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February 23, 2017 Issue 94
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Quickly go to the articles listed by clicking on the title below.
Use the QUICK LINKS at the bottom of this column to be easily directed to additional news.
Email Presbytery staff using the directory below.
When's the last time
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Ed Thompson
General Presbyter
Maureen Wright
Stated Clerk, Associate for Congregational Support
Rocky Poole
Financial Administration/Treasurer
Barbara Chalfant
Associate Presbyter for Mission
Susan Sharp Campbell
Associate for Educational Ministry
Nellie Howard
Resource Center Director
Mark Miller
Bluestone Camp Director
Amy Robinson
Office Administrator/Communications
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Prayer List For Churches
Week 9 - February 26
Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church, Ripley
Richwood Presbyterian Church
In Kenya: Githunguri (Gay-thoh-GOH'REE) New Church Development
Week 10 - March 5
Teays Valley Presbyterian Church, Scott Depot
First Presbyterian Church, Welch
Edgewood Presbyterian Church
In Kenya: Kagwathi (Kah-GOWAH'thee) Presbyterian Church
Week 11 - March 12
Anderson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Welch
Beulah Humble Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth
First Presbyterian Church, Buckhannon
In Kenya: Kariguini (Kah-REE'goh-ee-nay) Presbyterian Church
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Nurturing Faith Ideas
Feb. 26, March 5 and 12
Nurturing Faith Ideas are weekly suggestions and activities from the Presbytery's Nurture Committee to link worship and home and to nurture faith development in the family. They are intended for all ages and family types. Add one to your bulletin each week or put them in your monthly newsletter. They could also be sent via email or added to a Facebook page.
Ideas for the entire year can be found near the end of the documents page of wvpresbytery.org.
In Matthew 17:1-9 we hear the story of Jesus' transfiguration, or transformation, as Peter, James and John watched. Then they heard a voice from heaven say, "This is my beloved Son." They had a "mountaintop experience." How do you think the disciples felt when they heard the voice? How might we hear God's voice today? What might God say to you?
March 5
Matthew 4:1-11 tells us the temptations the devil presented to Jesus. We meet temptations each day at work, at home, and in life. Jesus resisted these temptations to do other than what God wanted. This week consider some of the things that cause you temptation to not follow God. Try to resist one for this week.
March 12
In John 3, we meet Nicodemus, who comes to Jesus under cover of darkness, hiding from the other Pharisees. This week consider what you try to hide in the darkness, hoping no one will know. Pray that God will help you bring what you try to hide to the light of Jesus and Jesus' love.
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A Word from our General Presbyter
Ed Thompson
For some reason, Ash Wednesday usually catches me by surprise, although this year I don't have much of an excuse since the season gets off to such a late start with Easter falling on April 16. Through the years, I have taken on a variety of Lenten disciplines. Some have worked better than others. When I was younger, I would often give up things, like chocolate, candy or cookies during Lent. In more recent years, I've been trying to do things that at least seem more spiritual, and I've tried to focus on taking on some additional spiritual discipline rather than giving something up. Click here to read more
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The Presbytery of West Virginia will gather at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston on Saturday, Feb. 25 for a Stated Meeting. The proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sent to the presbyteries by the 222nd General Assembly will be presented for consideration, debate and voting. In past years, a printed booklet of amendments was available to all commissioners; however, the Office of the General Assembly has chosen to be good stewards of available resources and per capita dollars, so printed booklets are not available. The booklet has been prepared and posted electronically to
pcusa.org/amend/
. Click here to register for the meeting.
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2017 Shared Mission Request
Many of our churches have already made pledge for 2017. I urge you to check with your pastor and/or clerk of session to see that your church has returned their pledge card to this office and, if not, to please do so at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions about mission pledge, Per Capita, or other benevolences, please contact me at 304-744-7644 or treasurer@wvpresbytery.org.
Treasurers' events at Festival of Faith
Please note, at this year's Festival of Faith (Saturday, April 1
) we will again have events for our church treasurers. There will be a Church Treasurers' round table and workshop for new treasurers. A Festival of Faith information packet was mailed to your church. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information about the Festival of Faith or the treasurers' workshops.
BOARD OF PENSIONS NOTICE
The Board of Pensions is holding one-day Benefits Connections gatherings for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) employers.
The Benefits Connections gathering nearest our Presbytery will be held in Pittsburgh from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 28.
For more information and/or to register, go to
www.pensions.org/benefitsconnections.
March 3 is the registration deadline. These gatherings are intended for Pastors, Personnel Committee Chairs, Business Administrators, Clerks of Session, COM Chairs, EPs, Stated Clerks or those responsible for benefits decisions and managing benefits; however, registration is open to anyone who would like to attend. Seating is limited. Churches/employers/
organizations may send up to two people.
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Prayer Concerns
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News from the Associate for Educational Ministry
Susan Sharp Campbell
Self-Care Workshop
March 17-18. Register by Monday, Feb. 27
This workshop is the second in the 2017 Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox series. It will feature Stephen McCutchan, a Presbyterian Teaching Elder and author who blogs at www.smccutchan.com and publishes a newsletter on care of clergy, www.pastoralcarenetwork.org.
Click here to read more
St. John's Bible Workshop
Friday, March 31: 6:30-8:30 p.m. at First
Presbyterian, Charleston
Written in English, using the NRSV translation, The St John's Bible took an international team of six artists and six calligraphers fifteen years to complete. With 1,150 pages of handwritten calligraphy plus 160 major illustrations, it is the only full-scale, illuminated, fine art edition of the Bible. Click here to read more
Festival of Faith
April 1 at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston
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Lay Academy of Religion
Beginning Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston
The Lay Academy of Religion will host a series on "The Addictive Brain" at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, beginning Sunday. Classes run 4-5:30 p.m. Sundays through May 21 (skipping Easter Sunday) in the dining room of the church's Activities Building; each one begins with a DVD lecture, followed by a panel discussion.
Lectures are by Dr. Thad Polk, who uses neuroscience to teach about the opioid epidemic. He uses three case studies to demonstrate how ordinary people can become involved in dangerous addictions and explains the difference between use, abuse, dependency and craving. Session topics include Addiction 101, genetics, alcohol, marijuana, stimulants and gambling.
All classes are free. For more information, contact Dr. Robert G. Newman at 304-345-0225 or robertnewman@suddenlink.net.
Click here to read more
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State of Appalachia Conference
March 31-April 1 at Pipestem State Park
The West Virginia Council of Churches is co-sponsoring the State of Appalachia Conference, March 31-April 1 at Pipestem State Park. The conference will focus on the health, economy, ecology and spirituality of Appalachia; it will include plenaries, workshops, state caucuses and a Projects Fair. For more information or to register, visit
here. Limited scholarships available.
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Bluestone Summer Camp News
Summer camp scholarships available
Scholarships (registration fee assistance grants) are available for Bluestone summer campers, thanks to support from the Molly Grant Scholarship Fund. Candidates must apply through their local church; find applications
here. Funds will be distributed at the discretion of the Presbytery's Bluestone Committee.
Volunteer at the camp
Weeks available: 6/11-17, 6/18-24, 6/25-7/1, 7/2-8
Bluestone is seeking individuals who would like to help out for a week of camp. Volunteer opportunities include camp nurse (1 per week), key leaders (3 per week, to lead curriculum studies), craft leaders (3 per week) and general support staff (drivers, kitchen help, grounds and maintenance help, photo/media techs and extra counselor support). If interested, contact Mark Miller at 304-466-0660 or mark@bluestonecamp.com.
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Part-time Music Director Sought
Beckley Presbyterian Church
Approximately 24 hours/week
Beckley Presbyterian Church is seeking a Part-Time Director of Music, who would be responsible for an Adult Choir, Youth Ensemble and Handbell Choir, which would include weekly rehearsals, one Sunday service and typical holiday and holy day responsibilities. Submit your resume and/or request for a job description to
office@beckleypres.org
. No phone calls, please.
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Interim Minister Sought
Beckley Presbyterian Church
Beckley Presbyterian Church is seeking a full-time Interim Minister. To learn more, visit
www.beckleypresby.org. The church's Ministry Information Form (MIF) can be found at
clc.pcusa.org. Interested persons should direct their Pastor Information Form to the contact listed on the church's MIF.
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Part-time Church Accompanist Sought
First Presbyterian Church - St. Albans
10-15 hrs/week
Responsibilities include planning, leading and playing for sanctuary worship service on Sunday mornings as well as any additional special services and events. Salary based on expertise and experience.
Send cover letter, resume, three references and salary requirements to:
First Presbyterian Church C/O Staffing, 201 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans WV 25177.
Direct telephone inquiries to 681-235-2232. Please, no in-person or telephone inquiries to church.
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Copier for sale
Village Chapel Presbyterian Church - Charleston
If you are interested in purchasing a business-class color copier, Village Chapel has a SHARP MX-7001 Color Document System, which copies, prints and scans, for $4,000. Please contact Mary Howard, the church's administrative assistant, at 304-925-7265 or mary@vcpresby.org.
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Flooding Update from WV VOAD
(Voluntary Organizations Assisting in Disaster)
Good news:
We have come a long way since June 23. As of Thanksgiving, we had moved the last person we knew of out of tents and into more secure housing. As of Christmas, everyone had some source of heat. Our Long-Term Recovery Committees are working hard to manage resources, address cases and be good stewards of the gifts so many have given to the people in WV in need.
Click here to read more
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Sign up for The Beech Tree
The Beech Tree, the Friends of Bluestone newsletter, is now electronic. If you wish to receive it, go
here
to sign up!
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*Also on the webpage
You will find located on the Home page of the website (scroll down past the photo) direct links to recent newsletters, Equipping Disciples events, Ministry Toolbox events, the Pray-For church list and Nurturing Faith Ideas for 2017, e-news Archives and more. Please let us know how we can improve the website and whenever you encounter any problem with it. Thank you.
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Editor's Note:
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In order to keep the PWV Newsletter
fresh,
articles sent
for publication will generally run for two consecutive issues.
If you wish for a piece to continue to run, please resubmit.
We encourage you to reword, add a photo (or different photo),
or change the piece in some way so that the news stays
fresh and interesting.
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Presbytery of West Virginia,
520 Second Avenue,
South Charleston, WV 25303
Phone (304) 744-7634, Fax (304) 744-7649,
Office Hours: Monday -Thursday 8:30AM-5:30PM
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