pw banner webWomen have been a life source for the Presbyterian Church for hundreds of years. Names change, groups shift their priorities, but mission has always been the voice of Presbyterian Women.

Gathering is a term specific to our time together to share Christ in our midst and story in His presence. Our Fall Gathering gives us an opportunity for leadership training and fellowship at the Church on the Mall on September 21.

Some say everyone who is Presbyterian is a Presbyterian Woman. All are invited to this ministry, but you can recognize a Presbyterian Woman as she lives our Purpose within her congregation and beyond the walls of her church building.

Adopted in 1994 at the Churchwide Gathering in Ames, Iowa, the Purpose states:

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit we commit ourselves:

  1. To nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
  2. To support the mission of the church worldwide,
  3. To work for justice and peace and
  4. To build an inclusive caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s Kingdom.

The Reverend Meagan Manas says, “Our work for justice and peace has flourished over the past 25 years. Presbyterian Women are taking action to end human trafficking. We have committed ourselves to antiracism training. We have grown aware of the ways injustice harms the image of God in our brothers and sisters around the world. And we are still learning.”

PW Moderators are invited to our Coordinating Team Meeting on August 27 at the Presbytery Office at 10:30 a.m. Information related to the Fall Gathering will appear in the next issue of the e-news. Contact jwbpeace@yahoo.com with questions or registration for events.

More information: Go to www.pcusa.org/pw

 

Chester Easside Ministries in the Daily Times (Delaware County)

Bernice and will richan interviewRev. Bernice Warren and Board member Will Richan were interviewed by John Kopp of the Delaware Valley Daily Times” newspaper.

Please click here for the full article: CEM Daily Times Delco 19AUG13

Click here for the newspaper website: Delco Daily

Presbyterian Children’s Village Need School Supplies

PCV logowebEvery child deserves to begin the school year with the supplies he or she needs! Many generous donors have stepped forward to help our kids start school on the right foot by delivering more than 250 backpacks loaded with supplies to PCV. However, we need 50 more, mostly for middle and high school aged children.

Can you provide one? Several?

Backpacks filled with school supplies can be dropped off at our Rosemont Office (452 South Roberts Road) weekdays until 7:00 pm. Please indicate the gender and age range on the outside.

When dropping off backpacks from her church, one friend spoke of a father of three young children who chose to have each child fill a backpack for a child their own age to illustrate how much they take for granted. He made sure to point out to his kids that these may be the only school supplies these kids receive for the entire year. This father’s life lesson blessed not only his children but ours as well.

For more information, contact Development@pcv.org. Donation of general school supplies is also welcome now and throughout the year as kids need supplies year round.

Don’t be shy! Pass it on!

 

ONE HOT SUMMER DAY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

MARCH ON WASINGTON, AUGUST 28, 1963

Fifty years ago, Americans participated in and witnessed protests and social disobedience events that spoke against racial inequality and challenged our nation’s moral compass. On August 28, 1963, many Presbyterians came out to support the civil rights movement at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Please click here for the full article from the Presbyterian Historical Society.

Chester Eastside Ministries in the News

Two local papers; the Swarthmorean and the Philadelphia Inquirer has published articles on Chester Eastside Ministries in the last week. There are links listed below for the full articles.

  • From the Swarthmorean: Thanks to the Swarthmore Swim Club, Chester campers could dive into Summer. For the past few years, a highlight of the summer for a group of young campers from Chester has been a weekly visit to the Swarthmore Swim Club. Click here for the article:CEM in Swarthmorean
  • From the Inquirer: CEM faces declining financial support. Click here for the article:CEM in Inquirer

Young Adult Advisory Delgates to GA 221

YAADThe Presbytery of Philadelphia is calling for nominations for the Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) to the 221st General Assembly.

Congregations are asked to take a moment to think about the young adults in their congregation (17-23 years old as of May 30, 2014). Now imagine them with 100 other young adults representing this generation at the General Assembly in 2014. Isn’t that a beautiful sight?

The Presbytery of Philadelphia’s Committee on Nominations is accepting applications for a Young Adult Advisory Delegate to the 221st General Assembly in Detroit, Michigan June 14-20, 2014! All YAAD applicants must be nominated by the Session of their church and endorsed by session signature. Normal travel expenses will be paid for our YAAD by General Assembly.

The Nominating Committee will select a candidate to stand for election at the November 19, 2013 presbytery meeting.

Deadline for receipt of the application is October 1, 2013.

Applications can be found online at: GA YAAD Nominee Fill-in Form

For a GA 22 manual, please click here: ga-manual-2014.pdf0

Return to: Presbytery of Philadelphia, Attn: Dani Howard, 915 East Gowen Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19150

 

 

 

THE HEART OF OUR CONNECTIONAL CHURCH

As Presbyterians, extending the Kingdom of Christ through our per capita giving is at the heart of our connectional church.

Per capita funding is how Presbyterians mutually share the costs of coming together to discern the Spirit’s leading for the future.

  • It is how Presbyterians are trained to become better elders and ministers.
  • It is how Presbyterians discern God’s call in their lives.
  • It is how Presbyterians participate in the life of the wider church by serving on GA committees and commissions.
  • It is how Presbyterians participate in the life of the Church universal as we commit ourselves to work and live in fellowship with “all persons in every nation” (Book of Order, G-4.0101)

The Westminster Confession of Faith says, “all believers are, therefore, under obligation to sustain the ordinances of the Christian religion where they are already established, and to contribute by their prayers, gifts, and personal efforts to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the whole earth” (The Book of Confessions, 6.058).

PerCapWeb

Per capita is a fundamental way in which all of the nearly 11,000 congregations and mid councils of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are connected and participate in the work of the wider church.

Because it is rooted in the connectional and covenantal nature of the Presbyterian church, as affirmed by the ordination vows taken by elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament, per capita could be called the Presbyterian Covenant Community Fund.

HOW IMPORTANT IS PER CAPITA?

Per capita is as important as being Presbyterian! Read further and you will discover why:

The Per Capita Apportionment for 2014 is $24.90 (Presbytery: $15.68, GA:$7.02, Synod: $2.20)

Please click here for the 2014 Mission Pledge Form: Pledge_Form_2014

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Self Development of People

SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE

The SDOP Committee of the Presbytery of Philadelphia affirms God’s concern for people by participating in the empowerment of economically poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people by establishing partnerships with low-income community groups.

SDOP has been awarded $30,000.00 for the 2013 Year to help more groups and services within the greater Philadelphia area develop programs that help people realize their potential in 2013.

Please click here for a report on the 2012 Grant Recipients: SDOP JULY 2013

Please click on the following for more information about the SDOP Program

For additional information or questions, please contact Betsi Moise at: databaseadministrator@presbyphl.org, or 215.242.1400, ext. 329

 

 

Executive Presbyter Search Committee 22 July 2013

Dear Friends,

Last Tuesday, the Executive Presbyter Nominating Committee of the Presbytery of Philadelphia met again. Here is the latest update of our work on your behalf.

As part of that gathering on July 16, we spent the majority of our time determining the questions to be asked of all references as well as specific queries unique to each of the candidates we are still considering. We have begun making those calls on our six finalists, all of whom were part of the 11 interviews we conducted earlier this month. Later on the 16th, I also gave a verbal report to the Presbytery at which time I indicated we had moved from an initial pool of 98 potential candidates down to these six devoted servants of Jesus Christ. Our hope is that one of those individuals will become our next Executive Presbyter.

At our next meeting (July 30), we will report on what we have learned from reference checks and determine the plan for a second round of interviews with our candidates. Those conversations will not happen until next month due to the time needed for reference checks and vacation plans of committee members. Thus, I will give my next update following that August meeting.

As always, I encourage you to speak to any member of the EPNC with questions or concerns as this process continues. Know, too, that your ongoing prayers remain a blessing to each of us in this time of seeking to discern the one God has already prepared for this special time and place.

Faithfully yours,

John M. Willingham, Chair, EPNC

 

Surviving the summer heat and caring for others

heat wave 2Looking out for one another in our communities during the severe heat of the summer months.

Heat pushes the human body beyond its limits and in the case of extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body has to work extra hard to maintain its normal temperature. Problems occur when a person is over-exposed to heat or overexert themselves. Those most likely to be impacted negatively by excessive, prolonged heat include the elderly, young children, sick persons, and those who are overweight and unfit. It is important to recognize that over-exposure to heat can be fatal. Possible health problems include:

  • Heat cramps – these are muscular pains or spasms that occur as a result of heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe of heat health problems, they are a warning sign that your body is not coping well with the heat.
  • Heat exhaustion – this occurs typically when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where bodily fluids are lost through heavy sweating. The blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. waterThis results in a mild form of shock. If this goes untreated, the victim’s condition will worsen, the body temperature will continue to rise, and heat stroke might occur.
  • Heatstroke – the victim’s temperature control system which produces sweating to cool the body simply stops working and the body temperature can rise high enough to cause brain damage and death. A victim in this situation needs to be cooled quickly. Note that sun stroke is usually applied as another term for heat stroke.

Surviving a heat wave is a combination of recognizing that you, your family, and your community are at risk during a period of prolonged heat and knowing what to do to reduce the risks. As part of this, it is important to also keep an eye out on people for whom you are personally responsible, and for helping members of your community where possible.

Look out for signs of heat stress and exhaustion in all members of your family and others close to you. Be vigilant and explain to them the importance of taking steps to minimize the effects of heat during a heat wave.

  • Never leave children or pets in parked cars, even for brief periods of time. The temperature inside the vehicle can rise to 120ºF (49ºC) or more within minutes, enough heat to kill someone very quickly.
  • Check on neighbors, family, and friends, especially those who are elderly, sick, or not able to take care of themselves without assistance and those who live alone. If you know that a neighbor lives alone and is at risk of health problems from heat (especially where they do not have air conditioning), try to contact family members to come and help. If that is not possible, your local emergency services might be able to help but if you can ease the burden on them by taking care of such a person yourself, that is the better option.

Be safe, be careful, take water with you wherever you go and try to stay indoors as much as possible.  In case of an emergency, here is the Heat Hotline number for the Greater Philadelphia area:

heat hotline number