Presbytery News
Synod of the Trinity
Presbyterian Women Summer Retreat/Gathering
The Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Trinity will hold its Summer Retreat/Gathering on July 16-18 at Antiochian Village Retreat and Conference Center in Ligonier, PA.
This year’s theme is “Finding Joy in the Journey” based on Galatians 5:22. The guest speaker will be CeCe Armstrong, the co-moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Join the Synod PW for lively worship, special workshops, great food, inspirational small-group time, spirituality walk, toe-tapping music, a silent auction, games, crafts, mission opportunities and more.
For more information and a flyer, click here.
To register, use one of these two forms:
Beaver-Butler
Conversation Over Breakfast
The church is evolving—in your communities, in the presbytery, in the denomination, nationally and around the world. How do we provide leadership for such a time as this, support one another, and stay connected?
John Wilkinson, vice president and Director of Stewardship and Funds Development in the PC(USA)’s Administrative Services Group, will be sharing insights at the May Beaver-Butler Presbytery meeting. The next morning on Wednesday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m., the presbytery will gather for an informal conversation with John.
Breakfast will be provided.
Join the presbytery for a time of sharing and connecting — and bring your questions about denominational life.
RSVP requested to office@beaverbutler.org or 724-452-7515 by Thursday, May 21.
Beaver-Butler Presbytery Events
For a listing of events occurring around Beaver-Butler Presbytery, click here.
Carlisle
Weave Week
Weave Week – a first-of-its-kind for the area – is an overnight youth conference coming to the Presbytery of Carlisle on July 7-11.
The plan is to weave through Central Pennsylvania learning what it means to be a missional church in these times that we find ourselves. Scheduled are great speakers, excellent mission projects to work on, time for worship and fellowship, and mostly a whole lot of fun.
There is room for rising 9-12 graders to come and join in the fun. Registration is now open for the week by clicking here. Registration will run through April 30, but spots are limited. Consider registering as the Spirit blows through the Presbytery of Carlisle doing a new thing.
The overnight gathering will take place around Harrisburg, Gettysburg, and Hersheypark as it weaves around Central Pennsylvania. The cost for the week is $25 per participant. For more information, reach out to Jamie!
Many Voices, One Song
The Presbytery of Carlisle will hold a “Many Voices, One Song” event Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church in Carlisle. Worship will be followed by food and fun together.
“Many Voices” promises to be the largest local gathering of Presbyterians in years because it’s being designed to include all ages, congregations and new worshiping communities, and parishioners (not just pastors and other leaders).
The gathering will bring together vocalists and bell ringers from across the presbytery. There’ll even be a youth choir, and worship will close with everyone singing the Hallelujah! Chorus together. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Cece Armstrong, co-moderator of General Assembly for 2025-26.
Also involved will be specialty foods from the area as part of the fellowship time after worship.
To learn more and to sign up, click here.
A flyer is available by clicking here.
Huntingdon
Mandated Reporter Training
Churches in Huntingdon Presbytery are invited to Mandated Reporter Training on Thursday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at The Retreat Center at Krislund Camp and Conference Center in Madisonburg, PA. The training will be conducted by CentreSafe and is open to all Krislund staff, volunteers and supporting congregations.
Krislund will offer lunch after the sessions for $5 per person.
To register, click here.
Lake Erie
You Are Not Alone Prayer Vigil
The You Are Not Alone Prayer Vigil is a monthly ecumenical gathering supporting immigrant and migrant neighbors. It takes place from 12:15–12:45 pm on the second Friday of each month at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Erie (southeast corner of Perry Square).
The Presbytery of Lake Erie’s Mission and Social Witness Committee will lead the June 12 vigil. A volunteer guitarist/song leader is needed for June 12.
All are encouraged to attend and share. To help lead in June, contact Pat Tracy at 814-504-2220 or tptracy72@gmail.com.
Happenings Around Lake Erie
For a listing of events occurring around the Presbytery of Lake Erie, click here.
Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel Presbytery Calendar
For a calendar of events occurring around the Mountain Laurel Presbytery, click here.
Philadelphia
Presbytery of Philadelphia Calendar
For a calendar of events occurring around the Presbytery of Philadelphia, click here.
Pittsburgh
Children’s Spirituality Discussion Breakfast
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will hold a Children’s Spirituality Discussion Breakfast on Thursday, May 14, from 9-11:30 a.m.
Should children participate in regular worship? If so, what role can they play, and how do we make space for them in the sanctuary?
Join the Faith Forming Families Network for a delicious breakfast and a lively conversation about children in worship. Discover how we can we best support parents and their children — and ensure the sanctuary is welcoming to children of all abilities.
Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas as they unpack this complex topic. Engage with colleagues and hear from a panel of local ministers who approach children in worship in different ways.
There is plenty of free parking on campus.
For more information and to register, click here. A flyer is available by clicking here.
Lecture Series: Faith Forward – The Future of Congregational Life
Pittsburgh Presbytery and Christian Associates are partnering with Bower Hill Community Church’s Speaker Series on “Faith Forward: The Future of Congregational Life.” The series will feature nationally renowned experts and local faith leaders.
The series will be held on March 11, April 22 and May 13 from 4-8 p.m. at Cefalo’s Banquet and Event Center (428 Washington Ave., Carnegie, PA).
Are you curious about the future of congregational life? Are the trends that your church is experiencing outliers or more of a broader, shared cultural reality? How is congregational life changing? What might the shape of faith communities look like going forward during this time of the rise of nones and the spiritually curious?
Because Pittsburgh Presbytery is sponsoring the series, it is offering its congregations and ministry leaders discounted tickets. Instead of $25, the cost of the meal and the event is $10 or $30 for all three events.
For more information and to register, click here.
October Racial Justice Pilgrimage
Pittsburgh Presbytery Stated Clerk Carla Campbell and the Rev. Ralph Lowe are excited to announce that this fall they hope to facilitate a Racial Justice Pilgrimage to Atlanta, GA, and Montgomery and Birmingham, AL, for the presbytery. The tentative dates for this trip are Sunday, Oct. 4, to Saturday, Oct. 10.
Travel arrangements and cost are still to be determined. Please let Carla or Ralph know as soon as possible if you are interested in this opportunity.
For more information, click here.
Pittsburgh Presbytery Calendar
For a calendar of events occurring around Pittsburgh Presbytery, click here.
Redstone
Redstone Presbytery Calendar
For a calendar of events occurring around the Presbytery of Redstone, click here.
Shenango
Spring Pastor Retreat
The Shenango Presbytery Spring Pastor Retreat will be held May 18-19 at Villa Maria Conference Center. Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes will be on hand to speak. To watch an introductory video, click here.
To register, click here.
Washington
Washington Presbytery Upcoming Events
For a listing of events occurring around Washington Presbytery, click here.
West Virginia
- 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
CP/ALP Retreat
The Presbytery of West Virginia’s Commissioned Pastors & Authorized Lay Preachers Retreat will be in Jackson’s Mill, WV, on July 24-25. The presenter will be Matthew L. Skinner, the Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, this summer.
For more information, click here.
Registration forms are available by clicking here.
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:
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.