Blog Post by Pastor Mark Wiley First Presbyterian, Hillsboro and SonLight Parish First Presbyterian of Park Hills and Ironton Property Chair, Presbytery Administration Team Bull Shannon on the NBC sitcom Night Court (January 4, 1984-May 31, 1992) once quipped. You’re the Judge and you stand for Justice — You are the public defender you stand for the underprivileged — You…
Final Thoughts of Rev. Bob Jensen, Bridge Presbytery Leader Returning to Retirement, travel, and service in his home church at First United Presbyterian – Belleville, Illinois The church of Christ in every age, beset by change but Spirit led, must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead. (Text – Fred Pratt Green, Tune – Wareham)…
Blog post by Rev. Ellen Gurnon First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian Cape Girardeau, Missouri It was the winter of 2019-2020 when First Presbyterian Church in downtown Cape Girardeau opened a late-afternoon warming center for the area’s unsheltered neighbors. On our “opening day,” we had three women – all in their 60’s or 70’s – who had volunteered to provide hospitality.…
Guest Editorial from Cecil G. Wood, PhD Ruling Elder, First Presbyterian-Kirkwood Synod Commissioner “Over the past several weeks, I have listened to and watched in awe and horror the retelling of the events of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. After much thought and consideration and hearing the calls for reparations of various types, I have come to the following conclusion which…
Guest Blog Post by Rev. Wendy Downing Steelville Presbyterian Church With so much uncertainty in our lives and in our ministries right now, I was reminded of another time of uncertainty in my life that paralyzed me for a season. More than 25 years ago I went through a divorce. When my husband was going to move out originally, the…
Guest Blog Post by Julie Burchett and Janice Seele Webster Groves Presbyterian Church Advocacy Team Members “Mass shootings mar holiday weekend; at least 2 dead, 20 injured in Florida incident.” “Gunfire sprayed into homes hurts three teens in St. Louis overnight.” “Nine people are dead after a gunman opened fire yesterday morning at the Valley Transportation Authority light rail yard…
Guest Blog Post by Presbyterian Women Coordinating Council The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely…
Guest Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Mark Thomas Honorably Retired Moderator of Administration Team It’s been an emotionally difficult year. The pandemic has taken a toll on us. Not only are we dismayed by the threat of Covid-19 for each of us, but also by the number of souls both here and abroad that have succumbed to this frightening and…
Guest Blog by Elder Lawson Calhoun Chair Presbytery Leader Nominating Committee Member of Westminster Presbyterian-St. Louis Chair of the Board of Trustees for Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize children and to examine ways we can each play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care…
Guest Blog by Rev. Dr. Dieter Heinzl Associate Pastor at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church I was puzzled when I leafed through the New York Times a while back and came upon a blank page. I expected something like “this could have been your ad” ploy, but that was not it. As I turned the page, the following one was blank…