Events Calendar

Lackawanna Presbytery Calendar

Click here for upcoming events around Lackawanna Presbytery.

Presbytery of Lehigh Calendar

Click here for upcoming events around the Presbytery of Lehigh.

Fall Fest

The Presbytery of Philadelphia will hold its eighth annual Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Doylestown Presbyterian Church.

Enjoy engaging workshops covering various topics such as faith formation, church insurance and caring for God’s creation. Participate in meaningful conversations, and connect with others in ministry.

The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Cannon, vice president of Ministry Innovation at the Board of Pensions, PCUSA.

To register, click here.

Presbytery of Philadelphia Calendar

Pastor Appreciation Event

Pastors are invited to register for “The 2050 Church: Culture, Technology, and the Call to Lead” taking place on Thursday, Oct. 9, at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. This pastor appreciation event is a day designed to refresh your spirit, deepen your learning and connect you with fellow leaders in ministry.

Rev. Dr. Edwin van Driel, PTS Professor of Theology, will be the preacher for worship, and Rev. Dr. William Curtis, senior pastor of Mount Ararat Baptist Church, will be the keynote speaker.

For more information and to register, click here.

Boundary Training

Pittsburgh Presbytery is offering two boundary training opportunities. The first will be Thursday, Oct. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., led by the Rev. Dr. Graham Standish. The second will be Soulshop for Youth Leaders on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register for the October event here, and the November event here.

Pittsburgh Presbytery Calendar

Redstone Presbytery Calendar

Trip to Ohio’s Amish Country

Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery is be offering a day of fun and fellowship with a bus trip to Ohio’s Amish Country in Holmes County on Nov. 5. The bus will leave from First Westminster Presbyterian Church at 8 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. The cost is $45 per person, which includes travel expenses and entrance into Behalt, the Mennonite and Amish Heritage Center and Der Dutchman buffet in Walnut Creek. There will also be an opportunity to shop in Berlin and possibly Sugar Creek.

If you are interested in being part of the trip, the fee must be paid to the presbytery office by Oct. 21.

Child Abuse Prevention Training

Every council of the church (session, presbytery, synod, General Assembly) is required by the PCUSA Constitution to provide child sexual abuse prevention training to its members every 36 months. In practical terms, this means that all elders on the session of all congregations are required to have boundary training every three years.

Susan Sharp Campbell, associate for Educational Ministry for the Presbytery of West Virginia, will lead two Child Abuse Prevention Trainings on Zoom: Sunday, Sept. 7, at 3 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. The training will last approximately 60-90 minutes. It will include basic information on signs of abuse, steps to take to protect abuse, and appropriate and inappropriate actions.

This event is open to all ruling elders, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and anyone working with children. If there are those who cannot make a Sunday event, contact Susan Sharp Campbell at susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-667-9428 to discuss possible alternatives. To register for these events, send an email to Susan Sharp Campbell. She will send the Zoom link out on the Friday before the events.

Officer Training

Officer training for elders and deacons in the Presbytery of West Virginia will be offered on Zoom on Nov. 9 and Nov. 16 from 3-6 p.m. on both Sundays. This two-session training will cover the doctrine, form of government, church discipline, the duties of elders and deacons, and the constitutional questions asked at ordination and installation, in accordance with the PCUSA Constitution.

There is no cost, but registration is required so that participants can receive the advance assignment and Zoom link. Complete information, including how to register, can be found by clicking here. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 24. The advance assignment will be sent on Monday, Oct. 27. For more information, contact Susan Sharp Campbell.

Presby Prep

Presby Prep is eight months of courses designed to help Presbyterians understand more about what it means to be Presbyterian as we worship, read scripture, reflect on what we believe, engage in mission and stewardship, nurture others in faith, and consider how we live together and how we got here – that is, to help us understand the sea we swim in or the air we breathe as Presbyterians, often without thinking anything about it. You’ll explore the eight course topics – biblical interpretation, Reformed theology, church history, Presbyterian polity, worship, Christian education, stewardship, and mission – with others under the leadership of a pastor in the presbytery; it’s a great way to connect with others. Because of the nature of the courses, eight people need to register for Presby Prep by Aug. 11; more are always welcome.

All classes are held on Zoom. Participants attend eight three-hour courses on either Thursday evening or Saturday morning. Though the registration form asks participants to make a choice, they may move between the two times as desired. There are assignments to be read in advance that form the basis of conversation and discussion. The cost is $50 for all courses, plus the cost of books, but if you only are interested in a few courses, you can sign up for those for $10 each.

Courses are scheduled for September 2025-May 2026 as follows:

• September 18 and 20
• October 23 and 25
• November 20 and 22
• January 15 and 17
• February 5 and 7
• March 12 and 14
• April 9 and 11
• May 7 and 9

While Presby Prep provides an opportunity to learn more about what it means to be Presbyterian and how we do things, it can also lead to more. It is the first year in the presbytery’s Authorized Lay Preacher/Commissioned Pastor Preparation Program, which prepares people to serve as pulpit supply and pastors. As the financial situation of many of our churches is changing, in part due to lower membership, more and more churches are seeking commissioned ruling elders to serve as their pastors. There is a growing need for more commissioned pastors in our presbytery. While most of our commissioned pastors serve a congregation other than that where they are a member, several are serving in their churches of membership; both are possibilities. For those who may not feel called to serve a particular church, there continues to be a need for pulpit supply as an Authorized Lay Preacher.

Could God be calling you to Presby Prep? If you are interested in Presby Prep, you will find more information and a registration form here. If you have questions or want more information, please feel free to contact Susan Sharp Campbell, Associate for Educational Ministry for the presbytery, at 304-667-9428 or susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com.

Preaching the Bible for Our Times

The Presbytery of West Virginia will hold its final Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox course for 2025 on Saturday, Oct. 18, from from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church and on Zoom. The focus will be “Preaching the Bible for Our Times.” Led by Karoline Lewis, preaching professor at Luther Seminary and a contributing writer for Working Preacher, this course will explore what it means to preach biblically and faithfully and how our interwoven contexts make for a sermon to be an encounter with the risen Christ. You can listen to podcasts including Karoline Lewis by clicking here.

The cost per person is $40, which does not include lunch. Participants may either bring their lunch or go to a local eating place. Participants may register and pay online here, or they may download the registration form and send it along with a check to: Presbytery of WV, P.O. Box 11720, Charleston, WV 25339. Registration deadline is Thursday, Oct. 9.

Questions? Contact Susan Sharp Campbell at susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-667-9428.

275th Anniversary Celebration

Slate Ridge Presbyterian Church in Whiteford, MD, is celebrating its 275th year in 2025. The church has its roots in the Church of the Barrens, which was located along the banks of Muddy Creek in the Bryansville area. Many members, groups and ministers have been part of Slate Ridge’s long history of worship and growth in Christian faith.

As part of the celebration, Slate Ridge will hosts a choir fest on Sept. 14 at 4 p.m. Neighboring choirs will join the Slate Ridge choir to share worship music. Joint anthems will highlight the afternoon. Refreshments will be served after the performances.

A special Homecoming Anniversary worship service will take place Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service in the fellowship hall. We invite the community to enjoy both special events. RSVPs for the luncheon can be sent to 443-269-1597.

Carson Lecture: Diana Butler Bass

Diana Butler Bass, an award-winning author of 11 books, will speak Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 and 11:15 a.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, PA, as part of the church’s Carson Lecture series.

Diana is also a popular speaker, inspiring preacher and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, especially where faith intersects with politics and culture.

Click here to RSVP.

The Kirkin’ O’ Th’ Tartans

A “The Kirkin’ O’ Th’ Tartans” church service will be held Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Old Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian (Shrine) Church in Quarryville, PA.

If you have a kilt or tartan, please line up at the rear of the Church and follow the piper.

Treats will be served at the Shrine Church at 10 a.m., and the museum will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a port-a-pot toilet on site.

Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Iglesia Resurreccion and Bethany Presbyterian Church in Lancaster will hold a celebration of Hispanic heritage Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6-9 p.m. at its 25 N. West End Ave. location.

The evening will honor Hispanic culture, history and contributions. Other activities will include children’s artists of the congregation, music, dance, art, food and community. For more information, call 717-572-3013 or email derbman51@gmail.com.

Sandra McCracken Welcome Home Tour

Sandra McCracken, a Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning singer-songwriter and author based in Nashville, will perform Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7-9 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester, PA.

This promises to be an evening of soul-stirring music, experiencing the beauty and resonance of Sandra’s music live with a full band. On this tour, she celebrates the 10th anniversary of the album Psalms alongside special guest Jon Guerra.

A leading voice in folk and spiritual music, she is known for timeless songs like “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” and “Steadfast.” Her acclaimed album Psalms (2015) helped redefine modern hymnody, followed by Light in the Canyon (2023), which won the Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year. With 18 solo albums and collaborations ranging from Ben Shive to CityAlight and Rain for Roots, Sandra’s work blends Americana, gospel, and sacred tradition. She is also the author of Send Out Your Light and the children’s book Maker of the Mountain.

For ticket, click here.

Black Theology and Black History

Oxford Presbyterian Church will host a special course series on Black Theology and Black History in September and October. Led by the Rev. Dr. Leonard Bethel, the sessions will be held on Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Smaltz Hall at the Oxford Church (8501 Stenton Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19150).

Admission is free and open to all for the event, which will offer a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of Black Theology and Black History while engaging with a welcoming community. Together, we will explore the intersections of history, faith, and culture in an inspiring and thought-provoking setting.

More information is available by clicking here.

150th Anniversary Celebration

Farmers Market

Every Tuesday until Oct. 7, Thomas Presbyterian Church in Eighty Four will hold a Farmers Market from 3-7 p.m. The market will feature Simmons Farm, Evelyn’s Farm Products, Cedar Bridge Botanicals and Raindrop Bath and Body.

For more information and a vendor application, click here.