Closing with “Beautiful Things” by the artist Michael Gungor as performed by Synod School musicians, Monday’s worship service held in Schaller Memorial Chapel at Buena Vista University explored how Creation came about and what an act that occurred 4.5 billion years ago means for us today. Read more »
July 24, 2023
Poignant Synod School band offering reminds worshipers God makes beautiful things out of dust and out of us
Closing with “Beautiful Things” by the artist Michael Gungor as performed by Synod School musicians, Monday’s worship service held in Schaller Memorial Chapel at Buena Vista University explored how Creation came about and what an act that occurred 4.5 billion years ago means for us today. Read more »
As the keynoter for the 69th Annual Synod School going on this week at Buena Vista University, it’s the job of the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins to remind the more than 500 people gathered what Presbyterians believe. 
Ukraine is now using cluster munitions to strengthen its counteroffensive against Russia after being supplied with the weapons by the United States in a decision that concerned many because of the risk of more civilian casualties. 
With a nod to the 29,000 or so RAGBRAI riders who’d arrived in Storm Lake, Iowa, a few hours earlier, the Rev. DeEtte Decker showed up for opening worship at the 69th Annual Synod School on a borrowed bicycle that she pedaled down the center aisle of Buena Vista University’s Schaller Memorial Chapel. 
Members and friends of Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, Iowa, supersized the church’s welcome mat Sunday, welcoming scores of visitors attending this week’s Synod School put on annually by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies even as they prepared further hospitality to some of the 29,000 people who were bicycling into town Sunday as part of RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. 
Meeting online Saturday, the Unification Commission heard from three human resources experts in the Administrative Services Group — Ruth Gardner, Anisha Hackney and Rick Purdy — on how a consultant might be brought on to strengthen the work of the commission as it merges the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency. 
Camille Hernandez, author of the upcoming book “The Hero and the Whore: Reclaiming Healing and Liberation Through the Stories of Sexual Exploitation in the Bible,” said during the most recent edition of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” that “a larger conversation on sexual violence” has been made possible because of the #MeToo movement. 
Through a collaboration between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and 1001 New Worshiping Communities, church planters and spiritual leaders visited Puerto Rico in June to learn about ongoing efforts to rebuild after hurricane disasters. 1001 New Worshiping Communities leaders recognized many commonalities with pastors in Puerto Rico, including the necessity of bivocational calls and a need for community engagement and the work of healing and relief. 
Trailblazers Program teaches young people and film production and racial justice work by Mark Koenig | Special to Presbyterian News Services LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – “They keep coming.” The affirmation… 
The Matthew 25 Team, created by the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board to help do the work of the Matthew 25 movement, turned its attention Monday to giving mid councils and congregations tools to minister to people living in the growing number of states passing anti-transgender and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.