All Presbyterians in the Presbytery of 

West Virginia are invited to attend the Commissioner's Forum on Friday, February 27, 2015 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston.

This forum will be led by Rev. Tom Hay, Associate for Assembly Operations, Office of the General Assembly.  Tom is also a member of the Shenandoah Presbytery and former Executive Presbyter of Shenandoah Presbytery.  This event will provide information about the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a time to seek answers to their questions.  In addition to the Commissioner's Forum, there will be a time of study, reflection, and prayer during the presbytery meeting on Saturday, February 28.

In addition to these opportunities, resources for information and study are available at:

• PC - BIZ
• MARRIAGE
• BELHAR 

If you would like to follow the voting on the proposed amendments the vote tallies, CLICK HERE!

Due to illness, the Equipping 

Disciples Event on the Belhar Confession at Bridgeport Presbyterian Church has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 15, from 3-6 pm.  

While that date is almost upon us, it's not to late to register and attend.  To do so, please contact [email protected].

The Way of Tea and Justice: Rescuing the World's Favorite Beverage from its Violent History

By Becca Stevens

Do you drink tea? Have you ever thought much about tea? Would you like to know how  tea and justice be might connected? Here is what your Resource Center  Director can tell you about these questions and more. 

Just CLICK HERE to find out more!  

WAIT! THERE'S MORE!   Once you have read the article come on by the Resource Center on Monday or Tuesday and I'll fix you a cup of tea.

The 2015 Teaching Elder identification cards from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have arrived!  These will be distributed with the nametags to all Teaching Elders at registration for the February 28, 2015 Presbytery Meeting. The cards of those Teaching Elders not in attendance will be mailed in March.

BRIDGEPORT - Bridgeport Presbyterian Church offers compassion to members facing difficult times.

Ministry Molded by Mountains

The 2015 Small Church Conference

Start making you plans now to attend the 2015 Small Church Conference April 18 at Fayetteville Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, WV. 

Our keynote speaker will be our own Joan Stewart.  Several workshops are planned, including workshops on smaller church issues such as mission, computers in the small church, the joys of ministry in the small church, etc.  Workshop leaders will include Bruce Stevens, Joanne Glaser, Cherrie Sizemore, Nellie Howard.

Registration information will be available soon.  You will be able to register before the conference so our hosts can have an idea for refreshments and for lunch.

While attending the Ministry Committee retreat I was delighted to have the opportunity to hear some of the mission activities our congregations are focused on developing.  There I encountered Kellen Sarles one of our Certified Ruling Elders.  It was obvious that she was a person of passion and commitment.  She shared with us good news about "Friends Unlimited" in Mercer County.

FUn is a passion for Kellen Sarles!  Kellen is one of the organizers of "Friends Unlimited."  She is also the mother of a son who was born with Down syndrome.  As she watched her vibrant son grow into an adult she recognized his need for social events with others who might have special needs.  Out of that spark of an idea grew FUn, an organization that works through the Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center and provides eight events each year for 250 or more adults...                                                       Blessings!

Barbara Chalfant

READ MORE

2015 Churchwide Gathering of 

Presbyterian Women will be held June 18-21, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event is titled One Body, One Spirit.

Your moderator of Presbyterian women have received booklets of events, registration, hotel registration ,schedules and everything you may want to know.  There will be scholarships for those attending and amount will be in a newsletter this month.  All booklet information can be obtained if you visit www.presbyterianwomen.org/gathering. Sixteen attended the gathering in Florida.  The fellowship , worship, fun, connection and spiritual uplift can't be put into words.

Get a friend and attend.  For more information contact Joanne Yingling, PWWV moderator,  304-736-8029. 

March 2015                    April 2015

To view each edition please click on the dates above. We are sending you the most recently published issues of the Parish Papers. The Presbytery of WV's purchase of a subscription INCLUDES: 

1.    Permission to provide copies to our staff and to the congregations within our jurisdiction in any of the following ways: E-mail, Postal, newspaper, newsletter, meetings, training events, and our Web site.

2.    Permission for each congregation within our jurisdiction to (a) photocopy or electronically distribute for local use as many copies as it needs, (b) post them on its Web site, and (c) quote sentences and paragraphs.

Congregations within our Presbytery's jurisdiction to which we distribute The Parish Paper do NOT have permission (a) to delete the copyright ownership notice, (b) to re-write, paraphrase, delete, or change the wording of sentences and paragraphs, or (c) to give ANY THIRD PARTY-other than our staff and constituents-permission to photocopy or reprint (in any quantity, no matter how small, whether for free distribution or for sale). 

Mary Jane Hopkins, mother-in-law of Bill McCoy - pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, died January 24 2015. 

Francis Ihrman, an honorably retired member of the Presbytery of West Virginia, has returned home from the hospital under hospice care.  Please keep Francis, his wife Diane, and their family in your prayers. Your prayers and cards would be greatly appreciated.  Their address is:

Francis and Diane Ihrman

P.O. Box 196

Arthurdale, WV 26520