POJ’s Pastoral Care Fund provides emergency financial assistance to active and retired ministers of the Word and Sacrament and certified Christian educators. The Committee on Ministry (COM) makes confidential disbursements from the fund to those with demonstrated need. In normal circumstances, the fund is replenished by offerings received at ordination and installation services of candidates
Many congregations in the Presbytery of the James receive the Peace and Global Justice Offering on World Communion Sunday. This year World Communion Sunday, October 4, will look different for many of you. Our congregations are connecting by Zoom or limited in-person worship services, drive-thru communion or no communion at this time. However, we can
Create healing and hope for incarcerated youth around Virginia with Voices of Jubilee. Since March, these youth have been without classes, visits from family, and enrichment activities. Voices of Jubilee is creating school kits and Christmas boxes for the youth and invites churches to contribute. Needed items include: composition books (not spiral) men’s large crew socks
The following is a message from the Dismantling Racism and Public Policy Witness ministries of Presbytery of the James. As people of faith in the Commonwealth of Virginia we long for an ordering of our communities that promotes justice and brings us into closer proximity to the shalom God desires for all creation. The upcoming August
POJ is accepting orders for 2020-2021 Presbyterian planning calendars. The calendars, which begin in September 2020, will ship to POJ in late August. The price per calendar is $10.50 through August 14. Payment may be made by credit card or check. The window for ordering through POJ has closed. You may still order calendars directly
Six ruling elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament from Presbytery of the James were among 503 who participated in the 224th General Assembly, June 19-27, 2020. One advisory delegate and six alternates from POJ also were involved. The event was conducted entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Kenna Payne reflected, “This
The 224th General Assembly of the PC(USA) declares that Black lives matter; that our country’s most important institutions have been built to sustain white privilege, to protect white lives and white property at the expense of our siblings of color; and that the church, through ignorance, denial, and in some cases deliberate action, has participated
The summer 2020 issue of the Vine is on its way to homes. In this issue: Physically apart, together in spirit: POJ churches respond to COVID-19 224th GA: Responding to the sin of racism and a call to action (224th GA) 105th stated meeting recap In the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord: The
The 105th stated meeting of the Presbytery of the James was hosted by Salisbury Presbyterian Church and conducted via Zoom Webinar on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Ruling Elder Leigh Anne Ring (Salisbury), moderator, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and led the presbytery in prayer. The moderator welcomed first-time ruling elder commissioners and
The following is a message from the Dismantling Racism Ministry of Presbytery of the James POJ Friends, In the past few weeks the engines of racism in our country and our community have once again been dragged out into the light of day by violent actions against people of color and those who support the