HOUSTON — This summer, nine youth groups from the Presbytery of New Covenant will gather in Austin, Texas, for a week of mission with hungry, homeless and impoverished people.

Hope Presbyterian Church will host three groups June 9-15. University Presbyterian Church will host the other six groups July 7-13. In all, about 70 youth and adults will participate.

“The fact that Presbytery coordinates and supports youth mission is a great avenue to build relationships between churches and their youth as well as to give them experiences in helping others that they might not have otherwise,” said Marilee Norred, of First Presbyterian Church of Dickinson, Texas.

MIDLAND, Texas — At its April 20 spring gathering, the Presbyterian Women of Tres Rios Presbytery heard from two recipients of PW’s Justice and Peace Offering.

Marion Medical Missions partners with African communities at the grassroots level to provide shallow wells for clean water. Since 1991, Marion Medical Missions has built 18,954 shallow wells, providing water to hundreds of thousands of people. People from the village dig the well, make the brick and provide the sand and stone. MMM supplies only what the villages cannot. 

Albergue Casa Hogar. Long supported by Presbyterian churches in this area, Casa Hogar is an orphanage in Ojinaga, Mexico, that provides a home for 35 children ranging in age from 3-17 years. 

PW also led worship, installed officers and held a silent auction to benefit the offering. 

EAGAN, Minn. — The 2013 Gathering of the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies is June 12-15 at the Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. It follows the theme of Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season under heaven.” Click here for information and registration forms.

WILMAR, Minn. — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has provided $7,500 to the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys to combat the results of a major ice storm that struck Nobles County and surrounding area in southwestern Minnesota April 10-11.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton declared a state of emergency in the area and that declaration was followed by a national disaster declaration.

In requesting the funds from PDA, the presbytery noted, “While city and county emergency management services are working to develop plans for tree, branch and debris removal, many of the elderly and otherwise poor will likely face expenses they can little afford.” 

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Camp Wyoming, a ministry of the Presbytery of East Iowa, shared a new vision and program at the presbytery’s stated meeting May 4.

The new vision statement: “Our Christ-based camp and retreat center offers transformative experiences to equip people of all ages for a journey of faith through sacred space, intentional hospitality and vibrant programs that build relationships with God, each other and our environment.”

The new vision has five components: financial responsibility, relational ministry, intentional hospitality, equipping leaders and sacred space.

In addition to the vision, Camp Wyoming associate director A. J. Plummer discussed a new ministry offering called Next Step Consulting, which will provide consulting to churches of all denominations interested in elevating the role children and youth play in the church.

Fees depend on which services are needed. To learn more about Next Step Consulting, phone Cullum at 563-488-3893, email campwyo@netins.net, or visit www.campwyoming.net. 

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Synod of the Southwest is hosting an event celebrating the spirit of stewardship August 22-24 in Phoenix. 

Nurturing Generous Hearts is an opportunity for pastors, staff, stewardship committees and lay leaders to learn from some of the outstanding experts in the field and to participate in a variety of workshops, including a panel discussion regarding stewardship among Native American and Hispanic cultures.

Click here for more information and to register.