| Help Needed in Disaster Areas |
Texas and South Louisiana are in desperate need of help, both financially and structurally, in the wake of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Rick Turner, Foothills Presbytery's Disaster Response Coordinator, has been deployed to Beaumont, Texas, by PDA. He reports that the damage in many areas is equal to that of Katrina and urges congregations to send funds to PDA designated for the 2008 storm season. He also reports that work crews are needed and can be coordinated with the Rev. Harland Merriam (409-892-8611) at St. Andrews Church in Beaumont, Texas,. Housing can be arranged for any groups who will come to the area. You also may contact the presbytery office to arrange for a work crew to go to the area.The need is great and your prayers are appreciated.
PDA also reports an urgent need for Gift of the Heart kits, especially clean-up buckets to be sent to the warehouse at Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center. For more information on these kits, log on to Gift of the Heart kits. |
| Roots and Wings |
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The Rev. Julie Thompson, pastor in Foothills Presbytery. recently launched a practice called "Roots and Wings" that provides interactive educational workshops and coaching for couples, parents, teens, and entire families. Her workshops use material from PAIRS, PREPARE-ENRICH, and Active Parenting. She coaches using the Appreciative Way model that combines Appreciative Inquiry and contemplative spirituality. Upcoming workshops: Pre-PAIRS (for engaged or committed couples) - October 19, 2-6 pm, and PAIRS Essentials (for married couples) - November 7, 14, and 21, 6:30-9:00 pm. Visit the Roots and Wings web site for workshop details, locations and costs. Visit the Clergy Leadership Institute to learn more about Appreciative Way Coaching. |
| Recent Communications |
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The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly; Elder Linda Bryant Valentine, Executive Director of the G.A. Council; and the Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of G.A., have penned a moving letter about the many hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters that have impacted so many lives this year. For the full text of the letter, clickhere.
Clark Simmons, our Board of Pensions representative, has sent a message containing a letter from the Board's President and C.E.O., Rob Maggs, concerning the recent difficulties in the financial market and the strength of the Board's portfolio. To read the letter, click here.
Invitation from the PC(USA) to engage in a monthly church-wide fast to discern faithful responses to the global food crisis, in a world where more than 845 million go hungry. Beginning in October, the intention is for Presbyterians to fast each month, beginning on Friday evening and breaking the fast with communion on Sunday morning. The year-long cycle will have new materials available each month and will end October 16, 2009, on World Food Day. Prayers and analysis of the food crisis can be found on the www.pcusa.org/foodcrisis web site.
"Testing......testing" - a resource for church sound system operators. This new web site has articles aimed at helping you improve the sound quality of your worship service and to help people who are interested in setting up and operating sound systems. Check it out.
PC(USA) News Service reports that renowned Presbyterian musician Isaiah Jones died this week. He was 68. Jones gave up a booming career in the music business to become a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister. He achieved fame as a composer, performer and arranger, but left the music business in the 70's to attend Fuller Theological Seminary. He served pastorates in California; was a campus minister in Oregon; and taught at Fuller seminary as well as Oregon State and UCLA. It is said of him, "Music and ministry were both so much in his blood. He always had a pastor's response to everything." |
| Prayer Requests This Week |
The family of the Rev. Dr. James Fogartie who died this week in Spartanburg. Dr. Fogartie served as Senior Pastor at First Spartanburg Church for many years. His funeral service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at First Spartanburg.
The delegation of visitors from this presbytery who left yesterday for a trip to Ghana, West Africa. They will be the guests of Kwahu Presbytery, our partner presbytery in Africa.
All of the people in Texas and Louisiana who have suffered terribly after the recent hurricanes. Many are homeless and hurt and are struggling to survive.
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| Local Church News |
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Fall for All Festival
Roberts Presbyterian Church invites you to join them for their first annual "Fall for All Festival" on Saturday, October 4, at the church located at 2716 Highway 187 South in Anderson. Garage sale! Children's games and activities! Country store & sweet shoppe! Live entertainment and food! Community service & Health Fair!
Rain or Shine
Missions Fair
All churches in Foothills Presbytery are invited to the Missions Fair to be held at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville on October 19, 10:30 am until 3:00 pm. Over 50 exhibitors will share information about their work, internationally, nationally and locally. A special feature will be organizations that bring clean water into third-world countries.
Worship services will be conducted at 8:30, 9:30 and 11:00. Guest speakers include Mr. Mateen Elass, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Edmond, Oklahoma, and Dr. Bob Blincoe, an ordained Presbyterian pastor who presently serves as U.S. Director of Frontiers.
Please take advantage of visiting First Church Greenville sometime during the day.
Preserving and Restoring God's Creation
Westminster Presbyterian Church will host presentations by candidates for the 4th Congressional District of S.C., Bob Inglis on October 21 at 6:30 p.m. and Paul Corden, on Wednesday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be environmental and energy policies. The intent is to demonstrate to the candidates that people of faith are deeply concerned about the fate of God's creation and to give them an opportunity to address the concerns. Events to be held in room 209 of the education wing at Westminster Church, 2310 Augusta Street in Greenville. All are invited. Reservations are not needed, but you may email to let them know that you are coming - just for seating purposes. |
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