SOS PW Connect

Moderator’s Memo – Why Am I a Presbyterian Women? Why am I involved in Presbyterian Women? Been asked this question before and will be asked it again. Why and my response is why not! Why not be a part of a group of women who share our faith, fellowship, community, mission, and much more. I realize that alone I cannot make a huge difference but if I join hands with other Presbyterian Women , we can and do make a difference. Thanks to Presbyterian Women’s generous giving of $724,780 to the 2010 Thank Offering, 26 projects (14 national and 12 international) will receive grants, allowing them to improve the lives of women, children and men in need. The recipients will provide an array of services in their communities—from training seminarians in Texas on successful ministries with people who are homeless, to purchasing water tanks that will supply clean water to a hospital in Malawi. Since 1922, the Birthday Offering of Presbyterian Women has provided much-needed financial assistance to many worthwhile programs around the world. The last Birthday Offering received $673,987.00. The 2011 Birthday Offering will provide educational benefits to the Sudanese people and help build a culture of peaceful coexistence between traditionally warring ethnic groups, increase societal value of children and acceptance of women as leaders. Closer to home, it will assist with the refurbishing of an existing dormitory at the Menaul School in Albuquerque, New Mexico and purchase an activities van. To the east in Anderson, South Carolina, the Anderson Interfaith Ministris, inc. will be able to strengthen their Women and Children Succeeding (WACS) Program with a parental education component and the hiring of an asset-building coordinator, who will help clients with financial literacy. Yet, at the Synod PWSCT level, we have joined with Solar Under the Sun and Living Waters for the World and contributed to the Carpathian Water Project in the Ukraine which was started by an immediate past Moderator of Arkansas PW, Mary Beth Leysoby. Because of her and the support of Presbyterian Women, children at two schools in the Ukraine now have safe drinking water. Why I am a Presbyterian Woman!

Celebration Giving training this week –
Thursday, February 23 –
register today!

Interested in learning more about PW Celebration Giving programs? Serving as a PW Celebration Giving Representative and need more information?



Two training sessions for Celebration Giving Representatives (CGRs) will take place via webinar this week on Thursday, February 23—one session at 2 PM EST, one at 7 PM EST. To register, call Jen Lenard-Benson at 888/728-7228, ext. 5308, or email jen.lenard-benson@pcusa.org. 


Celebration Giving Representatives are critical leaders who assist with interpretation and promotion of giving opportunities within Presbyterian Women, and represent their synod, presbytery and/or congregation. If you are enthusiastic about serving in this important role, please register for training.

For more information, visit www.presbyterianwomen.org or see the newly revised PW manual, which includes details about the role of the CGR (order print edition, item PWR11115, or digital edition, item PWR11116, from www.pcusa.org/store or 800/524-2612).



For more information about funds development for Presbyterian Women, contact Jen Lenard-Benson at 888/728-7228, ext. 5308, or email            jen.lenard-benson@pcusa.org.

HORIZONS also goes digital!

Dear Horizons subscriber,

We are pleased to let you know that your January/February 2012 digital edition is now available.

All digital and print subscribers qualify to receive access to every digital edition via your iPad, iPhone, Android, MAC, or PC.

1. To access the digital edition you must first register at https://www.cambeywest.com/subscribe/?p=hzn&f=custreg

2. After registering, go to http://horizons.epubxp.com/ to access current and encore issues of Horizons.

3. Please use your email address and password to access your digital editions.

Do you have a Horizons subscription questions? Call 866/802-3635 or email horizons@cambeywest.com

Thank you,
Susan Jackson Dowd
Communications Coordinator, Presbyterian Women

Horizons
The Magazine for Presbyterian Women
100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202

If you’re having difficulty with a link above, copy and paste it into a new browser window. You may also try adding Horizons@cambeywest.com to your safe sender list.

If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.

FYI
Read the 2012 Mission Yearbook Devotions! Feb 4 our Synod of the Sun was highlighted. Today it is the presbytery of Arkansas...

4th Institute of Multicultural Ministry Building Inclusive Communities

Find out  how your church can become a multiracial, multilingual and multicultural community of faith.


“The water flows out of the temple, becoming deeper and wider as it spreads … it is a source of healing and health, life flourishing”
(Ezekiel 47)

Register for the 4th Institute of Multicultural Ministry Building Inclusive Communities

February 16-18, 2012 | Princeton, N.J.

Participants will hear about and learn best practices of theological, ethical, social and pastoral frameworks for engaging multicultural ministry as Christian leaders and clergy, particularly in building dialogue and community in the areas of: interracial/ethnic relations and ministry, socio-economic disparities, and gender differences.

The institute will close with a panel discussion lead by the leaders of the institute where leaders and the participants will have a chance to share their questions, concerns and hopes of an intentional diverse ministry.

Register now and read more about the keynote speakers

http://www.ptsem.edu/offices/coned/index.aspx?id=8792


Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | 100 Witherspoon Street | Louisville, Kentucky | 40202-1396
(800) 728-7228 | (502) 569-5000 | website | Email

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Each quarter, PW staff creates a newsletter detailing notable projects, resources and events for Presbyterian Women. The mailing goes to PW moderators, leadership coordinators and the CCT, but is important information for everyone involved with Presbyterian Women.
Download the first issue of 2012

OuarterlyNews_Jan-April_2012

Websites on Human Trafficking

There has been additional information provided through ECPAT and PCUSA Peacemaking Program on Human Trafficking Month, so you might wish to include these resources in your January Bible Study.  

http://ecpatusa.org/
http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/human-trafficking/


Take care and Pray for Peace each day.
Jan.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11th

http://justiceunbound.org/event/human-trafficking-awareness-day/

I wanted to forward this link to you also, since Human Trafficking has been one of our peace and justice issues. We can pray for the children and young women who are trapped, that God may touch their lives....

Prayers for Peace in 2012.
Jan.

Ecumenical Advocacy Days

Join us at Ecumenical Advocay Days Washington, D.C. March 23-26, 2012Presbyterian Women Scholarships Available!

Interested in learning more about advocacy for domestic and international issues in federal and local goverment? Looking for hands-on training in advocacy skills? Want to work for a just and Godly economy? Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) may be the experience for you!

At the 10th annual EAD, March 23-26, 2012, in Washington, DC, we will explore economy, livelihood and our national priorities through the lens of Isaiah 58. Join other Christians in seeking a global economy and a national budget that break the yokes of injustice, poverty, hunger and unemployment throughout the world — heeding Isaiah's call to become "repairers of the breach and restorers of streets to live in."We will worship, dialogue and be inspired and equipped to speak boldly as people of faith. Rousing preachers, stimulating theologians and internationally known policy experts will offer a faith-based vision for a just economy and a healthy livelihood, along with training on key policy issues and grassroots advocacy —culminating with lobby visits on Capitol Hill. In addition, area specific workshops will be offered on Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, Domestic U.S., Eco-Justice, Global Economic Justice and Peace & Global Security.You can learn more about EAD and register online at www.advocacydays.org.  This year, Presbyterian Women is sponsoring 8 scholarships of $180 each (the cost of earlybird registration). For a scholarship application, please email Lois Bingham at ljbingham@gmail.com. Scholarship applications must be received via email by January 30, 2012 to be considered. Preference will be given to first-time attenders and with hopes to build age, racial/ethnic, geographic, and experiential diversity.If you are already planning to attend EAD this year, please let us know. Send a note to Lois telling us you'll be there. We're working on finding a time for Presbyterian Women to connect over the weekend.Also plan to attend the Compassion Peace and Justice training day with the Office of Public Witness on Friday, March 23. Check http://www.pcusa.org/events/18750/compassion-peace-and-justice-trai
ning-day/ for registration information!Hope to advocate with you in DC this spring — and if you aren't able to attend in person, stay tuned for updates on actions you can take in your part of the country!


For more information, contact Meagan Manas, Justice and Peace program specialist,
Presbyterian Women, meagan.manas@pcusa.org, 212/870-2738.

Peace and Justice NotesThere are seasons of the year when peacemakers feel encouraged and yet challenged by local, national and global complexities of peace. The month of October includes a glimmer of hope with World Communion and Peacemaking Sunday, the Century of Women which is a display of Women Nobel Peace Prize winners and the Global Exchange to India, and yet it also is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. PCUSA has a new packet for Domestic Violence Awareness which can be viewed and downloaded at www.pcusa.org/phewa/padvn I attended a celebration of peace a few weeks ago where offerings were collected for our local Battered Women’s Program and the statistic was shared that one in four women experience violence in their home during their lifetime. Our local shelter will host, “Take Back the Night”, as an event to highlight these facts and remember women that have perished during the past year as a result of domestic violence. As representatives travel to India this month, they will also learn more about domestic violence and human trafficking there. As women, we need to pray daily for those women and children who are currently experiencing violence in their homes or have recently escaped and are trying to find a new beginning for themselves and their families.  

 

As we continue our Bible Study, “Confessing the Beatitudes”, we examine Christ’s message to those who mourners, the humbled and those famished and parched for justice. I imagine the women traveling to India for Global Exchange will see many women and children, famished and parched for justice. As we pray for these women so far away, let’s also remember to open our eyes and see women that may be down the street or across town who are also famished and parched, hoping for things not yet seen, except in their dreams.  Resources available to you as you continue the Bible Study include:

 

Enough for Everyone - http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/enough/

Global Food Crisis 101 - http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/enough/

Presbyterian Hunger Program - http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/hunger/

A Five Part Series on PBS on Women and War: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/women-war-and-peace/

 

As we move through Dr. Aymer’s Bible study, let’s remember to seek God’s purpose in our own lives as we confess these beatitudes. “Greatly honored are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God.”

 

Pray for Peace Each Day!

Jan

 

Synod Gathering 2013