Aug. 10, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m.


September Topic: Advent Resources

Thursday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.


October Topic: Training Leaders

Thursday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.


November Topic: Matthew 25 Resources

Thursday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time; Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m.

Get your Church Ready for Earth Day on April 22

Here are resources to help


Earth Day is always on April 22 and this year it is on a Saturday. You may want to observe Earth Day from a faith perspective on April 22 or Sunday, April 23.


Three churches in the Presbytery shared what they have done in the past or plan to do for Earth Day on a recent Presbytery Earth Care Team webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Y-CHGlFkY.


  • Rev. Marcia Mount Shoop at Grace Covenant (GCPC) in Asheville spoke about care of the earth and right relationships. Earth Day is not always observed in April at GCPC but also in the summer with an outdoor worship service, Earth Day Festival with tables set up by local environmental organizations, and tours of the community garden.
  • Jane Laping, Creation Care Team Leader at First Presbyterian Asheville, recounted two pre-pandemic multi-generational Earth Day observances, called Creation Care Fair. They included children’s activities in the fellowship hall, theological and practical speakers for adults, environmental display tables outside fellowship hall, and an electric vehicle to inspect by the entrance.
  • Bee Manship, Unity Presbyterian in Denver, NC, reported that the Earth Care Committee will be doing the worship service the Sunday between Easter and Earth Day. They will have a quartet sing What a Wonderful World, a skit, and an activity for children using a globe and how to take care of the earth. They will show videos of church families and how they take care of the earth through their lifestyles. Dogwood tree saplings will be distributed after the service. At two Wednesday night dinners after Earth Day they will have activities for children with a tour of the campus to see the bat house, composting, recycling and solar panels.


Resources that may be useful from other organizations:


Update from the Revisioning Task Force


"What's the Plan?"


Many of you are probably wondering what is going on with our Revisioning Task Force. After the Strategic Planning event we had with the General Council, led by Consultant Ann Philbrick, an implementation plan was established and we are diligently working towards fulfilling those goals in each quarter of 2023.


This first quarter, we have worked on filling the part-time Director of Communications position, interviewing for the part-time, temporary Presbytery Associates, and launching the new Pastoral Cohort Program.


In April, we will begin implementing the plans for the second quarter, which runs through June. (See the Strategic Planning Implementation document linked here.)


As we move forward with these objectives, we ask that you continue to pray for us as a Presbytery, as we seek to follow God's directions for ministry within PWNC.

Ch. Col. Byrd Honored at Retirement Service


Rev. Kathy Campbell, Chair of the Validated Ministry Sub-Committee, represented the Presbytery of Western North Carolina at the Retirement Celebration for Chaplain Colonel Joey Byrd at Fort Jackson on Friday, February 24, 2023. He was honored by many for his 32 years of service in the United States Army. 


There were many qualities shared but the two that stood out were Joey's calm authority and his kind humility. We are so proud of his ministry to thousands of military men and women and their families and his pastoral leadership over the army chaplains across the Middle East. Joey will officially retire in July 2023.  

Retirement Bulletin


Presbytery of Western NC

Disaster Recovery Trip 

May 7-13, 2023

in Hazard, Kentucky 


Eastern Kentucky was devastated by a 600-year event in 2022 in the form of a flood. The Presbytery is hosting a work trip to help those in that area from May 7 – 13, 2023. 

 

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. If you have never been on a mission trip, check out the First Timer Guide to find out what is done. 

 

Cost for the week is $150, which includes building materials, worksite costs, food & shelter for the week. The remainder of the cost will be covered by Presbytery designated mission funds.

 

The team will stay at Hazard First Presbyterian Church. The maximum number of participants for the week’s stay is 15.    

 

The deadline to submit registration forms is Tuesday, April 18, 2023

 

Ready to register? Select Registration, print out and complete forms and mail them to the Presbytery office at 114 Silver Creek Rd, Morganton, NC 28655. Forms may also be emailed to lpressley@presbyterywnc.org and payment may be submitted through your online banking or by mail.

 

Still not sure and want more information about what goes on? Visit Canton Trip Oct 2022 to see pictures from our last disaster recovery trip. 

 

If you have questions, email Joanne Mitchell at jmmitchell22@outlook.com.  

First Timer Guide
Registration Form
Canton Trip Oct 2022

Massanetta Springs Offers Bible

& Church Music Conference


Link to the Bible and Church Music Conference here to learn more about the conference and how to get registered.

Sacred Boundaries Training Available Online


The Sacred Boundaries Planning Team has arranged for two options from which our members that are due for training in 2023 may choose. Completion of this online training and a debrief session will satisfy our Presbytery's requirement for educational enrichment to be taken every four years for respective members of PWNC serving in various aspects of the Presbytery's life.


Both options listed in the link below are asynchronous online courses of approximately two hours to be scheduled individually at a time that works with your schedule. The course you choose will then be followed at another time by a one-hour debriefing session with members of the planning team via Zoom.


For more information about this offering, please read the communication found linked here: Sacred Boundaries Online Training, or email Cam Murchison, Stated Clerk.

Bulk Orders

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

Click the buttons below to explore other current job

opportunities that are also listed on the PWNC website.

PWNC Job Opportunities
Updated OGA Job Opportunities

Share Your Good News With Us!


If you have items of interest to share with the Presbytery in the weekly newsletter, please email Tonya Williams. We would also love to receive pictures of your congregation in action to share on our website!


(Event 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!

PWNC staff are operating remotely on Fridays. Please make note of the contact information provided below as the best way to reach respective staff members during this time.

PWNC OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Office building closed/staff remote)

 

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Byron Wade

Cam Murchison*

Beth Gunn*

Bob Ayala*

Lisa Pressley

Tonya Williams

Robbin Buchanan*

Marcia Puckett*

bwade@presbyterywnc.org

cmurc1@gmail.com    

beth.gunn@gmail.com 

bayalausa@msn.com              

lpressley@presbyterywnc.org    

twilliams@presbyterywnc.org  

rbuchanan@presbyterywnc.org

mpuckett@presbyterywnc.org     

828/430-1515 cell/text

404/556-8041 cell/text

828/329-9209 cell/text

828/284-6628 phone

828/443-4600 cell/text

828/443-6412 cell/text

828/438-4217 ext. 13 phone

828/438-4217 ext. 18 phone


*Denotes part-time

Visit our Website
Presbytery of Western North Carolina | 828.438.4217 | www.presbyterywnc.org