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The Current is published weekly. Ministers, Christian educators, church administrators, and clerks of sessions are automatically subscribed. Please share the information with members of your congregation.

SUBMISSIONS: Submit an announcement for an upcoming issue by emailing editor Kelley Hope. Submissions due Thursday at 5 p.m. for the following week. Send text (including a link to your website/Facebook page) in the body of your email or in a Word document. Attach photos to your email if desired. Please do not send graphics or flyers.

March 2024

March 5
Last call for mission engagement trip to Guatemala; encourage older adults in your congregation to join the Ageism and Spirituality Retreat; pastoral updates in the presbytery; celebrate a New Creation at Massanetta's 2024 Bible Conference; walk an indoor labyrinth this week; into the Church Triumphant; presbytery events; church and community events; employment opportunities

February 2024

February 27
Presbytery enacts boundaries training policy; apply for grant program starting March 18; Dunkin retires From Brandermill Church; welcome new pastoral leaders; Salisbury hosts hymn festival; next PW book discussion coming up in March; monthly prayer; join local churches in Earth Care conversation; Tracing the Roots That Connect Us; photo: Don't Veto Our Safety Rally; presbytery events; church and community events; employment opportunities

February 21
Inspired worship at presbytery meeting; learn about dechurching with book study; share your feedback on strategic plan; Union lecture examines development of Islamophobia; benefit concert for Real Life; envisioning ecumenical possibilities for anti-racism; presbytery events; church & community events; employment opportunities

February 13
Presbytery meeting registration closes February 16; leading with good news in difficult times; promote environmental and social justice with Eco-Palms; join local churches in Earth Care conversation; resources for celebrating SDOP Sunday

February 6
Honoring Black lives in February; Lenten series: Pastors, Priests, Problem Solvers, and Prophets; worship resources for Mr. Rogers Day; know a young adult Looking for a meaningful opportunity?; faith leaders invited to workshop at Holocaust Museum; keeping your congregation safe; registration for presbytery meeting closes February 16

January 2024

January 30
Disaster Relief Ministry journeys to Florida on Saturday; McRaven retires from Waddell Church; deadline for Earth Care Certification approaches; tracing the roots that connect us; volunteers needed for middle school conference; local program available for students interested in pursuing ministry; GenOn hosts summer summit for high school youth; into The Church Triumphant

January 23
Thank you, faithful servants; registration closing soon for Vitality and Evangelism workshop; update on COM committees and deadline; youth ministry workers and volunteers invited to networking meeting; resources to celebrate Camp Sunday; host a video study with your church this year; monthly prayer

January 18
Roberts retires after 40 years of ministry; your photo could be in the next planning calendar; youth groups invited to VCU; learn how to foster an intergenerational community; conference for small churches To Be Held in February; follow the history of the Civil Rights Movement; BOP grant promotes clergy wellness; annual statistical reports due January 31

January 9
SDOP hosts spirituality and social justice workshop; join Disaster Relief's next mission trip to Florida; winter workshops from NEXT Church; advocate for issues important to you; learn how to respond to youth mental health needs; nurture kids' spirituality with Real Kids, Real Faith; Massanetta hosts handbell retreat; into The Church Triumphant; annual statistical reports due January 31; deadline for financial gifts to presbytery is January 16

December 2023

December 19
For unto us a child is born; 2023 statistical reports due by January 31; PW names books for 2024 discussion groups; join VICPP for Day for All People; Massanetta invites handbell musicians to weekend retreat

December 12
Task force named, begins work; Wrap up to podcast episodes with Presbyter Ring; spend MLK Day honoring victims of gun violence; learn how to respond to youth mental health needs; Christmas events; registration open for vitality workshop

December 5

Challenges and opportunities in ministry; book review: Beautiful and Terrible Things; registration closing soon for winter camp; college scholarship for Presbyterian students

 

November 2023

November 30
2024 budget approved with modifications; Ring is next guest on presbytery podcast; PC(USA) introduces Advent resource webpage; are you attending the inaugural Matthew 25 Summit?; good news from our congregations

November 20
Serving as a Christian educator with Barbara Chalfant; sing along to the Messiah at Bon Air; celebrate Christmas at Massanetta; Camp Hanover and VCU Campus Ministry partner on events

November 15
Service of installation for Sydnors at Grace Covenant Church; South Hill hosts special guest preacher; make Hanover Christmas part of your holiday celebration; gift ideas for everyone on your list; new Christian ed center hosts first event; taking risks for the sake of the Gospel

November 7
Get to know Barbara Chalfant; new ministers invited to join cohort; learn about Israeli-Palestinian conflict; survey invite from PC(USA); staff connect in day retreat; register now for special meeting

October 2023

October 24
Recording and resources from presbytery meeting available; defining congregational vitality in latest podcast episodes; apply now for VCC youth ministry grant; needs of African American churches focus of synod assembly in September

October 17
Register by October 20 for presbytery meeting; celebrate the Impact of Camp Hanover on October 18; create a happier Christmas for incarcerated youth; strengthen your skills in older adult ministry; application window closing for SDOP grants; synod grant deadline approaching

October 10
Share feedback on 2024 budget draft; learn about abolition from Biblical teachings; don't miss the Women's Retreat deadline; Bible study connects Presbyterian beliefs and practices to scripture; register by October 20 for presbytery meeting

October 3
Introducing new Justice and Advocacy Ministry; celebrate 100 years of ministry in Colonial Heights; explore Celtic wisdom with John Philip Newell; character actors wanted for Hanover Christmas; and New Hanover hosts poverty simulation

September 2023

September 26
Learning opportunities at Mo-Ranch; prayer request for Disaster Relief Ministry; promoting the peace of Christ; Amelia hosts car show mission fundraiser; and pastoral changes in POJ

September 19
Sandston celebrates 100th anniversary; giving beyond cash; build a dementia-friendly congregation; UR Forum on Faith, Ethics, and Global Society announces 2023 speaker; Pace Ministry at VCU invites youth groups to campus; presbytery office has a few 2023-2024 planning calendars available

September 13
PC(USA) to host inaugural Matthew 25 summit; take your confirmation class to camp; learn about church compensation trends; annual review of session records has begun; financial coaching available from Presbyterian Foundation

September 5
Grant elected temporary stated clerk; Corell co-hosts fall book study; visit Camp Hanover this fall; volunteers needed for Disaster Relief Ministry trip; Older Adult Ministry hosting event this month; grant opportunity for local grassroots groups; Coye honored for 50 years in ministry; into the Church Triumphant

August 2023

August 24
Special meeting registration closes Monday; presbyters' meet-and-greets resume in September; deadline to volunteer for GA approaches; are your saints equipped? Office of Christian Formation hosts free small group ministry cohorts this fall; resources for Evangelism Sunday; employment Opportunities

August 16
Donate to PDA wildfire fund to aid Hawai'i victims; registration open for August meeting; limited staff at presbytery office August 21-24; Cook appointed to PC(USA) committee; register now for Keep Awake retreat for youth; free webinars focus on older adult issues; FAQs about Employee Retention Credit

August 9
Save the date for special meeting; NEXT Church offers coaching cohorts; are your officers registered for Equipping the Saints?; youth invited to learn about Matthew 25; Christian Formation Week resources; celebrate fall at Mitchells Church; join the conversation in our Facebook group

August 3
Apply now to serve as a commissioner to General Assembly; into the Church Triumphant - Rev. Dr. Dan Hale; rebuilding after disaster: report from May 2023 Disaster Relief Ministry trip; help needed getting church records to Historical Society; financial ed grants available to pastors; deadline to save on Older Adult Ministry conference; Montreat Youth Conference photo

July 2023

July 26
Campus ministries ready to support your college students; experience radical transformations through Luke and Acts; save the date for youth worker networking session; five ways to support your staff; join Tuckahoe for story hour; come home to Camp Hanover Labor Day weekend

July 20
Teens needed for Presbytery Youth Council; network with other church leaders on Facebook; create a garden ministry; explore youth resources with Office of Christian Formation; three weeks left of summer at Camp Hanover

July 12
Find inspiration from podcast by the General Assembly office; join Disaster Relief Ministry in helping Floridians recover; new Book of Order published; compensation resource for churches added to presbytery website; older adults invited active aging expo; pastoral updates

July 5
Presbytery youth have fun, build faith at Massanetta Middle School Conference; read along with presbytery staff book study; save the date for officer training; learn how to change your perspective through Montreat event

June 2023

June 28
Happy retirement to Franklin Reding; apply by August 1 for Youth Council; networking meeting for youth workers and volunteers; learn about SDOP community grants in July; presbytery office closed July 4; Small Church Ministry hosts regional dinners

June 22
Recording of 114th presbytery meeting available; small church pastors invited to fellowship potluck; Charlottesville-area churches to host youth workshop; Providence plans summer series on Presbyterian ethos; Chester seeks singers for festival choir; share your talents with Camp Hanover

June 14
Registration open for 114th meeting; apply to serve as a General Assembly commissioner; new, small church grants available from synod; order planning calendars through POJ; internship opportunity available at Camp Hanover; pastoral updates

June 1
New video highlights Matthew 25 commitment; energy efficiency project grants available; join Pace Center for servant leadership lunch and learn; donate used candles to Camp Hanover; be an instrument of peace at Massanetta Bible Conference; new pastoral relationship; into the Church Triumphant

May 2023

May 25
Teens invited to join Youth Council; presbytery office closed for Memorial Day; join Presbyterian Men at Massanetta; Welcome Home drive collects simple items every house needs; enjoy live jazz and zydeco in June; South Plains PW decorate eggs in Ukrainian tradition

May 18
Monthly Zoom sessions for faith formation leaders; classes about church administration; Montreat hosts conference on navigating post-pandemic church; Salisbury chorus Joyful Voices featured on news

May 12
May is Mental Health Awareness Month; learn about leadership cohorts offered by PMA; national speaker on aging to keynote retreat; bring the whole family to Camp Hanover; summer faith-building programs for youth

May 4
Honoring Americans of Asian heritage; fundraising dinner to help Ukrainians; Brandermill hosts barbershop chorus; registration open for PW Summer Gathering; pastoral changes in POJ

April 2023

April 27
Five named Earth Care Congregations; PC(USA) clerk stepping down; Evans to retire April 30; Ministry invites small church pastors to fellowship dinner; Disaster Ministry returning to Florida; Woodlawn observes 100th anniversary; Massanetta hosts vocational discernment workshop

April 18
Glimmers of joy temper terrifying news from Haiti; PW-POJ to gather April 29; youth worker meeting; Hebron hosts revival; jazz vespers at Forest Hill; early registration deadline approaches for Bible and music conference; South Plains hosts Egyptian guest preacher; Day, Gilbert to headline 2023 Sprunt Lectures; summary of synod meeting available

April 11
Enjoy God's creation at Camp Hanover this spring; presbytery group to visit Guatemala April 17-24; resources available for Older Adult Sunday; grants available for community groups; register by April 19 for called presbytery meeting; discounted registration available for stewardship conference; learn about Frontier Fellowship on April 20; meet the campus ministry at Mary Washington University; suicide prevention topic of community forum

April 4
We ask God's blessings for you; Youth Ministry workers invited to networking Zoom; Camp Hanover hiring for summer; Randolph- Macon College hosts lecture on policing and Christian ethics; healthy transitions for clergy spouses

March 2023

March 29
Regional events bring together church leaders and presbyters; Mission Council calls meeting about Book of Order amendments; learn about prison abolition movement; share spring mini camp with church youth; new pastoral relationship; hone your skills via online learning groups

March 22
Presbyters share vision of support and partnership between congregations, ministries, and presbytery; engaging in and joining the presbytery's new vision; Northern Neck location added to spiritual parish schedule; spiritual foundations of equal justice movement; online study group available for new leaders of older adult ministries; new professionals orientation

March 16
Small Church Ministry Retreat a Success; Final Planning Guide a Gift for Loved Ones; Find Vacation Bible School Resources; Fellowship Celebrates 11th Anniversary; Gun Violence Forum in Charlottesville; Grants for Older Adult Ministry

March 9
Highlights, recording of presbytery meeting available; Union names first woman president; Epic family event coming to Swift Creek; enrollment open for internship at Bon Secours; into the Church Triumphant

March 2
Join us in celebrating women in March; share your thoughts on youth ministry; Miller approved as candidate for ministry; Union announces 2023 Dawe lecturer; new option to help small churches with pastoral vacancies; Jackson commissioned as commissioned pastor

February 2023

February 24
Banbury installed as moderator; Jackson to be commissioned February 26; registration open for youth retreat; learn how to hold gun take-back events; into the Church Triumphant

February 15
Registration for presbytery meeting closes Friday; national church leader to preach at presbytery meeting; youth ministry conversation; historical society blog highlights African-American Presbyterians; registration open for retreat for small church leaders; PMA creates Mr. Rogers Day resources; Ashland pastor concluding service

February 7
Worship materials available for SDOP Sunday; digital ministry by small churches; disaster prep easy with monthly calendar; join PW's next book discussion; Becoming Christian Lenten study at Tuckahoe; an unforgettable job awaits at Camp Hanover

February 1
Celebrate the contributions of African Americans in February; Bible study to focus on black resistance; support social justice and environmental stewardship on Palm Sunday; festival like summer camp for preachers; pastoral relationship changes

January 2023

January 25
Church and ministry news needed for spring Vine; 2023 covenants due soon; Horizons buy one, get one offer; yard sale to benefit manna ministry; registration open for confirmation retreat; free hymnals available; new pastoral relationship

January 19
Planning calendar needs your photos; grief support group formed for Spanish speakers; earth care program enrollment open; registration begins for summer at Camp Hanover; Duke Divinity hosts local Christian leadership workshops; into the Church Triumphant

January 11
Learn about incarceration justice from Voices of Jubilee; webinar on climate change action by older adults; Fraught and Flummoxed retreat for church leaders at Montreat; free envelopes available; pastoral relationship news

January 5
Make your 2023 Covenant with POJ; join Older Adult Ministry in planning for 2023; Disaster Relief team helps community recover; gun violence prevention advocacy day coming January 16; bring your confirmation class to Camp Hanover; OGA shares resources for Per Capita Sunday; pastoral relationship news