Revamped Internship Program Scheduled to Begin in January 2011 – Internships for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness are a major priority as the Washington Office offers opportunities for young adults to appreciate and understand the work of church-based advocacy for public policy. The office is developing a justice-based theological focus that will provide biblical and practical analysis for persons entering the program. Opportunities for pastors to spend their sabbaticals learning in the Office of Public Witness will also be available in 2011. Persons interested in sponsoring an intern or applying for either the internship program or the Pastor Sabbatical Program may contact Leslie Woods by email or phone at (202) 543-1126. More information will be available in September.

Who is God calling you to be? Christian Vocation affirms the need for all baptized Christians in general – Presbyterians in particular – to identify and claim our call to discipleship as reflected in each decision and life choice. While occupation may only be a portion of our call as disciples, the programmatic emphasis for the Sunday before Labor Day – September 5 – is appropriately, Christian Vocation Sunday. Find options for including this programmatic emphasis in the worship and activities of your congregation on the Christian Vocation website. Young people will also have an opportunity to explore who God is calling them to be at three regional PATHWAYS events this fall. These unique, one-day programs – to be held September 18 in Denver, September 25 in Boston, and October 16 in Cleveland – are designed to provide an opportunity for vocational discernment as well as theological and practical training for volunteer youth leaders, pastors, and youth directors, while offering a parallel track for youth, grades 9-12, who are themselves leaders in their congregations. Visit the PATHWAYS website to register or learn more.

Presbyterians Today Seeks “Unsung Servants” – Every church has them—dedicated members or staff who don’t seek recognition, but who make vital contributions. There’s the faithful church secretary, the custodian, the treasurer, the Sunday school teacher. ... The December issue of Presbyterians Today will feature “unsung servants.” Please send a description of 150 words or less by September 1 by email or Unsung Servants, Presbyterians Today, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Be sure to include: the full name of your unsung servant and his/her role in the church; the name and address (city and state) of your congregation; your name, telephone number and email address. Send good, high-resolution digital photos (1.0 MB or larger) if possible.

Mission giving resource packet coming in September – Every PC(USA) congregation will be sent a packet  in September that is intended to help sessions make decisions about mission giving in the coming year. Included will be a copy of the 2010–2011 Presbyterian World Mission Giving Opportunities catalog, a publication that will contain information about every long-term PC(USA) mission worker serving internationally and stories of our church’s involvement around the world. Congregations will have the opportunity to select a mission worker(s) to support through directed gifts and prayers. Congregations often develop long-term relationships with these mission workers that are nurtured by exchanging correspondence. The packets also will include material promoting Shared Mission Support, a funding source that is crucial to the church’s common witness and mission in the United States and around the world. These unrestricted dollars undergird the work of presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly Mission Council. For additional information, please email or call Mary Ruth Phares at (800) 728-7228, x5611.

Starting New Initiatives resource now available – The Office of Church Growth in the Evangelism and Church Growth ministry area is pleased to announce the arrival of its new, hotly anticipated Congregational Transformation discernment process resource. Like the Starting New Churches resource for new church development, Starting New Initiatives is designed not as a “quick fix,” but rather as a process of prayer, discernment, conversation and reflection to determine how to best minister in a particular context. Download your copy now and register for the Congregational Transformation Conference in Dallas, October 18-22, where pastors, elders and other church leaders will gather to talk, dream and learn about congregational transformation in the PC(USA).

Congregational Ministries Publishing in the Theology Worship and Education ministry area has a brand new adult bible study resource Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding. A series of biblically based mini-courses provides adults with a foundational understanding of our Reformed faith. With themes of theology, discipleship, worship, John Calvin, Islam and Christianity it is designed for group study. Order your leader and participant study guides now. Check out the Being Reformed video featuring editor Don McKim to discover what Being Reformed is—and why it is getting such rave reviews in PC(USA) congregations.

Celebrate Evangelism Sunday, September 26, 2010 – Follow the timeline for the Evangelism Sunday campaign “that they may know… Christ and our lives.” Develop prayer and Servant Saturday leadership teams now. Download resources including the Skateboarding Evangelism and Shared Christmas Evangelism videos as examples of how Christ is made known as “churches engage their communities” with God’s love.

Download the worship packet now →

The "God’s Mission Matters" podcasts and Webinars from Presbyterian World Mission inspire, equip and connect Presbyterians through the opportunity to hear stories and take part in a live, interactive conversation about how to engage more faithfully and effectively in God’s mission. Global partners, mission workers, short-term mission leaders and mission participants are just some of the storytellers and panelists. The podcast is taken to a deeper level during monthly Webinars. Visit the Mission Crossroads website to learn about and/or listen to past podcasts and Webinars or to register for the next Webinar. Go deeper into mission issues, ask questions and share your mission experiences.

Stories of how an individual's life has been impacted by the programs, initiatives and activities of the General Assembly Mission Council

Laura Stover

Fort Dodge, Ia. (August 19, 2010) – Laura Stover is proud of her reputation.

Among the many ways she has served in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the veteran Christian educator is perhaps proudest to be known as the Presbyterian Youth Triennium’s biggest cheerleader.

“Triennium is the best thing our denomination’s got going,” Stover said. “I am the best P.R. person for Triennium for the whole church.”

Stover, who attended the PC(USA)’s first Triennium as a 19-year old in 1980, has missed the gathering only twice in 30 years.

“I can still remember seeing that article in 1979 announcing the first Presbyterian Youth Triennium,” Stover said. “It was right after I had graduated from high school and started nursing school. I was so pumped that there was going to be this gathering for 15 to 19 year olds that I could hardly wait.”

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