WELCOME TO THE GATHERING

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:10

JOIN US AND BE

"FUELED TO SERVE"

Sometimes we are so busy serving that we neglect to set aside time to fuel our bodies, minds, and souls, so that our gifts and priorities can honor God.

Explore and be inspired!

EVENT DETAILS

Two days of diverse online classes with vibrant speakers for one inclusive $50.00 fee!

Featuring: Reverend Dr. Carol Bechtel

2022-2023 PW Horizons Bible study author, Celebrating Sabbath

CLASSES AND PRESENTERS

OPENING WELCOME (DAY 1)

Reverend Cheri Harper, Devotional Leader

6/24, 8:30-9:00AM CDT

Rev. Cheri Harper is serving Presbyterian Women as a Mission Associate with a specialty in Synod support.

CELEBRATING SABBATH (PART 1 & 2)

Reverend Dr. Carol Bechtel

6/24, 8:30-10:45AM CDT (Part 1)

6/25, 9:00-10:45AM CDT (Part 2)

Part 1 & 2: Accepting God's Gift of Rest and Delight: Consider Sabbath as a celebration, not a day of dreary formality. Sabbath reminds us to honor God who honors us by giving us a day each week to reset our pace, our priorities, and our lives. Come discover God's intention for Sabbath.

Rev. Dr. Bechtel is a professor of Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, where she has taught since 1994. She also serves as Executive Director of the Waldensian Society, an organization that partners with Christians from the Reformed tradition in Italy and South America. You may remember her PW Bible study from 2007-2008, Above and Beyond: Hearing God's Call in Jonah and Ruth.

PSYCHOLOGY OF POVERTY

Reverend Beth Templeton

6/24, 1:00-2:30PM CDT

Rather than looking at poverty statistics, this interactive class looks at underlying issues, factors, and causes of poverty to understand why people who are poor may think and act as they do. The goal is to decrease judgment and increase compassion by enlarging our understanding by addressing such things as definitions of poverty, funds of knowledge, and three levels of poverty. Dialogue and questions are highly encouraged.

Rev. Templeton, Founder and CEO of Our Eyes Were Opened, Inc. is a public speaker, Presbyterian Church USA minister, and writer. For many years, she was with United Ministries, a non-profit in Greenville, South Carolina, where she worked with both “the have-nots” and “the haves.” Since 2007, she has focused on a ministry with “the haves” so they can enlarge their understanding about people who live in poverty in order to decrease judgment and increase compassion.

MAKE EVERY BITE COUNT

Carol Friesen, PhD, RDN, LD

6/24, 1:00-2:30PM CDT

While prayer fuels the soul, food fuels the body! This class will highlight simple steps you can take to fuel your body by "making every bite count"!

Dr. Carol Friesen is a Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics in the Department of Nutrition and Healthy Science at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Carol holds a doctorate degree in human nutrition with cognates in community nutrition and epidemiology from Michigan State University. Carol has worked as a faculty member at Truman State University, as nutrition coordinator at the Marion County Health Department, and as an epidemiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health. Carol's primary research has been to identify effective nutrition education activities to help adopt healthier eating behaviors.

A MATTHEW 25 TWO-STEP: RACE & POVERTY

Reverend Dr. Joseph Scrivner

6/24, 3:00-4:30PM CDT

In Matthew 25, Jesus urges us to focus our ministry on “the least of these”, focusing on three areas:

Building congregational vitality
Eradicating systemic poverty
Dismantling structural racism

Come and explore the implications of this bold vision and invitation to pursue justice.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Scrivner serves as Pastor for Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and as Dean of Chapel at Stillman College. Joe was inducted into the Morehouse College of Ministers. He serves as a Trustee for the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega. He earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary and has written on biblical interpretation.

FROM INWARD TO OUTWARD: A CHURCH'S JOURNEY TO VITALITY

Reverend Joe Genau

6/24, 3:00-4:30PM CDT

We will look at a case study of one congregation that was on the brink of closure and found its way to vitality by embracing change, seeking transformation, committing to mission, and finding its calling as a More Light Presbyterian church. Through the lens of the past 30 years of Edgewood Presbyterian Church, we will see what lessons we can draw out.

Reverend Genau was born and raised in Staten Island, N.Y. and earned a B.A. in Politics from Brandeis University and a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 2007. He spent several years working as a hospital chaplain in Chicago before moving to Birmingham, where he served as a chaplain at Children's of Alabama before being called to Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Homewood, Alabama. Joe has served the presbytery and denomination in a variety of roles.

PW SYNOD BUSINESS MEETING

Executive Director Susan Jackson Dowd, Presbyterian Women

6/25, 11:00-11:45AM CDT

Join us as we honor the tradition of leadership transition with the installation of new officers.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION THROUGH VISUAL ART

Reverend Allison Wehrung

6/25, 1:00-2:30PM CDT

Together we'll talk about the ways visual art can enhance our spiritual lives (whether you make it or simply appreciate it!) and try our own hand at the practice of visio divina, or divine seeing, by considering several different artistic representations of one Scripture text.

Rev. Wehrung is the Campus Minister at UKirk Ole Miss and the Associate Executive Presbyter of St. Andrews Presbytery. Ohioan by birth and North Carolinian by nurture, she has lived in six other states since. She is a graduate of Furman University and Columbia Theological Seminary. She loves exploring creative ways to pray and inviting other people along for the ride. Her other favorite things include National Parks, local coffee shops, and backyard birdwatching.

THE WHO AND HOW OF PW

Reverend Kathy Reeves

6/25, 1:00-2:30PM CDT

Learn how the variety of functions of the Directors serving on the Board contribute to building a stronger Presbyterian Women organization. The Board is led by a Moderator and Vice-Moderator. The Board of Directors of Presbyterian Women includes: representation from each of the 16 Synods, Young Women, Members at Large, a Finance chair, a representative from the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board, and a Search Committee.

Rev. Reeves is serving Presbyterian Women as Moderator of the Board of Directors for the 2021-2024 triennium. She retired in 2018 after twenty-six years of ministry at the Presbyterian Center. Kathy's years of service began with Worldwide Ministries in 1992. She joined Presbyterian Women as a staff Associate for Mission in 2008.

THREE STEPS:

Step 1: Register - Buy your ticket on the Register Now tab or click the button below.

Step 2: Book Your Classes - Choose your classes via the form sent as a link in your registration confirmation email. Check your Spam/Junk folders if you do not receive a confirmation.

Step 3: Connect - Zoom links will be provided for your classes the day before the event.