Wednesday, March 7
The Presbytery of Shenango
Pennsylvania
For the past 10 years, the Presbytery of Shenango has been intentionally developing and training lay leaders and clergy to lead spiritually vital churches that are partners in God's ministry and mission in the world. Two successful initiatives have been an annual LeaderFest training seminar and semiannual pastor retreats in which a knowledgeable speaker leads a two-day seminar on various topics interspersed with worship.
During this time, the presbytery has also seen the development of long-term mission relationships with churches in other parts of the world. One partnership is between North Liberty Presbyterian and Iglesia Hispana in Roswell, New Mexico. The most recent mission team saw the fruits of seeds that were planted 10 years ago when a grandmother in the Hispanic congregation told them her teenaged granddaughter was away on a mission trip because of the love North Liberty had shown her as a child. The New Wilmington and Clen-Moore churches have also witnessed growth in their partnership with a church in the Dominican Republic. This past year, in hopes of broadening that partnership, other churches were invited to join them.
Several congregations in the presbytery have engaged in mission in their own neighborhoods. Clen-Moore has been greatly impacted by being involved with the Big Brothers program in New Castle. Leesburg Presbyterian is learning the power of encouragement as members attend games and cheer for the basketball team of a juvenile detention center.
Shenango understands that the church is always called by God to be a mission community in a mission setting, extending God's call to all people to become disciples of Jesus Christ. They strive daily to meet that goal.
The Presbytery of Shenango is comprised of 13,206 members in 68 churches in Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania. Within its bounds lie Grove City and Westminster colleges and the New Wilmington Mission Conference.
Let us join in prayer for:
Presbytery Staff
David Dawson, executive presbyter
Jerry Mahaffey, stated clerk
Autumn Covert, executive secretary
Deborah Forsberg, resource center director
Sharyl Getway, financial secretary
PC(USA) Agencies' Staff
Jane Daveler, BOP
Elder April Davenport, GAMC
Let us pray
Gracious God, you call us and challenge us in new ways every day. Help us to answer that call in ways that glorify your Kingdom. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11
First Reading Genesis 42:18-28
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11
Gospel Mark 4:1-20
Evening Psalms 27; 51