Posts By: Lauren Rogers

Pentecost: One YAV’s Journey of Faith

From Northern Ireland to Nashville Rev. Ashley McFaul-Erwin would not likely be a pastor for the Presbyterian Church today if she’d stayed in her homeland of Northern Ireland, and especially if she had never found the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. From Northern Ireland to the U.S. seems like quite a big leap, but it’s… Read more »

Beauty in the Unknown

Guest post by Clara Hare-Grogg, 2019-2020 Young Adult Volunteer The Philippines, where I served as a Young Adult Volunteer until being evacuated due to the global pandemic, is acutely vulnerable to disasters like volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and floods. Even everyday weather is notoriously unpredictable. The ability to deal with the unexpected has therefore embedded itself… Read more »

Pentecost: Being in the Now

Valued in this moment When Rev. Dr. David Gambrell was asked to speak at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT) last year, he knew it would be both challenging and extremely personal. “Not many preachers have the opportunity to address several thousand teenagers,”  he says. “So I did this with a healthy dose of humility, fear… Read more »

Partnering in Mission to Serve Cincinnati Youth

Guest post by Karl Graham, Westwood First Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH “Start children off on the way they should go and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 This is one of the scriptures that underpins our relationship with one of Westwood First Presbyterian Church’s longest-standing mission partners:… Read more »

Celebrating the 2020 Pentecost Offering with Our Youth (during COVID-19)

During this time of uncertainty and social distancing, engaging the children of your congregation with the four churchwide Special Offerings has never been more important. There are numerous ways children can connect with the Pentecost Offering, especially considering this Offering celebrates how God’s Spirit works in the lives of young people. We have a number… Read more »

Pentecost: Educate a Child, Transform the World

Making connections The second grader that Susan Byrne tutors at Willow Brook Elementary holds her hand the whole time they are together, working on building his reading skills. Can you just imagine how wonderful that connection must feel for both of them? “My little guy is just so delighted to have an adult paying extra… Read more »

Supporting Our Young People on #GivingTuesdayNow

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020, believing that generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. We are encouraging congregations to consider a #GivingTuesdayNow campaign for the Pentecost Offering, so that we can continue to support our young… Read more »

Giving Amid Change Minute for Mission

Watch and download this Minute for Mission as a video God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change… And the earth has certainly changed. Joining in digital worship is a change for many of us. But what has changed illuminates what… Read more »

10 Stewardship “Do’s” during the pandemic and one “Do NOT”

10  Stewardship Do’s 1. Pray. It’s what we do. I won’t belabor this point. 2. Cut yourself some slack. The last time leaders in the Church had to navigate post-Christendom, during a global pandemic is only right now. There’s no rule book. Trying to lead a community, sustain its ministries financially, all the while experiencing… Read more »