News

THE REVEREND ROBERT EDMUNDSON RETIRES

Posted December 18, 2023

The Reverend Bob Edmundson was recognized at the November Presbytery on the occasion of his retirement from actively serving in ministry. Bob was the pastor of North Washington Church in North Washington and Concord Church in Hooker since early 2017.

JOSH HEIKKILA TO BE OUR GUEST

Posted November 7, 2023

What are the least developed countries in the world? According to the United Nations Development Program, they are located in Africa. The U.N. developed an index that considers health, education, income, and living conditions to rank countries from the most developed to the least developed. The three that rank at the bottom of this index are Niger 189, Chad 190 and South Sudan at 191. Ghana is ranked 133.

The Rev. Joshua Heikkila, Presbyterian Church (USA) Regional Liaison for West Africa, will be attending our November presbytery meeting. Josh has a wide variety of overseas experience. He served as a Young Adult Volunteer for the PC(USA) in a one-year term (2002-2003) in Ghana, where he learned the Ewe language. He has been a mission coworker in West Africa, based in Ghana, since 2009.

BLESSING OF THE PET PHOTOS AND PET ROCKS

By Candidate Kerry Dowdy

Posted October 31, 2023

October 4 was St. Francis of Assisi feast day and a common time where many churches of various denominations hold a scared blessing of animals. PC(USA) has liturgy for a blessing of animals included in the Book of Common Worship. East Butler Presbyterian Church took this traditional blessing and broadened the practice to include pet photos and pet rocks. In addition, this was our first Christian Education “intergenerational” evening event where activities were geared toward adult and children alike. 

UNITY IN WORSHIP

Churches Worshipping Together

By The Reverend Mark Allio, Jefferson Center Church

Posted October 17, 2023

Jefferson Center and Clinton Churches have been getting together for various services this past year. This October, we at Jefferson Center had our Tailgate Sunday planned as an outdoor worship—a tailgate party in the parking lot and watching the game together. Though the weather sent us inside, we still enjoyed the event. Clinton Church in Saxonburg had joined us last year and helped us with sound and music for the service. So we scheduled it again for this past October. 

During Christmas and New Year’s Day Sunday worship, Clinton Church invited us to join them, and it was great worshipping together on Sundays that traditionally have lower numbers. Then this July, Clinton Church joined us for our Christmas in July worship service. And they returned the favor by hosting us for an Outdoor worship service and picnic, complete with a Cowboy themed everything! 

NORTH BUTLER CHURCH CELEBRATES 175 YEARS

1848–2023

Posted October 3, 2023

The congregation of North Butler Church in Chicora celebrated their 175th Anniversary on September 24. 

A look into their history appears in the minutes of The Redstone Presbytery. They mention on April 10, 1798 that Thorn’s Tent was among the many vacancies making “supplication for supplies.” This location was about a half mile from the location of the present North Butler Presbyterian Church. By 1803, the place of preaching had been moved and most of the attendants combined with those of Salt Springs in the Lick Hill area and became the Harmony Congregation. However, some Presbyterian families remained in the vicinity of Thorn’s Tent which was in the bounds of the Concord and Butler churches during the pastorate of the Rev. John McPherrin. After his death in February 1822, these scattered families would meet at the home of Fergus Hutchison.

INTRODUCING THE REV. DR. REBECCA A. COLLINS KAHNT

Posted September 26, 2023

The Reverend Doctor Rebecca Anne Collins Kahnt officially began her call as the pastor at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City on July 1 of this year. She led worship the very next day and has been serving the Lord along with her brothers and sisters in Christ at North Sewickley ever since with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.

INTRODUCING THE REV. LAUREN BOSSERMAN

Posted September 12, 2023

The Reverend Lauren Bosserman officially began her call as pastor to Westminster United Church in Evans City on April 1 of this year. She led worship the next Sunday on Easter. Just a month earlier on March 19, she was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament back in her hometown. She married her husband, Dylan, a week later and he moved with her to Evans City. “He’s a gem!” Lauren says of Dylan’s support of her ministry.

THE REV. DR. JIM KIRK RETIRES

Posted August 8, 2023

The Rev. Dr. Jim Kirk was recognized at the July Presbytery upon his retirement from ministry. He most recently served as the full-time pastor of Valencia Church in Valencia until his retirement in July. 

Pastor Jim was born and raised in the Plum area of Pittsburgh where he was active in the Presbyterian Church. He attended Westminster College. He then worked for 26 years in medical laboratory sales before answering the call to ministry.

CHANGES TO BOOK OF ORDER

Posted July 18, 2023

Over this past year, the presbyteries of the PC(USA) have been discerning the proposed amendments to the Book of Order from the 225th General Assembly. The results are in and all of the proposed changes were approved and are now in effect. This means that the 2023-2025 Book of Order contains some notable differences from previous versions. Our presbytery will be in touch with Sessions to share how these changes may impact your ministry and we are working to develop resources to aid the implementation of new mandates.

BUFFALO CHURCH AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

Posted July 18, 2023

By Virginia Shirey

Nine church scholarships were awarded during the worship service on July 9 at Buffalo Presbyterian Church, Sarver. All nine students were sponsored by members of the church and received awards of $300 each toward their upcoming expenses for the 2023-2024 school year. Funds to support the awards were withdrawn from the Scholarship and Memorial Fund accounts. 

PEACEMAKER TO VISIT IN SEPTEMBER

Posted July 11, 2023

Amira Barham will be visiting us as our peacemaker. Amira a Palestinian, born and raised in the town of Beit Jala near Bethlehem. With a Master Degree in Social Work, she has worked with people in Palestine, the United Kingdom and the United States. Most recently her work has focused on supporting marginalized children in Palestine through Sounds of Palestine, an organization that uses music to enhance children’s self-esteem and impact positive social change and community involvement.

MT. PLEASANT CHURCH REBUILDS

Posted April 25, 2023

On Sunday, April 16, the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church in Darlington held a special celebration Sunday. Construction has begun on their building after a devastating fire displaced the congregation in 2021. A worship service was held with First United Presbyterian Church in their sanctuary, and members of the former Calvary Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls joined them.

INTRODUCING THE REVEREND ANDY SMOTHERS

Posted April 18, 2023

The Reverend Andrew Smothers began serving Glade Run Church near Valencia as their pastor on January 9. Andrew, or Andy as he is also called, was born in Austin, Minnesota and grew up in the small town of Monticello in Eastern Iowa. While baptized in a Lutheran Church, he grew up almost entirely in a PC(USA) congregation attending Sunday School and summer camp and being confirmed.

NEW MISSION STATEMENT

Posted April 18, 2023

At our March Stated Meeting, members of the Coordinating Team presented a draft for a new mission statement.

A VISION BECOMES A MISSION

Posted March 28, 2023

On Wednesday, June 21 of 2017, Glen Sanders and his 18 year-old son, Cordell, packed up 112 bicycles in two 10 foot U-Hauls. Rich Gigliotti and Adam Swarts, also of Calvin Church in Zelienople, joined them as they set off on a 1300 mile trip to South Dakota. Twenty hours later they arrived in the village of Wanblee located on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Ten years after their first trip to South Dakota, Glen and Cordell were finally seeing the culmination of a vision that started with a car that refused to start.

IN MEMORIAM—THE REV. RICHARD D. ANSCHUTZ

January 15, 1946–March 6, 2023

Posted March 14, 2023

In sadness for our loss, but joy in the sure hope of the resurrection, we announce the death of Rev. Richard D. Anschutz.

Hymnals Available…

Songs of Faith and Praise (blue) — Howard Publishing Co., Inc., 1994

The Hymnbook (red) — Presbyterian Denominations, 1955

If you are interested in them, contact ChrisAnn Goossen at the office at 724-452-7515, X112.