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 - October 27?, 2021
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Happening in New Harmony Presbytery
(All meetings by ZOOM, unless otherwise noted.)
South Carolina Inn at Montreat Board -
November 1 - At Inn or by ZOOM.
Guiding Council - November 4, 1:30 pm.
Committee on Preparation for Ministry - November 8, 9:45 am.
Committee on Ministry - November 9, 2 pm.
Grand Strand Ministers' Lunch - November 11, 12 pm, El Cerro Grande.
New Harmony Presbytery's Office Hours - Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 5 pm.
Some Presbytery Staff are working at the office and some at home. Therefore, it is best that you first contact them by way of the Presbytery number, choosing the appropriate extension or by emailing them.
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for those with health concerns, especially Jim Clark, former Honorably Retired Pastor and Stated Supply at Mt. Zion; Marianne Burton, wife of Jim Burton, former Interim Pastor of Kingston Presbyterian Church; and Georgia Marshall, daughter of Jennifer Marshall, Associate Pastor, Georgetown Presbyterian Church.
for the safe and quick return of missionary hostages taken in Haiti, and their families.
of thanks for pastors, who serve churches and communities.
for Mission Partners, who serve throughout the world.
for those suffering from disasters, persecution, hunger, homelessness, COVID, etc.
for our two churches for the week:
Wedgefield Presbyterian Church, Jody Fostor,
Supply Pastor.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alcolu,
Alonzo Washington,
Supply Pastor.
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Candidates
Marcy B. Carl (Georgetown) Dubuque Theological Seminary.
Caitlyn Hathaway
(First, Hartsville)
Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond.
Joseph Jumper
(First Myrtle Beach)
Columbia Theological Seminary
?Inquirers
Randolph Green
?(Congruity Presbyterian Church)
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Darren Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.
Flury Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.
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2022 Montreat Youth Conferences
June 5–August 6, 2022
A Montreat Youth Conference affirms youth in their calling to be and to shape the church of Jesus Christ.
Our desire is to help youth come to know and believe that they are the beloved of God and to be a place where authenticity, community, connection, and God’s truth thrive. We seek to be an inclusive space where each voice can be heard and where each heart can be molded; where change is invited, challenge is expected, and where all are embraced.
We have spent the last year, and more, in a season of disconnect through our challenges and circumstances. God calls us to be connected in all aspects of life. Through the stories of Mary and Martha, Jacob and Esau, Jeremiah, and many others, we are reminded that we are all inter-connected in God’s intentional actions. Join us as we explore the many ways that we can reconnect to live out God’s call.
Youth leave Montreat knowing that:
Their faith matters.
They are loved as they are.
They are part of a community of faith.
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The Board Bulletin-Fall 2021
The Board Bulletin is published after each regular meeting of the Board of Directors of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and represents key information and actions taken that affect plans and programs administered by the Board of Pensions. [see the latest Board Bulletin]
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Clemson Presbyterian Student Association
Preston Shealy is Interim Campus Minister for the Presbyterian Student Association at Clemson for this school year. Pastors, educators, and parents with students at Clemson, please reach out to get them connected: PSA.Pastor@FortHillChurch.org or 864-654-3705. Read more from Preston here.
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The Small Church: A Gift to Its Community
Many of us have bought into the myth that "bigger is better," including when it comes to the size of your congregation. But as we approach Advent, it’s good to remember how God’s big plans were wrapped in the smallest of gifts — the birth of a Savior. This month’s issue of Presbyterians Today looks at some of the mighty gifts that small churches lovingly shower on their communities. [Read more]
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At Home Faith Formation
As we've seen over the past few months, there are still times when we cannot gather as a church community so that we can keep each other safe. Because of this, continued faith formation at home can bring structure to our ever-changing daily routines while also nurturing our mind and spirit. These books have been specifically chosen to enliven your faith during this time. [view the books]
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Resource Center Closing Postponed
The Guiding Council decided to close the Resource Center in the NHP Office; that was announced the beginning of September and was to occur the end of September. The close date has been postponed until the end of October in order to give pastoral leaders extra time to look over the materials and take any for yourself or congregation.
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November 16 Presbytery Meeting by ZOOM
The Guiding Council has decided that the November 16 Stated Presbytery meeting will be held by ZOOM. Though all would prefer the meeting to be held in-person, they decided it is still safest to hold the meeting by ZOOM.
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Advent Planning Made Easy
Advent is a full-church experience. It is part of our devotion time and part of our communal time of studying and worshiping together as a congregation. The books below are particularly suited to engaging all of these aspects of the season by providing unique spiritual opportunities for individuals, resources for group study, and inspiration for sermon series.
10/13/21
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?Check Out What Montreat Has to Offer
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10/13/21
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Union Presbyterian Seminary Leadership Institute November Offerings
Union Presbyterian Seminary announces November online continuing education opportunities. You may view these here.
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October is Pastor
Appreciation Month
While Pastor Appreciation Day officially started in 1992, nearly two-thousand years prior to this, the Apostle Paul admonished the members of the congregation in Thessalonica with these words, "And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders, who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love" (1 Thessalonians 5:12, The Message).
Pastor Appreciation Month provides us with an opportunity to thank our pastors for his or her service to the church and community. Sometime during the month of October, we hope our congregations take time to overwhelm their pastors with appreciation and love.
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New Harmony University (NHU)
NHU is being established, hopefully on an on-going basis, to assist and support our pastoral leaders and our Ruling Elders who serve in leadership on Sessions; NHU is an opportunity to share the wealth of resources, knowledge and experience within NHP and among our folks!
We need “faculty” to present a wide range of classes and courses, most of which, if not all, will be provided on ZOOM for the sake of convenience. Some classes and courses will be for pastoral leaders only and some will be open to all.
Gavin Meek, Transitional Executive Presbyter & Stated Clerk, will again offer Officer Training to new and continuing Officers (Ruling Elders and Deacons) later this year and the beginning of next year, and he will also offer a 201 for those who have already attended Officer Training. He will also be offering a Clerk of Session Training after the first of the year as well as an orientation class on the work of the Nominating Committee and Personnel Committee.
If you have an offering that you believe will be of interest and benefit to congregational leaders and/or ministers, please contact Gavin.
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Save the Date!
A musical celebration of the life of Louise D. Bevan will be held Sunday, November 21, 3 pm, at Salem Black River Presbyterian Church. In her memory a presentation of some of her favorite music: Bach, Mozart, Debussy, Gershwin, Gullah Low Country, 50's tunes, and, maybe, a Tom Jones hit.
Musicians include George Hyatt, organist, Trinity United Methodist Church, Charleston, Ann Caldwell of the Charleston Magnolia Singers, and Charleston Entertainment's String Quartet with a baritone vocalist.
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SOAP Regional Event Moves Online
Join other church educators in the APCE SOAP Region (SC, GA, FL, and Puerto Rica) for "Outside the Walls," our 2021 Virtual Regional Event, scheduled for November 5 - 6, 2021.
We are excited to welcome Reverend Aisha Brooks-Lytle as our keynote speaker and Eric Nanz will lead us in worship.
The cost for registration is $75.
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THE MARTHA MAY HOLMAN SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship fund was established to enable APCE members in the South Atlantic & Puerto Rico Region (SOAP) who have a continuing education allowance of under $500 to attend SOAP Regional events or APCE events in order to develop their leadership skills and enhance their ministry.
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Not yet a member? You are able to join as part of the application process.
Is this YOU?
DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 1, 2021
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Scholarships Available for APCE Annual Event
& 50th Anniversary Celebration
The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) has scholarship available for the Annual Event to be held in Chicago, February 9-12, 2022. The variety of scholarship include assistance for Small Church Educators, Volunteer Educators, and First-Time Event Attendees. Click here for more information.
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8 Habits of Evangelism
Beginning TODAY, September 8, and continuing every Wednesday through Oct. 27, Theology, Formation & Evangelism will host free webinars on the 8 Habits of Evangelism featuring each of the authors in the PC(USA) who wrote it. Each webinar, held Wednesday afternoons beginning Sept. 8 and ending Oct. 27, begins at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The first habit discussed is justice, with the Rev. Dr. Ralph B. Watkins, professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Columbia Theological Seminary. For the full schedule and more information go here. The habit and discussion to be presented during each webinar are designed for people of faith to go deeper into the wonder of God’s justice and reconciliation for the world — which is also the purpose of the upcoming digital REvangelism Conference from Montreat Conference Center Nov. 1-3.
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Reformation Day and Diversity- October 31
"On a snowy morning in Prague’s Old Town Square, I stood transfixed before the Jan Hus Memorial, my heart moved by the witness of this early Czech (known then as Bohemia) reformer. As my eyes glided across the plaza to 27 crosses marking the site of martyrdom for some of Hus’ later followers, I considered the many stories of the Reformation that for years had filled me with wonder: Luther at the Diet of Worms, John Calvin’s Geneva, John Knox and the Scottish Kirk. For as long as I could remember, I had been fascinated by the Protestant Reformation. That fascination continues today…Granted, there may be much to celebrate about the Reformation, but if we fail to appropriately grieve the splintering of the Church that resulted from it, or to perceive the ways the Spirit has moved in subsequent centuries to bring healing to Christ’s fractured body, I daresay we are missing the point." To read the whole article and learn new ways to celebrate Reformation Day go here.
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Disaster Preparedness for Congregations
Providence Presbytery, our sibling SC presbytery, has developed an outstanding sixteen minute educational video entitled, “Disaster Preparedness for Your Congregation.” It is now on our New Harmony Presbytery resource page of our website. Check it out with the link below.
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New Board Connections is Available
In this issue of Board Connections, Rebecca Bryan, DNP, discusses strategies to reduce stress as we navigate in-person activities. Find eligible HSA and FSA expenses with Further’s online tools. Discover three reasons why reduced Call to Health deductibles are important. Read it here.
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If you have a dependent child enrolled full time as a first-year college student at an accredited college or university, no doubt you also have a lengthy shopping list.
Keep in mind that the Board of Pensions offers grants from $500 to $1,000 (depending on household income) for transitional expenses, such as a computer purchase or dorm furnishings.
Learn more about eligibility, grant amounts, and how to apply.
?Then call the Board of Pensions if you have questions. We are here to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN).
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At It Again
Someone is again sending out emails, which look like they could be coming from Gavin Meek, asking for help, money, etc. They are not real! If you receive an email and you think it is from Gavin, look closely. If it is not from his gavin@newharmonypres.org email, then it is a scam. Don't fall for it!
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REvangelism Conference—
A message from
Theology, Formation, and Evangelism
?The REvangelism Conference, hosted by Theology, Formation, Evangelism in partnership with Montreat Conference Center, is a virtual event this year that will take us deeper into the new 8 Habits of Evangelism resource. If you are interested in exploring what it means to practice evangelism in 21st century contexts, we invite you to take a deeper dive with us. We will re-imagine, re-animate, re-define, re-envision what it means to practice evangelism through these 8 Habits together. We will have Shanea Leonard, Ralph Watkins, Leanne Van Dyk, Bruce Reyes-Chow, Tod Bolsinger, Aisha Brooks-Johnson, Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, José Manuel Capella-Pratts, and so many others leading this conference time together online. Register today for this great experience. You won’t want to miss it!
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SC Inn at Montreat - Your Home in the Mountains
Come to Montreat, North Carolina, nestled in the foothills of the Black Mountains, east of Asheville, NC. The South Carolina Inn is open year-round and ready for you. The inn is owned, operated, and supported by the Presbyterian Churches USA of South Carolina with a mission to provide a retreat for clergy, families, individuals, and attendees of Montreat Conferences. We also welcome and provide lodging for groups, families, individuals, and anyone seeking respite from everyday life.
The South Carolina Inn is a hidden gem, with guest rooms equipped with twin, double or queen beds. The Kirk Apartments have AC/Heat and kitchenettes. The Inn is a perfect for reunions, workshops, and large gatherings. Conveniently located on the edge of the Montreat College campus, the Inn provides affordable accommodations for students’ families when they come for orientation, attend sporting events, or when they just want to have brief visits with their loved ones. Come on up to your home in the mountains! Visit us at www.scinatmontreat.org for more information.
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The National Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network (POAMN) Conference for 2021 is going VIRTUAL!
SAVE THE DATE: October 26-28th, 2021
Theme: Vibrant and Faithful Aging: Legacies Across Generations
This conference is featuring our longtime friends, Donna and Dennis Haines from Kansas, leading our music and worship. The Keynote Speaker is Missy Buchanan from Texas.
Seven workshop leaders bring a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and experience in addressing the many aspects associated with aging. They include Richard Morgan, Kendra Oglesbee, Jim Kirk, Carolyn Mitchell, Mary Currie, Stephanie Fritz, and others. More about our leaders and their workshop titles will be posted on the POAMN website soon. A theme in these workshops is storytelling and its importance in cultural healing and across generations.
?Please watch our website www.poamn.org for updates. The total cost for three days is only $75.00 and, if your time is limited, you will be able to use the passcode issued to paid registrants to go back and watch them at your leisure.
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Training for Ruling Elders and Deacons
Check out this opportunity on Equip, the church's online training site. Consider using it for a self-study or with a group using the provided leader guides.
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Latest COVID-19 Info on
New Harmony Website
Visit www.newharmonypres.org and click on the COVID-19 tab for more information. You will find helpful links, including churches with online worship services.
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Links of Interest
Synod of South Atlantic
Presbyterian Church, USA
Thornwell
Presbyterian Communities of S.C.
Montreat Conference Center
South Carolina Inn at Montreat
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Job Opportunities
If you have the need to advertise a job position, please send the relevant information to me at
The PCSC of Florence is seeking a half-time chaplain. This role is responsible for pastoral care of the residents, their families, and the staff of the Florence Community, as well as planning and conducting Sunday afternoon Vespers services. Other duties include leading Bible studies and other spiritual enrichment activities for residents in independent living, assisted living, health care, and memory care. As a member of the leadership team at the community, the chaplain reports to the Executive Director. The chaplain must be an ordained minister and must have a demonstrated interest and experience in working with older adults. Please send inquiries and resumes to Meredith Scott at Meredith.Scott@PresComm.org by October 30,2021.
John Calvin Presbyterian Church is searching for an Administrative Assistant (part time, 16 hrs. per week) and a Nursery Assistant for Sunday mornings (1.5-2.0 hrs. per week). If you are interested in either of these positions, download the job description by clicking on the links below.
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