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 - January 25, 2023
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Happening in New Harmony Presbytery
(All meetings by ZOOM,
unless otherwise noted.)
Grand Strand Lunch - February 9, 12 pm, El Cerro Grande.
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:
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alcolu,
Alonza Washington,
Supply Pastor.
White Oak Presbyterian Church, Ruby,
Joan Yates,
Moderator of Session.
for Marianne Burton, the wife of Jim Burton, who serves Indiantown and St. Paul Churches facing health concerns.
for leaders of churches.
for leaders of our local, state, and national governments.
for all victims of floods, fires, and other disasters.
for school children, teachers, administrators, staff, and parents.
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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)
Naomi McQuiller
(Second Presbyterian, Sumter)
Darren Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.
Flury Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte.
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You Are Invited
Salem Presbyterian Church, 1100 Dooley ST., Anderson, SC, invites you to a Restoration Service
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Our morning worship service at 11:00 am features the Rev. Dr. Franklin D. Colclough, retired pastor presently serving as a Moderator and Supply Preacher for Harmony Presbyterian Church, Alcolu, SC, and Cousar Memorial Presbyterian Church, Bishopville, SC.
After morning service, lunch will be provided for all attending at First Presbyterian Church, Anderson, in the Fellowship Hall, located at 302 W. Whitner Street, Anderson, SC 29624.
Our afternoon worship service at 3:00 pm features the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA).
We hope you will come, and together we can share God's wonderful blessing.
In order to obtain an accurate count for lunch, please RSVP by texting for calling Sister Alexander at 864-940-8140 or 317-719-3464 with your church name, last name, and total count by Saturday, February 4, 2023.
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Spring Lay School & Commissioned Ruling Elder Training
March 10-11, 2023 at Presbyterian College
The registration fees for the Spring 2023 session:
Single: $280 Double: $160 Commuter: $75
The core courses are
Old Testament, Church History, Worship & Sacraments,
Polity; the elective course is John.
The registration Packet will be available in early February.
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The five presbyteries in SC are offering this Leader of Leaders event on Tuesday, March 14 from 9:00-3:00 (optional youth focus from 3-4:00) at the McGregor Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. The Rev Dr. Sarah Lund will be the speaker.
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Items You Might Have Missed
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Westminster (Alcolu) to Host Black History Celebration
Westminster (Alcolu) will host their celebration of Black History on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 3 p.m. The celebration speaker is Dr. Preston N. Williams, Professor Emeritus, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Williams holds an A.B. from Washington and Jefferson College; B.D. Johnson C. Smith Seminary; A Sacred Theology Master (S.T.M.), Yale (Divinity)University; and Ph.D. Harvard University. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister, having spent his entire ministry on college and university campuses. After earning his S.T.M. at Yale Divinity School in 1954, he became a chaplain at three historically Black colleges: Knoxville College, North Carolina at Durham (North Carolina Central University and Lincoln University. From 1956-61 Williams was assistant chaplain at Pennsylvania State University, followed by an appointment as professor at Boston University School of Theology. From 1971-2002, he served as Houghton Professor at Harvard Divinity School and in 1974-75, as the acting dean of the Divinity School and then, in 1975-77, was acting and founding director of the W.E.B. Du Bose Institute for African American Research. Harvard bestowed upon him the Harvard Foundation Medal for Interracial and Race Relations and established the Preston N. Williams Black Alumni/ae Award in his honor. Dr. Williams and Constance are the parents of two adult sons. Dr. Williams’ father Noah Williams served as a Ruling Elder and Superintendent of the Church School at Westminster Presbyterian Church 100 years ago.
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Columbia Seminary Conference
March 16-18
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Upcoming Officer Training Opportunities
CLERK OF SESSION TRAINING – Saturday, February 18, 9:30 a.m. (Hybrid)
Gavin will provide a Clerk of Session Training hybrid, both on ZOOM (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85198615600) and at the NHP Office (2352 Presbyterian Road, Florence), whichever is preferred.
OFFICER TRAINING
Below is the link to the recording of the recent Officer Training:
The length is three hours and 21 minutes, but obviously can be watched at one’s convenience. Since there is a recording to watch, there will not provide an Officer Training event this year, either in-person or by ZOOM.
All the Officer Training materials can be found on the Resource page of our NHP website: http://www.newharmonypres.org/nhpresources. Please note that the resource page has oodles and oodles of good and helpful resources for your Session, Clerk, congregation etc.! (As always, if you have a resource or know of a link to a good resource, please let Gavin know!)
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2023 Stated Presbytery Meetings
Feb. 25 (Saturday) First, Myrtle Beach (First time NHP in new Sanctuary)
May 16 (Tuesday) First, Sumter (200th Anniversary)
Aug. 19 (Saturday) ZOOM
Nov. 9 (Thursday) John Calvin, Florence (60th anniversary)
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DHEC Urges Residents to Monitor
?COVID-19 Community Levels
As the Palmetto State and the rest of the nation experience an uptick in COVID-19 cases, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) encourages residents to track levels of COVID-19 in their counties using the map provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and follow the masking recommendations for high and medium community levels. Currently, all but 2 of South Carolina’s 46 counties (Aiken and Barnwell) are experiencing high or medium levels of COVID-19.
“We are seeing significant increases in COVID-19 cases across our state, and we know there are a lot more cases that aren’t being reported due to the use of non-reportable home tests,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Public Health Director. “Masking remains one of the best ways to limit virus spread and the CDC has a great resource to help determine when to mask in public.”
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Clerical/Bookkeeping-PADD-Part Time
PADD is searching for an individual to perform clerical and bookkeeping functions. This is a critical function within the PADD mission, and the incumbent would report to the Executive Director. This is an “on site” position in Florence, SC requiring 20-30 hours of time per week. A flexible schedule could be considered. The incumbent in this position would be: skilled in Microsoft Office; have a great appreciation for accurate filing; be able to perform basic financial functions such as reconciling resident bank accounts. Experience with policies and procedures of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs is preferred, but not required. Other relevant experience could include clerical work in medical administration, finance/accounting, legal administration. This position would be perfect for an individual who is detail oriented and takes pride in the accuracy of their work. Compensation is dependent upon experience and is negotiable. For more information or to submit a resume the contact person is: Ms. Kimberly Tumbleson, Executive Director, PADD, 2350 Regional Road, Florence, SC 29501. Call or text 843-687-7046. E-mail ktumbleson@paddsc.org.
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PC(USA) 2023-24 Scholarship
Applications Now Open
Need-based aid is one of the many ways that the Presbyterian Mission Agency responds to its Matthew 25 priorities to end structural racism and poverty.” This statement appears at the end of the full-page announcement in Presbyterians Today about scholarships for full-time undergraduate and seminary students belonging to Presbyterian churches.
Applications for 2023-2024 scholarships through the Presbyterian Mission Agency are now open. The applications are available in English, Spanish, and Korean through the Kaleidoscope platform linked through the Financial Aid for Service page of the Presbyterian Mission Agency website. The Kaleidoscope platform allows students to complete the application at their own pace over the span of weeks or months until the final deadline of May 15, 2023. As a host for other grants and scholarships, it also allows students to apply simultaneously for several scholarships through multiple foundations — a further benefit for students seeking to finance their education. [More Information]
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A look at what's in the
January/February 2023 issue
Are you observing the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday?
January is a month when people embrace new beginnings. It is a time to start fresh or even start over. Resolutions are written down and the Christmas season ends with the feast of Epiphany, Jan. 6. It is a day to remember not only the Magi’s faithful following of the nativity star, but to also begin seeing God in flesh in the way of Christ working among us. But on the heels of Epiphany is an often-overlooked celebration that can have a meaningful impact on one’s faith — the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Sunday. On this day, congregations not only recall how Jesus’ ministry began with his baptism, but they are also reminded how baptism is an important beginning for them as well. Read on as the Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell explores ways to observe this day.
For more information on this an other items, click here.
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Picture Submission for 2023-24
Presbyterian Planning Calendar
The Presbyterian Planning Calendar, a beloved publication of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is once again seeking photo submissions from congregations and worshiping communities, mid councils, camps, conference centers and education centers for use in its 2023–24 edition. By way of photo submission, Presbyterians are invited to tell the world the ways their church, worshiping community, mid council or organization is carrying out the Matthew 25 invitation. The deadline to submit photos for the upcoming Presbyterian Planning Calendar is Feb. 14, 2023. For more information.
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FBI Resources for Parents and
Church Staff Who Work with Minors
A message from PC(USA) General Counsel Mike Kirk
The FBI has a resource page titled Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers: Protecting Your Kids. This page has information of value for parents, teachers, church leaders, and church staff who deal with minors. First, it includes a link to the National Sex Offender Registry. The Registry can be used when church leaders are conducting background checks on new hires. Best practice when hiring those who will work with minors or have access to minors is to conduct a background check, including a check on a history of sexual misconduct.
Next, the resource page addresses online risks to minors. It has information for adults on issues such as sextortion, in which a minor is tricked or coerced into sending sexual images to someone who then threatens to send the images to schoolmates, friends, and family unless the minor pays.
The resource also includes the Safe Online Surfing Program, a program for kids that teaches minors how to navigate the Web safely. There is also information on human trafficking, kidnapping, and gangs.
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Montreat Offers an Experience
Like No Other
Get ready for the best summer ever with Montreat programs and conferences for youth.
Summer programs for youth seek to affirm young people of their calling to be and shape the church today. Montreat provides seven conferences for youth each summer giving them the opportunity to grow as leaders in the church. To view opportunities for youth and others, click here. ________________________
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?Join with Other PCUSA Members in Support of Urgent Needs in Ukraine and Beyond
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Impersonator Strikes Again
It seems that Gavin's email has been hacked and someone is trying to impersonate him. This time the perpetrator has used his official email address. If you receive an email with Gavin's email address before that time, it is not he.
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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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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
Summerton Presbyterian Church is in need of a pianist or organist to substitute on Sunday mornings from 10:30 am until noon. The pay is competitive. If interested, please call 803-485-4593. If no answer, leave a message.?
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Presbytery of New Harmony, 2352 Presbyterian Road, Florence, SC 29501
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