Weekly Update for July 9, 2024

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,

the world, and those who live in it…

Psalm 24:1

Co-moderators of the 226th General Assembly following their election.

Photo by Rich Copley

Armstrong and Larson elected as Co-Moderators

by Darla Carter, General Assembly News

Commissioners to the 226th General Assembly have chosen two South Carolina pastors, the Rev. CeCe Armstrong and the Rev. Tony Larson, to be the next Co-Moderators. They will serve a two-year term and are the fifth straight team of Co-Moderators to win election.

Armstrong and Larson were elected Sunday night by a vote of 249 to 171 during an evening plenary in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Utah. Soon afterward, they were installed by their predecessors, the Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace and the Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis, who received a standing ovation for their service and gave the victorious team a glimpse of what lies ahead.

“You will have the privilege and the burden of representing the Presbyterian Church, at home and abroad, speaking with the church and to others outside the church, all of this that Christ might be glorified and made more fully known,” Santana-Grace said.

Continue reading…

The Rev. Jihyun Oh Elected As Stated Clerk

During Monday’s General Assembly in Salt Lake City, The Reverebd Jihyun (pronounced “Jee-hun”) Oh was elected and then installed as the next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. The margin was 420-2. After the vote was announced, the assembly gave her what can only be described as a standing Oh.

“I love this church, the part of the body of Christ that is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),” Oh told the assembly. “I love this church for who we have been, warts and all, and for who we are now, and who we will become as we faithfully discern God’s call for us.”

The Reverend Dr. Sallie Watson, moderator of the nominating committee said ”Someone along the way said to me, ‘Jihyun is always the smartest person in the room–any room.’ But along with her intelligence, we were impressed with her wisdom, moved by her humility, thrilled with her passion for soccer, delighted by her sense of humor, and just blown away by the breadth and depth of her experience in, and love for, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”

Oh, who’s currently director of Mid Council Ministries in the Office of the General Assembly, begins her new work on August 1.

Dumitru Roibu of Moldova will be visiting our presbytery as our peacemaker. He will arrive on Thursday, September 19 and depart on Wednesday, September 25. This will allow us to welcome Dumitru to our September Presbytery Meeting.

Dumitru is Executive President of YMCA Moldova. He has served as World YMCA Youth Empowerment assistant and YMCA Change Agent (a global leadership program), and participated in YES (Youth Engagement in Sports) and TTT (Training The Trainers) seminars.

Continue reading…

Dinner with Missionary Partners 

Wednesday, July 31, 6 p.m.

Fellowship Hall, Trinity Church

107 Staley Avenue, Butler

Covenant Church invites you to meet Cathy Chang, Juan Lopez, & Aurélie Chang-Lopez, 

Mission co-workers in the Philippines. They have been serving since 2015 at the invitation of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and other Asian partners.

Please RSVP by Sunday, July 14 to Ann Morrison at annfmorrison@gmail.com or 724-487-4900.

The Chang-Lopez’s will also be making a presentation at the July Beaver-Butler Presbytery Meeting.

Download and post flyer/bulletin insert…

Saturday, July 27, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Valencia Church

80 Sterrett Street, Valencia

724-625-2002

Donations of items in clean and working condition will be accepted Monday, July 22-Thursday, July 25—no clothing, shoes, TVs or computers. No donations will be accepted on Friday.

Download and post flyer…

by Randy Hobson, General Assembly News

For the first time since 2018, commissioners and advisory delegates of the 226th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are together for in-person plenaries. To make that happen requires a lot of planning, preparation and prayer. Those who have seen the action behind the stage describe it as the PC(USA)’s own version of mission control. 

Directing such an event requires someone who understands staging as well as the needed technology to make the Assembly a meaningful experience for attendees. Nathan Young has been a part of producing the General Assembly for years and provides a little peek into how this all comes together.

Watch video…

Vacation Bible Schools

Churches in our presbytery are holding Vacation Bible Schools throughout the summer. The Presbytery has compiled a list especially for churches who are not holding their own. 

Please download and post the final updated list so that families in your church and community will know about these wonderful opportunities.

Download and post the list…

THE PRESBYTERY OFFICE

Presbytery Weekly Update 

To share announcements and news or to add names to the mailing list,

contact ChrisAnn at chrisanngoossen@beaverbutler.org. To access back issues,

go to beaverbutler.org/weekly-update-e-newsletter/.