Check out what's happening in the Presbytery of New Covenant

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Presbytery of New Covenant

What's Happening in New Covenant?

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

June 9 is the third Sunday after Pentecost.

Friday, June 7, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Invite a friend to church!

This week's image is found here.

2024 - The Year of Church Innovation and Vitality

How do you talk to people in your community about gun violence?

Join the conversation at ncconnect.org

Church Innovation involves reaching out in new ways to your community.

How well do you know your neighborhood?

Demographic studies for congregations

using Mission Insite can be accessed here.

View as Webpage

Wonder of Worship Grants Available

The Wonder of Worship program at Columbia Theological Seminary is offering a second round of grants of $1,000 to congregations nationally looking to enhance the engagement of children in their corporate workspaces. Wonder of Worship is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to support faith-based organizations as they help children grow in faith and deepen their relationships with God.

The $1,000 “Quick Wins” grants are available to congregations in any denomination through the Lilly Endowment and are part of an allotment to Columbia to provide for the nurturing of children in their worship and prayer lives.

“Churches in the first round of these grants have proposed many creative ways of using this money, from building worship training resources to hiring consultants to aid in writing more child-friendly liturgy,” said Dr. Kathy L. Dawson, project director for the Wonder of Worship grant program. “Some are renovating cry rooms to enhance family participation in the service and others are developing programs for child leadership of worship. I’ve been amazed by the creativity in our partner churches so far and look forward to what this second round of Quick Wins grants will bring.”

In this round, congregations looking to apply should conduct an inventory on what they are already doing in order to help ascertain where the greatest need is for the grant money. Congregations need to identify three to five areas in which they may make simple changes that can be done in the next year to engage children more fully in worship. The audit is available here. After the audit, congregations need to fill out a short registration form, including an itemized budget, to explain how the funds will be spent. That application is available here. The application deadline is July 15.

Banners Available

The congregation of Pathways Church of Houston dissolved last fall. These banners were part of the worship life of St. Giles Presbyterian Church who gave their building to Pathways when they dissolved. The banners are in the Resource Center at the presbytery offices. Please contact Lynn Hargrove if you would like to add one or more to your worship space.

226th General Assembly - Salt Lake City

The 226th General Assembly for the PC(USA) will begin on Tuesday, June 25. This portion of the assembly will be online with the 15 committees meeting until Thursday, June 27. The in person portion will convene in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 29 and will go until Thursday, July 4. Commissioners will worship in local congregations on Sunday, June 30, and will be treated to lunch.

The election of the (Co)Moderators is scheduled for Sunday evening. There are two teams of people running. Read more about them here. The Rev. Jihyun Oh is being nominated to be the next Stated Clerk. Read more about her here.

To follow the work of the assembly, use https://www.pc-biz.org/ Plenary sessions will be streamed. More information will be shared as the time draws nearer.

Please pray for the commissioners as they make decisions. The four people from the Presbytery of New Covenant are: RE Johnna Cormier (Silsbee), RE Bill Hargrove (St. Andrew's, Houston), Rev. Tim Marquez (Member at Large), and Rev. Cindy Mood (Member at Large). Notes of encouragement for them can be sent to Lynn Hargrove at the presbytery office: 4803 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056.

Innovation & Vitality

Working towards a more just and safe community brings vitality to congregations. In what ways is your congregation addressing social issues and needs in your community?

One way to find out the three most important issues in your community is to ask people that you meet. It could be in line at the gorcery store, your server at a restaurant, places that you go. A follow up question might be, "How can the church respond?" The next question might be to ask the person to name some churches in the community. If your church is not named, the question might be, "What do you know about (the name of your church)?" Finally, ask the person if you can pray for them ... and do it!

Five easy questions to learn more about your neighborhood. Introduce the questions as doing some research about the community, not that you are from a particular church. The answers can help determine the mission direction for your congregation.

Please share your stories of Church Innovation with Lynn Hargrove.

Find the youth application here. Find the adult application here.

For questions or more information, contact Rosy Murphy: rmurphy@pbyofnewcovenant.org

EVENTS

Synod Youth Workshop - July 8 - 13 - University of Tulsa

Keynoter: Rev. Dr. Josh Robinson, Senior Pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX

Register today for a chance to explore your faith in a safe environment, make lifelong friendships and experience God’s presence through worship, community service and lots of fun. Conference is for rising 9th graders through graduated seniors.

Scholarships are available. For questions, please contact Leah McFadden.

Join with others from the Synod of the Sun to explore, listen, and learn from ministry partners and communities operating at the intersection of systemic poverty, structural racism, and congregational vitality. Based on the PCUSA Matthew 25 “Five Spiritual Practices for Ending Poverty: Worship, Learn, Relate, Act, and Share”, we will both bring the community in and go out into the community to bear witness to those marginalized by poverty and the work being done to alleviate its effects through listening to stories, learning about programs that may work in our local contexts, and serving through hands-on activities. Learn more about the event here.

Upcoming Educational Opportunities

AUSTIN PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Education Beyond the Walls

INTERFAITH MINISTRIES OF GREATER HOUSTON

https://www.imgh.org/

MONTREAT CONFERENCE CENTER, NORTH CAROLINA

https://montreat.org/

MIDDLE SCHOOL CONFERENCE

"In the Middle of It All"

July 17-21

Maryville College, Maryville, TN

SENIOR HIGH YOUTH CONFERENCES

2024 Dates

Week 2 - June 9–15

Week 3 - July 7–13

Week 4 - July 14–20

Week 5 - July 21–27

Week 6 - July 28–August 3

https://montreat.org/events/myc-24

WORSHIP & MUSIC

"Lead Us Homeward"

Week 1 - June 16-21

Week 2 - June 23-28

Registration opened December 5!

WEE KIRK CONFERENCE

October 21-23

https://montreat.org/events/wee-kirk-24?mraid=cc

GHOST RANCH, ABIQUIU, NM

https://www.ghostranch.org/

HOPE AND HEALING CENTER, HOUSTON

https://hopeandhealingcenter.org/

Now offering the "Madness and Grace" podcast.

THE ROTHKO CHAPEL

https://rothkochapel.org/

MO-RANCH, HUNT, TX

https://www.moranch.org

Churches Seeking Pastors

Please contact Mary Currie about open positions in the presbytery.

The Church Leadership Connection links are to the new and improved system.

Please update the link to your church information.

Covenant, College Station (interim)

First, Conroe (full time)

Gulf Prairie, Jones Creek/Freeport (part time)

First, Livingston (part time)

First, Navasota

St. Paul's, Needville (full time)

First, Rosenberg (part time)

First, Tomball (part time)

First in Vidor is seeking Ministers of Word and Sacrament to serve as Pulpit Supply. Please contact Kyle Lee.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

SEEKING CHURCH CAMPUS MANAGER

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Houston, is seeking a candidate with Christian values, a heart for

service, and a desire to grow Christ’s Kingdom by becoming an integral part of St. Andrew’s leadership team as the Campus Director. The Campus Director furthers the vision of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of "One Campus, One Ministry" by providing coordination and oversight for financial, personnel, and facilities operations of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which is located at the corner of Bissonnet and Buffalo Speedway. The Campus Director oversees and manages the day-to-day operations in the life of this busy congregation. Find the position description here. Please contact Mark Mallett for more information.

SEEKING NURSERY WORKER

Atascocita Presbyterian Church (19426 Atasca Oaks Dr., 281-852-8990) is looking for a nursery worker for Sunday mornings. We hope to find an energetic and interactive older teen or retiree or anyone wishing to interact with our kiddos for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings. The hours are approximately 9:30-11:30(maybe a little longer). The pay is $15 per hour with a minimum of two hours. We can have anywhere between 2 and 15 kids. There will be two people working(at least). We are building a younger group of families with littles and really want a happy face to greet them and their parents! Let us know if you or"" someone you know is interested!

SEEKING CHURCH MUSICIAN

Bethel Presbyterian Church in East Columbia seeks someone to lead the music ministry of the congregation, assisting to raise hearts and voices in praise and prayerfulness during the Sunday service and other special worship occasions. For more information about this part time position, please see the job description.