LEC

PW of First Presbyterian Lincoln adapts to include entire congregation

By Joan Berglund
First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Nebraska

When I first became active in Presbyterian Women in 1994, we met once a month on Wednesday for a lunch and a program. At that time, we alternated programs—something spiritual or mission-oriented and then something lighter or fun.

We continued this way until I went to my first Churchwide Gathering in Louisville in 1997, where I got really inspired. It took about three years of convincing the group to try some evening or Saturday meetings to include all church women. Some older members resisted the change. As it turned out, we tried it and it wasn't very successful. Some women complained that they didn't know when we were meeting (even though they had yearbooks and other reminders ;-)

So now we have our meetings either Sunday after church, in conjunction with an all-church luncheon, or on Wednesday evenings, again in conjunction with an all-church function and meal. We do our programs following the meal. Everyone is included; that means that the men stay. We have an unofficial men's auxiliary that helps with cooking, serving and clean-up. 

We call Coordinating Team meetings when necessary to take care of general business. These are usually held around 5:30 p.m., as some working women are officers.

Our year usually looks something like this:

• September is our kick-off (could be Sunday or Wednesday)
• October is our fall gathering, so no meeting
• November is our Thank Offering program (again, Sunday or Wednesday)
• December may be something with CE for advent
• January, we work with mission for a Sunday lunch and usually a fundraiser
• February or March, we may do something for Birthday Offering
• April, we have our PWP spring gathering
• Generally May is too busy for anything. 

The year we have new officers, we will do a Sunday lunch and installation. Our officer terms are two years.

We really like to team up with another church committee for our events; that usually ensures a good turnout.

Contact Joan Berglund for more information.

Congregation honors "remarkable saints in the faith"

Editor's Note: The following item is reprinted from Lakeside Presbyterian Church's newsletter (Richmond, Virginia). It tells how this congregation planned to "celebrate the gifts of women" on that special Sunday in 2015. The item was submitted by Jayne Sneed, former chair of the Leadership Enhancement Committee, Churchwide Coordinating Team (2012–2015).

Presbyterian Women Sunday, April 26
On Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday, we celebrate women in the household of God who regularly engage in faithful acts of service in communities of faith, hope, love and witness. There are women in Scripture and women in our congregations who are remarkable saints in the faith. You know some of these women. If I ask you to think of someone, more than one woman may come to mind. There are also women who quietly serve the church. We do not know the many acts of service they perform. Some give quietly, without fanfare, and we may not even know their names. One difficulty in many of the passages that feature women in the Bible is that, while we may remember the woman’s gift of ministry, we do not know her name.

On Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday, we are given an opportunity to name and remember our sisters, our mothers, our grandmothers and other women in the faith, and the many gifts that they have given. As a testament to this, we are encouraging women of the congregation to invite their daughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, mothers or any other women who are gifts in our lives. It is a way to honor them and give thanks to God!

Jesus said of one such woman, “Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her” (Mark 14:9). As a part of the Celebration of Women at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, we will hold a covered dish brunch in the Fellowship Hall, immediately following the church service. We will be honoring new life members of Presbyterian Women, as well as strengthening the bonds within our Christian family. Please plan to attend.

PW leaders are called to the work of antiracism

Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA) expresses its deep sorrow for the most recent race-related shooting Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina, where a gunman killed nine members of Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. We are committed to ending racism and to building an inclusive, caring community of ALL God's people. This is a time for leadership. We are called to courageous, sensitive and culturally proficient leadership. For such a time as this, may we pray and act for an end to racism and racially-motivated violence.

We are grateful for the witness of The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in its response to the shooting (below). Let us pray the prayer of the church and accept our call to leadership as we work for inclusiveness and God's beloved community.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) reaches out to its sisters and brothers of Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston, South Carolina, where nine people were killed when a gunman opened fire Wednesday night during Bible study. We grieve with the families of the victims and members of their church community. We hope the perpetrator is soon captured and brought to justice.

The chief of police in Charleston has named this a hate crime. We know of no other name for a crime that forces a five-year-old child to play dead in her church in order to live. Arresting the shooter is the job of law enforcement. Arresting hate is the work we are all called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ. May God never give up on us as we face our own racism and its tragic impact on congregations, their communities, and our very souls.

Our prayer
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, God who has brought us thus far on our way, only you know why someone would enter into your house of worship and open fire on your children. Only you know why hate would run so deep that it would cause one of your creations to kill others you have formed. In our confusion over this senseless act, we appeal to you for understanding and courage to continue to fight for justice. We pray right now for the families of those who lost lives at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. on June 17, and ask that you would wrap your loving arms around them and the entire community. Likewise, we pray for the continued racial unrest and violence that permeates the United States and the world, and ask you to guide us to work earnestly for change. Now unto you who is able to keep us from falling, we pray all these things.

Amen


Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
PC(U.S.A.)

For information on Presbyterian Women's cultural proficiency and antiracism resources, go to the PW Leadership Enhancement web page.

Presbyterian Women Lead the Way: An Introduction to Our Blog

By Jayne Sneed, Chair, Leadership Enhancement Committee
Churchwide Coordinating Team of Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA), Inc.

Through the years people have remarked on how many church ministries (and mission programs) were started by Presbyterian women. Presbyterian women have been experts at recognizing needs and providing the people power and financial resources to meet those needs. Often, projects started by women become full mission projects of an entire congregation (or even a denomination! Think
Cents-ability, Networkers, Mission Yearbook, and more). 

This blog celebrates the leadership of women, especially in Presbyterian Women groups. In this blog, we will share best practices, fundraising ideas, mission projects, leadership development techniques, training programs and more from Presbyterian women in congregations, presbyteries and synods. 

Read what other Presbyterian women are doing, and consider whether God is calling you to start a similar program in your area. Celebrate the programs and leadership in your congregation by sharing your stories on this blog. Send in your tips, best practices, leadership secrets, and more. Click here to submit (include photos, if available).

PWs begin ministries that become church ministries

By Jayne Sneed

Many programs started by Presbyterian Women become congregational and communitywide ministries. Here are some examples sent in by women in congregations.

From Chester, Virginia

The Prayer Shawl Ministry 

Prayer shawls provide a tangible way to wrap in the caring love of Chester Presbyterian Church those among us who are suffering serious illness or grief. You can help in two ways. If you do not knit or crochet, you can help by donating three skeins of Lion Brand Homespun yarn in any color except black. (The yarn is available at Michael’s, JoAnn Fabrics, and at other craft stores.) Leave your donation in the Prayer Shawl cabinet located on the second floor opposite the elevator. If you DO knit or crochet, purchase your own yarn, or use the donated yarn in the cabinet and follow the directions to complete a shawl. Directions, labels and other supplies also in the cabinet. Feel free to help yourself to what you need. Thank you for your help in this ministry.

Church Partnership with County's Senior Advocates' Office

Our diaconate is participating with Chesterfield County's Senior Advocate Office to providing our senior church family with free programs and services—from home evaluations to computer classes. 

From PWC, Second Presbyterian, Petersburg, Virginia

Blanket Sunday

January 11 is a special mission opportunity that can involve all ages. Blankets enable Church World Service (CWS) to respond to disasters at home and around the world. 
Please support this worthy cause and purchase a blanket for $5.00 in honor or memory of a parent, child, grandchild, friend, pet or whatever God moves you to do. Make checks payable to Presbyterian Women, and write "blankets" on the memo line.

Undies Sunday

In February, our mission project will be “Undies Sunday.” This is when we collect new children's underwear to be donated to the Crisis Assistance Response Emergency Shelter (CARES) in Petersburg. 

Snack Sunday

In March, we collect snacks to donate to the after-school program for at-risk children in Petersburg. This has been a favorite mission project for several years now, and we encourage everyone to help make it a success.

“Alone we work, together we work miracles.”

Celebrating women as leaders in the church

Submitted by Jayne Sneed

The article below first appeared in the newsletter of Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. It describes how this congregation celebrates women as leaders in the church on Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday. Notice the title of the article!

Presbyterian Women Sunday

On Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday, we celebrate women in the household of God who regularly engage in faithful acts of service in communities of faith, hope, love and witness. There are women in scripture and women in our congregations who are remarkable saints in the faith. You know some of these women. If I ask you to think of someone, more than one woman may come to mind. There are also women who quietly serve the church. We do not know the many acts of service they perform. Some give quietly, without fanfare, and we may not even know their names. One difficulty in many of the passages that feature women in the Bible is that, while we may remember the woman’s gift of ministry, we do not know her name.

On Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday, we are given an opportunity to name and remember our sisters, our mothers, our grandmothers, and other women in the faith, and the many gifts that they have given. As a testament to this, we are encouraging women of the congregation to invite their daughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, mothers, or any other women who are gifts in our lives. It is a way to honor them and give thanks to God!

Jesus said of one such woman, “Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her” (Mk 14:9). As a part of the Celebration of Women at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, there will be a covered dish brunch in the Fellowship Hall, immediately following the church service. We will be honoring new life members of Presbyterian Women, as well as strengthening the bonds within our Christian family. Please plan to attend.

 

Jayne Sneed is chair of the Leadership Enhancement Committee of Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA), Inc.

To learn more about Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday, see the Celebrate the Gifts of Women resource page.