Welcome to the
Presbytery of New Harmony
The Mission of the Presbytery of New Harmony is to strengthen, nurture, and sustain its congregations and ministers, and to participate in the wider mission of the church through its higher governing bodies.
The Presbytery of New Harmony, a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is situated along the northeastern coast of South Carolina. We have 7,534 members across 12 counties in South Carolina. The presbytery office, located in Florence, supports 65 congregations and 80 resident ministers.
Please feel free to browse our website to find out more about us.
If you cannot find what you're looking for, please feel free to contact us at the addresses listed below.
Presbytery of New Harmony
2352 Presbyterian Road
Florence, SC 29501
Phone 843-662-8411
Email us.
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Happening In New Harmony Presbytery
(Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be by ZOOM.)
Personnel & Finance
Sept. 17, 10 am.
Cheraw Lunch - by Zoom
Sept. 17, 12 pm.
Sumter Lunch - by Zoom
Sept. 21, 12:30 pm.
Florence Lunch - by Zoom
Sept. 23, 12 pm.
Guiding Council
Sept. 30, 9:30 am.
**All future meetings of committees will be by
ZOOM until you are notified otherwise.**
New Harmony Presbytery's
Office Hours Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 5 pm.
Presbytery Staff is working from home. You may contact them through the Presbytery phones and choosing the extension of the person you are trying to reach or by email.
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SC Lay School of Theology
Things will look a little different this session! Since we were unable to meet at Presbyterian College due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the planning committee arranged for this session to be held at the newly renovated Charleston Atlantic Presbytery offices in North Charleston, SC, formerly Park Circle Presbyterian Church. This building will allow for plenty of social distancing and safe, comfortable classrooms for our fall semester.
We request that you follow the North Charleston mandated guidelines and wear a mask at all times while inside, the exception being at meal times. We also ask that you refrain from participating in Layschool if you are not feeling well and/or have tested positive for the virus within 2 weeks of class. The refund restriction will be waived if you become ill with COVID after registering or the refund deadline has passed.
Lodging has been arranged at the Holiday Inn Express in North Charleston, less than 2 miles from the Presbytery complex. The Holiday Inn is offering a free shuttle service between the church and the hotel. We hope you will enjoy joining us in our new surroundings for study and fellowship in the name of our Lord.
Learn more and register HERE.
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APCE Annual Event Date Changed
It is official! The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) Annual Event,
Circle of Faith: 50 years and beyond, is moving to February 9 - 12, 2022
in Chicago. We will celebrate our 50th anniversary in style!
For more information or to become a member of APCE, click the here. Your REGIONAL event is still being planned for November 4-6, 2021 at Epworth-by-the-Sea. We will provide updates with more information and any changes.
APCE exists to support, equip, and connect all Christian educators - whether they be ministry staff, volunteers, or parents/guardians in the home. Let us help you provide the tools needed to grow in faith!
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Monthly Lunches to Resume
Instead of having weekly ZOOMs, we are going to transition back to our monthly cluster lunch gatherings, except we are going to do so, for the remainder of the year, by ZOOM. As a reminder, the schedule is as follows:
Grand Strand Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 2nd Thursday, 12 noon
Sumter Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 3rd Monday, 12:30pm (This is a change from 2nd Monday in order to not conflict with the monthly CPM meeting.)
Cheraw Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 3rd Thursday, 12 noon
Florence Ministers' Lunch by ZOOM: 4th Wednesday, 12 noon
As usual, Juanita will send you a reminder and the link, which is also below, a week prior. However, please mark your calendars.
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Helpful Resources for In-Person
Worship & Activities
Download these helpful resources on COVID-19 for in-person worship and activities. Please review and/or forward them on to appropriate leaders in your congregation/s.
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Digest of Presbytery of New Harmony Meeting & Video of Worship
The Digest of the 98th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New Harmony is now available. Click on this link to view, download, print, or share with others in your congregation.
You may view the video of worship here.
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Presbyterian Church at Manning Offers Prayer for Those Returning To Schools
This is a prayer from the Presbyterian Church at Manning fo all educators, students, and parents at the start of this school year. Please view it here.
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PC(USA) Guidance on Sacraments
During Pandemic
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Guiding Council Continues to Recommend Not Resuming In-Person Activities
Your Guiding Council met Thursday, June 27. With the rising cases of the Coronavirus, they continue to strongly advise that in-person worship and activities NOT resume at this time. They know that resuming in-person worship and activities is a decision of the Session and not the presbytery or its council; they affirm this in our Presbyterian polity and Constitution. They also know that there are Sessions that have either resumed in-person worship and/or activities or have decided to do so in the near future, utilizing the Guidelines recently distributed; they would, of course, urge err on the side of more, rather than less, precautions and safeguards. Please let them know if there are ways that they can be of assistance and support
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Guidelines for Reopening In-Person Worship
Moderators and Clerks,
Attached are the Guidelines for reopening in-person worship and activities, which are slightly revised from the draft you recently received. These Guidelines were unanimously adopted by your Guiding Council to assist and support your Session in its plans for reopening.
We are aware that some Sessions have set a date for reopening or are planning or conducting outdoor worship, using the draft Guidelines sent to pastoral leaders a couple of weeks ago, to make preparations. Many other Sessions are not rushing to reopen but continuing to provide worship and activities through means other than in-person and inside. The Guiding Council reaffirms, once again, that it is the Session that determines when and how a congregation reopens to in-person, inside worship and activities. However, the Guiding Council continues to advise and encourage this not yet happen.
We have just past the surge in cases and deaths for this area, but with the reopening of many businesses, there is a concern on the part of medical and health experts that cases and deaths could easily spike. Additionally, we are aware that many of our members are in vulnerable categories. Thus, the Guiding Council encourages that each Session take this time to develop a strategic plan for your congregation and context for the time it does reopen to in-person, inside worship and activities. The attached Guidelines are to assist and support those Session plans in a way that ensures the safest way to do so at the time determined by the Session.
Please reach out to me or Julie should you need any assistance and support. We are grateful for your leadership and continue to pray for you and your congregation.
God bless. Gavin
Rev. Gavin D. Meek
Transitional Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk
New Harmony Presbytery
Gavin@NewHarmonyPres.org
Office 843.662.8411
Cell 646.546.0522
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Questions Churches Should Answer
Before People Return
Ken Braddy, Director of Sunday School for Lifeway Christian Rewources, outlines 24 questions churches should answer before congregations return to "normal" worship. Click on this link to learn the questions.
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Weekly Coronvirus Update from PCUSA
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