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An Easter Message |
It was over thirty years ago but I remember it so well that it still gives me goose flesh. Eight or ten Louisville Presbyterian Seminary students were gathered in one of our apartments on Easter evening. We had all been to church in various places - most of us in churches we served as student supplies or assistants to larger staffs. We were exhausted. A basketball game was on the TV which no one had energy to watch. Chips were dipped in a sour cream and onion soup concoction and beverages were sipped.
Detailed dissections of our various worship settings were common at such a time but not that evening. We were exhausted after a Holy Week of helping carry out the remembrance and celebration of the central event of our faith.
The talk drifted to the morning's music. Carol was a former opera singer and a paid soloist in one of Louisville's largest Presbyterian churches. She and that choir sang an Easter oratorio by J.S. Bach. Barry was an intern at a large church in Ft. Mitchell and their choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah." Almost all of our congregations had sung "Christ the Lord is Risen Today."
Eventually they asked what had been sung in the church I served, the Dry Ridge Presbyterian Church in Dry Ridge where 35 people determinedly witnessed to the Reformed tradition in Grant County, Kentucky....(click here for the rest of the story)
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How Much Do you Know about the Church? |
 The PC(U.S.A.) is trying to discern how its members view the church and how familiar they are with the organization, missions, how they feel about the church, etc. Please help them out by reading further and taking this short survey.
In order to communicate well across our diverse
denomination of more than 2 million members and nearly 11,000 congregations we need to discover the shared language of the church. You can help us in our information gathering process. Go to:
http://www.pcusa.org/research/congregationalsurvey and take this quick survey. You will be able to tell us what the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) means to
you and answer questions such as: "How familiar are you with the national entities of the Church?" and "What words or images come to mind when you think about the "mission agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?" |
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Upcoming Events & Resources |
 The PYWA, Presbyterian Youth Worker's Association will hold a regional gathering Thursday April 10 at Bethelwoods Camp & Conference Center near Rock Hill, SC. Opportunities for community sharing on the following topics will be explored: Theology of Youth Space, Confirmation - the Whys & How's, Video Editing- A Youth Group Project. For further information & registration and lunch reservations click here:
Following lunch join the Metrolina Educator Connection from 1PM-4 PM at the same location. Two topics will be explored: Protecting Children- Protecting Churches: Creating a Child and youth Protection Policy for your Congregation, and Beyond "Just Say No": Faith and Human Sexuality Education in Congregations. Presenters: Rev. Dr. Rebecca Davis and Tia Magette of the Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte. For details & registration click here:
Save The Date!!!!!
Presbyterian Youth Day at PresbyterianCollege
Saturday, November 15, 2008 - Activities, Seminars, food, music, and A Blue Hose Division 1 home football game: PC v Coastal Carolina. Click here for details and information on the Outstanding Youth Leader Awards: |
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Your Church CAN Have a Website! |
Do you belong to a smaller-sized church? Does your church have a website? If not, why not? When it comes to websites, sizes of congregations should not matter. It is possible to have a presence on the Internet without spending a lot of money. Just ask Bethany Presbyterian (membership 126). Bethany Presbyterian Church in Clinton (above photo) has produced a very informative and attractive site! John Gartrell, a member at Bethany, emailed me recently with the web address so that I could link Bethany from the Presbytery's website. John was the designer and is now the "webmaster" (doesn't that term just ooze 'power'!). He has graciously offered to help other smaller congregations that are interested in creating a site. Email John and find out how your church can have a presence on the world wide web. Click here to see Bethany's new site! |
| Calendar of Events |
March 21- Good Friday, Presbytery office closed
March 24 - Easter Monday, Presbytery office closed
March 27 - State-wide Presbyteries Staff Retreat, Presbytery office closed
March 28 - Off-site Staff Development, Presbytery office closed
April 19 - Attracting, Reaching and Keeping the Next Generation of Believers, Northminster Presbyterian Church
April 26 - Clean-Up Day, Camp Fellowship
June 3- Stated Meeting of Trinity Presbytery, Korean Community Presbyterian Church, Columbia
August 8 & 9 - SC Gathering of PW, Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington
September 12 & 13 - PW in Trinity Presbytery Annual Overnight Retreat, White Oak Conference Center |
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Employment Opportunities |
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Shandon Presbyterian Church has a full-time position of Communications Coordinator available. This position requires very strong communication/publishing and computer/web skills. Facilities scheduling and church membership software are also used in this position. Any applicant needs to have a strong work ethic and be able to work well with the church congregation and staff, as well as with outside groups scheduling the church facilities. Please contact Bonnie Smith, Business Administrator for salary information. Apply in writing with resume' and references included to Shandon Presbyterian Church; 607 Woodrow St.; Columbia, SC 29205; Attn: Bonnie Smith, Business Administrator or bsmith@shandonpres.org
Spring Valley Presbyterian Preschool is currently seeking applicants to fill the position of Director. The position is responsible for the direction of the church preschool program of approximately 100 students from ages 2-4 and approximately 20 staff members. The director serves as a role model for the school in its relationships with children, parents, the church and the community. The director reports to the Preschool Board and is responsible for supervising all aspects of the school's operation, to include: implementing and facilitating a quality early childhood education curriculum, providing leadership and support to teachers and staff, supervising and evaluating staff, participating with Board on staff hiring decisions, scheduling and organizing professional growth and development for teachers and maintaining financial records for the school. The position normally requires an approximately 30 hour work week encompassing the regular preschool hours of Monday through Friday 9-12, with additional time as necessary for administrative items, board meetings, registration, etc. The preschool operates on the same calendar as Richland County School District Two.
Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education K-6 with a minimum of three years teaching experience and SC certification (or the ability to become certified within one year). The following skills and attributes are also desired: leadership and supervisory experience, budgeting, payroll, and fiscal management, computer skills (such as creating newsletters, spreadsheets, financial), and interpersonal skills to include being highly motivated, a "self starter", resourceful, and above all, the love of children.
Resumes and three references should be sent to Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Lane, Columbia, SC 29229 Attention: Preschool Search. Resumes will be accepted through April 3, 2008. |
| Office Closed |
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Trinity Presbytery office will be closed Friday, March 21 and Monday, March 24 in observance of Easter. Also, the office will be closed for a state-wide staff retreat with the Presbyteries of SC on Thursday, March 27th and also on Friday, March 28th for an off-site staff development day.
There will be no E-News next week. | |
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