Three churches in southern Indiana have separate focuses to their Matthew 25 work. But through a thoughtful process of establishing a cohort to strengthen each of the three ministry efforts, the three congregations — First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, First Presbyterian Church in Columbus and Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Columbus — have begun, in the words of the Rev. Kelley Jepsen, transitional associate pastor at FPC in Bloomington, “to think creatively, to dream more broadly and to find concrete ways to begin moving from learning into action.” Read more »
June 23, 2022
We have co-laborers to carry out the work’
Three churches in southern Indiana have separate focuses to their Matthew 25 work. But through a thoughtful process of establishing a cohort to strengthen each of the three ministry efforts, the three congregations — First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, First Presbyterian Church in Columbus and Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Columbus — have begun, in the words of the Rev. Kelley Jepsen, transitional associate pastor at FPC in Bloomington, “to think creatively, to dream more broadly and to find concrete ways to begin moving from learning into action.” Read more »
Living Waters for the World (LWW) is celebrating the call of Matthew 25, the gift of pure water and the gift of water partners. 
The Rev. Brad Sheppard, pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, received an email one Sunday from the church’s accompanist, Diana Chubak, a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Earlier that day, Sheppard had asked Chubak to suggest organizations to support in the wake of the Russian invasion of her native Ukraine. 
A new Disability Inclusion Toolkit from the Office of Christian Formation will help Presbyterians continue along the path of congregational inclusivity. 
“We still have more to offer,” said Stevanie, a young-adult DACA recipient and member of Marturia Presbyterian Church. As the Supreme Court deliberates on how protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will continue, we are reminded of the millions of people who are in the United States under temporary immigration statuses. 
In the beginning was an idyllic garden — till Eve listened to the beguiling serpent and invited Adam to join her in eating the fruit that God had forbidden. Because they disobeyed God, the couple was expelled from the Garden of Eden and made to face the harsh, uncertain world. Surely, they thought, they could cope, especially with the help of their sons, Cain and Abel. 
A few simple practices of being present, listening before speaking, being vulnerable and seeking common ground can build community. 
The Rev. Wayne Gnatuk ministered for 15 years in a West Virginia coal mining valley and saw the same thing happen over and over. 
Jonathan Kuttab is a well-known international human rights attorney who splits his time between Israel-Palestine and the United States. 
Before delivering a talk to end Church World Service’s Together We Welcome Conference, the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson delivered one of her many published poems to the online audience of about 300 people.