PNews 7/15/21

Essentials

We have only dim ideas of what the post-pandemic church will ultimately look like. But this much we know – the church will survive and thrive only to the extent that it stays true to its essentials. Will the church be diligent in tending to its foundations in order to flourish in adapting to new challenges? In this week’s meditation, Essentials, Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge considers this question and more.

Become a Lazarus Fund Church!

The Lazarus Fund equips congregations in Pittsburgh Presbytery to provide direct financial support to their neighbors to help them avoid the disruption of eviction. Distributing this direct aid can be a significant ministry for congregations who feel called to serve people who are poor, and especially those churches who are committed to the Matthew 25 Initiative principle of eradicating systemic poverty. The Lazarus Fund leadership team is hoping that new churches will join the program for the summer to address the coming eviction crisis.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2021

This annual conference offers education, worship, and amazing opportunities for growth in stewardship and generosity. Over two dozen workshops available to in-person attendees. It will be held September 13-15, 2021 in-person in Cincinnati,OH, and online for a virtual experience. Our presbytery is prepared to offer scholarship assistance for first-call pastors who wish to attend. Contact Sheldon for more information.

This is a collection of policy documents from PCUSA that may be helpfully consulted as congregations look for examples to assist in their own policy-making. Some examples include Child-Youth Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy 2021, Capital Asset Policy and Guidelines 2021, and Creating Safe Ministries Page.

Partners for Sacred Places is pleased to sponsor the 2021 Faith&Form/Interfaith Design Awards. This year the awards program includes all categories from 2020 as well as new categories that are open to a broad array of congregations and nonprofit organizations. Entries are welcomed and encouraged from architects, landscape architects, designers, artists, students, consultants, nonprofits, and religious organizations. Submissions will be accepted from July 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021.

2021-2022 Planning Calendars

The PC(USA) is now taking pre-orders for the 2021-2022 calendar. It is a 19‐month calendar (September 2021-December 2022) that contains many planning aids for pastors and other church leaders. It includes lectionary for Sundays and special days, liturgical days, liturgical colors, resource information for PC(USA) programmatic emphases, updated synod, presbytery and Presbyterian Mission Agency staff directories, color foldout synod/presbytery and world maps. The Presbytery is not going to place a bulk order for churches again this year, so we are encouraging those that want calendars to place their orders directly with the PCUSA Store with the link below. They will be shipped directly to you, eliminating multiple touch points and the need to pick them up.

Recent Posts