• Visit: http://oga.pcusa.org/stats where you can go to download the information and input your data. 
• Passwords have been changed and you need to add an "!" at the end of the previous year's password.
• The deadline is February 22, 2012.
• If you don't have access to the internet, contact Barbara Burger at the presbytery office.

Got gospel? The Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir will be leading the Second Presbyterian congregation in worship this Sunday, February 26th at 11:15 am.

Everyone is welcome to join in on the jubilation at 342 Meeting Street!

Turnaround Strategies for Your Church:

Part 6: Rethinking Stewardship

This webinar will be available at the presbytery office on Tuesday, March 13 at 2:00pm.  In this Webinar Tom Ehrich will help you understand the critical difference between "harvest giving" and "charitable giving," help you break free from failed strategies in order to implement proven ones and

help you transform congregants from budget watchers and crisis managers into grateful, generous and Christ-centered believers.

Our next meeting is Tuesday, February 28th at 12:30pm in the fellowship hall of Westminster church. It is a great lunch for $5 and even greater conversation!  We hope to see you there!

Theme: Honoring Stories of Courage,

Struggle and Survival of Women
Zion Olivet Presbyterian Women invites all churches in the Presbytery to our annual Gifts of Women Program Celebration on Sunday, March
11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

Our speaker for the worship service is Ms. Loretta Graham, who is the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina. Ms. Graham's message will emphasize the roles of women in the church as
well as in the community by sharing the biblical lesson on Hagar's struggles and courage to survive for herself as well as her son.

We are asking all women to wear white and all guests are invited to join us for lunch at Oscar's (207 W 5th North Street, Summerville, SC). The
final count for the luncheon is required by March 5th; therefore, please forward this information along to Mary L. Capers at 843 860-9061.

Zion Olivet Presbyterian Women thank everyone for their support and wish you all God's continued blessing.

2012 has begun and with the new year Hands of Christ is beginning to make plans for its' distribution this year.  We hope to serve 5000 or more children in the five county area currently being served.  Since we began nine years ago we have served over 28,000 children.  Since school started in August an additional 110 children have received emergency clothing through their schools from Hands of Christ.

Click here to download a trip flyer.

Do you celebrate the gifts of ministry and talent offered by the older adults in your church? Offer members the opportunity to connect with older adults in your church and community? Older Adult Ministry Week (May 6-12, 2012) is a great time to get started! Here are just a few ideas to 'prime the pump':

• Have a group or an entire congregation 'Adopt a Nursing Home'
• Ask older adults to provide after-school tutoring to children in your church or community
• Take an older, non-driving adult to visit another older, non-driving adult
• Offer technology classes (computers, smartphones) for older adults
• Check out the PC(USA) resources online: The Older Adult Ministries Planning Guide http://www.pcusa.org/resource/2011-older-adult-ministries-planning-guide/  and the POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network) http://www.pcusa.org/resource/poamn-network-news-spring-2011/  for more ideas!

The Adult Ministry Committee of the Nurture Unit will be sharing more ideas this winter and spring, and rolling out a few more surprises as well! Please share this information with your pastor and committee/team chairs!

Lindy Coleman, chair, Nurture Unit   

coleman.lindy567@gmail.com

Lenten Studies in the CAP Resource Center

• Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture - Join Walter Brueggemann and Tim Scorer in this six session DVD study through the poetic prophecy of the Hebrew Scriptures identifying cultural contexts, putting a framework to Israel's history, and drawing connections between Israel's sociological, economic, and spiritual status and that of America today.
• 24 Hours That Changed the World by Adam Hamilton- a step by step guide through the last day of Jesus' life. This series includes a book, DVD with a 7 session leader's guide, and a 40 day Lenten devotional 
• The Drama of Easter: An Anthology of Royalty-Free Easter Plays for All Ages edited by Rhonda Wray- This resource contains plays for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.
• Sharing the Easter Faith With Children: Helping Children Observe Lent and Celebrate Easter by Carolyn Brown- This resource helps adults see the Easter story from a child's point of view and offers worship suggestions for the church and home.
• Final Words From the Cross by Adam Hamilton- As Jesus hung on the cross he spoke seven "final words"- statements that have much to teach us about Jesus, his Father, and ourselves. This series includes a book and DVD with a 6 session leader's guide.
• The Thoughtful Christian has two new Lenten studies this year: What is Lent?- a one session study for youth and Walking the Way of the Cross with Paul- a six session study. These may be purchased from www.thethoughtfulchristian.com.

Extra Inventory at Mt. Pleasant Church

Free for the Taking!

Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian has several items they do no need and wanted to offer to other churches in the presbytery.

Items Include: 

• 16 boxes of Cokesbury Offering envelopes - they are "generic" with no church printing or envelope numbers printed on them.
• Approx. 250 plastic cassette tape holders (4" x 2 ½")

If interested, contact Val Marmillion at vmarmillion@mppc.net.

Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM)

Offers Special Gather on Saturday, February 25th

Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) offers a special Gathering-Saturday, February 25 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greenville-A gathering which will focus on the new hymnal and other resources to use in worship and with your Music Ministry-See more information about the conference and PAM at presbymusic.org  Not a member of PAM, join today.