The Presbytery of Transylvania will hold the annual Mission and Education Conference, with most events taking place Saturday, August 22nd at Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church. There will be something for everyone, ranging from Fall Gardening to Dealing with the Economic Crisis, from Coaching to Presbyterianism 101 and 102 (all about our theology and polity), and more! The keynote speaker will be Ruth Farrell, Coordinator for the Presbyterian Hunger Program and former mission co-worker in Peru and the Congo. For more information, or to register, go to http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/435/LetYourLightShine.pdf. For technical support, call the church office. The registration fee is $15 per day, but there are scholarships available through the Presbytery.
Starting with last Sunday’s lectionary, the gospel readings from John for the next few weeks are heavy with feeding stories and bread analogies. Bill and Nancy Lively’s grandson Jordan is currently working in Toronto at the St. John the Compassionate Orthodox Mission Bakery. The Bakery makes artisan breads from organic ingredients (good environmental stewardship), with proceeds going to support the St. John Homeless Mission. The Bakery itself is a place of healing and nourishment, as workers have included refugees, people struggling with addictions, people with emotional troubles or mental illness, and single parents struggling with poverty. To learn more about the St. John Mission go to http://www.stjohnsmission.org/ and for more information on the Bakery ministry, go to http://www.stjohnsbakery.com/. Keep Jordan and all involved in these ministries in your prayers.
On July 25th, the Man O War Church of God is sponsoring a motorcycle rally and a concert in support of St. James Place. St. James Place is a mission of Central Christian Church and the Foundation for Affordable Housing in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. St. James Place provides affordable housing for the working homeless and those whose incomes usually prevent them from finding safe, adequate housing.
Opened in August 1995, St. James Place was the first facility in Kentucky (and one of the first in the country) to offer affordable housing to the working homeless. Since then over 600 individuals have called St. James Place home. In September 2006, the facility expanded to provide transitional housing to veterans who have completed a course of treatment and have been authorized by the Veterans’ Administration for transitional housing.
For more information on St. James place, go to http://www.saintjamesplace.org. For more information on the fundraiser sponsored by Man O War Church of God, go to http://manowarcog.org/ride/index.html. In case of rain, the ride will be rescheduled for August 1st.
Everyone is invited to our late 4th of July picnic! Extend the celebration with food, fellowship, and fun. We will have games and entertainment for all ages, including live music by the Clive Jackson Band and our own Bill and Crystal Nichols. Join us on the lawn Thursday at 6pm. We will provide meat and drinks; please bring a favorite side dish to share. Invite your friends and neighbors! We hope to see you there.
