I love poetry – I always have. In this poetry month at Second, three poems come to mind – all of them old, like me. As aches and pains come and go each day and my mobility decreases, I recall “The One Hoss Shay” (1858) by Oliver Wendell Holmes. The poem is much too long to print here, but the…
“The Presbytery as part of the Body of Jesus Christ understands itself as a Christian community seeking a balance of worship, business, education, fellowship, and service.” – 1.4a Manual of Operations The Gathering Planning Team is gearing up for our August 22nd Presbytery Gathering at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, and we are extremely excited for an inspiring day…
The power of one (or two) was alive and well on May 18, 2024 at Berea Curby Presbyterian Church’s Community Meal. The Dismantling Racism and White Privilege Team and Berea Curby invited GLPBY members to fellowship at the monthly Community Meal that Berea Curby offers to their neighbors. Berea Curby was formed when Berea, a predominantly African American congregation,…
Not long after beginning my work with GLPBY in January 2021, (Has it really been 3 ½ years?) I received a gift from old friends, Mike and Cindy Wakeland. A few GLPBY oldies may remember Mike and Cindy when he pastored Tyler Place Presbyterian Church. Cindy, an extraordinary Christian Educator, was at one time my youth leader; as in I…
An Invitation to the Churchwide Gathering in St. Louis My participation in Presbyterian Women (PW) has helped me to form a more vital connection with God, my sisters in faith around the globe, and those with whom I live and serve. Joining with other women in Horizons Bible Studies and sharing our deepest hopes, sorrows, and dreams in prayer and…
Every once and a while Presbytery Leader Ryan Landino will share reflections inspired by partnership and accompaniment with the ministries of the presbytery and what we are all experiencing in the news. May we feed each other hope, joy, and inspiration! I have always had an interest in film—I love the choices filmmakers, directors, and editors make in order…
Mark’s recounting of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem ends on a note of queasy solemnity. The atmosphere is appropriately shadowy and foreboding. Jesus has paraded into town, surrounded by the hoots and hollers of those who welcomed him as the one coming in the name of the Lord. They welcomed him with acclaim, but now have disappeared. Jesus makes his way…
“We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?” (Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451) Is something bothering you? I get it. It’s a loaded question. But stick with me for a second. Sit down, and let’s have a…
Hello friends! At our last presbytery it was announced that our next presbytery gathering was going to be hosted at a location called the Delmar DivINe, which was met with an understandable chorus of “huh, what’s that?” After we got everyone’s attention so dramatically, unfortunately, our reservation at the Delmar DivINe location for our April 13th presbytery Gathering was double…
Here’s a fact which may come in handy for your next trivia night: this year’s mashup of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday will be the third time the start of Lent has been on February 14 since 1945. The other was in the wistful pre-pandemic year of 2018. They will sync up again for the last time in this century…