Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley

"partner with and equip present and emerging

PC(USA) faith communities in central Alabama

to serve Christ and our neighbors"

GA226 for Observers


General Assembly Observer Registration: Registration is now open for those planning to participate in the 226th Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly as an in-person or online observer, June 25-July 4 in Salt Lake City. Registration and more info, with deadlines for in-person registration, can be found here. 


The 226th General Assembly begins tomorrow, June 25th with Committee Meetings meeting on-line this week and with the commissioners flying to Salt Lake City on Saturday for the plenary meetings which will be held in person. Our Commissioners are Ruling Elder Debra Love, Teaching Elder Nick Reed, and Youth Advisory Delegate Abby Bunn. The theme of this year’s Assembly is “Live Into Hope.” To receive a daily update on the Assembly’s actions beginning June 29, subscribe here. May our commissioners be guided O God by your wisdom, compassion, and courage, and may the whole assembly reflect the mind and Spirit of Christ as we seek to minister in these days. 

A bronze bell that once announced the arrival of a locomotive and later celebrated the start of services at a North Birmingham church will have a third life at the Presbyterian Home for Children.


The bell was donated to the Home by the congregation of Gardendale Presbyterian Church, along with funds to build a scaffold to display the artifact. The gift was made in the name of Gardendale church member Evelyn Mae Fitzgerald Boozer, who loved the bell and the Presbyterian Home for Children.

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Electric Chapel Organ for the taking



Kirkwood by the River, a ministry of Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, will give its organ to a good home. The organ is approximately 40 years old. It is an Allen, two rank model. It needs repair. Please contact Chaplain Cary Speaker (205-956-2184) if you are interested. This is a limited time offer. Don’t put off making the call. 

Application Period Extended to

July 15, 2024



Small churches

can make a big difference!



Registration is now open for Living River Summer Camp

and for scholarship application.

Click Photo's for more information


The ladies of Second Presbyterian have 40 blue Hymnals they would love to give away. Please call 205-871-4302 if you are interested in these Hymnals.

The Impact of Churches’

Hunger Action Programs in this Presbytery


We are compiling a list of this Presbytery’s churches’ activities in combating hunger. We are wondering what your church is doing to combat hunger, such as: donating to food pantries, operating food pantries, rescuing edible foods, giving food from members’ gardens, participating in the Cents-Ability and Pentecost Can-paign programs, volunteering at food banks, etc.


Our churches are acting to help the hungry and food insecure. Let’s see what everyone is doing. Perhaps we can get ideas from each other on combating hunger.


Please send your church’s information to Ralls Coston, Mission Coordinator, rcoston@pslpcusa.org., phone 205-617-0216. Thank you for all you are doing.

If you are a pastor, commissioned ruling elder (CRE), a leader of a 1001 New Worshiping Community or a member of a stewardship team we have Church Financial Leadership Grants available for you. The grants will enable you to institute best practices for church financial leadership, introduce you to new models of giving and stewardship, and offer you new ways to talk about money and form generous disciples within your church.

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Concerned about Gun Violence?


Join Presbyterian Peace Fellowship for the James Atwood

Institute for Congregational Courage:

Aug 22-25, Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico


Join us for four days of hands-on continuing education for clergy and lay leaders. Including:



  • Educational, pastoral and action skills taught by leading gun violence prevention activists 
  • Keynote speech by Father John Dear, Catholic biblical scholar and activist
  • Develop a path for your congregation to join in the Presbyterian Decade to End Gun Violence 

 

We’ll build skills, courage and community for gun violence prevention mission for the local church.

Learn more and register

Join us in celebrating the 75th Anniversary of One Great Hour of Sharing! Consider giving $1 for each year of this offering's impact.

Learn more

Columbia’s Wonder of Worship offering $1,000 grants to congregations looking to nurture children in their worship and prayer lives


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. — CTS  (click link above for more information)

First Presbyterian Church - Alexander City is seeking pulpit supply until they can fill their pastoral vacancy. Their worship services are on Sundays at 11:00 for one hour. If you are interested, please call the church office at (256) 329-0524.

Hearts and Minds Prepared for Worship


You are invited to this leadership event being sponsored by The Center for Excellence in Christian Education, Union Presbyterian Seminary, and the Presbytery of Charlotte. This fully online event is designed for folks who are involved in worship leadership whether that be clergy, worship committees, or educators.


I'm sure many of you remember Sarah Dianne Jones who grew up in Sheppards and Lapsley--she is now the Program Associate for the Center and would love to have some PSL folks join this event!


The website for the event is here: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/71005/.


Registration is now open.

The Birmingham area churches are sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity house to be built in the Birmingham area. Construction will begin September 12, 2024. We will find out where and for whom we will be building in August.


We will need volunteers and money for this project.


If you are interested contact Ralls Coston, Mission Coordinator at rcoston@pslpcusa.org.


Also, please check out how to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity's website at: habitatbirmingham.org

2024 Pentecost CANpaign


This year's Pentecost Canpaign begins May 19 and runs through July 28. The Canpaign collects money and food to send to local hunger organizations. Each participating church in the Presbytery collects the money and food and sends it to the hunger organization of its choice, informing Presbytery of the amount collected and where it was sent.


If your church collects for the hungry all year long, please count the amount your church collects during the Canpaign.


Let us continue in serving Jesus Christ .


Click the photo for more information.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope



On Wednesday, September 25, Rev. Amos Disasa will be our plenary speaker. Amos is the Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, TX, a historic congregation in the heart of the city. Previously, he served as the co-pastor of Downtown Church, in Columbia, SC.

 

Amos' family immigrated from Ethiopia when he was a young child. Amos earned degrees from Presbyterian College and the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. He serves on the board of governors for Downtown Dallas Inc., the board of directors for PubCore, the board of directors for Montreat Conference Center, and is a trustee of Austin College. Amos and his wife Sarah, along with their two children, reside in Dallas. 

 

We hope to see you in Portland or online! To register, click here.

Register by June 30 to take advantage of our in-person Early Bird Registration rate!

 

A limited number of scholarships are still available for ELCA Registrants attending the conference in-person. For more information about the ELCA Scholarship, please email tim.brown@elca.org.

 

PC(USA) Pastors - Learn about the Church Financial Leadership Grant Program through the Presbyterian Foundation here." "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Click here to Register

Presbytery Tech Person Needed

The Presbytery is looking for a Tech person to help with our quarterly Presbytery meetings. (This includes four eight hour meetings per year plus be available for four 2 hour planning meetings quarterly) Must have knowledge of Zoom, including issues with sound and video. Must be available to set up equipment to start each meeting and monitor Zoom participants. Compensation is negotiable. If you or someone you know may be interested please contact Tammy Strickland at tstrickland@pslpcusa.org.

Dallas County Long Term Recovery Group


This Presbytery has been involved with the Dallas County LTRG (Long Term Recovery Group) for the past year. The LTRG is working on Selma’s recovery from the January 2023 tornado which destroyed or damaged so much of Selma and Dallas County. So far, the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley has distributed over $31,000 to six cases in Selma. This money has been used to replace beds, tables, washing machines, dryers and roofing for the six different families impacted by the tornado. The funds for these cases came from contributions from the Presbyterian Disaster Fund, Independent Presbyterian Church, Southminster Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian-Wetumpka and Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church. Thank you to all the donors.


There is still plenty to do in Dallas County/Selma’s recovery. Other organizations, such as United Way, Mennonite Disaster Services, Lutheran Disaster Services, Gospel Tabernacle Church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, and the Edmundite Missions of the Catholic Church are some of the workers/contributors to Selma’s recovery.


 This Presbytery can continue to help by providing funds to the Presbytery’s Perry/Dallas County Fund. Both churches and individuals may contribute to this fund. And, as the United Methodist case managers provide the cases, we can continue to help.

The New Wilmington Missionary Conference

July 19-24, 2024 / Westminister College, New Wilmington, PA



The New Wilmington Missionary Conference is one of the oldest continuous Presbyterian Missionary Conferences the church offers. It is a great opportunity to discover how God is active in other parts of the globe. Here is the link to the conference this year. https://www.nwmcmission.org/promo-resources For more information contact Cody Watson.

Please be sure to check out the job openings around our Presbytery at the bottom of this page.

Newsletters, Bulletins, News


Reminders


Just a reminder that the Presbytery office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday's from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (4 PM on Friday). The staff works from home on Tuesday and Thursday's.


Please check with the office for availability before scheduling committee meetings.


On-going Newsletter Articles


Ponderings by: Rev. Dr. Sue Westfall

PHFC Thrift Store Donations

Perry Dallas County Fund

Online Church Services

Matthew 25

Selma Disaster Relief Funding

PRESBYTERY OPERATING FINANCES April 2024 YTD  




Sue Westfall

General Presbyter

swestfall@pslpcusa.org


Tammy Strickland

Presbytery Administrator

Assistant to the Stated Clerk

tstrickland@pslpcusa.org


Bookkeeping

accounting@pslpcusa.org


Jay Wilkins

Stated Clerk

statedclerk@pslpcusa.org


Linda Burrowes

Recording Clerk

lburrowes@pslpcusa.org


Jean Russell

Treasurer

jabrussell@gmail.com


Ralls Coston

Volunteer Mission Coordinator

rcoston@pslpcusa.org


Pat Goodman

Volunteer Nurture Coordinator

pgoodman@pslpcusa.org


James Ephraim

Volunteer Liaison for

African American Churches

jamesephraim61@gmail.com


Ministry Opportunities

Positions in national agencies

Presbyterian Foundation open positions

First Presbyterian Church, Eufaula, is looking for pulpit supply in a transitional period. Please contact Sue Westfall, General Presbyter for details. 520.490.1261.

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL is in need of a Musician. If you or someone you know are interested in applying, please contact the church office at

(205) 322-0161 for more information.

Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church in Hoover, AL, is searching for a Choir Director due to the retirement of our long time Director. In this position you will work with Dr. Jonathan Brown in selecting music for our Sunday services, directing practice on Wednesday evenings and rehearsal on Sunday mornings prior to each service. Additional time would be required for special services such as Easter and Christmas services and other special occasions. Salary information will be available during interview process. Please contact Dr. Jonathan Brown at jab8550@gmail.com with your information or questions concerning this position.

 

We will discuss salary during interview process as this will be determined by experience of the applicant.

Immanuel PCUSA in Montgomery is searching for an individual to serve as part-time Director of Family Ministries; for full position description contact the Immanuel Church Office - 
334-260-0567


3603 Lorna Ridge Drive ~ Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: 205-978-0320 ~ Fax: 205-978-0330
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