Perú From Above

Good Bye Summer Weekend

COMMUNITY FALL FESTIVAL

Saturday, Sept 19th 4:30-7:30pm

Fall is right around the corner. Come get in the spirit at our annual Fall Festival!

We will have hay rides, bounce house, carnival games, snow cones, music, the famous cake walk and more.

Stay for dinner and enjoy delicious southern BBQ.

($8 BBQ plate | $4 hot dog plate | $1 funnel cake)

The Bridge At Q'eswachaka

Bible Institute

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Changes To Mission Crossroads Online

Greetings from Presbyterian World Mission.

Grace and peace to each of you! We continue to be grateful for the ways that God’s mission is reflected in your lives and your ministries.

In an effort to provide resources to you and your congregations, we will be making some changes in our online offerings. Later today, we will be closing our Mission Crossroads website (www.missioncrossroads.org). The valuable resources that have been available on that site can now be found at www.pcusa.org/missionresources. There, you will be able to find tools for planning mission trips, organizing your mission committee, connecting with mission co-workers, leading mission-oriented Christian education courses and staying up-to-date with the latest in Presbyterian World Mission. We hope you’ll check it out!

In addition, on September 1, 2015 we will be closing the social networking component of Mission Crossroads (www.missioncrossroads.ning.com). We are encouraged by the liveliness of conversation, sharing and resourcing that many have found on the social network so many of us are already using – Facebook. We feel that the “groups” feature of Facebook will allow mission networks, partnership communities and mission interest groups to continue to share and support one another in a more easily accessible fashion. The office of Equipping for Mission Involvement is happy to work with any groups that would like assistance in setting up a group on Facebook – please just let us know!

We also wanted to let you know of two ways that mission leaders can continue to connect with one another. First, consider signing up for Mission Magnified, a mission leader event being held November 19-21, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. Come for worship and reflection, connection and community, and the chance to gain practical tools for use in your local, regional and international mission work. November 19 and 20 will focus specifically on planning outstanding short-term mission trips. It will be a great time! Keynote leaders include Mark Adams, mission co-worker at the U.S./Mexico border and Rebecca Kirkpatrick, Associate Pastor for Adult Education and Mission at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and former mission co-worker serving in Egypt. To register, visit www.pcusa.org/mission-magnified.

Finally, World Mission is regularly offering webinars for mission leaders called “World Mission Today”. These webinars offer practical tools in mission leadership, such as leading short-term mission trips, teaching children and youth about mission, and tips for communicating your mission story. Learn more about World Mission Today webinars at www.pcusa.org/worldmission/webinars.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions, ideas, interests or concerns. We are here to resource you as your Equipping for Mission Involvement office in Presbyterian World Mission.

Blessings to you,

Rev. Christine Coy Fohr

Consultant for Mission Leaders
(502) 569-5391
christine.coyfohr@pcusa.org

To sign up for Mission Crossroads Magazine, a quarterly publication from Presbyterian World Mission. Link

To sign up for World Mission enews, a monthly newsletter with the latest information in World Mission. Link

Visit Mission Crossroads PC(USA) Link

College Scholarship Fund For Mission Partners

Several years ago, the Session of Sharon Presbyterian Church approved a Scholarship Fund for Mission Partners based on the following in order of priority:

• An international student from an economically challenged family identified through Sharon Presbyterian Church’s mission connections who is enrolled for study at an accredited college in the United States
• A member of Sharon Presbyterian Church who is enrolled in one of the PCUSA’s seminaries
• A member of Sharon Presbyterian Church who is enrolled at an accredited college or university who is preparing for a church vocation (i.e. Christian Education, Youth Ministry, Church Music, etc.)
• A member of Sharon Presbyterian Church who is enrolled in a college or university affiliated with the PCUSA

This award is also based upon scholarship, community involvement, and strength and determination of character. For Spring Semester 2015, the recipient of this award is Brenda Paredes. Many in our congregation know Brenda through her extensive volunteer work with our annual Adult Mission Trip to Perú, including interpreter since 2009, and primary group leader during the 2013 and 2014 trip. She will again be working as our interpreter during the 2015 trip.

Brenda has completed three and a half years of study at the University of Caesar Vallejo in Lima, Perú, two semesters at Winthrop University, and just completed one semester at UNC Charlotte. During her semester at UNC Charlotte, she had five challenging classes and earned an A in each one. Look for her on the Dean’s and Chancellor’s lists when published.

From her application: “My long term goals are to perfect my English skills and become stronger in French and Portuguese. I hope to pair these skills with my Christian beliefs and perhaps work in missions.”

Scholarship funds are based on availability and are paid directly into the recipient’s college account. The congregation is encouraged to support this fund by making checks payable to “Sharon Presbyterian Church” clearly earmarked “Scholarship Fund for Mission Partners”. Applications are being accepted for 2015-2016 school year.

Questions may be directed to David Beers, Chairperson of the Serving Committee.

Congratulations to Brenda Paredes for her continued dedication and hard work!

Summary Of 2015 Western NC Mission Trip

To the congregation of Sharon Presbyterian, thank you for providing the funds needed to purchase supplies used to begin renovating the Presbyterian Worship Center/Coffee House on the Western NC University campus. Following guidelines drawn up by design students of University, the work was done under the direction of Mark Hanna, member of the Bryson City Presbyterian Church, and the Western NC Presbytery Board of Directors.

In two days, eighteen of us were able to cut existing ceiling tiles to create a new modern ceiling design, demolish kitchen cabinets, counter tops, and pantry to prepare for renovations, strip vinyl and wall paneling in two bathrooms, remove and level topsoil and lay gravel for a new parking lot, build and attach a 20’ x 10’ pergola over the large front patio, build two outside wooden staircases, scrape and paint 100’ of wrought iron railing, scrape and paint several French doors, power wash the concrete porch, patio and staircase surrounding the worship center, trim trees, and remove overgrown bushes, weeds and ivy. We worshiped on Sunday with Rev. Terry Hanna at Bryson City Presbyterian Church before heading home. Through fellowship and work, we felt and hopefully showed God’s love and spirit.

A slide-show presentation will be given during a joint Sunday School class in the Chapel on a date to be announced. Participants of the trip included Phyllis Acton, Ann & Ray Cannon, Mark & Karen Earnhardt, John Harvey, Carol Howie, Lisa Moore, J.D. Pearce, Elizabeth & Todd Pickens, Don & Reese Presson, Tom Skinner, Cary & Mike Young and Sonya & David Stanford.

Again, thanks to the congregation for your support!!

Related:  The Gate: Presbyterian Campus Ministry at WCU

Mission Perú 2015

Hola everyone!

In a few short weeks our mission team we will be together at Casa Kolping Guest House in Lima, ready to begin the 2015 Peru Mission Trip!

PCUSA Missionaries (Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmonson) plan to accompany us this year! They will return to Lima on August 7th to meet another mission team arriving in Lima late that evening. They are currently working on our in-country accommodations and ground transportation.

All international travel reservations have been booked and ticketed. From Charlotte, we will travel to Orlando on Delta Airlines and take LAN's new non-stop flight from Orlando to Lima. Our itinerary will be reversed for the trip home. We will be required to claim and recheck our baggage in Orlando and in doing so, will incur checked baggage charges. Even so, the savings in airfare costs are significant.

This year, we will provide a portion of the funds for each church in The Presbytery (and two churches in The Presbytery of Nehemias) to build a new bathroom or bathrooms. We will also be providing a portion of the funds for The Presbytery to purchase a new curriculum and supplies for their youth Sunday School program. While in Huanta, we will travel to four (4) churches to finish work on the bathroom(s) and do some light construction work (e.g. repair wooden benches, light painting or other small projects).

The Bible Institute will also be in session while we are in Huanta.

We will be taking donations of clothing, shoes, craft items, reading glasses and toys again this year.

This year's trip again promises to be one of service and witness to Jesus Christ. I always look forward to experiencing the ways that God reveals Himself during these trips. It is both an honor and a blessing to walk beside our humble brothers and sisters and this year promises to provide another opportunity to do so.

Thanks and blessings to each of you as we prepare for our time together.

Randy

Are You Called To Mission?

Mark 16:

Jesus Has Risen

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Room In The Inn

Dear Teams:

Every year, the RITI church coordinators receive a summary report from the Room In The Innkeeper, Paul Hanneman, regarding the RITI season.

There were 17,191 bed nights city wide this year, Sharon Presbyterian Church accounted for 174 of these. There were 127 children this year, up from last year; Sharon had 17 children, the highest number we have ever hosted.

And there are more statistics...  but, more important, Paul goes on to say that "every spiritual tradition regards hospitality and charity as virtues to be practiced by the faithful. There are ways to offer - not a hand out, but simply a hand... of welcome, compassion, and respect." This is exactly what each of you did this past winter. Thank you for being a part of Room In The Inn at Sharon. Our guests appreciated, each in there own way, what you all made possible. 

As you went about the business of making RITI happen, I sincerely hope that you felt God tugging on your heart-strings - with a smile.

Again, many thanks.

David Beers
Sharon Presbyterian Church

Together In Mission

Middle School
The Middle School Mission Trip takes place again this year in Sapphire, North Carolina at the site of Camp Buc, a Presbyterian Camp owned by the Foothills Presbytery of South Carolina.  During their week at Camp Buc, the Sharon Presbyterian Church Middle School team will get the opportunity to serve by working with kids younger than themselves and being a witness to the love and caring of Jesus Christ.  The group will also be working on service projects to learn new skills and improve the facilities of the Camp.  Everyone will get to participate in group building trials, bible studies, worship services, and adventure activities to help them grow in their life and faith.

High School
Every year, our High School Youth Mission team travels the country to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and to be hard working and loving ambassadors of Charlotte and Sharon Presbyterian Church.  Last year the high school team traveled to the mountains of Tennessee to do remodeling and maintenance for a family in need.  This year our group will be taking their hard work all the way to Harmons, Jamaica.  There, they will work with locals with healthcare, education, and continuing construction in the community.  All of this will take place while the youth interact with locals and grow closer to the true meaning of global missions.

College
For a second year, our College Mission Team will travel to Johns Island, South Carolina to work with the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity.  During their week in Charleston, our college team will have the opportunity to help build houses for those in need.  The group will work side by side with future habitat homeowners as they contribute "sweat equity" into their very own homes.  In the time that the mission team is not busy, exploring Charleston will be available.  We pray that the week will result in each participant growing closer to each other and their faith.

For more information or questions about the Middle school, High school or College Mission trips, please contact Martin Pruitt at martin@sharonpcusa.org.

Adult
The 2015 Sharon Presbyterian Church Adult Mission Trip to Huanta, Perú is set for July, 31 through August 10.  The trip promises to again be one of service and witness to Jesus Christ.  For the experience, past trip participants have found themselves closer to God, each other and their Peruivian brothers and sisters.  This trip is open to adults and a limited number of youth participants.  For more information, contact Randy Ross at randy.ross@wellsfargo.com.

Western North Carolina
The Western North Carolina Mission Trip is scheduled for April 30 through May 3.  In conjunction with Bryson City Presbyterian Church and the Collegiate Ministry for the Presbyterian denomination, our group will be helping renovate a Presbyterian Worship/Christian Outreach Center on the Western North Carolina University campus.  We will be meeting in March to finalize the details.  For more information, contact Phyllis Acton at (704) 553-2464.

At Home
Serving those who are homeless in Charlotte has been a focus of Sharon Church since the 1980's.

• Currently we prepare and serve the evening meal at the Statesville Avenue campus of the Men's Shelter of Charlotte the first Tuesday of every month.
• We are responsible for the evening meal the last Saturday of every month at the Salvation Army Center of Hope for women and the Tryon Street campus of the Men's Shelter.  These programs provide in excess of 4000 meals per year due to the involvement of over 300 members and friends of Sharon.
• Every Friday night, December through March, Sharon Church hosts up to twelve homeless neighbors as part of the Urban Ministry Center emergency shelter program, Room In The Inn.
• Sharon Church joins the Church World Service CROP Walk, each October.  Sharon Presbyterian Youth participates in the Souper Bowl every February.  Both help to alleviate hunger in the Charlotte area.

While many already take part, more volunteers are always needed to make these efforts happen,  I you would like to get involved, please call or email the church office for contract information.

Argentina Oil Company Leaves Perú Town After Protests

Results Of Oil Contamination Reported In Amazon Region

Resource:  BBC

Sent to us from Tom Skinner

An Argentine oil company says it will withdraw from an area of the Peruvian Amazon where it has been prospecting for gas deposits.

The company, Pluspetrol, was asked to leave by the government after the death of a demonstrator in Junin province, during four days of violent protests.

The demonstrators, mostly indigenous people, accused the company of contaminating local rivers and soil. Pluspetrol denied causing any environmental damage.

It said it had met all legal requirements for exploratory work, including getting consent from more than 2,000 farmers in the area. The company said it would remove its remaining equipment from the area, known as Block 108, near the municipality of Pichanaki in the coming days. A spokesman denied the company was being forced to leave, saying it was going because it had finished its work in the area. He said the company had met all legal, environmental and social requirements for exploratory work in the block, including securing consent from farmers and communities.

Pluspetrol started exploratory activities in Block 108 last year with the approval of the government.
Energy and Mines Minister Eleodoro Mayorga said he believed the company had complied with its contract but was asking it to leave the block so that the government could evaluate its activities.

On Tuesday, a crowd of protestors stormed a military base being used by Pluspetrol as a storage area. They were driven back by police firing tear gas but a 25 year-old man was killed and 20 injured, police say.

Reuters news agency says the interior ministry is investigating the illegal use of firearms by police during the demonstrations.

Pluspetrol is also struggling to end conflicts in the northern Amazon, where indigenous protestors have taken control of oil wells and stopped output in the country's biggest oil block. Protests and demonstrations have continued for a decade in Peru in many areas of the country where foreign oil companies are prospecting and mining for oil and minerals.

Related story

Presbytery Leadership Conference Help Requested

Sharon Presbyterian is hosting this year's leadership conference on our campus on February, 28th. We need volunteers to help with set-up, lunch, and clean-up. 

Each shift has been set up into two hour intervals to minimize the commitment on the part of our volunteers.  In order to do this we do need a lot of participation. 

If you can spare any amount of time the weekend of the 27th and 28th it would be so, so appreciated.

Here is the link to sign up and thank you so much for your service!

Sincerely,

Dana Shawver

Projects Are Planned For The Western North Carolina Mission Trip

The Western North Carolina Mission Trip is scheduled for April 30 through May 3 in conjunction with Mark Hanna of the Bryson City Presbyterian Church and the Collegiate Ministry for the Presbyterian denomination.

Our mission group will be helping to renovate a Presbyterian Worship / Christian Outreach Center on the Western North Carolina University campus.  We will be asked to paint, pressure wash, renovate, etc., all tasks most anyone can do.

We will have a meeting on March 23, at 7:00 PM in the Heritage Room at Sharon Presbyterian Church to finalize the details. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Phyllis Acton at 704-553-2464.

Prayers Needed For Peruvian Families

It's sunny and hot in Lima. That means it's cold and wet in the Andes and jungle. The rains have come with a vengeance in the highlands. The new road from Cusco to Quillabamba is in the river and the San Martin area (Moyobamba region) is flooded.

Prayers are needed for many partners and their extension ministries in these areas: http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-san-martin-in-state-of-emergency-due-to-flooding-105135

Thanks for sharing this!
Sara

Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Coordinadores de Alianzas y Delegaciones con las Iglesias Reformadas de Peru'
Celulares: Rusty-975189205 Sara-998845847
http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/armstrong-sara-and-russell-edmondson/

Missions Sunday

Hi Folks,

February 15th will be our Missions Sunday and Martin and I have been working on a different kind of worship service that will both provide opportunities to share how God is working through SPC in various areas of the world and that will work through scripture and music to show why we serve in mission fields near and far. The Chancel and Children’s Choirs are already hard at work preparing some creative and inspiring music for that day.

To highlight the mission trips and specific mission service of the congregation, we are asking you to find some folks in those ministries/trip groups to read scripture and speak passionately but briefly (1 ½ minutes each) about that particular mission at each worship service as directed below. Please let me know as soon as possible as we are finalizing the bulletin now.

We think that this will be a meaningful way to bring attention to why we provide these trips and opportunities for service as well as stir interest in volunteering or supporting these ministries. Thanks for your help!

Sharon Vanpelt

Director of Christian Education

Sharon Presbyterian Church

5201 Sharon Rd., Charlotte, NC 28210

vanpelt@sharonpcusa.org

2015 Perú Mission Meetings Update

The 2015 Sharon Presbyterian Church Adult Mission Trip to Huanta, Perú promises to be one of witness and service to Jesus Christ. Do you feel God’s call to participate in this year’s trip?

There will be several informational meetings available for you to choose from.  All will be held at Sharon Presbyterian Church (5201 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC):

• Sunday, February 8th at 11:30 AM (Heritage Room of the Sanctuary)
• Sunday, February 8th at 5:00 PM (Heritage Room of the Sanctuary)
• Sunday, February 22nd at 11:30 AM (Parlor of the Charles Little Building)

The 2015 trip is open to adults and a limited number of youth participants. Youth participants must be at least a rising high school junior in 2015 and accompanied on the trip by a parent or legal guardian.

The trip is scheduled to take place from Friday, July 31st through Monday, August 10th.

Trip information/application forms will be distributed at each meeting. Forms will also be available in the Adult Mission Trip mailbox (located on the top row of mailboxes in the hallway outside the Sharon Church office) beginning Sunday, February 8th, or by contacting Randy Ross (704-552-5573 or mrandallross@aol.com).

Trip applications, deposits and passport copies are due Sunday, March 15th. Please contact Randy if you are unable to attend any one of the meetings but are still interested in participating or learning more about the trip.

Huanta Kids For Christ

Sharon Presbyterian Church Joins with the Presbytery of Huanta Perú to Sponsor “Huanta Kids for Christ”

At the end of the 2014 Perú Mission Trip, Luz Davila, the Director of Children’s Education for the Presbytery of Huanta, invited Sharon Church to join with the Presbytery to help sponsor “Huanta Kids for Christ,” a Christmas celebration for approximately 200 children in the five Presbytery churches in and around Huanta.

At each church, the children were treated to a puppet show along with a snack including chocolates and other sweets. Each child received a small toy, a first for many.

Luz recently wrote “We are very thankful to God for His great love for us. We were very happy to share God’s love with His children this Christmas. Thank you for all you did to make this possible and to bring joy to the kids of Huanta.”

Western North Carolina Mission Trip Scheduled For This Spring

The 2015 Western North Carolina mission trip to Bryson City, North Carolina will be April 30 through May 3.

The work will be organized by the Bryson City Presbyterian Church. Our mission will be to assist low income, elderly, and disabled people with home repairs and lawn services.

For more information, please contact Phyllis Acton at (704) 553-2464.