The CHATLine
for April 17, 2013
Presbytery Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm
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Greetings!
Thanks for reading The CHATLine for the latest presbytery news!
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Finding God in Times of Tragedy
from The Thoughtful Christian.com
 One of the hardest questions to answer when tragedy and suffering happens is, "Where was God?" After the events in Boston on Monday, this question is heavy in many of our hearts. We have two downloadable studies (one for adults and one for youth) for individual and group use that deal with processing tragedy and suffering. These are now free of charge for anyone to use. Please feel free to share this post or these links.
Where is God When Disaster Strikes?
Finding God in Tragedy
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FPC Hilton Head Mission Team
Travels to Nicaragua
 Lifted by the afterglow of Eastertide, a team of 18 people representing First Presbyterian Church recently returned from a mission trip to Nicaragua.
With the way being prepared and led by the Holy Spirit, the team spent the week following Easter nurturing and building relationships that began in 2009 and are continuing with FPC's commitment to global mission. The diverse team included a wide range of ages from pre-teen to 75-plus, coming together from four states, including a family of four, and two grandmothers with their grandchildren.
The team worked together with the staff of the House of Hope in Managua sharing Bible school activities with the children. Our team also painted, planted fruit trees and worked on a major construction project in extreme 100-degree heat, building a heavy pre-cast concrete wall around a complex that will house six families. The women planning to live in these new houses will have completed the four-year program of skills development and rehabilitation away from the street trade they grew up with and will now have a safe and clean home for their families.
Because of their strong faith, in many ways the people we met have more than we do, even with all our material comforts that surround us. We have seen and experienced how "God has the whole world in His hands."
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Visiting Missionary 
Between May 9-14, the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery will host mission co-worker Suzette Goss-Geffrard. She serves in Haiti. If you would like to have Suzette visit your congregation or if you would like to host a gathering for multiple congregations, please contact Spike Coleman (766-4262). With the exception of Sunday morning, May 12, Suzette's calendar is open.
To learn more about Suzette and the work she does in Haiti, click here.
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MPPC's Artful Worship
Experience During Lent
 Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, located in Mt. Pleasant SC decided to try something new for Lent. With the leadership of Turner Merritt, MPPC's Worship leader for "The Net", Teaching Elder Gary Bullard, and Staci Sarkowski, Director of Communications and Lenten series artist, the season of Lent had a little extra color this year...
Over the six weeks of Lent and on Easter Sunday the sermons were painted "Live" in front of the congregation. As the preacher proclaimed the Word of God those words were brought to life on canvas.
This experience was brought full circle the Sunday following Easter with a time of reflection on the scriptures, sermons and paintings with Staci, the artist and Teaching Elder Carmen Goetschius. It was an amazing Lenten season at Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church as they journeyed to the cross together in this new artful way.
This was something never done before at MPPC and the response was overwhelming. It is such a wonderful reminder that God calls us to worship in so many different ways using all of our gifts and talents to his Glory.
Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church plans to continue this form of worship in the future and is excited about all the other creative and unique ways of worshiping through art in the Sundays to come!
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 New Resource Available
in the Presbytery Resource Center
Faith and Science
by Ronald Cole-Turner
In thinking about how our faith seeks understanding, participants will consider the cosmos, the story of life, human beings, brain and mind, and technology and the future. This six week study is part of the Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding series.
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CDU Reports on Possible New Church in Cane Bay
 We own prime acreage in the new Cane Bay development between Summerville and Moncks Corner, just north of Goose Creek. Cane Bay is projected to have over 10,000 homes including 1000 in the Del Webb community inside Cane Bay. There are over 500 homes occupied in Del Webb and 600 homes in various sub-divisions in Cane Bay.
In February, the Congregational Development Unit had an informational meeting in Del Webb with over 50 families attending. We have been working on a plan to see what the interest is for a new church. (We would be the first one inside the actual community, although a contemporary Baptist church is meeting out there as well.)
We have formed a steering committee with the residents, CDU members and some folks from FPC Moncks Corner, and we are planning a big bar-b-cue on Saturday, May 4 from 4:00-6:00pm. There will be entertainment, games for the kids, a jump castle, door prizes and our folks will do surveys during the event to determine interest and look at demographics. There is a new school out there lined up for worship services and the developer, Ben Gramling, has been very helpful.
CDU has funds to support this effort for up to four years, but we need the prayers, encouragement and then financial support of all the churches in the Presbytery and we hope the new visioning commission will include Cane Bay in the long range plan for the presbytery. For more information, contact Mike Fitze.
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 Charleston Area Ministers' Lunch
The next lunch for the Charleston area clergy will be on Tuesday, May 23rd at 12:30pm. We meet at Westminister Church, lunch is 1:00 and we have good conversations pertinent to ministry. In addition to the lunch, we also share a time of prayer and fellowship. Please plan to join us on May 23rd!
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Presbyterian Pilgrimage Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Pilgrimage Ultreya at Second Presbyterian Church.
Covered Dish. Celebration teens are invited.
May 4-6, 2013
Pilgrimage Weekend Retreat
Pilgrimage #64 at Camp St. Christopher, the Episcopal Retreat Center on Seabrook Island. Leave the stress of everyday life behind, slip away for three days and take time for worship, meditation, prayer, study, music, good food, new friends, walks on the beach, and loads of fun along the way. Possibilities for spiritual renewal and growth abound in this beautiful setting. Think you haven't time, money, or need? Think again! Ask God if HE wants you to attend and leave the rest to Him. You may be the person God will use to help someone else! Anything is possible if you are willing to serve the King of Kings! Do it for Him... and for yourself. Come away for three days and claim the promise of new life in Christ; the fourth day is the rest of your life. You'll be glad you came... and that's a promise!
Would you like more information about Pilgrimage? Email David Hinson today!
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Presbyterian Foundation Offers
Wills Emphasis Materials for Your Congregation
 It's often been said that a charitable bequest is the one way everyone can give because it can be made in any amount. A charitable bequest also provides an opportunity to make a final statement of faith and stewardship. So why is it that so many fail to include the church in their wills? Could it be because they have not been asked? Don't miss out on gifts that could benefit your congregation's ministry. Wills Emphasis materials are available at www.PresbyterianFoundation.org.
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2013 James McDowell Richardson Lecture
at The Village at Summerville
Plan now to join us on Sunday, April 21 and Monday, April 22, in the Lola Johnston Memorial Chapel at the Village at Summerville of the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina. The Rev. Dr. Charles E. Raynal, Professor Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary will lecture on The Indispensable Psalter: For Prayer, Song and Devotion
Times of Lectures:
Sunday, April 21st at 7:00pm
Monday, April 22nd at 2:00pm
Monday, April 22nd at 7:00pm
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The Rev. Dr. Charles E. Raynal, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary will present a series of reflections on several psalms to encourage hearers to use the book of Psalms as an indispensable resource for singing and praying in church and for personal devotion and study at home. Presentations on Psalms 1 and 2 will give a key to open the whole treasury of Psalms. A discussion of Psalms 22 and 23 will encourage participants to practice prayer for personal need in time of distress and offer praise to the Lord for the answering assurance of God's care and comfort. A special feature will be to show how Psalms 22 and 23 shaped the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament. A meditation together on Psalm 130 invites participants to come to a real sense of God's forgiveness and restoration in our lives, and the hymn in Psalm 146 urges us to sing the Hallelujah song which concludes the whole collection of the praises of Israel in the Psalter.
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2013 STEPS Registration Information Is Coming!
Have you marked your calendar for Saturday, August 24th at the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church.
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Upcoming Events
at Columbia Theological Seminary
Center for Lifelong Learning
May 20-24, 2013
Women's Contemplative Retreat:
Opening to the God of Your Life
Each Spring Columbia Seminary offers a contemplative retreat for women--open not just to members of the CTS community, but to any woman seeking a deeper experience of God. Under the sheltering arms of the Benedictine Monastic Community of Cullman AL, we will explore the mystery of God's great love and longing for us, and seek ways to open more fully to this transformational experience. Led by experienced spiritual directors Lalor Cadley, Judy Leatherwood Smith, and Linda Abel. Register here.
Horizons Bible Study Leader Events
Events for Leaders of the 2013-14 Horizons/Presbyterian Women Bible study, An Abiding Hope: The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Register before May 31 for the best program fee option. Both courses - weekday and weekend - are specifically designed for leaders of the 2013-2014 Horizons Bible Study. We will dig deeply into the material, provide an overview of the design, and receive tips for leading the study throughout the coming year. Those interested in learning more about the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy are also welcome to attend. Read more.
WEEKDAY course - August 5-7, 2013
Instructor: Author of the study, Rev. Janice Catron Early Bird Registration through May 31 is $95 per person; after May 31, the full program fee of $115 or $100 per person, 2+ from same group. Register here.
WEEKEND Course - August 16-17, 2013
Instructor: Linda Morningstar, former associate director of Lifelong Learning. Early Bird Registration through May 31 is $80 per person; after May 31, the full program fee is $95 or $85 per person, 2+ from same group. Register here. |
CAP High School Youth Mission Trip
to Salkehatchie Summer Service
June 23-30, 2013
 Salkehatchie is a mission of the United Methodist Conference of South Carolina. Through Salkethatchie camps, youth and adults from all over the south work together to upgrade housing, motivate community efforts by helping persons to help themselves, and provide opportunities for personal growth and service. This is a great opportunity for your youth to participate in a mission camp without all the headache of preparing and organizing one yourself!
The cost to participate in Salkehatchie is just $215 per person. This includes all lodging and meals, plus a camp T-shirt. This year, Charleston Atlantic Presbytery is offering eight scholarship of $100 each. If one of your students needs a scholarship, please indicate that on the application form.
Click here for more information and the registration form. |
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Upcoming Events in Our Presbytery
- June23-30, 2013 - Salkehatchie Youth Mission Trip
- July 16-20, 2013 - PC(USA) Youth Triennium
- August 5-7, 2013 - Local Mission Trip for CAP Youth
- Saturday, August 24, 2013 - STEPS 2013
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Stay Connected
Presbytery
Calendar
April 22nd 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Ambassadors' Meeting at Presbyterian Village
April 23rd 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Charleston Area Ministers' Lunch at Westminster
April 25th 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Coordinating Committee
April 30th 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm STEPS Committee
Upcoming
Presbytery Meetings
All meetings
begin at 9:00 am
May 18, 2013
Spring Stated Mtg
St. Luke PC
in Orangeburg October 5, 2013 Fall Stated Mtg Sunrise PC on Sullivans Island
February 15, 2014
Winter Stated Mtg
St. James PC
in Charleston
Church
of the Week
Johns Island,
South Carolina
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Keeping In Touch
Send Us Your Pictures:
If your church is participating in mission projects, taking trips, or hosting different events, let us know and send us a picture!
Newsletter:
Do we receive your church's newsletter? Please put us on your mailing list.
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Contact
Information
Please remember
that the phone will
be answered by our
voicemail system
when we cannot
answer the phone.
Main:
(843) 766-4219
Extensions:
Donnie Woods
Executive
Ext. 302
Deane Kemper
Stated Clerk
Ext. 304
843.708.1848
Pie Mikell
Cong. Nurture
Ext. 303
Barbara Burger
Administration
Ext. 301
Business Manager
Mike Fitze
Presbytery Consultant
(843) 884-1504
Cheryl Glenn
Communications
(843) 259-4900
Rachel Epps
Youth Ministry
(843) 367-9136
The Journey
Campus and Young Adult Ministry
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