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 11 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
PO Box 4025
Florence, SC
29502-4025
Phone 843-662-8411
Fax 843-665-1408
office@newharmonypres.org
Contact staff:
firstname@newharmonypres.org
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| Building Community Through Information |
August 15, 2018
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Prayers for...
Congruity Presbyterian Church, Gable, Alonzo Washington, temporary supply.
Cousar Memorial Presbyterian Church, Bishopville, Franklin Colclough, moderator of session.
Candidate
Fred "Tripp" Brogdon, III
(First, Sumter) Columbia Theological Seminary.
Inquirers
Marcy B. Carl (Georgetown) Dubuque Theological Seminary.
Caitlyn Hathaway (First, Hartsville)
Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond.
Darren Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte
Flury Wilson
(Friendship)
Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte
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Local Church Information
If your congregation is planning an event you would like to advertise, please submit information, to Avery Dickson by Monday of the week you want it published.
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Local Church Mission Information
If your congregation has participated in a mission project or trip recently, we would like to share it with our presbytery. Please submit the information to Avery Dickson.
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Happening This Week in New Harmony
(Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the Presbytery office.)
Property Committee
August 15, 3 pm.
Cheraw Area Minister & Educator Lunch
August 16, 12 pm, River's Edge, Cheraw.
Vision Implementation Team
August 21, 1 pm.
Guiding Council
August 21, 3 pm.
Florence area Minister & Educator Lunch
August 22, 12 pm, Stephanos
Education & Nurture Ministry
August 23, 9:30 am.
Congregation Development Ministry
August 23, 4:30 pm.
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New Presbytery Office Hours
Starting immediately, New Harmony Presbytery's Office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. However, please note that we are currently without an Office Administrator, so until a new one is hired, it is possible that the office maybe closed at other times.
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New Harmony Presbytery Searching for Part-Time Office Administrator
New Harmony Presbytery is looking for a part-time (Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.), temporary (through the end of the year) Office Administrator.
We are seeking someone with the following qualifications: experience in administrative work in an institutional environment; good computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Publisher, Excel and PowerPoint and Google Forms; well versed in the use of e-mail and the Internet; ability to gain proficiency in the use of NHP's data base; competent in the operation and maintenance of office equipment; good administrative, organizational, and communication skills and ability to be self-motivated; a good work ethic, ability to maintain confidentiality and work with a variety of personalities.
Interested persons are to send resume's to Rev. Gavin Meek, Transitional Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk at Gavin@NewHarmonyPres.org
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Nominating Committee Needs
Your Suggestions
Your NHP Nominating Committee seeks your help, asking that you provide us suggestions for the following:
Camping Ministry
Congregational Development Ministry
Committee on Ministry
Committee on Preparation for Ministry
Education & Nurture Ministry
Finance
Guiding Council
Mission
Nominating
Property
Worship and Spiritual Formation
Please contact members of the Nominating Committee (Mary Kendall Bittle, Rachel Chandler, or Carrie Hampton) and/or Gavin Meek, Transitional Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk or Julie Cox, Associate Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk for further information.
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Inspirational Occasions at
Presbytery Meeting
Commissioners and guests at the Special Called Presbytery Meeting were inspired on several occasions. One of those inspirational times was reports from commissioners to the General Assembly. During the next several weeks, we will give you opportunities to experience these occasions as they are reprinted here. This report is from Susan Holton, ruling elder commissioner.
IT WAS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS NEW HARMONY'S COMMISSIONER TO THE 223RD GA. IT WAS TRULY THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH-IT WAS A GIFT.
EACH YADD AND COMMISSIONER WAS ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE AND THERE WERE 50 OF US ASSIGNED TO THE MISSION COORDINATION COMMITTEE.
WE HAD 14 OVERTURES TO CONSIDER AND ONE OF THEM WAS ENTITLED, "CONCERNING SMALL CHURCHES." I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THIS OVERTURE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY SMALL CHURCHES IN THIS PRESBYTERY AND I HAPPEN TO BE A MEMBER OF ONE-SWAN LAKE/SUMTER. BECAUSE OF THIS, I BELIEVE IT WAS PROVIDENTIAL THAT I WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS COMMITTEE. THIS OVERTURE ASKED APPROVAL TO CREATE A NEW DEPARTMENT TO OVERSEE, GUIDE, WORK WITH SMALL CHURCHES (CHURCHES WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF 50 OR LESS) AT A COST OF 3 MILLION DOLLARS. I KNEW THAT THIS WAS EXPENSIVE BUT I BELIEVED THAT SMALL CHURCHES NEEDED AND DESERVED THIS RECOGNITION AND ASSISTANCE.
THE DEBATE BEGAN AND I FOUND IT TO BE HURTFUL. THOSE WHO SPOKE MADE ME FEEL THAT SMALL CHURCHES ARE NOT IMPORTANT, THAT SMALL CHURCHES DON'T MATTER AND THAT WE'RE INSIGNIFICANT. THEY DIDN'T KNOW US- THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US-THEY ONLY KNEW NUMBERS. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MANY OF YOUR CHURCHES AND ABOUT MY CHURCH. A TEACHING ELDER COMMISSIONER STOOD AND SAID, "IF YOU HAVE ONLY 50 MEMBERS, WHAT'S THE POINT?" I RAISED MY HAND TO RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO EXPLAIN TO HIM-IN CHRISTIAN LOVE-EXACTLY WHAT WAS THE POINT BUT THE MODERATOR RECOGNIZED SOMEONE ELSE WHO CALLED FOR THE QUESTION. [ Read the complete report to find out the results.]
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Special Pricing on
Connections Lectionary Resource
Special Pricing on Connections Lectionary Resource. The first of nine volumes from Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship will be available this September!
Designed to help preachers connect congregations to Scripture, this upcoming series offers creative commentary on each reading in the three year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary. It does so first by viewing that reading through the lens of its connections to the rest of Scripture; and then seeing the reading through the lenses of culture, film, fiction, ethics, science, and other aspects of contemporary life.
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Heritage Center Seeking
Camp Montreat for Girls Memorabilia
Heritage Center Seeking Camp Montreat for Girls Memorabilia. From 1924 to 1967, Camp Montreat for Girls was owned and operated by Montreat College. Girls from Kansas to North Carolina and New York to Florida attended the camp in the summer for four or eight weeks.
We would like to have a display at the Heritage Center in Montreat commemorating this special camp that meant so much to so many young women. If you attended Camp Montreat or know someone who did, we would like to hear from you.
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Seeking Peace When Life is in Pieces
How God Accompanies Us When We Are Grieving
An day-long event for the Presbytery of New Harmony-Sponsored by Education & Nurture Ministry
Saturday, November 3, 2018
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church, Sumter
Workshops will include:
Did Peter Grieve?
Hidden Grief
God Gives Grief Goodness - Lament into Living
The Importance of Self-Care
Finding Peace: One Breath at a Time
Always Be Prepared
and possibly more.
For more complete information (including prices, detailed times and workshop descriptions, download the flyer. |
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Guiding Council Introduces Transitional Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk,
The Rev. Gavin D. Meek
Gavin met with the Committee on Ministry, following unanimous recommendation and overwhelmingly positive responses from the Transition Task Force and the Guiding Council.
Gavin was introduced and recommended for membership in New Harmony at the called meeting on July 31.
We began his ministry with us on August 1.
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Called Presbytery Meeting -
A Brief Summary
The Presbytery of New Harmony met in a called meeting on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at the Presbyterian Community Chapel in Florence.
Opening worship was led by Samuel Sparks, Susan Holton, and Cate Henderson, commissioners to the 223rd General Assembly. After the adoption of the docket and welcome by Snow Donmoyer, chaplain of the Presbyterian Community, commissioners to the 223rd General Assembly gave reports. The presbytery was both inspired and challenged by these reports.
The Guiding Council report was given by George Wilkes, moderator of the Transition Task Force. The Rev. Gavin Meek, recently called to serve as Transitional Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk, was introduced to the Presbytery. George gave an overview of the search process, including the factors that led them to Gavin. After the presentation, Gavin addressed the Presbytery.
The Presbytery gathered for another worship service, during which Nathan See, a candidate for ordination, preached. Nathan preached on the topic, "Better Together," emphasizing that no matter what size church we are, we need each other for mission and ministry.
Rhett Talbert gave the Committee on Ministry report, which included introduction and questions for Rev. Gavin Meek and Rev. Mike Fleenor, who were added to the roll of ministers members of the Presbytery. Ella Busby examined candidate Nathan See for ordination. His examination, which included his sermon, was sustained, his terms of call were approved, and an Ordination and Installation Administrative Commission was approved.
The Administrative Commission for John Calvin Presbyterian Church gave a report of its findings and actions. Following announcements and prayer, the Presbytery Meeting was adjourned.
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Minister and Educator Retreat
Sign up now for the October 22-24 retreat in Montreat, NC. The Bible is full of embarrassing, offensive, problematic texts that present serious interpretive challenges for contemporary Christian faith and practice. Should they be repudiated? Discarded? Silenced? Or are there perhaps more effective and faithful ways of handling them?
This retreat, with Frances Taylor Gench, will tackle the importance of engaging difficult texts directly, with the expectation that we may encounter the living God in our conversation with them. It will provide the opportunity to wrestle with such texts, to consider interpretive strategies for engaging them with integrity, and to reflect on the authority of Scripture. Register here.
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Correct Email Address for Avery
It has come to my attention that several people have had emails to me returned. The old email address, avery@newhamonypres.org is no longer valid.
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Lay School of Theology
The S.C. Lay School, sponsored by the five presbyteries of South Carolina, holds two weekend sessions each year on the campus of Presbyterian College in Clinton. The two-track program offers the Lay Enrichment Track for those who seek spiritual enrichment and study. The Lay Pastor Track is for those who wish to become qualified to serve as pulpit supply or become eligible for commissioning to a lay pastor position.
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| Camp Pee Dee Retreat Center |
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Love Yourself, Part 2
Camp for Senior High &
Middle School Girls
(6th-12th grade)
August 24th-26th, 2018
"Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39
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Upcoming Events at
Camp Pee Dee Retreat Center
Loving Yourself Camp - Part 2
8th - 12th grade girls
August 24 - 26, 2018
Summer Camp Reunion
November 2 - 4, 2018
More information coming soon!
Contact Kelly Boone at (843) 479-3051
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Latest News from Board of Pensions
 You may view the latest news from the Board of Pensions by clicking on this link. |
Fall Curriculum Available
Fall Curriculum from the PCUSA Store is available. See the information here. |
Meet us in St. Louis
September 24-26, 2018
for September 24-26, 2018
so you don't miss this annual
event offering plenary speakers, workshops, and worship experiences, with incredible networking
opportunities among others passionate about stewardship and generosity.
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If you have the need to advertise a job position or promote a church function, please send the relevant information to presbyeducator@gmail.com. |
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Director of Christian Education &
Children's Ministries
The First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, is looking for a new Director of Christian Education and Children's Ministries. If you or someone you know would be interested in learning more about the church and the position, please see the complete JOB DESCRIPTION. To apply, please submit any questions and your resume to fsdcesearch@first-scots.org
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| FPC, Myrtle Beach Seeks Organist
First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach, SC is an active community of believers who believe "Love Makes the Difference." We are dedicated to proclaiming the Word of God, to making disciples and to ministering to the needs of the surrounding community. We are seeking an organist who is comfortable with playing anthems and oratorios such as the Rutter Requiem, Messiah, Faure' Requiem, etc. The organist will play for the traditional Sunday worship services (2) and accompany our 50 voice Chancel Choir. The organist will play for the Wednesday choral rehearsal and other services during the church year, such as funerals or weddings. This person, when needed, would also be a piano accompanist for soloists and other ensembles.
Salary will be based on experience and National Presbytery (PAM) Guidelines.
Our organ is a four manual Allen organ in excellent condition. If interested in applying for this ministry opportunity, please contact our Director of Music and Fine Arts, Brown Bradley, for an audition ( bbradley@mbfpc.com.) 843-448-4496. |
Who Loves Ice Cream?
Please join the Florence Area Missional Cluster and John Calvin Presbyterian Church as they celebrate MISSION.
On Sunday, August 19, 4:00 PM
at John Calvin Presbyterian Church, Florence. ICE CREAM will be eaten and MISSION STORIES will be shared.
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Financial Help for Worship & Spiritual Formation Conferences
If you need financial help to attend PCUSA worship and/or spiritual conference, scholarship help might be available. Contact Julie Cox for more information.
Congregational Development Ministry offering grants for
positive and inspiring programs
The Congregation Development Ministry is one of the Program Ministries of New Harmony Presbytery and it is here to partner with your congregation. We stand ready to assist churches with their needs and requests. In recent history, many of these have been centered on emergencies, maintenance problems, salary shortfalls and other items that disrupt the mission and ministry of our congregations. In 2018, we are planning to offer assistance in other ways also. The CDM encourages you to apply for grants to do positive and inspiring programs in your church or community. These grants will typically be $2,000.00 each but we will consider any and all requests.
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