Salem MattersNews of What Matters This Week in Salem Presbytery |
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| Hills PresbyterianPilot Mountain |
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| Shiloh Presbyterian Burlington |
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| Grace PresbyterianWinston-Salem |
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Executive Presbyter to be Away
Our Executive Presbyter Tony De La Rosa will be out of the office from September 5-20, and will be unable to return phone calls or answer emails during that time. For emergencies ONLY please contact Christine Ratledge at cratledge@salempresbytery.org. |
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New Presbytery Website is Now Live!!
Following the unveiling of the our newly updated website at the presbytery meeting, the process began to transfer the site to the new platform. That process does take a few days, but as of Monday morning, the 11th, the new site was live! Please explore the site HERE.
If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please direct to our Communications Director, John Johnson at tech@salempresbytery.org. |
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News from Hunger Committee
“The reconciliation of humankind through Jesus Christ makes it plain that enslaving poverty in a world of abundance is an intolerable violation of God’s good creation. Because Jesus identified himself with the needy and exploited, the cause of the world’s poor is the cause of his disciples.” -The Confession of 1967
Grace and Peace in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The Salem Hunger committee met in August to review Fall Grant applications and endow hunger-abating agencies that labor within Salem Presbytery’s bounds with monetary awards. (More to follow on that!)
The committee also reviewed our international accounts and discussed making a one-time gift to abate the food crisis going on in Gaza. Unfortunately, without added contributions from the presbytery and its members churches, the committee will not be able to meets its 2026 financial obligations to Sister-to-Sister in Kenya and Congo Helping Hands.
That is where you come in! Salem Hunger committee is asking all member churches to do a financial push for the remainder of the year and particularly as we move into the season of Advent. This will not only renew and refresh our coffers, but it will help us respond contextually through our PC(USA) partners on the ground in Gaza who are abating hunger, providing clean water, and hope in this war-torn area. If you’d like to give, please click on the link HERE.
“For I was hungry, and you have me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” (Matthew 25: 35)
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Many students are packing up to head to college. They are your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, a friend's kid and many are from your congregations! We hope that all of them will be connected to a Presbyterian Campus Ministry! Please help us connect with these students by going to ukirk.org/refer-a-student/. We'd love to welcome them to campus! |
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| Sign Up for Peace & Justice Newsletter
The Peace and Justice Task Force invites you to sign up for their monthly newsletter addressing Peace and Justice issues and events. Click the link below to sign up. |
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Parish B Engagement Pastors Stephen and Tricia Fearing invite all Parish B clergy to fill out this Doodle poll to schedule our September gathering to plan our events for the rest of 2025. Also, if you live and/or serve within the bounds of Parish B and would like to receive Parish B-related emails, please click this Google Form to add your contact info. Thanks! |
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Sedgefield Presbyterian in Greensboro is Seeking a Church Office Administrator |
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Position Opening at First Presbyterian, Asheboro
First Presbyterian in Asheboro is currently searching for a Director of Program Ministries (For Youth, Young Adults, and Congregational Connection.)
For more information and a Job Description, click HERE. |
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Position Opening at Speedwell Presbyterian, Reidsville
Speedwell Presbyterian Church in Reidsville is presently searching for a half-time Stated Supply Pastor.
For more information and a Job Description, click HERE. |
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Position Opening at Westminster Presbyterian, Greensboro
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greensboro has begun its active search for Senior Pastor and Head of Staff. While it’s MDP is now active on the CLC site, the PNC also welcomes both self-referrals and any suggestion of whom the PNC might contact directly. PNC co-chairs are Jim Gale who can be reached at jimgale820@gmail.com and Judy Phelps who can be reached at japhelps3@gmail.com. |
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Position Opening at Logan Presbyterian, Scotts
Please refer to the link below to the Job Description for the position of Transitional Pastor at Logan Presbyterian in Scotts, NC
To view the Job Description click HERE. |
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Position Opening at Waldensian Presbyterian Church, Valdese
Waldensian Presbyterian Church is currently conducting a search for the position of Director of Christian Education (DCE).
To view the Job Description click HERE. |
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Apply Now: Help Your Congregation Become a Hub for HealingThe North Carolina Council of Churches' Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) initiative is offering a unique opportunity for NC churches to join our Abundant Life Cohort. This Cohort equips congregations to become trusted spaces of healing, care, and connection. Through this year-long program, churches will receive tools, coaching from our PHW team, and a clear, faith-rooted process to build a ministry that supports mental and behavioral health with compassion and purpose. If your congregation moves through the process and proposes a thoughtful, impactful ministry initiative, you’ll be eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding to support that work.
If your congregation is ready to take meaningful steps toward becoming a trauma-informed, holistic ministry - apply by September 1 (Spanish Application). |
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| Rachel Baker Communications Director North Carolina Council of Churches (919) 828-6501 Ext. 106 she | her | hers |
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Faith Renewal-Church Renewal Grace and Growth are combined in a new, exciting and energetic way!!NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage is an intensive three day Christian weekend that is designed to encourage and deepen faith and commitment to Christ, the local church and one’s community. Since the weekend is only the beginning and participants come back rejuvenated and excited, they frequently return from the weekend to be an enthusiastic and positive force in renewing and rejuvenating their local church and to serve in their community. We are inviting individuals to come and churches to send representatives for a weekend and/or host programs that share information and experiences about Pilgrimage.
The next three weekends are scheduled for Sept. 11-14, 2025, May 14-17, 2026, and Sept. 10-13, 2026 at Camp Laurel Ridge Moravian Conference Center in Laurel Springs, NC. For more information, contact Rev. Frank Dew (frank.m.dew@gmail.com or 336-402-2463) or Michie Dew (mdew814@aol.com or 336-707-8799) or go to the NC Presbyterian Pilgrimage website at www.ncpilgrimage.org. |
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The Watauga Long Term Recovery Group presents:
Hope after Helene: Community Storm Anniversary Full Day of Events
"The opposite of cheap hope is pessimism, but the opposite of deep hope is despair, which leads to passivity. Hope, in its deeper sense, does not require a positive outlook. It requires a choice to keep moving toward a better way and a better world. So it is entirely possible to feel pessimistic about the direction things are going yet live from deep hope." David LaMotte, 2024
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, our community will gather to mark one year since Hurricane Helene forever changed our landscape and our lives. Rather than simply remembering loss, we’re choosing to cultivate what singer-songwriter and international speaker David LaMotte calls ‘deep hope’—hope that doesn’t ignore pain but transforms it into purposeful action.
In the months following Helene, our community has shown remarkable resilience. This anniversary event grew from conversations within our faith communities and recovery organizations about the need to process our collective trauma while acknowledging our strengths as we look to renewal. Below you will find the individual events—all to take place in Downtown Boone. Events are free and considered a gift to the community. David LaMotte’s keynote and his evening concert will be held in the Appalachian Theatre. The free tickets for both events can be reserved at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country website.
Event Schedule – Saturday, September 27 11:00-2:00 PM: "Stories from the Storm" Community Quilting Project (FARM Café). Help preserve history through a traveling quilt exhibit by sharing personal hurricane experiences. Prior registration required: See registration link below. 2:00-6:00 PM: Community Resource Fair. The Community Resource Fair will include recovery groups focused on physical recovery needs as well as trauma support and interactive mental health resources. (Jones House Lawn) The resource fair will be relocated to the Community Room at the Appalachian Theatre in the event of inclement weather. 3:00-4:00 PM: David LaMotte Keynote "Western North Carolina: Waiting with Deep Hope" (Appalachian Theatre) 4:30-6:00 PM: Poetry Readings with Hilda Downer, High Country poet laureate, featuring poets who published in Hilda’s soon to-be-released storm anthology: “Had I a Dove” (Jones House) 7:00-9:00 PM: David LaMotte in Concert with special guests—cast members from this summer's Lees-McRae musical 1940: A New Musical (Appalachian Theatre)
Additional programming: Appalachian State University welcomes you to gather for a community appreciation meal on Tuesday, September 30th, at Central Dining Hall anytime from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Please visit the Watauga Long-Term Recovery website here for more information! www.wataugaltrg.org
Learn More and Prepare Your Heart
The following resources offer insight into David’s philosophy of deep hope and his connection to our region’s story:
We invite all community members regardless of faith tradition or organizational affiliation to join us in this day of remembrance, resource-sharing, and renewal. Together, we’ll practice what David LaMotte calls ‘deep hope’—acknowledging our pain while choosing to move toward healing and positive change.
**Registration & Tickets:
“Stories of the Storm” event registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdejv5gEXGQ4D5HFtQlCG4n3amKm4xf1nPFhKDhpxTISVAGmw/viewform
Appalachian Theatre Hope After Helene free tickets: https://www.apptheatre.org/events-and-tickets
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November 10-11, 2025Union Presbyterian Seminary, CharlotteApplication Deadline - September 29, 2025 |
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Conference Details: • Dates: Wednesday, November 19 (Noon) – Friday, November 21 (Noon) • Location: Fourth Presbyterian Church, Michigan Avenue, Chicago • Registration Fee: $295 (includes a cruise dinner on Thursday, Nov. 20) |
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News from Massanetta Springs |
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August Prayers for:Permanent Judicial Commission Personnel Committee |
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Please Hold the Following in Your PrayersThe congregation of Mebane First Presbyterian and the family and friends of Elder Tom Vinson, who passed away on June 3rd. Tom was a former Clerk of Session at Mebane First and long-time committed member of COM. Rev. Ken Broman-Fulks and family as they mourn the death of Ken’s sister Jennifer Fulks Clay on August 11th. To view the obituary click HERE.
We will list these prayer requests for two weeks unless we are notified that they are to be continued. You may submit prayer requests through the link below.
Submit Prayer Requests Here |
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Ordination Anniversaries
Please pass along congratulations to the following who are celebrating anniversaries of their ordinations: Ruth Lenger ordained August 27, 1995 (30th in 2025) Libby Inman ordained August 30, 1992
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