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 - Sept. 15, 2021
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Happening in New Harmony Presbytery
(All meetings by ZOOM, unless otherwise noted.)
Committee on Representation and Nominations - Sept. 15, 4 pm.
Cheraw Ministers' Lunch - Sept. 16, 12 pm, River's Edge.
Sumter Ministers' Lunch - Sept. 20, 12:30 pm, Willie Sue's Restaurant.
Florence Ministers' Lunch - Sept. 22, 12 pm, Stefano's Italian of Florence.
Installation of John Hopkins - Sept. 26, 2 pm, Murrells Inlet Presbyterian Church.
Installation of Robert Bannon - Sept. 26, 5 pm, Kingston Presbyterian Church.
Friendfield Administrative Commission - Sept. 28, 2 pm.
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 suffering from hurricane Ida, Tropical Storm Nicholas, and wildfires in the west.
for our two churches for the week:
Salam Black River Presbyterian Church,
Jody Foster,
Moderator of Session.
Society Hill Presbyterian Church, Bob Sloan,
Commissioned 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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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.
Click here for more information and to register. Scholarships Available thru September 15.
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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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Union Presbyterian Seminary Leadership Institute
Union Presbyterian Seminary Leadership Institute is offering several opportunities for continuing education this fall. Click here for more information on these courses.
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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 Pastor.
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.).
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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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Rev. Myong Paik Available for Program
Rev. Myong Paik, a former pastoral leader at our Korean American congregation in Sumter, will be back in South Carolina from South Korea for a week or so at the beginning of October. She was recently granted Honorable Retirement by our COM, however, she continues to do ministry with foreign workers and their families in South Korea, mostly from the Middle East. It is a needed and dynamic ministry which we want to keep in our prayers. If you and your congregation would be interested in her providing a presentation while she is here, either in-person or by ZOOM, please let Gavin know , ASAP.
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Disability Inclusion Sunday
A message from Presbyterians for Disability Concerns
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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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Helping those suffering from Hurricane Ida
As news comes in of the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is organizing a response that will help sustain life and restore hope in the coming days.
“Our hearts break and rise up in prayer for the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, where the catastrophic damage from last year’s hurricanes in Lake Charles, February’s freeze and spring flooding, along with the continuing impact of COVID are still largely unrepaired, and the burden on the people of this hard-hit state is overwhelming,” the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, director of PDA, said Sunday. “The PC(USA) must stand with our siblings in the region as they seek to serve as wounded healers for those who have not had equitable access to rebuilding and whose vulnerability in the face of new threats is significant.
“Right now, we need the church’s prayers and financial assistance.”
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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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Christian Formation Survey
Are you serving in an area of Christian formation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)? We want to hear from you!
To assist in connecting with Christian educators, the Office of the General Assembly is gathering information for the purpose of sharing denominational updates on resources and Christian formation opportunities.
Thank you for all that you do within your congregation and in Christ’s church. We look forward to helping you serve in these important ministries!
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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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New Harmony Presbytery Resource Center Closing
The Presbytery Resource Center here at the Presbytery office is open from now until September 30 for them to come take as many items as you want, free of charge. There are books, pictures, coffee mugs, and more. You may come during our office hours on Monday-Thursday, 9:00-5:00. If you need to come another time outside of our hours, please contact Juanita or Gavin.
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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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New Harvest Offers Online Prayer
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Attention Prayer Warriors!
Join us each Thursday at 7:00 as we give God thanks through prayer. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
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There is powerful strength when we pray in unity.
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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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?The Womanist Leadership Institute
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Christian Education Leadership Training Opportunity
?This link provides more detailed information.
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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
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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