Building Community Through Information - July 21, 2021   Happening in New Harmony Presbytery (All meetings by ZOOM, unless otherwise noted.)   Personnel and Finance - July 21, 9:30 am.   Friendfield P.C. Administrative Commission - July 21, 2 pm, at Friendfield P. C.   Guiding Council - August 4, 1:30 pm.   SC Presbytery Disaster Assistance Team - July 22, 10 am.   ?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.   Prayers...   Christian love and sympathy go out to our colleague, the Rev. Jennifer Kottler, Stated Supply at John Calvin Presbyterian Church and the wife of our Transitional Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk, Gavin Meek, upon the death of her father, Dick Kottler, who  transitioned  peacefully to the Church Triumphant and Eternal yesterday.    As most all of you know, her father came to live with them when they moved here three years ago; his cancer had returned as his wife of 64 years died two years prior. A week ago, Sunday, he fell at church and broke or cracked several ribs which caused him to take a swift decline in his health. He had been a Ruling Elder for 65 years and loved to sing. He would have celebrated ninety-plus years this coming Friday. Please keep Jen and Gavin in your thoughts and prayers: pastorjenkottler@gmail.com.       for the people of Haiti, as they struggle with even more instability in their lives.   for peace in our time.   for traveling mercies for those taking vacations this summer.   for those struggling to recover from the effects of Covid-19, both spiritually, physically, and economically.   for our two churches for the week:   Mizpah Presbyterian Church, Darlington, Frank Colclough, Moderator of Session.   Morton Presbyterian Church, Hartsville, ?John Parks, Temporary Supply.   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) ? Darren Wilson (Friendship) Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.   Flury Wilson (Friendship) Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte. August Presbytery Meeting to be In-Person The Guiding Council is making plans for the next Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New Harmony to be held in person. The meeting is to take place on Tuesday, August 17, at Goodwill Presbyterian Church, 295 N. Brick Church Rd., Mayesville. The Guiding Council is respectfully requesting that all Elder Commissioners and minister members attending the meeting be fully vaccinated. Any with health reasons that prevent vaccination are to confer with the Stated Clerk.   Lay School of Theology at Presbyterian College Sponsored by the Five Presbyteries of South Carolina   The fall session of the S.C. Lay School of Theology will be October 15-16, 2021 in-person, at Presbyterian College.  Registration materials will be available in the coming weeks.   FOR WHOM: Lay persons who wish to   1. Participate in an in-depth study of the Bible, Theology, or Church History. 2. Be trained as a Commissioned Teaching Elder. 3. Better prepare themselves to teach the Bible or Church School. 4. Serve as Directors of Christian Education. 5. Be certified by the Association of Presbyterian Administrators.   PLEASE NOTE: These courses are not for ministers, candidates for the ministry, or those considering changing denominations to the PC (U.S.A.). 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!   Get the latest from the Board of Pensions __________________________________________________________ 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. __________________________________________________________________ Bird Voted Council's Board President-Elect   The Rev. Julie Walkup Bird, pastor of McGregor Presbyterian Church, PC(USA) in Columbia, SC, was voted president-elect of the South Carolina Christian Action Council Board of Directors at their June 17 meeting.   Bird writes, "Being a SC Christian Action Council board member has inspired me to celebrate the beautiful diversity within the Christian community of South Carolina. I have also been reminded in profound ways that it is truly our unity as sisters and brothers in Christ that teaches us how to be Jesus’ disciples. In a time when division among people makes the most headlines, what a privilege it is to be a part of an organization that proclaims unity! What a witness to the world that we join together on common ground to stand for justice, work for peace and love our neighbors."   Bird will be installed as president-elect alongside newly appointed board members, the executive minister, and the Council's executive board on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 11:00 am, in Columbia. _________________________________________________________________________________   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.   Women's Gatherings: Listen & Resource   These sessions seek to gather PC(USA) women of color serving in leadership to provide them with the sacred space that honors their voices and their experiences as they share how COVID-19 has impacted their lives and ministries. We will gather in a virtual circle where everyone has a seat from where they can teach and lead one another through storytelling and by honoring their memories, emotions, struggles, and victories.   The offices of Women’s Leadership Development and Leadership Development for Leaders of Color of Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries are hosting 3 "Listening Circles."   We have chosen a few different time options intentionally keeping in mind our west coast sisters and will aim to gather for a total of 90 minutes.   August 18 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time   September 14 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time   Learn more and register HERE. Ministers' Lunches to Resume In-Person   As usual, Minsters' lunches are suspended for July. As long as there is no COVID-19 surge, we will begin having our luncheons in-person starting in August!   Grand Strand Ministers’ Lunch at El Cerro Grande (2696 Beaver Run Blvd A, Surfside Beach): 2nd Thursday, 12 noon.   Sumter Ministers’ Lunch by ZOOM at Willy Sue’s (3355 Patriot Pkwy, Sumter): 3rd Monday, 12:30pm.   Cheraw Ministers’ Lunch by ZOOM at River’s Edge (162 2nd St., Cheraw): 3rd Thursday, 12 noon.   Florence Ministers’ Lunch by ZOOM at Stephanos (2600 Irby St, Florence): 4th Wednesday, 12 noon.   Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully Theme: Leaders Breathe by Rodger Nishioka    For many years now, I take time to breathe when I begin to pray. I breathe in deeply and hold it for a moment. Then I breathe out slowly and intentionally. Some time ago I started saying a phrase to myself. As I inhale, I say, “breathe in God’s mercies.” As I exhale, I say, “breathe out God’s mercies to the world.” Breathe in God’s mercies. Breathe out God’s mercies to the world.   Physiologists tell us that deep breathing lowers one’s blood pressure, reduces heart rate and stress levels, and even relaxes our muscles.   Breathe in God’s mercies. Breathe out God’s mercies to the world.   ?One of the key traits of faithful leaders is to be a “non-anxious presence,” especially in times of tension and conflict. Read more. Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living   ?Learn all about our new curriculum, Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living, with this free on demand webinar. What you'll learn: What Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living is How this curriculum is different from other curricula How this curriculum uses the Bible What ages use this curriculum What the different components are and how they work together A look at the inside of the curriculum Pricing and ordering information Outside the Walls   Join other church educators in the APCE SOAP Region (SC, GA, FL, and Puerto Rica) for "Outside the Walls," our 2021 Regional Event, scheduled for November 4 - 6, 2021, at Epworth By The Sea, St. Simon's Island, Georgia.   We are excited to welcome Reverend Aisha Brooks-Lytle as our keynote speaker and Eric Nanz will lead us in worship.   Our time together will be filled with worship, plenary sessions, break-out discussions, informal conversation, and plenty of time to enjoy each other and the beauty of St. Simon's Island.   The cost for registration is $150.   Click here for more information about accommodations and meals as well as to register.   Faith Formation for the Future: A Webinar Program for Designing Faith for 2021 and Beyond   The five presbyteries of South Carolina and SOAP (South Atlantic and Puerto Rico Region of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators) is offering the following webinars on the fourth Tuesday of June, July, August, and September from 12:00pm-1:30pm. The cost is $10/webinar or all four for $25. For more information and to register, go here    Webinars offered:   Tuesday, July 27- Building community and Relationships in the Post-Pandemic World   Tuesday, August 24- Formation for Christian Living in a New World   Tuesday, September 28- Planning for 2022 and Beyond: A Faith Formation Planning Clinic   (The materials covered in these four webinars will be used to inform a one day in-person event with John Roberto on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The event will be held at Westminster PCUSA, 1715 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210. More information will be available soon.)    View the Weekly News Briefing from the Presbyterian Church (USA) Montreat has Opportunities for YOU!   Looking for ways to connect with other Presbyterians as the pandemic eases? Check out all the opportunities that Montreat has to offer in 2021.   While you are at it. Check out the lodging opportunities at "Your Home in the Mountains," South Carolina Inn at Montreat. It is owned and operated by the five presbyteries in South Carolina.   ?The Womanist Leadership Institute   Christian Education Leadership Training Opportunity   ?This link provides more detailed information.   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.   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.     Links of Interest   New Harmony Presbytery www.newharmonypres.org.   Synod of South Atlantic http://synodofsouthatlantic.org/   Presbyterian Church, USA https://www.pcusa.org   Thornwell https://thornwell.org/   Presbyterian Communities of S.C. https://www.prescommunities.org/   Montreat Conference Center https://montreat.org/   South Carolina Inn at Montreat https://scinnatmontreat.org/   Job Opportunities   If you have the need to advertise a job position, please send the relevant information to  presbyeducator@gmail.com.    Lake City Presbyterian Church Looking for Part-Time Pastoral Leadership.  To learn more, please contact one of the following: Jane Player, worship chair, jane.player1@gmail.com; Corliss Bowman, Clerk, corlissb1@gmail.com; Gavin Meek, Transitional EP & Stated Clerk, Gavin@NewHarmonyPres.org.