Happening Around the Presbytery

Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery

907 National Road

Wheeling, WV  26003

304-232-3490

www.uovpresby.org

Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In an emergency after office hours: Call 740-359-1813

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Effective immediately due to the ordering of all non-essential businesses closed, the Presbytery Office will be closed until further notice. Stated Clerk Frank Lewis will be working from home. Any questions, direct them to him at scuovp@gmail.com or 304-266-8154.

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PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Mike Lenno Gene Toot Susan McMannis Linda Turner Vickie Whinnery Homer Harden

Karen Edwards Susan Lehosky Philip Keevil David Schoolcraft Gary Nylund Debbie Hale

Matt Camlin R. H. “Mac” McCuen Sharon Willits Cherilyn Bown Joe Hendricks Pam Reich

David Brocklehurst Dr. Lew & Ruth Stevens Dakota Partnership Melanie Blount Domasi Partnership All Service men & women

Pray for the survivors of the Tennessee tornadoes.Pray for our presbyters, family members, and friends hospitalized or in nursing homes.
Pray for peace and an end to violence and hatred.
Please keep us informed of any prayer concerns you may have.

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PRAY for each other, for our medical workers, and for those who have lost loved ones during this pandemic.

From Kandy Dunn, our Moderator:Hear us, O God, for Your mercy is great,
You are our comfort and our strength in this crisis and always.
Stop this virus in its tracks, protect us and shield us.
Quickly heal those already afflicted.
Guard those that deal with this disease as they care for the ill.
Give us the wisdom and knowledge to find a vaccine,
to know what steps to take, and to do all that we can to keep everyone safe.
Calm our fears and quiet the chaos.
Stabilize our economies, and remind us that we are brothers and sisters,
called to love one another.
And let that brotherly love flow freely from us at this time.
This we pray, that You may hear our prayer and reign down Your mercy upon us. Amen.

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MESSAGE from our Moderator, Kandy Dunn:

First, I would like to thank First Presbyterian Church of St. Clairsville, OH, for hosting our Presbytery meeting on March 14^th. We appreciate their extra hard work and diligence in helping us keep within the CDC guidelines to be able to have that meeting as scheduled. Thank you for all the excellent food, hospitality and welcoming worship environment. Thank you, Kenn Sickle and staff for leading us in worship. Thank all who braved the uncertainty and attended, without any of you, this may not have been a successful meeting.

Second, in light of the ever-changing events that have disrupted our lives in one way or another, we are asking that you keep vigilant in prayer, asking God for His mercy, grace, intervention, and restoration. I have seen several daily prayer chains, one is daily at 4:00 p.m. Please consider doing this with us at this critical time. This is also a time for us to look for creative ways to stay connected, stay in worship and relationship with God, and stay in tune to the needs of our neighbors. I encourage you to share your successful ideas with us.

Finally, we have set up a Zoom account to be able to have virtual committee meetings to keep us on task. If you want to host a meeting and need more information, contact me at 304-686-2344 or 304-312-7187 and I WILL TRY MY BEST to get you set up. Thank you all for all that you do to spread God’s love in our Presbytery, our community, our nation and in our world. God bless and keep healthy.

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OAK RIDGE/YELLOW CREEK Presbyterian Churches worship link is through the Yellow Creek Presbyterian Facebook page. There will be worship for Sundays, and now a Bible Study on Thursday evenings.

STONE Presbyterian Church’s video worship service is on Facebook.

CADIZ Presbyterian Church will provide recorded videos of our Sunday sermons on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. For more info, contact the Rev. Alan Jeffries (740) 312-9224.

FIRST WESTMINSTER Presbyterian Church, Steubenville, Sunday morning worship services on Facebook Live at 10:45 a.m. Click here https://www.facebook.com/First-Westminster-Presbyterian-Church.

VANCE Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Sunday worship service is broadcast at 10:00 a.m. on the radio at WKWK-FM 97.3. We will be delayed broadcast on Facebook www.facebook.com/Vance-Presbyterian-Church. The service will also be archived on our YouTube page Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church.

GRACE Presbyterian Church, Martins Ferry, broadcasts our 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship live over the Internet. Go to www.gracechurchmartinsferry.org. The second tab says, ‘grace live worship.’ This will bring you to our live broadcast.

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COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY’S meeting scheduled for April 2^nd, has been CANCELLED. Vance’s building will be closed until the governor says we can return.

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TRINITY PARISH Presbyterian Church regrets that the Free Community Dinner scheduled this Saturday is CANCELLED. In addition, the April dinner is also CANCELLED. The church is doing everything to comply with local authorities in containing the covid-19 virus. If you find yourself in a food emergency, call Kim 330 383 2545, Cindy 330 207 7561, or Frank 304 266 8154.

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PRESBYTERIAN PEACE and Justice Newsletter March, 2020, “Support Compassion, Peace & Justice during Lent,’ control+click here.

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PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO TENNESSEE. Donations can be designated to DR000015--Tennessee.

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ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: Information and an application for the Russell Scholarship can be found on our website www.uovpresby.org, on the homepage under “Items for Interest.” Deadline for applications is Monday, MAY 4, 2020. If you have questions concerning the application, please call Cindy Foster 740-359-2750.

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From the PEACEMAKING sub-committee: TO ACESS VIDEOS, Locked In a Box (22 minutes) and Genesis of Exodus (1 hour), go to PDA.pcusa.org, then click on resources.

Information about WRITING AND SENDING CARDS AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT to detainees at the Eloy Detention Center: These are difficult times, especially for vulnerable populations in prison and immigration detention. ICE, the law enforcement agency in charge of detention, has stopped all "social visits,” so letter writing and sending cards is all the more important to counter the isolation that immigrants in detention feel. Writing cards can be simple, even children can participate. Instructions are:

You cannot put anything inside the letter or card. Simple cards are best~~no adornments that can be pulled off.

The best way we can break the isolation during this time is by sending even MORE letters--and books.

Stuck at home and wanting to help others? Please join us in breaking the isolation.

Donations will support the purchase of stamps and books. donorbox.org/cmvisitation

To begin, introduce yourself. You can tell your writing friend a bit about where you live, what work you do, family make up, etc. Share with them that you are writing as a volunteer after learning about US immigration detention system. You might include stories about your family, education & hobbies. Your writing friend will be very interested to know what people do. Try to keep the letter simple and your writing as clear as possible. There will be someone to assist them, so don’t worry that your letter will not be read. Keep it cheerful! Your writing friend needs reasons for hope and a short respite from their stressful environment. Use this opportunity to make them smile.

Please refrain from asking about their case or the status of their visa applications (already a source of great stress). Bear in mind that many have seen a lot of sadness in their lives. You can draw a smile or doodles on the envelope!

You might use Scriptures from Lamentations 3:19-38 and 55-60 also 5:15-16a, 17, 19-21a or any of your own favorites for comfort in suffering and isolation. These don’t have to be eloquent letters. Just speak from your heart and soul. Ask the Lord to move the pen for you.

Put letter inside its envelope and then a larger envelope with address and mail to
St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, c/o CMDVP, 3809 E. Third Street, Tucson, AZ 85716

You may notice this facility is not in Texas. Right now we do not have contact info for facilities in Texas. That may come later.

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GRACE SURVIVOR. Larry Kline shares his story of transformation, the good and bad times of life, and the lessons learned along the way. He seeks to share the Good News of Jesus with you and invites you to open yourself to the grace our loving God wants to bestow on you. His book, Grace Survivor, can be purchased at Amazon in paper back or Kindle. Or call Larry at 304-281-3196 for a copy.

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FROM SYNOD. All three of our April events, including the COM/CPM gathering April 23 and 24, the Stated Clerk, Executive, and Staff gathering April 29 and 30, and GA Commissioner training April 25, will not be held face to face, but held on ZOOM. Please hold the dates and allow us some time to reframe the gatherings.

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HE’S ALIVE! passion play performances scheduled for April 3 and 4 at The Capitol have been CANCELLED.

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PCUSA STORE. Baptism Resources: Everything You Need!

Plan. Help families, leadership teams, and worship leaders be ready to participate in the sacrament of baptism. These resources are intentionally created to provide education about and liturgies for baptism. Plan for the Sacrament of Baptism

Celebrate. Keep the spirit of baptism alive in the families and the church with gift books and certificates to honor the occasion. Children will find a deeper connection to their baptism as they are reminded of their faith and the love of their congregation through these resources. Celebrate the Joy of Baptism

Study. Engage the meaning of baptism with the entire congregation with books and curriculum that remind us why we participate in this sacrament. These resources for members and leaders are perfect for any time of year. Study and Remember the Importance of the Sacrament

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