June 15, 2016        Issue #80






















When's the last time 
you checked out the 
Presbytery website?  www.wvpresbytery.org 
General
Presbyter
Sightings!

Catch the General Presbyter at the following churches and events:
  • General Assembly!  Watch your email for daily updates!
Presbytery Staff

Ed Thompson
General Presbyter
Maureen Wright
Stated Clerk

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

Mark Parsons-Justice
Office Administrator/Communications




Prayer List For Churches

Week 24 - June 12 
Mingo Presbyterian Church 
Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg 
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Pinch
 
Church:  Gatitu 
Pronun: Gah-TEE'TOE 
Parish: Riamukurwe 
Spoken: RAY-eh-moh-KOH'ROHeh

Week 25 - June 19 
Ronceverte Presbyterian Church Trinity Presbyterian Church, Shady Spring 

Parish: Rware 
Spoken: Roh-ARE'ray

Week 26 - June 26 
First Presbyterian Church, Weston 
Baxter Presbyterian Church, Dunmore 
Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Slatyfork

Church: Kigwandi 
Pronun: Kay-GWAH'dee 
Parish: Riamukurwe 
Spoken: RAY-eh-moh-KOH'ROHeh

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by Ed Thompson, General Presbyter

It's been a tough summer and it's not even half way over yet. Disastrous flooding has hit our state. Two more black men were shot by white cops in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and St. Paul, Minnesota.  Five police officers were killed in Dallas, Texas. The British voted to leave the European Union sending ripples of uncertainty through the world's economies.  It's a lot to deal with. Some, maybe much of it, is beyond our control. Part of what haunts me though....
The Administration Committee has approved the request of Mark Parsons-Justice to be placed on a leave of absence from July 1 - October 31. Mark is dealing with some medical concerns. If you would like to send him a note, you can reach him at 705 Beech St., South Charleston, WV 25309.
If you are at a Presbytery event and snap a few pics, we'd love to see them.  If you are on Facebook or Twitter, use the hashtag #MyPWV.  If you don't use social media, send them via email to Mark Parsons-Justice in the Presbytery office (office@wvpresbytery.org).  
Got Good News?GoodNews
Does your church have good news to share? Let us all celebrate with you! Share it with us so the whole Presbytery can rejoice! In God's economy, no news is too small to celebrate!  Send your Good News tidbit (a sentence or two) to pwvgoodnews@gmail.com so we can include it in the newsletter.
  • We celebrate generosity of our congregations as we address the needs of our state after the flooding at the end of June.  We are seeing the smallest of congregations give of their very best.  We have seen churches open their doors to strangers and explore the best way to accommodate volunteers long term.  We have had congregations release pastors to serve in the flood zones for days on end and answered calls from most or our congregations asking just how they can be most useful in this time of such great need.  This is the church at work!
PWV PrayersPWVPrayers
  • We lift in prayer the churches and pastors of the Presbytery who are in transition.
  • We lift in prayer Mark Parsons-Justice as he recovers from a recent illness and continues to work with his Doctors.
New Resources!resources

Adult Studies Adult
by Nellie Howard, Resource Center Director

 
 It will soon be time to decide what your adult classes will study this fall.  There are plenty of choices from the series,  Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding.  This series recognizes that as Presbyterians we understand that God calls us to explore ways our Christian faith can be more fully known and expressed.  These studies us what it means to be Presbyterian Christians in the world today.  Let's look at a few selections from the study which are available from your Resource Center.   Click here for more...
Spotlight on... Mount Hope MountHope
This issue we are turning our spotlight on Mount Hope Presbyterian Church in Mount Hope, WV, WV established in 1898.  To learn more about the amazing ministry they engage in with their community please  click here...  

Mission Co-workers to SpeakMissionspeakers

Mission Dinner
Sunday, July 31 
at 6:00 PM 
at Fleming Memorial Presbyterian Church in Fairmont, WV.


Bob and Kristi Rice will speak about their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo where they have been serving there since 2010.  They work with the Presbyterian Community of Congo empowering the poor and demonstrating God's love.  They work in visioning and implementing new initiatives, in Christian education and evangelism, developing curriculum, equipping leaders, community development and on a microloan project.  The Congo has a history of conflict, rebellion and civil wars.  The Presbyterian Church has a large presence there and we are excited to hear about what they have to say to us about their ministry.  We welcome all to join us.  If you would like to join us, please let call or email Flemming Memorial Presbyterian (304-366-3848) with reservations so they will have enough food for the event. 
Help Campus Ministry!campus  
Help needed!  The Presbyterian Campus Ministry at WVU is an Ukirk ministry charged with reaching, teaching, and loving college students so they may be lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.  We meet weekly during the school year (Wednesdays, 7 pm, at Campus Ministry Center, downtown).  We need YOUR 
help identifying students who will be attending WVU in the fall (new, returning, transfer, etc).  Here are      ways you can help.  Click Here...
Preserve and Conserve! preserve 
Workshops available on Energy Efficiency, Water Resources, And Community Health
 
The Presbytery's Stewardship of Creation Ministry Team (SCMT) is continuing to provide workshops around the Presbytery on the importance to the faith community of preserving and conserving resources, especially water and energy.  They are providing these workshops free of charge and will tailor the event to the ages and size of the gathering. 
 
For more information and a Flyer click here...

Child Protection Policy Workshop! child

Saturday, September 10
10 am - 4 pm
Village Chapel 
Presbyterian Church
 
  • Has your session been struggling to adopt a Child Protection Policy as now required by our Constitution?
  • Are there questions about why members who have taught Sunday School for 30 years now need background check?
  • Do your session have a child protection policy but it might be time for a review of it?
  • Are some asking, "why do we need such a policy, abuse couldn't possible happen in our church?
  • What would you do if a convicted child molester came to worship?
 
Dr. Rebecca Davis, Associate Professor of Religion at Presbyterian College, and a life-long advocate for children, will be leading participants in exploring these and other issues related to a child protection policy in our congregations. This will be an opportunity to hear more about some of the issues that have led to the inclusion of the child protection policy in our Form of Government and what needs to be in such a policy.
 
For more information, click here. If you have questions, please contact Susan Sharp Campbell, susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304 -645- 456

Mission Trip to South Asiaasia

World Mission Initiative is leading a mission trip to South East Asia.  The application deadline is June 30.  The $2,600 trip cost includes airfare, visa fees, food, housing and all in-country transportation. Participants are responsible for paying for their passport, immunizations, gifts and any personal expenses. If you are interested in more information about the trip please click here...
PWV Mission Trip CHANGEmissiontrip
Many of us had a busy schedule in the month of August and our sign-ups for the mission trip were low, we have decided to redirect our energies to offer a Flood recovery week through WVMAW in Greenbrier County October 16-20.  All the costs will be the same as before, $300.00 for the week or $75.00 a day.  Please mark this on your calendar and prayerfully consider if you are able to serve. 
 
WVMAW is a long term recovery agency, working in partnership with the Presbytery of WV.  This means that after the first responders go home, we will be there working with families in need for years to come.  WVMAW is booking long term recovery teams now, and would like to give our people in WV the opportunity to respond to their own neighbors.  Please let us know interest by August 1.
 

computer_sky.jpg
The Relations Committee is seeking techies to assist local churches with website and technology needs on a volunteer, as-needed basis. Persons would be called on by churches if they need help setting up a webpage or if they have communications technology questions.  The committee particularly need persons who would be available to churches in the Parkersburg, Charleston, Lewisburg, and Morgantown areas.  For more information, please contact Patrick Ryan, Relations Committee ComTech Teach chair, at patseanryan@gmail.com.  
Centsabilty Offering Updatecents
We have great news!  We have already distributed all the funds our congregations have given as a part of the Centsability Offering that addresses Hunger needs in our area.  However, we have grants waiting to be filled.  Gardens to fill with vegetables, backpacks to fill with food, food banks to support in their important work....  So if your congregations have not yet had the opportunity to send in those funds, now would be a great time.  If your congregation is not yet joining us in the Centsability offering and would like to learn more, please give Barbara Chalfant a call at the Presbytery office, 304-744-7634. 
Grace & Gratitude Curriculumgrace

The PC(USA) has endorsed the Wendy's boycott launched this year by the farmworker-led Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) because of their refusal to join the Fair Food Program. The CIW is asking for our assistance in anticipation of Wendy's annual shareholder's meeting on May 26 in Dublin, Ohio.  For more information, click here!
Editor's Note:
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. 
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