Synod of the Trinity Enews: Local Roots for World Communion Sunday

	September 15, 2022 The Synod of the Trinity Being More Together Pittsburgh World Communion Sunday's origins date to Shadyside Church In 1933, the Rev. Dr. Hugh Thomson Kerr helped start a global tradition at Shadyside Presbyterian Church that will observe its 90th occurrence this year. World Communion Sunday began in this Pittsburgh church out of an idea the Rev. Dr. Kerr had to bring Christians together through the act of a simultaneous communion after he toured the country serving as moderator for the Presbyterian denomination. “Dr. Kerr was concerned about totalitarianism and the need for the church worldwide to take a stand against that,” said Tim Engleman, a church historian at Shadyside. “It’s a source of pride in the congregation,” Tim added. “Having read Dr. Kerr’s book on the Christian sacraments, he places a very high emphasis on the importance of the sacraments." For more on the history of World Communion Sunday and its origins at Shadyside, click here. Synod of the Trinity Celebrate 'Synod Sunday' with us this Sunday! This Sunday, Sept. 18, is Synod Sunday! On Sept. 18, we invite the congregations and presbyteries in the Synod of the Trinity region to celebrate the gifts and blessings that take place in our bounds throughout the year. The Synod works hand-in-hand with the ministry and mission of our presbyteries as they seek to support the witness of congregations, to the end that the church throughout its region becomes a community of faith, hope, love and witness. Please use these BULLETIN INSERTS to help tell our story and celebrate the good news that is occurring in our region! COLOR INSERT            B&W INSERT Northumberland First Wellsboro provides space for 'Goodies for Our Troops' The First Presbyterian Church of Wellsboro, PA, opened its doors last year to a local outreach that packages food and personal hygiene items for members of the military around the world. "Goodies for Our Troops" a mission with which the church is proud to be a partner. “The mission statement of our congregation is to embody, demonstrate and proclaim the Word of God through our heads, hearts and hands in the communities of Tioga County (PA) and beyond,” said the Rev. Mike Birbeck, the pastor at First Wellsboro. “We were demonstrating the Word of God to Goodies when we gave them a space at a time when they really needed one." To read more about this important outreach, click here. Donegal Petals Please brightens residents' days at Ware Village Flowers can brighten anyone’s day. At Ware Presbyterian Village, a senior living community in Oxford, PA, spirits are lifted on a regular basis thanks to an area program that brings as many as 20 bouquets a week to the facility for the residents to enjoy, all free of charge. Petals Please is an outreach based in nearby Exton, PA, that repurposes flowers from weddings, funerals and corporate gatherings by breaking down the original arrangements into smaller ones and delivering them to seniors. The deliveries to retirement communities like Ware Village are a weekly highlight for residents and staff alike. “They (the residents) look forward to it each week,” said Annie Cantymagli, the executive director at Ware Village. “They try to identify the flowers. It’s an event. There’s a whole anticipation about what’s going to appear that week because it’s different every week. It brings smiles to their faces. You can tell it lifts their hearts." To learn more about the positive effects these repurposed flowers are having on seniors, click here.
Wee Kirk set for October at Laurelville The 2022 Wee Kirk Northeast Conference will be held Oct. 10-12 at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mt. Pleasant, PA. The purpose of the conference is to inspire, equip, motivate and encourage small Presbyterian Churches and to provide rest and refreshment for the clergy and lay leaders of those churches. Featured speakers or presenters are: Asa Lee, Charles Cotherman, Sue Washburn, Jenn Frayer-Griggs, Jane Bartholomew, Jon Stewart, Byron Borger, Mark Perry, Benjamin George and John Burgess. There will also be a “Timothy Track” discussion on the resurrection of congregations with Jim Farrer. More information is available on the Wee Kirk website here. A pamphlet is available for viewing here. PA Pastor's Conference on Human Trafficking is Oct. 4 A Pennsylvania Pastor’s Conference on Human Trafficking will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, in the John P. Murtha Center on the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown campus. The goal of the gathering is to bring together pastors from Pennsylvania, with renowned speakers, to form a coherent anti-human trafficking strategy for the state. Cost is $15, which includes lunch. The full schedule and mandatory registration are available by clicking here. 2022 WMI: Leading during a time of disruption The annual World Mission Initiative Conference and W. Don McClure Lecture will be held Oct. 7-8 at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Questions to be discussed include: "What does it mean to engage in God’s mission of love, peace, and justice through the major disruptions of our day?" and "How can we lead in mission in new ways amidst the disruption we’ve experienced in the past two years?" Registration is open for this free opportunity of learning and conversation about missional leadership amidst the disruption. Online and in-person options are available by clicking here. 'Stuff they didn't teach you in seminary' A free, four-morning course on “Stuff They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary (That you really need to know to do your job!)” will be held Oct. 3-Nov. 14 at a central location based on registration in the Presbytery of Carlisle. Led by the Rev. Dr. David Wright, a recently-retired pastor of Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, this is for new pastors starting a new call, pastors who want a basic refresher and pastors who want some new ideas. The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on the following Mondays: Oct. 3, 17, 31 and Nov. 14. More information on the discussion topics is available by clicking here. Interested pastors should contact the Rev. Dr. Wright at bdwright11@comcast.net. Anti-racism book study set for Philly in October The Presbytery of Philadelphia is continuing its presbytery-wide book study focusing on issues of race, racism and anti-racism. The book study will be held Mondays in October (3, 10, 17, 24, 31) at noon, via Zoom. The presbytery has been grateful for the opportunity to engage important works and to build connections in the region. This fall’s book is “You Mean It or You Don’t: James Baldwin’s Radical Challenge” by Jamie McGhee and Adam Hollowell. Learn more at You Mean It Or You Don’t (prayingwithjames baldwin.com) The book is available now. More information and a link to the Zoom meetings is available by clicking here. WV plans Small Church Conference The Presbytery of West Virginia will hold its 2022 Small Church Conference on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarksburg. The topic will be “A New Thing – Technology and Worship.” Opening worship and the keynote address will be offered through Facebook Live. Workshops will be offered via Zoom. Only those who have registered will receive the link. Click here for a registration form and more information, including the schedule and workshop options.
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