Sunday, November 25, 2018

Join the conspiracy; take the challenge ... Preview

Advent Conspiracy was founded on the radical idea that we can celebrate Christmas humbly, beautifully, and generously. Advent is the story of a wondrous moment when God entered our world to make things right. It is the greatest story ever told and it changes everything — including the way we celebrate Christmas.

Be part of a different story this Christmas, one that celebrates our King and brings hope to a watching world ...

• Worship Fully
• Spend Less
• Give More
• Love All

... and join the groundswell of Christ-followers who are choosing to make Christmas what it should be—a joyous celebration of Jesus’ birth that enriches our hearts and the world around us.



Take the Challenge: Preview

Starting tomorrow we'll kick off the Gratitude Challenge. Join us every day as we reflect on scripture and the ways God has blessed us.
#adventconspiracy #acgratitude




Learn more about Advent Conspiracy ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Photo by Gregg Brekke
Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 25, 2018

NATIVE AMERICAN DAY - “Let us worship our Creator with minds open to the wisdom of all God’s people, remembering that once listening and respect once had no place in our society.” These were the opening words to the Call to Worship led by Elona Street-Stewart, executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, as staff and guests celebrated Native American Day on Sept. 12 at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Center in Louisville ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

In the News ... "Abilene Church News"


• Special programs and services around the Big Country

Staff Report
q Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - From the Reporter-News, news of services, special events and programs from Abilene-area houses of faith ...

read the rest of this ARN report ...

In the News ... "Lubbock Faith Briefs"

Courtesy Photo
• What’s going on in area churches

By Erica Pauda, Reporter
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - From the Avalanche-Journal, news of special events and programs at houses of faith in Lubbock and across the South Plains ...

 • read the rest of this LAJ report ...

 • more from the LAJ's "South Plains Faith Calendar" ...

In the News ... "San Angelo Faith Briefs"


• Today, and in the days ahead

Matthew McDaniel,, Reporter
San Angelo Standard Times


SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - From the Standard-Times, news of special events and programs from Concho Valley houses of faith ...

read the rest of this SAST report

In the News ... "Odessa Church News"


• Today and in the days ahead, in Odessa-area houses of worship

Staff Report
Odessa American


ODESSA, TEXAS - Coming events include worship services, classes, Bible studies, community outreach, fundraisers, mission opportunities and more ...

read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Photo by Michael Whitman
Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 24, 2018

CHIP ANDRUS, WORSHIP LEADER - In just 51 years, the Rev. Dr. Charles “Chip” Andrus lived a truly remarkable life. He died the weekend of Sept. 8, after a lengthy battle with cancer ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, November 23, 2018

In the News ... "Empty Stocking Fund Needs your help"


• Funds go for a good holiday meal and small gifts under the tree

By Casey Dennis, Reporter
The Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The 24th year of the Empty Stocking Fund is underway and the goal is $100,000 and won’t be met without your help. Funds stay in Ector County and go to help needy families like that of Mary, not her real name.

Mary has five children and she is ill and one of the children has cancer ...

read the rest of this OA report ...

In the News ... "Welcoming the community: Salvation Army, Curb Side open doors for Thanksgiving feasts"

OA Photo
• Church doesn’t only happen inside a church.

By Ruth Campbell, Reporter
Odessa American


ODESSA, TEXAS - Salvation Army Lts. Clara and Juan Gomez spent their first Thanksgiving in Odessa feeding the community Thursday with the traditional meal and plenty of sweets to round it out ...

read the rest of this OA report ...

Enjoy a photo album ...

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "A Dream Within Reach"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.



FWM Photo
Friday Story: "A Dream Within Reach"

For many children around the world, the ability to go to school is a dream. Sometimes, their families cannot afford to send them. Sometimes, the nearest school is too great a distance away. Sometimes, a lack of mobility makes it difficult to even get to school.

Sometimes, it’s all of these factors combined ...

read the rest of this story ...

In the News ... "FBC names new worship pastor"

OA Photo
• Johnson looks to build choir at downtown church

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
Odessa American


ODESSA, TEXAS - Choirs are considered passé by an increasing number of churches and the Rev. Darrell Andrew “Andy” Johnson Jr. is glad that isn’t the case at the First Baptist Church, where he became worship pastor July 8 ...

read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.


Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 23, 2018

GIVING TO MISSION - As a child growing up in Luverne, Minnesota, Doris Schoon learned the words to “Jesus Loves Me” in Chinese.

Doris was touched by this simple exercise led by her pastor, the Rev. Otto Braskamp, who had once been a Presbyterian missionary in China. Though she no longer remembers the Chinese lyrics, the music of mission continues to play in her. She views the service of mission co-workers as a sign of vitality in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“By giving to mission, everyone can play a role in the church’s witness and demonstrate their gratitude to God,” Doris said ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

In the News ... "Generous couple donate thousands so Texas pastor can go home"

KWES Photo
• The family says the donation was Simple

By Phoenix O’Connor, Reporter
KWES-TV

MIDLAND, TEXAS - October 10, Texas Pastor Todd Phillips decided to live on a barge until he raised $2.29 million for clean water wells to be drilled in Liberia ...

 • read the rest of this KWES report ...

In the News ... "The Ivy Family Hosts Thanksgiving Feast"

KMID Photo

• Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry more than just a place

By Juyeon Kim, Reporter
KMID-TV


MIDLAND, TEXAS - All appetites, small and big, were satisfied today at the Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry. While the Ivy family opened the kitchen back in the 1980s, their vision to help those in need has only strengthened with time.

For second generation owner Nancy Ivy, her parents' legacy continues through her home cooked meals ...

read/watch the rest of this KMID report

In the News ... "El Paso Giving Day Nets $336k+ for Non-Profit Organizations in Paso del Norte Region"


• Record-breaking generosity; well-above initial goal

Staff Report
El Paso Herald-Post


EL PASO, TEXAS - “El Pasoans showed the power of what our community can do when we work together toward a common goal,” said Tracy Yellen, CEO of the Paso del Norte Foundation which launched the region’s first ever communitywide, 24-hour charitable giving drive three years ago ...

Read the rest of this EPHP report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.


Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 22, 2018

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL ART - The Gallery at West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey, recently showcased the paintings, photographs and poetry of local artist Andrew Weatherly.

Weatherly is the 26-year-old man with Down syndrome who created the artwork for Presbyterians Today’s 2018 Advent Devotional, God Lifts the Lowly. Many of the paintings from the devotional, which is based on Mary’s Song of Praise, were part of the exhibit. West Side Presbyterian Church also provided copies of the devotional to the public ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

In the News ... "Keep the faith and remember to DUCK! at Hardin-Simmons' fitness club"

ARN Photo by Gary Rhodes
• Keeping fit; setting good examples

By Loretta Fulton, Reporter
Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - You just can’t help it.

Even if the dodgeball tournament is sponsored by the new Faith & Fitness Club at Hardin-Simmons University, you’re going to duck when one of those balls comes flying at you. No matter that the players are inside an enclosure with netting around the top and you’re outside.

No matter that “faith” is part of the name, you’re still going to duck ...

read the rest of this ARN report ...

In the News ... "Empty Stocking Fund celebrates 24 years"


• Donate online this year to reach $100K goal

Staff Report
The Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The annual the partnership between the Odessa American and the Salvation Army turns 24 this year we are celebrating with a whole new way to donate to the Empty Stocking Fund that helps needy Odessans celebrate a merry Christmas.

Starting Thanksgiving Day an Odessa tradition of giving is back and it has nothing to do with turkey day but everything to do with a merry Christmas.

The Empty Stocking Fund, a joint effort of the Odessa American and The Salvation Army of Odessa, will again ask Odessans to extend a hand to their neighbors who are struggling. This year donors may still bring in or mail their donation or go online to donate ...

read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Courtesy Photo
Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 21, 2018

DAILY RIDGE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NORWOOD, NEW YORK - When you hear about a congregation’s hospitality, you might picture people greeting one another after Sunday services.

Or you might picture people chatting around a table in the fellowship hall during a church potluck. Chances are, you wouldn’t picture people delivering dog toys and dish towels to a camper parked in the church’s parking lot ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Partners Blog: "This #GivingTuesday is our most ambitious yet!"

Steve and Oddny Gumaer started Partners Relief and Development in response to the needs of refugees and displaced people from Burma, and now in the Middle East, as well. Their mission is to demonstrate, through holistic action, God’s love to children and communities made vulnerable by war in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other conflict zones.

PR&D Photo
This #GivingTuesday is our most ambitious yet!

Would you send your daughter to school if ISIS lived in her classroom?

Neither would I. Neither would any parents I know. In fact, for years kids in Syria have not been able to attend school because ISIS fighters commandeered their classrooms, painted black flags on the walls, and used schools as a fighting bases, leaving behind buildings pockmarked with mortar rounds.

This year, kids in Texas and Michigan decided to do something about that by raising enough money to rebuild 3 of those schools. And this Giving Tuesday, November 27th, we adults are going to do the same ...

read the rest of this post ...




Partners Relief and Development is a registered charity in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. "We’re a small, grassroots nonprofit passionate about making a big impact in communities affected by conflict and oppression, demonstrating God’s love to children and giving them the opportunity to live free, full lives." For more information aboput Partners, visit their website at partners.ngo/