One of the high points so far in my ministry within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been participation in the development of “Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal.” Although I came on board near the end of the hymn selection process, I had the honor of being involved in the preparation and introduction of this major resource of congregational song for the church.
As yet another Christmas has come and gone — and, along with it, the Magi from the East bearing their unique gifts — the spirit of giving that so characterizes this holy season lives on in these ever-lengthening days through the continued generosity of faithful Presbyterians.
For the first time in the 30-year history of the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program, the COVID-19 global pandemic forced the program to be a virtual one during 2020-2021. Adapting quickly to the contextual realities was difficult, but according to participants, the virtual format has challenged them and help them grow.
Behind the admittedly corny saying that graces many a collectable coffee mug, “Ministers never retire, but are simply put out to pastor,” there lies a grain of truth — retiring church workers face some very real challenges.
Over the past year amid a pandemic, protests and politics, I often heard many pastors, elders and mid council staff say that they are having a particularly hard time making ends meet. People aren’t giving the way they used to give.
When it comes to the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s increasingly popular Presbyterian Giving Catalog, the time-honored saying that “people give to people” has never been truer.
If “Zoom fatigue” is really a thing, the nearly 200 participants in the second day of the Mid Council Financial Network’s (MCFN) virtual conference showed no traces of this pandemic phenomenon.
The PC(USA)’s clarion call to be a Matthew 25 church united Presbyterians during this unrelenting season of COVID-19 and racial unrest in raising an unprecedented $150,031 toward the PC(USA)’s mission and ministry on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 1.
Now in its seventh, record-breaking year, the Presbyterian Giving Catalog — which offers a wide variety of gifts that provide real and positive impact around the world — has just debuted in Spanish and Korean.
