In recognition of the call, commitment, service, and sacrifice of the PCUSA mission co-workers whose positions have been ended, the New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) together with conveners of some Presbyterian Partnership and Mission Networks invite you to attend a service of thanksgiving at NWMC (Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA) Monday, July 21^st at 7 pm.

The decision of PCUSA leadership to stop global mission sending brought mission co-workers service to an abrupt end.  This evening meeting at NWMC is dedicated to expressing appreciation to them and praise to God for their faithfulness.  All mission co-workers and their immediate families have been invited to attend the Conference free of charge.

Although the PCUSA has ended mission sending, God is not done calling and sending individuals throughout the world.  On Monday and Tuesday (July 21^st 22^nd) from 1:00-4:30 pm there will be sessions dedicated to participating in God’s global mission.  Time will be devoted to prayer; listening to mission co-workers; sharing feelings and perspectives; and offering ideas and strategies.  These discussions are intended to envision what next steps God may want us to take. 

Representatives of mission networks, presbyteries and synods, congregations, and all who are committed to the mission of God are urged to attend.  https://www.nwmcmission.org/

Contact: Donna Cammarata 814-873-4860 donna.camm@gmail.com

Note: Rev. Joshua Heikkila will be attending

 

The theme for this year’s Presbyterian Women Regional Gathering is “Treasured.” “The Lord has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 14:2)

What could be more precious than diamonds? YOU!

We are the precious, treasured possession of our heavenly Father, who sought us and claimed us as His own in Christ! From coal to diamonds, we are continuously being transformed in Christ, reflecting His glory and light to a dark world.

Join us for a one of our bedazzling Women’s Retreat Gathering. We will walk in the light of God’s Word together, enjoy fabulous food and lift our voices in praise, all as we share encouragement, fellowship, and fun in Christ, the light of the world!

Northwest Region – Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church, 258 Slippery Rock Drive, Ellwood City, PA 16117
$35 per person includes breakfast and lunch
Link to flyer and registration form: Northwest Region Flyer

The Presbytery of Lake Erie expresses gratitude for the grant received in 2024 through the Small Church Leadership Development Funds from the Synod of the Trinity. The Mission and Social Witness and Administrative Committee of the presbytery oversees the distribution of these funds through various grants.

Supporting the youth in the Presbytery of Lake Erie is our top priority. Our Spiritual Formation Committee has been working diligently with several congregations to provide camping experiences for our youth. They often seek scholarships for campers and funding for various events. Throughout 2024, we have sponsored several additional youth events, and we hope to achieve continued success in these initiatives. Engaging our youth in their faith contributes to the growth of our congregations.

The After School Program and Godly Play program at Kane Presbyterian Church have collaborated to establish the Kane After School: Local Youth Spiritual Outreach. The presbytery has approved a grant to support this program for another year, aiming to strengthen the connection between local youth, their faith and their community.

The presbytery has been conducting leadership workshops for commissioned pastors and those in preaching leadership. As membership declines and pastors retire, many churches are left without full-time Ministers of the Word and Sacrament. Offering these programs is essential for strengthening leadership in our smaller congregations, helping them achieve continued success.

Thank you to the Synod of the Trinity for supporting our ministry with smaller congregations in Lake Erie Presbytery in 2024.

The above selection was posted on the Synod of the Trinity website on April 25, 2025.

Link to the complete article – Synod SCLD Funds assist smaller congregations in region

All are welcome to a presentation from GenOn Ministries on how to do church life that ALL ages can be engaged in, followed by a workshop on developing inter-generational events. Tuesday, May 20th at 4:00 pm before the Presbytery Meetings at Wayside Presbyterian Church.

GenOn Ministries will make a presentation on how to do church life that ALL ages can be engaged by, followed by a workshop on developing inter-generational events. This presentation will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at 4:00 p.m. at Wayside Presbyterian Church prior to the Presbytery meeting. Anyone involved in your church’s life and mission including clergy, elders, deacons and volunteers, are encouraged to attend.

Most churches are multi-generational. With intentionality, a church can become intergenerational, transforming to a new way of being the church—growing disciples, and impacting the world for Jesus Christ in the way, we believe, God intended. This transformation brings about a sense of belonging for all, to be in relationship as equal parts of the body of Christ—the intergenerational church.

Please RSVP to the Presbytery office by May 15.

“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason, I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1: 15-16

Presbytery Friends, Every morning I wake up grateful for the love of Christ being expressed through faithful disciples in our Lake Erie Presbytery. Every day my prayers are full of joy for your commitment and service. In my role as General Presbyter, I am privileged to see a broad view of church life in this presbytery. I see ordinary acts of faith expressed consistently year after year. I also see extraordinary expressions of loving service. Both often go largely unnoticed as dedicated Christians quietly serve in Christ’s name without fanfare or applause. With this in mind,, I will highlight a mission or ministry of one of our churches that valiantly reflects the love of Christ. I hope that you will join me in giving thanks for these ministries.

This time I applaud the Lake Erie Presbytery’s Administrative Assistant, Melinda Wingenbach, and Financial Administrator, Nicholas Barber. Typically, I don’t pay much attention to the Hallmark- generated-holidays in the calendar. There are a lot of them, and I don’t have to celebrate “National Marine Mammal Day” to appreciate whales and other sea creatures. However, April 24th, was National Administrative Assistants Day, and I couldn’t let that day pass without giving a shout out to Melinda and Nick. They excel at what they do and make a difference in my life and work every day. They have tangible skills that I do not possess, and they sharpen my skills for the greater good. Equally important is their dependability and consistency. You and I can count on them and they serve us well. So I celebrate Melinda and Nick and give thanks to God for putting us together in this time and place in the life of the Presbytery of Lake Erie.

Rev. Anita Berdhardt – General Presbyter / Presbytery of Lake Erie

Rev. Tony Larson, the Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will be joining our Presbytery for our stated meeting on May 20, 2025. He will be available for a luncheon at IHOP at 11 a.m. Following the luncheon, he will preach at the Presbytery Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Rev. Larson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in Public Policy Analysis and Religious Studies. He felt a call to ministry while serving as director of youth ministries at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and earned his Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary.

He has held leadership roles, including co-leader of the Synod Youth Council and planning team member for the Montreat Youth Conference. Rev. Larson’s first pastorate was at Springs Community Presbyterian Church in East Hampton, NY. He is currently the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Surfside, SC, and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Click Here for more.

We welcome Josh to the Presbytery and invite you to connect with him while he is here. Josh was one of the vast majority of PCUSA Mission Co-workers whose positions were eliminated at the end of March. He served in Ghana for 16 years and also as the West Africa Regional Liaison. Josh was instrumental in helping Lake Erie Presbytery initiate and establish our Partnership with the Upper Northern Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. It has been with Josh’s continued support, encouragement and guidance that our Ghana Partnership has thrived for over 12 years.

We hope you will be able to meet with Josh in some informal gatherings to share our appreciation, to hear from him, and to have conversations about what might be next for him and possibilities for continuing our Presbytery’s relationship with him in mission and ministry.

Please contact Donna Cammarata at 814-873-4860 or donna.camm@gmail.com if you would like to have Josh visit your area or if you would like to join in a meal on any of these dates (places TBD):
May 1 – Lunch or Dinner
May 2 – Lunch or Dinner
May 3 – Brunch
Josh will be preaching at Wayside Presbyterian Church on May 4th.

 

God of all Joy,

Fill our souls to overflowing with the fullness of your grace.

In this season, remind us of your triumph over the tragedy of the cross, 

and your victory for us over the powers of sin and death, so that we

may reflect your glory as disciples of

Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen

 

Living God, on the first day of the week
you brought to birth a new creation
through the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Fill us with the hope and joy of new beginnings,
so that we may share the good news
of your liberating, life-giving power
with all the world;
through Christ our Savior, who is alive
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and always.
Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:12 / Years ABC

 

Living God, through Jesus Christ
you emptied the power of death
and gave us the gift of life in fullness.
Now dry our tears and send us out
to tell the good news of the gospel:
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
John 20:1-18 / Years ABC

Source: Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (USA) 1