The youth of Trinity Presbytery are invited to attend an event sponsored by First Presbyterian Church in Hartsville, S.C. 

“A Time For Youth To Celebrate” will be held in Feb. 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Keynote speaker for the gathering — billed as a chance to “celebrate ourselves, each other and Christ” — is Rodger Nishioka, professor of Christian education at Columbia Theological Seminary.

MINNEAPOLIS — How can our church communities be welcoming and healing spaces for returning veterans? How can we support families and caregivers before, during, and after deployment?  How can we respond not only to the physical but also to the emotional, moral, and spiritual wounds of war?  What is the unique role of the church? 

On Feb. 26 the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area Disability Concerns Task Force will sponsor a workshop on these questions at Westminster Presbyterian Church here.  The workshop is open to clergy and lay persons and will offer resources for understanding, listening, and making referrals. The workshop will emphasize the unique role of the church as a healing community.

Workshop leaders will be the Rev. Vaughn Jefferson and Amy Blumenshine, MSW. Jefferson is a retired Air Force chaplain and psychologist. Blumenshine is coordinator of services for the Coming Home Collaborative,a ministry of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

CLEVELAND — The Presbytery of the Western Reserve is encouraging its members to register for the 2011 Homeless Stand Down, an ecumenical effort to assist the homeless sponsored by Interact Cleveland.

This year’s Stand Down will include distribution of winter clothing on Jan. 30, social service consultations and referrals on Feb. 12 and health services on Feb. 18.

Volunteer opportunities include participation on the three days, helping with preparations for the events, the assembling of bag lunches and personal care kits, and the donation of money and goods.

LANCASTER, Penn. — Donegal Presbytery’s Leader Development Day will take place Jan. 30 at First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg, Penn.  

Workshops will be offered on such topics as Basic Training for Elders, Basic Training for Deacons, Clerk of Session Training, Youth Group Leaders training, and a special session on “Recruiting and Nurturing Volunteers” with Liz Perraud from Logos Ministry.

EAGAN, Minn. — Presbyterian Homes and Services, Roseville, Minn., has been making the news in the twin cities area during the past couple of weeks. The news stories noted that PHS, which is in covenant with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, plans to redevelop an old Burnsville, Minn., shopping mall and will deliver meals to the homebound residents in two metro counties. This Week newspaper noted, "An outdated Burnsville shopping mall with a white-elephant reputation will be redeveloped for senior housing.The project is a partnership between the Dakota County Community Development Agency and Presbyterian Homes." The complete story is at "Burnsville Development." The Twin Cities Daily Planet noted, "After Jan. 1, Meals on Wheels friendly volunteers will no longer deliver a daily hot meal to elderly and homebound residents in Ramsey and Washington counties. Instead, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging has decided to contract with Presbyterian Homes to deliver frozen meals once a week, using paid drivers." This complete story is at "Meals on Wheels." The Presbyterian Homes and Services' mission statement notes that it exists "to enrich the lives of older adultss through services and communities that reflect the love of God."