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Benefits Connect Tip:
Retired members who are receiving Pension Plan payments can use Benefits Connect to check their payment history. Register today for Benefits Connect. Visit the Pensions.org homepage and click the "Register" button under the Benefits Connect logo.
To view the 2010 Salary Study, click here. ------------
Small Church Pastors Gathering at noon on July 15 at Foothills Presbytery Office.
Financial Officers' Forum at noon on July 20 at Foothills Presbytery Office.
Dark Corner Cluster Teacher Training Event
2:30 - 6:00 pm
August 1
Varennes Presbyterian Church in Iva.
Stated Meeting of Foothills Presbytery at 9:00am on August 17 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Travelers Rest.
Retirees' Reteat
at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, N.C.
October 24-26
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South Carolina Home Quarterly Update June 2010 available here. Read about upcoming improvements to be made to the Kirk Apartments. S.C. Home turns 100 in 2012 - Centennial celebration is being planned!
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Stewardship of Creation Enabler Connections Newsletter
First Church in Spartanburg makes the news! Read about it in
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Dear Friends,
We have an amazing opportunity to share through a national television broadcast the story of the long term response of the PC(USA) to hurricane Katrina and the thousands of volunteers who have walked alongside the people of the Gulf Coast. Coming Home: Hurricane Katrina 5 Years Later was selected to be part of the "Horizons of the Spirit" religion series, for nationwide broadcast starting September 12 and will be available for a period of six months on your local NBC affiliates. BUT YOUR AFFILIATE STATION MUST REQUEST THE PROGRAM. Find your local NBC affiliate and contact them to ask that this program be available. Encourage others in your congregation and community to spread the word and contact their local NBC stations. This documentary explores the relationships between survivors and volunteers and about what it means to survive a disaster and face the long term recovery. It's a story about how thousands of ordinary Presbyterians made an extraordinary difference in providing hope for the real people who lived through the hurricane and its destruction. PLEASE CALL TODAY!
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance |
219th GENERAL ASSEMBLY  |
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Cynthia Bolbach, Elder from National Capital Presbytery, was elected as Moderator of the 219th General Assembly. Bolbach told the commissioners, "I love being a Presbyterian elder. I cherish the equality that the church gives to ministers and elders. In fact, elder commissioners have an advantage: Elders rule!" she said, referring to a recommendation from the Form of Government Task Force, which she has chaired for four years, that the church return to using the term "ruling elder." [Full story] .
 Commissioners and Delegates from Foothills Presbytery are busy at work on their various committees and will report back to the full assembly later in the week. Pictured is Sonya Dawson, Elder Commissioner from Mattoon Presbyterian Church, who is serving on the Middle East Peacemaking Issues Committee.
Dr. Merwyn Johnson (pictured on the left) is the overture advocate for FOG, and the Rev. Gordon Raynal, Minister Commissioner (pictured on the right), is serving on the Civil Union and Marriage Issues Committee.
Please keep all delegates and commissioners in your prayers as they endeavor to follow God's will for our church. |
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GROWING CHRIST'S CHURCH DEEP AND WIDE | | |
Congregations around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are engaged in innovative outreach programs in order to "Grow Christ's Church Deep and Wide" - a churchwide emphasis adopted by the 218th General Assembly (2008) to help congregations grow through evangelism, discipleship, servanthood and diversity.
ARCADIA MISSION VBS
First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg conducts two Bible Schools every summer. One School is the Arcadia Mission VBS, which is held in the Arcadia Community of Spartanburg and is a mission project reaching out to approximately 130 children in that community through a week of music, games, and storytelling. This year's VBS was held June 23-27.
First Spartanburg had a Mission Project this year at their VBS to raise money for Heifer International. Heifer sends animals to people around the world who need them. The children donated $418.33 - enough for:
* 2 hives of bees
*2 flocks of ducks
*2 flocks of chickens
*a goat
*and a llama! |
| 2009 PC(USA) STATISTICS RELEASED | | |
The office of the General Assembly has released the 2009 statistics of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As of December 31, 2009, the total membership of the PC(USA) was 2,077,138, a roughly 3% decrease, or 63, 027 fewer members, from the previous year. Good news is that adult baptisms rose for the first time in at least four years, and the overall number in membership losses was the lowest it has been in the last decade. However, the total number of PC(USA) congregations dropped by 94 to 10,657, including 15 churches that were dismissed to other denominations, compared to 25 in 2008. 26 new churches were organized in 2009. Sadly, the overwhelming majority of the loss in membership is in the category of "other," which means these are not deceased members nor did they transfer to another congregation. They simply left the church. In the area of financial giving, the annual statistics for 2009 show total contributions of $2,100,705,626 for an average of $1,011 per member. The 2009 membership total for Foothills Presbytery was 20,460, or 311 fewer members than in 2008. |
| NEW RESOURCES ON INTERFAITH RELATIONS | |
To help the church better understand the new study papers regarding Christian-Jewish and Christian-Muslim relations that are before the General Assembly this year, consider two new resources. The first is a book published by Witherspoon Press, Let us Reason together: Christians and Jews in Conversation, edited by Joseph D. Small and Gilbert S. Rosenthal. This book makes available the presentations and responses from four consultations that helped inform the writing of the 2010 study on Christian-Jewish Relations. The second is a new congregational study for adults in the Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding Series: Islam and Christianity. A participant's book with leader's guide engages heads, hearts and hands in considering the distinctive ideas and practices of Christians and Muslins. To order, visit the Church Store or call (800) 524-2612. |
| SENIOR SUPERLATIVE LUNCHEON | |
The Foothills Presbytery Older Adult Team invites your church to participate in the Fifth Annual "Senior Superlative Awards Luncheon" - honoring an outstanding older adult from each church. The luncheon will take place on Thursday, August 26, at 11:30 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2310 Augusta Road in Greenville. The entertainment will be the "Not for Sale Barber Shop Quartet." Senior adult groups are invited from each church to enjoy lunch and the program and to help celebrate honorees. Cost of lunch is $10. Nominations for Senior Superlatives and luncheon reservations should be in the presbytery office by August 18. You may download the nomination/registration form here. ( Picture taken at last year's luncheon.) |
| 2011 MISSION YEARBOOKS | | |
 Now is the time to place your order for the 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study. Foothills Presbytery will be placing a bulk order to enable churches and individuals to purchase this resource at a discount. The discount price of $10 includes shipping from the distribution center to the presbytery office where they can be picked up. Please complete the order form and send it to the presbytery office, along with your check, by August 2. Pre-payment must be received before the order is placed. |
| APPLY FOR STUDENT LOANS | |
The PC(USA)'s Student & Parent Loan Programs remain open for application through July 31 for the 2010-2011 academic year. Student Loans are offered with interest deferred while the student remains enrolled at least half-time. These loans are recommended for students who need private or PLUS loans in addition to their federal student loans. Parent Loans will be awarded to parents or guardians of students in order to meet the family contribution for a student's educational expenses. In order to apply, students must first apply for financial aid from the college or university they plan to attend. For detailed information on interest rates, eligibility criteria, or to download an application, please visit the Financial Aid for Studies website or send an email. |
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