Rev. Ted Wright will visit First and Second Presbyterian Churches in Portsmouth on Wednesday, October 24th. Ted and Sue Wright were appointed in July, 2005 to serve as regional liaisons for east and central Africa with special attention to Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. Their focus is on the Evangelism and Church Growth Program in southern Africa.

All those who have an interest in missions are cordially invited to be our guest(s) at Second Presbyterian Church for dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation by Rev. Wright at 7 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church is located at 801 Waller Street (corner of 8th Street and Waller Street).

We ask that you call the church office (740-353-4159) no later than Monday, October 22nd to let us know the number attending from your congregation. This will help us greatly with food preparation.

(Editor’s Note: for more information, including other churches which are hosting events, please see 2007 Mission Challenge comes to the Presbytery of Scioto Valley.)

During October, 2007, over 140 presbyteries will be visited by a mission co-worker for one week.  These missionaries will be inviting every PC(USA) congregation to be in relationship with at least one PC(USA) co-worker. The goal is to increase our understanding of the needs of the mission field and to enhance the sense of support for our mission workers. 

Presbytery of Scioto Valley will host Rev. Ted Wright from October 19 to 26. Until his appointment as a mission co-worker, Ted was the pastor and head of staff of the Langhorne Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for 22 years. During that church’s partnership with a congregation in Zimbabwe, Ted and his wife, Sue, felt God’s call to serve full-time in Africa.  Since July, 2005, they have served as regional liaisons for east and central Africa with special attention to Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. 

First Presbyterian Church, Delaware — Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5:30 pm Potluck dinner (table service and beverages will be furnished); 6:15 pm Program 

First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Vernon — Sunday, Oct. 21 at 6 :30 pm Program 

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Columbus — Monday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 pm Program 

Hilliard Presbyterian Church — Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7:00 pm Program 

Second Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth — Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 6:00 pm Light dinner, 7:00 pm Program.

First Presbyterian Church, Athens — Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7:00 pm Program 

Please encourage and arrange for interested members of your congregation to attend one of these gatherings!

For further information, contact Bruce Henderson at the Presbytery office (1-800-244-7207), home (1-740-344-8826), or email (kbhenderson1806@msn.com).

For more information on Ted Wright, see http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/wrightc.htm

In September of 2005 the congregations of First and Second Presbyterian Churches, Portsmouth, voted to establish the Morning Star Presbyterian Parish.

The agreement outlined the creation of a parish council and the mechanism for sharing a pastor. With the retirement of the Rev. Evan Fisher on December 31, 2005, the Rev. Stanley N. Webster began serving as designated pastor at First Presbyterian, while continuing his duties as installed pastor at Second Presbyterian. The congregations extended equal terms of call that called for an equal distribution of pastoral time.

The parish agreement specified that in 2007 the congregations would vote again on whether to continue the parish. Last Sunday, the congregations met and voted on the motion: “to approve the continuation of the Morning Star Presbyterian Parish.”

One hundred people voted that day; 93 were in favor of the motion, 7 opposed. This vote imposed no term on the parish agreement, paving the way for the parish to continue as long as both congregations are willing.

In November, our Executive Presbyter, Dana Knapp will meet with the session at First Presbyterian to outline steps for calling Stan Webster as installed pastor. Members of the Presbytery will then conduct a service of installation at First, Portsmouth. This fall marks the twelfth anniversary of Webster’s service to Second, Portsmouth.

The agreement that the congregations approved in 2005 will be now be re-worked into by-laws for the parish. Those by-laws, along with the Book of Order, will be the framework within which changes in the parish can be made. Each congregation and each Session maintains its full constitutional powers and duties as spelled out in the Book of Order.