Friday, June 25
The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
Missouri, Illinois
Living water is flowing through the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy in many directions. Congregations participating in the Transformation Consultation Process are experiencing new life as they take risks to discover, embrace, and accomplish God’s mission in their communities.
First Presbyterian Church in Union, Missouri, has begun a Sunday evening ministry of family-welcoming education, supper, and worship featuring a band in which anyone is welcome to play any instrument they can. A school band director transposes the music to play on a tuba, trombone, flute, drum, keyboard, and, most recently, a trumpet. On some Sundays the band and participants fill the new fellowship hall. The Spirit of Christ is felt here!
All age and interest groups in the congregation of the United Presbyterian Church in Wood River, Illinois, spent time learning spiritual disciplines in the process of discerning God’s call. Wood River’s newsletter includes a “Spiritual Practice of the Month” to try at home. Its Sunday evening educational ministry includes spirituality stations in the sanctuary at which participants listen to Scripture or music, write prayers, meditate, and respond creatively. Wood River has made a commitment to care for God’s creation and to become a greener congregation, while leading its neighborhood in this effort. The church is teaming with area Girl Scouts to establish a community recycling center on the church parking lot. Skateboarders have inspired a parking lot ministry with room to skate and supervised backyard games on Thursday evenings in the summer. Blessed with a big grassy lot, the church supplies a bin of balls to encourage neighborhood play. New attendees bring a variety of gifts, skills, and challenges to this congregation that has vowed to welcome everyone.
The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy is composed of 19,892 members in 91 congregations, 1 new church development, and 2 immigrant fellowships. Within its bounds are Presbyterian-related Lindenwood University, St. Luke’s Episcopal-Presbyterian Hospital, St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors, and Presbyterian Children’s Services.
Let us join in prayer for:
Elder Teresa A. Bryce, member, GAMC
Elder Jesse C. Swanigan, member, GAMC
Presbytery Staff
Rev. Paul T. Reiter, executive presbyter
Rev. Terry L. Epling, stated clerk
Rev. Amy William Fowler, associate executive, congregational development
Rev. Susan H. Niesen, associate executive, leadership in ministry
Elder Judith K. Pickett, administrative assistant/office manager
Faye Chiou, financial manager
Elder Christy Foster, director of camp and conference ministry
Elder Cindy A. Corley, administrative assistant/resource director
Karen Bradshaw-Miller, hunger action enabler
Rev. Jemimah Ngatia, presbytery evangelist
Rev. Christian Boyd, designated organizing pastor
PC(USA) Agencies' Staff
Charlotte Kinnard, GAMC
Jesse Kinzer, FDN
Prayer
God of hope, you call us forward to fulfill your mission on earth. May we be faithful in answering this call, especially when it challenges us to take risks with new ideas, experiments, and pilot projects. Let your river flow among us and carry us toward your kingdom. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 130, 148 and Ps. 32, 139
Num. 20:1–13
Rom. 5:12–21; Matt. 20:29–34
