Blog Post by Rev. Marilyn “MP” Panco Associate Pastor-St. Mark Presbyterian Member of Dynamic Leaders Team and DRAWP as Children/Youth Team As I sit here in my office anticipating the flurry of frantic activities that will surround Christmas and New Year’s I listen to calm music while watching beautiful landscapes move across the TV screen mounted on my wall. Thoughts…
Blog Post by Rev. Brandan S Eddy, BCC Chaplain, St. Elizabeth Hospital, O’Fallon Illinois “What is something that really bothers you…?” A simple but deeply complicated question and one that hardly gets asked these days. Especially these past few years amid the heartbreak of the pandemic in addition to the politically charged climate that surrounds us, perhaps we fear the…
Many of our churches will have in-person and online worship services this Friday. We have included all that we know of, but if your church is not listed, please email us the details and we will add them to our list. Email communication@glpby.org Share with anyone who might need this special worship connection on Christmas Eve. All of our churches…
Blog Post by Rev. Shana Vernon BJC Chaplain Supervisor Member of Commission on Preparation I have watched YouTube videos of jumping dwarf goats, cute kittens, and rescued donkeys as one practice of decompression during the pandemic. Eventually, this wasn’t enough. Then I found myself watching explorers who trek across land and water in northeastern Canada and sail the northern seas…
Blog Post by Rev. Eric Post Chaplain, Barnes-Jewish Hospital As a chaplain, I am called to comfort the afflicted. As a Christian, I am called to love everyone, even those with whom I disagree. In my work caring for patients and families at a large hospital, these callings can coincide. How might my lens as a chaplain be helpful in…
A Message from Renita Heinzl St. Luke’s ACPE Certified Educator & Senior Chaplain I have the distinct privilege of serving as the ACPE Certified Educator and Senior Chaplain at St. Luke’s Hospital’s Network of Care. Our Spiritual Care Services is comprised of eleven team members. Ordained in the PCUSA, board-certified as a chaplain, and certified as a Marriage and Family…
Blog Post by Donna Cook, Ruling Elder Oak Hill Presbyterian Church Presbytery Hunger Action Enabler Thanksgiving in 2021 is a time of abundance, scarcity, pandemic, inflation, fear, and/or faith. How we live into it is our choice. If we have an abundance mentality, we believe there is enough for everyone, and we’ll have what we need. If we have a…
Guest Blog by Rev. John Goodwin, HR Potosi Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Vice-Chair Presbytery Committee on Nomination When I was young there were very few things that happened in life that said I was valued, of importance, accepted, even liked. It was difficult beginning adulthood without the benefit of support and role models, and without healthy self-esteem. It…
Blog Post by Ruling Elder, Joyce Wilks-Love Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church 2022 Presbytery Moderator For my birthday in 2015, my cousin gave me the book “The Butterfly Effect”, by Andy Andrews (New York Times bestselling author). Initially, I did not read the book, but this year, through a quest for new reading material, I picked it up and read it…
Presbytery Guest Blog by Rev. Karl Hauser Southminster Presbyterian Church 2021 Presbytery Moderator There are lots of things to value in the church. If you are reading this you are probably part of a church already. If so, how would you explain to someone outside of the church, WHY the church um… actually matters? An easy way to start off…