We are so excited to bring you this special issue of the Synod of Living Waters virtual magazine, the Virtual Voice. The stories in this issue are truly inspiring. Our team asked writers to reflect on the marvelous grace that can be experienced in and from small things and unexpected moves of the Spirit. Here …
Rev. Ann Laird Jones, Synod Moderator Dear friends! We are quickly approaching the beginning whispers of General Assembly 226, which meets June 25-July 4 in Salt Lake City. These beginning whispers that GA is coming bring me the same glee and joy I feel when I see spring’s newness, summer’s fullness, autumn’s richness, winter’s wisdom. …
Rev. Greg Goodwiller, Synod of Living Waters Plans are coming together for the 226th General Assembly Meeting this summer, the plenaries for which will bring commissioners, delegates, and church leaders all together in one room for the first time since the last pre-pandemic assembly in 2018. While the opening “organizational” plenary (which is necessary to …
Rev. Ann Kelly, Leland Presbyterian Church “Rowboat or Sailboat?” asks the title of Chapter 3 in Joan Gray’s Spiritual Leadership for Church Officers. After studying that chapter. the Session of Leland Presbyterian Church in Leland Mississippi agreed that we are a rowboat church. What’s more, we are extremely comfortable rowing. We know the resources that we …
Rev. Patrick Harley, Pastor, Evergreen Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN I’m fascinated by artists who can transform items like clay, wood, or metal into something beautiful. I don’t have that skill. And when the raw materials that an artist is using come from something that was created to harm? Well, then my fascination turns into pure …
Rev. Sue Westfall, Executive Presbyter, Sheppards and Lapsley Grace Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa is a recent merger between two, very different congregations. The merger work was thoughtful, care-full, and involved deep listening beyond their theological and social differences. The first pastor of the merged church was Rev. Cathy Hoop, a pastor from one of the …
Rev. Bob Madsen, Regional Presbyter South Alabama and Mississippi Presbyteries Back in 2019, the Presbytery of South Alabama had come to the end of a seven-year plan for our ministry. It was time to formulate one that would carry us forward. We began that exploration by inviting all the congregations of the Presbytery to conduct …
Now may be the worst time in the entire troubled history of the nation of Haiti. The past three years have seen a complete breakdown of government function, social services, and law and order. As has been widely reported, gangs currently control nearly all of Port au Prince and other metropolitan areas. The Haitian people, …
Living Waters for the World Haiti Update and Request for Assistance Read More »
Living Waters for the World’s Full-Church Curriculum LWW has long had Vacation Bible School curricula for churches to use with children. Now there is an expanded curriculum for all generations of the church to learn together about the world water crisis and what we as a church can do to come alongside our siblings around …
Bringing the Whole Church Together to Focus on Mission: Read More »
Rev. David Gambrell, Ph.D., Associate for Worship, Office of Theology and Worship, PC(U.S.A.) The first half of the Christian calendar is clothed in color—white and gold, purple and red. It is flocked with festivals—Nativity, Epiphany, Baptism, Transfiguration, Ashes, Palms, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. It is spangled with seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. But …
