Rebuilding continues in cities and towns in eastern Iowa after the flooding two years ago. PDA will participate with Church World Services in hosting a six-week ecumenical work project in Cedar Rapids, working with local organizations to help at least 10 families return home. Project dates are weekly from April 11 through May 22.

Join the effort! Register your team by contacting PDA Call Center at 866.732.6121 or register your interest online. Questions? Contact Sarah Dyck.

Watauga Avenue Presbyterian invites everyone to a reception for their March Art  display in Ellis Gallery this Sunday, March 14.  John Edwards will be presenting his exhibit of color photographs featuring “Fresh Flowers” from 4-6 p.m.  Also on hand at 5 p.m. will be Ed Snodderly, singer/song writer, to perform some of his original works. At 6 p.m. enjoy the Annual Chili Cookoff in the recreation center.

Come, enjoy an evening of art, music, food and fellowship! Ellis Gallery is located on the lower level of the church at 610 East Watauga Avenue in Johnson City.  You may enter from the driveway between the church and the Senior Citizen’s Center. If you miss the reception, contact the church about other hours to view the exhibit.

FYI: Beginning April 1, the mailing address for the Synod of Living Waters and the Living Waters for the World will be 5016 Spedale Court #399, Spring Hill, TN  37174.

Phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

For clergy and lay persons alike, and for all ages! Seminars and educational information will be posted here and updated as events come in.

Montreat Conferences:   800-572-2257 or www.montreat.org; Montreat Hub; Quarterly Updates; Montreat Wilderness School

• NEW in 2010: Faithful Politics Conference, “If God Doesn’t Quit When Things Get Political, Why Do We?”

• Elderhostels:  March 21-26; April 18-23; April 25-30; May 16-21; Aug. 22-27; Sept. 12-17; Sept. 19-24; Oct. 3-8; Oct. 31-Nov. 5; Dec. 5-10; Dec. 12-17
• Apr. 11-16, Solo to Multi-Staff Pastor
• Apr. 12-15, Associate Pastors Conference, “The Gift That Is Within You”
• Apr. 15-18, Spring Spiritual Formation Retreat
• Apr. 18-23, Arts & Sabbath, pottery or photography
• Apr. 19-21, Health Congregations Facilitator Training
• May 3-8, Annual Recreation Workshop
• May 31-June 4, Proclaiming the Text
• May 31-June 4, Christian Education
• June 6-Aug. 8, Summer Worship Series
• June 6-12, Youth I, for high school students and their group leaders
• June 13-19, Youth II, high school/leaders
• June 20-26, Worship & Music I & June 27-July 3, Worship & Music II -  “Proclaiming the Mystery of Faith: Daily Living the Sacramental Life”
• July 3-6, Christian Life Conference, “Great Is God’s Faithfulness” – brochure and registration form
• July 6-10, Women’s Connection
• July 11-17, Youth III, high school/leaders
• July 18-24, Youth IV, high school/leaders
• July 19-23, Columbia Theological Seminary Lecture Series
• July 21-25, Middle School @ Presbyterian College
• July 25-31, Youth V, high school/leaders
• August 1-7, Youth VI, high school/leaders
• Aug. 8-11, Faithful Politics
• Aug. 8-13, Intergenerational Exploritas Program (Elderhostel) for grandparents and their grandchildren
• Aug. 11-14, Church Unbound
• Aug. 23-25, Board of Pensions Seminar, ‘Growing into Tomorrow … Today’
• Aug. 26, Board of Pensions Seminar, ‘Getting in Shape Fiscally’
• Aug. 29-Sept. 3, Interim Pastors
• Sept. 20-22, Health Congregations Facilitator Training
• Oct. 3-7, Arts & Sabbath
• Oct. 4-7, Con. Ed. for Commissioned Lay Pastors
• Oct. 8, A Day With John Bell
• Oct. 11-15, Life-Long Living, for older adults
• Oct. 18-20, Wee Kirk
• Oct. 21-24, Fall Spiritual Formation Retreat
• Oct. 22-24, Fall Evelyn Green Retreat

Columbia Seminary: 404-687-4577 or www.ctsnet.edu

• April 12-13 – “One Church, One Hope, One Lord” Inauguration of 9th Seminary President, Stephen A. Hayner; time of celebration, reunions, conversations on future of church, Columbia’s mission in the 21st century
• May 25-28 – “Evangelism for the Rest of Us” – Thompson Scholars event features small-group discussions, visits to ministry settings; limited to 15 selected after submitting application due by April 1; online

Louisville Seminary: 800.264.1839 ext. 352, Lisa Kolb

• April 25-28 – “The Global Church, Implications for Mission and Ministry” ; registration now open for a festival of theology & reunion; features Allan Boesak, Kathryn L. Johnson, Clifton Kirkpatrick, Bruce Reyes-Chow and F. Morgan Roberts; in addition Reunion events will allow alums and friends to reunite with friends, faculty, members of Seminary community.

Alban Institute Seminars: www.alban.org/learningdetail or David Pratt at dpratt@alban.org for seminars; weekly@alban.org for The Alban Weekly; information on live web info

• April 13 - New Ways to Fund Your Church’s Ministries; one-day workshop, Wynnewood, PA

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary: DMin Program, djones@austinseminary.edu / 512.404.4861

Pittsburgh Seminary: or 800-451-4194

• Guiding a Congregation Through Change & Transition – Part 2, April 19-23, 2010 – Interim Ministry Basic Ed.  with Carolyn Jones, Robert C. Anderson; Deadline April 9
• June 6-9 – “Insights into the Spiritual Journey” Leadership Conference, register

Princeton Seminary:

San Francisco Seminary:  415.451.2831

Union Seminary:  or 800.229.2990

• April 12-15, Executive Leadership Assessment Seminar
• April 19-21, Social Teachings in Black Sacred Rhetoric
• April 26-28, Sharing the Gospel in a Technological Age
• May 3-5, The Sprunt Lectures
• May 17-19, Exploring the Sacraments/Embodying Christian Faith
• July 21-30, Seminar II for Certification Program Church Business Administration

Emmanuel Institutes: contact John Wasem, 722-1086; Erin Layton, 722-1085

Others:

• April 5-12 -  Unity & Reformed Heritage Seminar; Geneva, Switzerland, sponsored by PCUSA; (Tuition: $1300 double, single add $100; tuition does not include airfare) – educational trip to broaden understanding of theological, social & economical global issues
• April 7-10 – “Embracing Change: Communicating Faith in Today’s World”; Chicago; early-bird deadline extended to March 1;  Religion Communication Congress
• April 14-16, North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy, Indianapolis
• April 16-18, “These Last Days: a Christian View of History” Greenville SC, Second Presbyterian; other locations from March 5-May 2; CustomerService for more info.
• April 21-23, “Purposeful & Missional Presbyterians Conference, Satellite Beach, FL at Trinity Presbyterian Church; a leadership conference
• April 28-29, 2010,  Presbyterian Writers Conference, Nashville featuring Cecil Murphey
• July 1-4, 2010,  PACHEM Collegiate Ministry Summit, Macalester College before General Assembly
• July 22-24, ” Contrast & Companionship: the Way of the Church with the World,” Chicago; early registration savings before April 30; Missional or call 773.752.1596
• August 9-13 – New Church Development Conference; focus on pastors, spouses, leadership teams; St. Pete Beach at Don Cesar beach resort; housing available; contact Sherry Britton; the Racial Ethnic preconference begins on August 9
• August 25-28, “Re-Membering Peace: Still the Believers’ Calling” Ghost Ramcj. Abiquiu, NM; 2010 Peacemaking Seminar designed for young adults and adults
• October 18-22, 2010, Congregational Transformation Conference – Dallas, TX; pastors, their leadership teams; contact Sherry Britton

Effective June 1, Barry M. Buxton will become the fifteenth president of Lees-McRae   College in Banner Elk, NC.  Dr. Buxton currently serves as Vice President of Special Projects at the Savannah College of Art and Design where he is responsible for major gift solicitation, leadership development and foundation relations.

“The opportunity to serve as Lees-McRae’s president is a calling I could not ignore. It’s where God wants me to be. It’s where we’re intended to serve next and we’re thrilled to be returning to our roots in Appalachia. This is a wonderful chance to give back to the place and the people we love,” said Dr. Buxton.

Click here for more information about Barry Buxton.

The Gulf Coast is still rebuilding. Volunteer Villages at five locations, three in Louisiana and two in Texas, are helping with the rebuilding and spreading blessings to thousands as well as to the many volunteers from our nationwide churches.

Two managers at each site – one to handle administration and food ordering; the other to support volunteers working on homes — are needed. Time period is flexible but usually runs 6-8 weeks. Positions are being applied for the summer/fall, 2010 rebuilding period.

Applications may be downloaded at the PDA website for Volunteer Villages or you may call Richard Maag, Volunteer Village Coordinator,  directly with questions/applications at 502.807.5487  (fax: 504.733.3506).

You are invited to the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s Heaven on Earth Agrarian Road Trip to the U. S. Social Forum from June 13-26.

Join this delegation of college students, farmers, musicians, bloggers and other adventurous souls as they start in Louisville, KY and make stops in six other states along the way to Detroit, MI to visit with congregations and community groups participating in the grassroots sustainable and just food revolution that is sprouting up everywhere.

The Social Forum will be from June 22-26 in downtown Detroit.

Click here for links to both events on the PCUSA website.

The Museums of Tusculum College, located on the College campus, have an opportunity of fellowship and learning for your congregation! Plan a visit to the Doak House Museum which will include:

• Presentation on the history of Tusculum College and its founders Rev. Samuel Doak and his son, Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak. Rev. Doak was the first minister west of the mountains. Learn the role of the Presbyterian Church and the Civic Virtues in the development of the country and region
• Participate in an engaging activity and return home with your own piece of ‘hands-on history’
• Tour the home of Rev. Doak built ca. 1830 (optional visit to the President Andrew Johnson Museum & Library on campus)
• Visit gift shop for one-of-a-kind items; toys and games of the 19th century
• Round out your trip with a meal at Ryan’s Family Restaurant offering your group a private party room and up to 3 free meals depending on the size of the group. College makes the arrangements, you enjoy the meal. (Ryan’s meal is optional and will not affect price of your tour)

Tour and Program fee is only $4 per person! (Minister or group leader is free.)

Contact Leah Walker, Events and Site Manager at the Doak House Museum, or call 423.636.7348 for a spring outing offering learning, fun and fellowship!

Presbyterian VOICE, the Synod’s newspaper free to all Presbyterian households, has a new website that is being well received. Accompanying the website is a new bi-monthly e-newsletter.

Check out the new look at Presbyterian VOICE. You may subscribe individually or your church may wish to send their email list to Janet Tuck, the Voice editor. The Presbyterian Voice has been a free ministry of the Synod of Living Waters for many years and with this new service, you will be able to get up to date news faster and stay in even closer communications. Readers may also offer suggestions and feedback through the new website.

Sign up now for the CLP Retreat at Holston Camp for March 12-13.  The topic will be “Ordering Worship (Book of Worship).” Cost: $65 (includes one night lodging, 2 meals) per person. If you are coming only for Saturday, the cost is $30.

Check in after 7 p.m. at Guenther Lodge on Friday night.  Supper is “on your own” and the rest of the evening will be an informal chance to catch up with fellowship, stories and questions. Breakfast served at 8 a.m. in the dining hall and the class will start Saturday at 9 a.m. Lunch will be from 12-1 with the class concluding by no later than 4 p.m.

Register here