Welcome to the Presbytery of New Harmony
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
(If you want to see someone in particular, you will want to call ahead to see if that person is available)
Telephone 843-662-8411
Street and Mailing address
2352 Presbyterian Road
Florence, South Carolina 29501
Electronic mail
Email general requests here.
Email webmaster requests here.
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Building Community Through Information - May 24, 2023
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Happening in New Harmony Presbytery
(All meetings by ZOOM,
unless otherwise noted.)
Cultivation and Empowerment Committee - May 24, 1:30 pm.
Mizpah Presbyterian Church Closing Worship - June 10, 10 am, 498 Washington St., Darlington.
New Harmony Presbytery's Office Hours - Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 5 pm. If you need to visit the office or meet with either Juanita or Gavin, it is best to contact them by the Presbytery office phone or by email. This will insure their availability.
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for our two churches for the week:
Mt. Lisbon Presbyterian Church, Bishopville,
Othan Franklin Sharp,
Commissioned Pastor.
Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Hartsville,
Marshall Ivey,
Commissioned Pastor.
for Rev. Carol Pagelson, honorably retired, facing surgery.
for those dealing with physical health issues, their families, and their health providers.
for those suffering from mental health issues and their families.
for leaders of all churches.
for leaders governments.
for all victims of floods, fires, shootings, tornadoes, storms, and other disasters.
for school children, teachers, administrators, staff, and parents as the end of school and beginning of summer approaches.
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Candidates
Marcy B. Carl
(Georgetown)
?Dubuque Theological Seminary.
Joseph Jumper
(First, Myrtle Beach)
Columbia Theological Seminary
Inquirers
Holly Bannan,
(Kingston Presbyterian Church)
Union Presbyterian Seminary Charlotte.
Randolph Green
?(Congruity Presbyterian Church)
Cate Henderson
(First Presbyterian Church, Hartsville)
Naomi McQuiller
(Second Presbyterian, Sumter)
Darren Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.
Flury Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.
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Online Conversation
On Black Presbyterian Church On Juneteenth
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The dates for the Fall term for the
SC5 Lay School
have been changed to
October 27-28, 2023
at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC.
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?We will update the site with Registration materials as soon as they are available.
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Pentecost Prayer
Jill Duffield offers this Pentecost Prayer published in the May 18 issue of The Presbyterian Outlook.
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Disaster 101 Training Link Available
If you were unable to attend the Disaster 101 Training on Saturday, or you want to review the information, you may view it through this link. It is important information for safety leaders/committees.
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Link to Recent Worship and Presentation by
Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka
You may view the recent worship and presentation by Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka by clicking on the link below. Please share it with your congregation. .
Those assisting with worship were Denise Lynch, organist; Delcia Harper-Baxter, liturgist; Gavin Meek, pastoral prayer; and Sean Hackett, saxophonist.
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Cheraw and Florence Minister/Educator's Lunch Combining
Starting in June the Cheraw and Florence Minister/Educator's Lunch will combine. The lunch will be on the 3rd Thursday, 12 noon, at South of Pearl in Darlington (117 Edwards Ave.). This restaurant is approximately halfway between both areas and offers a delicious buffet.
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Austin College Offering Full Tuition
?Scholarship for Presbyterians
Austin College announces the largest single gift in the College’s history, a $20 million bequest from the estate of Clifford J. Grum. The gift will fully fund the Westminster Scholarship Program for Presbyterian students to attend Austin College with full tuition paid, beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year. [more]
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First Presbyterian Church, Sumter, Hosted the Presbytery of New Harmony.
On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, the Presbytery of New Harmony met at First Presbyterian Church, Sumter, which is celebrating it's 200th anniversary. Interim Pastor, Bob Brearley (pictured here) welcomed the Presbytery and gave a brief history of the church. You may view the history.
The Presbytery was led in worship and a presentation by the Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka. His bio is here. You may view Bob Brearley's brief history of the church, the presbytery worship service, and Rodger Nishioka's presentation here.
Pictures from the Presbytery meeting are found here. A brief summary of the presbytery meeting will be available later.
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Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time where we can turn our attention to the emotional well-being of ourselves and those around us. The resources below are books for children and provide information on identifying emotions, processing our feelings and experiences, trauma-informed care, and more. These books may be ordered from www.pcusastore.com.
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Seeking an Acting Stated Clerk
With the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, ending his tenure on June 30, the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly is actively seeking candidates to serve as Acting Stated Clerk—starting as early as July 1 and serving through the 226th General Assembly (2024) until the arrival of the new Stated Clerk elected by the GA. The Acting Stated Clerk, though responsible for all the functions assigned to the Stated Clerk, will focus on leading the OGA and the church through this time of transition and implementing the planning of the assembly, while leaning on staff and elected persons to fulfill specific responsibilities. The Acting Stated Clerk must be either a ruling elder or a minister of the Word and Sacrament in good standing, in addition to meeting other qualifications. The full position description is posted.
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Opportunities at Bethelwoods Camp & Conference Center
Bethelwoods Summer Camp. All children are invited to join us for a great summer of Summer Camp at Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center. Find out more.
College Students Seeking a Summer Job. Want to make a difference in the lives of some great kids? Bethelwoods is seeking summer staff. Find out about how to apply.
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Pentecost Offering
The Pentecost offering helps our youth begin life with a strong start—a solid foundation of faith formed in the first third of life, from childhood through young adulthood. Forty percent of the offering stays in the congregation for initiatives with young people. The sixty percent sent to General Assembly is divided as follows: 25% for young adult volunteers; 25% for youth ministry; and 10% for child advocacy. Download the resource guide here.
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Presbyterian Mission Agency Grants
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International Peacemakers to Arrive in September
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program will be welcoming up to ten International Peacemakers in September. They hail from Cuba, El Salvador, Greece, Indonesia, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Poland, South Sudan, and Ukraine. These peacemakers will be traveling all over the United States to speak with congregations, mid-councils, and educational institutions about their work on peacemaking and justice issues. They need groups to host them! Browse the webpage for detailed information and to submit a hosting application.
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2023 Stated Presbytery Meetings
Aug. 19 (Saturday) ZOOM
Nov. 9 (Thursday) John Calvin, Florence (60th anniversary)
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Regarding Ruling Elders: Taking Part in the Common Life and Worship of a Congregation
In the Book of Order, members are called upon to be involved in the ministry of Christ’s Church in a variety of ways, including by “proclaiming the good news in word and deed” and “taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation” (G-1.0304). In our minds we could probably categorize church activities into these two separate areas, but for ruling elders, these sentences encompass— wholistically — our responsibility to serve as leaders of the congregation.
Ruling elders “have responsibilities for the life of the congregation” (G-2.0301). They are “called to nurture the common life of the people of God through their gifts of discernment and governance,” and “make provision for the regular preaching of the Word and celebration of the Sacraments, corporate prayer, and the offering of praise to God in song; oversee and approve all public worship in the congregation, with the exception of responsibilities reserved for the minister of the Word and Sacrament; determine occasions, days, times, and places for worship; and have responsibility for the arrangement of worship space, the use of special appointments (flowers, candles, banners, paraments, and other objects), and the ministries of music, drama, dance, and visual arts” (W-2.0303). [more]
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Feasting on the Word Curriculum is lectionary based. This curriculum allows everyone in your church, regardless of age, to study the same text each week. All the leader background information comes directly from the Feasting on the Word series, so you know that your leaders are getting the biblical background they need to feel confident leading the lesson with any age group.
A companion resource titled Joining the Feast allows leaders to connect the Sunday school experience with worship. If the pastor is preaching on the lectionary, then the leader can look up liturgy suggestions and other helpful ideas to help tie into the worship experience.
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We offer Feasting on the Word Curriculum for a variety of age groups (see our sample sessions below for the specific groupings). We also allow you to purchase your curriculum by age group for all twelve months of the program year, nine months (summer not included), and quarterly (fall, winter, spring, and summer) to suit your church’s unique needs. If your whole church would like to participate in this curriculum, consider purchasing the Total Church Plan, which is sold in twelve-month, nine-month, and quarterly increments but includes each age group in one package. There is also a small church option, called the Small Church Plan, for churches with fifty congregants or less and sold in twelve-month increments.
If you are wondering how to use Feasting on the Word Curriculum for online ministry check out our free guide. For ordering information, click here.
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Discussing Illness, Death, and Grief with Children and Adults—A message from PC(USA) Store
?Talking about illness, death, and grief is never easy, but it is essential for individuals and their loved ones to address these difficult topics. As leaders, you can help individuals prepare for difficult situations, explore their emotions, and work toward a sense of peace and closure. A powerful picture book to help with these conversations with families is Grandpa’s Window, a new book that addresses the grieving process through the eyes of a child. There’s also a downloadable discussion and activity guide to help facilitate conversations. Read an excerpt.
Of course, conversations with adults can be just as difficult, whether they’re acting as a caregiver, going through the grieving process, or are dealing with an illness themselves. Browse our list of thoughtful and practical books and resources to help you guide people through these conversations.
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Inspiring & Comforting Children’s Books
Includes Free Resources for Education & Ministry
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Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding
This series of biblically based mini-courses provides adults with a foundational understanding of the Reformed faith. Each six-session study, written by well-known and respected scholars, features Scripture, prayer, in-depth commentary, and questions for reflection. Each study topic has a Participant’s Book and a Leader's Guide that offers helpful suggestions and direction for group study. Each Participant Book is $7.00 and each Leader’s Guide is $11.00.
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Thankful Thursday Prayer
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we know the power of cooperative prayer. Thankful Thursday is a time for EVERYONE to thank God for ALL He has, is, and will do for us. Scriptures remind us of the importance of prayer. In Ephesians 6:18 we read: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Ruling Elder Delcia Harper-Baxter, Commissioned Pastor
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Position Available: Coordinator of Youth Ministries
First Presbyterian Church of Cheraw seeks a Coordinator of Youth Ministries for our middle and high school youth. This is a part-time position – 12-15 hours/week. This person will guide our youth in Christian spiritual development and growth through education, fellowship, mission, worship, fun, and service opportunities. Some college is preferred. Applicants should have strong communication skills and be good at program planning. Should be able to work Sunday evenings and some flexible weekday hours. Call the Cheraw church office at 843-537-7474 for a job application. Email resumes to office@firstprescheraw.org.
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Male and Female Residential Counselors
Presbyterian Agency for the Developmentally Disabled (PADD) needs to add both male and female Residential Counselors to support the growth of this mission. Residential Counselors provide for the direct care of the residents, and the overall day to day functions of running a home. Without being intrusive, the Residential Counselors support and teach the residents to accomplish daily living activities and achieve their personal goals to live as independently as possible. They initiate activities to build a sense of family and belonging among the residents.
Successful applicants will have a high level of compassion, patience and love for persons with disabilities. Excellent interpersonal skills. A high stress tolerance. Sound judgment. An ability to teach residents via coaching and modeling behavior. Physically able to perform all duties. Able to understand resident’s developmental plans and complete daily written reports. Eager to learn and apply new skills. Enjoy working with the residents as they proceed with the daily life of the home, such as shopping, cooking and home cleaning.
Homes operate on a 24/7 awake schedule. 8 hour shifts. Positions are hourly. All positions are in Florence, SC. Experience preferred, but will train. Background check and safe driving record are required.
For more information, or to submit a resume, contact Ms. Kimberly Tumbleson, Administrator/Executive Director. PADD. 2350 Regional Road. Florence SC 29501. E-mail: ktumbleson@paddsc.org Cell: 843-867-7046.
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Part-time Summer Youth Intern
The Williamsburg Presbyterian Church is seeking a Part Time Summer Youth Intern. Deadline to apply is May 15. Anyone interested in the position should contact the church office at 843-355-6846.
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Director of Music Ministries
Georgetown Presbyterian Church, located in the quaint, coastal town of Georgetown, South Carolina, has an opportunity for a Director of Music Ministries. A welcoming, inclusive “community of faith” founded in 1897, Georgetown Presbyterian is the 4th largest church in the New Harmony Presbytery. We invite the faithful of all ages to come and be a part of our church life which offers inspirational services of worship and music, Faith Formation programs, times of fellowship, and missional opportunities.
As a key contributor toward the fulfillment of GPC’s mission “to nurture and share God’s grace with all,” he/she will develop, direct and coordinate a comprehensive music ministry which will inspire a sense of spiritual renewal in members and visitors alike. We seek an experienced leader of church music (especially traditional liturgical music), who is able, through personal example and exceptional musical skill, abilities and knowledge, to motivate participation and enthusiastic support for the GPC music ministry. The successful candidate will be an accomplished organist and pianist who has conducted choral, instrumental, orchestral ensembles, and a Degree in Music or related field (Masters preferred). A competitive salary and benefits package is provided. Please email music.ministry@gtpres.org for the full job description and include the following:
? Letter of Inquiry
? Resume or CV
? Link to depict examples of Organ Performance and Choral Conducting
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Handbells
FPC Hartsville is looking to purchase a used 4th octave of Malmark handbells. If you can help with this, contact Ronda McElveen, 843-858-6368, ronda.mcelveen@gmail.com.
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FPC Hartsville Seeks Person for Weekday School
First Presbyterian Church, Hartsville, is searching for a person to work in their school with children ages infant through two years. If you are interested, email fpkassistant@firstpreshart.org.
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Bridge Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, is searching for a Bridge Interim Pastor. Details of the call may be found here.
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?Summer Staff Needed
Bethelwoods is searching for some amazing individuals to serve on our Summer Staff. Are you looking for a summer job opportunity that will mean something? Come join us at Bethelwoods to see how we are making a difference in the lives of our campers! Learn more HERE.
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Job Opportunities
If you have the need to advertise a job position, please send the relevant information to me at presbyeducator@gmail.com.
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Synod of South Atlantic
Presbyterian Church, USA
Thornwell
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Presbyterian Communities of S.C.
Montreat Conference Center
South Carolina Inn at Montreat
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