Presbyterian Woman Shenandoah August 2015 Pat Armstrong, Moderator Pat Armstrong, Editor

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1 Presbyterian Woman Shenandoah August 2015 Pat Armstrong, Moderator Pat Armstrong, Editor GREETINGS FROM YOUR MODERATOR Dear Sisters in Christ, Right now, I am feeling so uplifted spiritually from events of past week. First, a Bible Conference week at Massanetta Springs was full of worship, bible study, learning and wonderful fellowship. The music was joyous as we sang praises to our merciful God. Also, the SPWCT met yesterday and I am always uplifted as we share the many ways we all serve in ministries and missions to glorify God. We have an invitation to have our November CT meeting at Tuscarora Presbyterian Church. All church PW Moderators are invited to attend this meeting and lunch will be provided. Please reserve Nov. 7 on your calendar for this wonderful time of learning from each other and sharing fellowship. Our Big Event which is a combination of PW Fall Gathering and the Mission Communities will take place at Massanetta on September 12. This will truly be a day of awesome worship, workshops, fellowship, learning and we share a delicious Massanetta lunch which is all covered in the most reasonable registration fee of $15. Let me know if you need me to you a brochure and registration form. Form is on pages 5-6. Send completed Big Event registration form with your check made payable to Shenandoah Presbytery by Sept. 7 or ASAP to: Harriet Kopp Shenandoah Presbytery Big Event 596 Horners Sawmill Road Gerrardstown, WV As we look forward to the new Horizon's Bible Study and all the many events of the Fall Season including the many mission activities and ways of Glorifying Our Precious Lord, I wish you many blessings. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, etc. My phone number is and is armstrong.richpat@gmail.com. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc. for the PW PCUSA Coordinating Team, please contact Nancy Long, our Synod representative to the National PW PCUSA CT. nlongssg@gmail.com Joyfully as we serve God together, Pat Armstrong (PW Moderator) Eastern Panhandle Mission Community Activities and work of PW in the Eastern Panhandle Churches The Presbyterian Women s groups enlist their church and support their ministries: Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church Haiti Education Fund supports a child with education and nutrition for one year Church World Service. Assemble health kits and clean up kits for distribution after disasters Thank and Birthday offerings Enlist the entire church to help support special mission projects each year through the Presbyterian Women Shut in Christmas baskets PW Sunrise August

2 Bunker Hill Meets monthly for a Bible Study. Charles Town Presbyterian Church A new Circle has been established and they are meeting monthly. They are using the Horizons Bible Study. Lanzan Rogers is the new moderator and as of now they have not been active with Church World Wide Services. Falling Waters Presbyterian Church Women are meeting monthly for Bible Study. They are using the Horizons curriculum. If there are any questions about this, please contact Gladys at following: TREASURER Gladys Wonderley 5027 Rockfish Road Grottoes, VA mtmeridian3@aol.com Part two of a tribute to Anna Jean Armstrong and Massanutten Presbyterian Church Hedgesville Presbyterian Church Has an active PW Circle which meets monthly for Bible Study. The curriculum they are using is the Upper Room. The women are active with a local community projects, Hospital and shut in ministry. They have a yearly mission community yard sale for community needs. They are active in visiting and praying with patients and shut ins. Martinsburg Presbyterian Church The PW are active in Bible Study, evangelistic outreach and mission. They are at the forefront o the work of the church and are a constant encouragement to the discipleship of the First Presbyterian Church Tuscarora Presbyterian Church Karen Thatcher is the new moderator for the circle. They are using Horizons Bible Study. The Mission Projects are: Minute for Mission- Operation Christmas Child Thank Offering Minute for Mission Blanket Sunday Heifer Project Birthday Offering We care tree and Shoe Fund (Compiled and recorded in May of 2015) Anna Jean Armstrong began attending Massanutten Presbyterian Church in the 1960 s; according to her sons best recollections. Her little white clapboard church has changed remarkably since its humble conception almost one hundred and fifty years ago. Please allow me to detail those changes in the following paragraphs. But rallying alongside the church has historically been a group of active, determined women. Since 1988 we have been called Presbyterian Women (and I am proud to finally include myself in that we! ) Prior to that time, Anna Jean and many others were members of the Women of the Church. In 1922, women s groups were referred to as the Women s Auxiliary, and as far back as 1883, historians have noted the existence of the Women s General Missionary Society. I imagine you readers are much more familiar with these name changes than I! However, I must confess that these women and this church have been a veritable source of intrigue to me, and led me on somewhat of an historical quest. I am so grateful to the women whom I have interviewed, who have so freely offered glimpses into their lives, thus revealing history-in-the-making! Leadership Coordinator Paula Osborne Make Checks out to Presbyterian Women When checks are to go to Shenandoah Presbyterian Women, please make the check payable to Presbyterian Women. This is requested by the bank used by Gladys Wonderly, our treasure. According to historical notes secured from the Heritage room at Massanutten Presbyterian church, before the Revolution, the Massanutten Mountain Range was called Peaked Mountain and the Peaked Mountain Church or Stone Meeting House was the founding Mother of Massanutten Church. Original members met in Eli Keeran s country store (across the street) and traveling preachers of different faiths served the church. In 1867, the Lexington Presbytery met PW Sunrise August

3 with fourteen charter members and organized the Massanutten Crossroads Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery helped to support the church, and at one point received some new members when the Cross Keys Presbyterian Church had to close for financial reasons. In 1889 a manse was built, but unfortunately burned down the following year. The manse was rebuilt in 1890 and still stands across the street. In 1914 the church was able to add a rectangular shaped vestibule and then in 1920 an education building. These were built from logs of a barn which were part of a bequest. In 1946 stained glass windows were added, which are now framed in our current sanctuary. Membership had increased from 14 to 170 members during the first one hundred years. The first summer vacation Bible school was held in 1944 with twenty-five children, and was led by Dulcie Hook and Reverend Woody. We still have a Sunday school classroom called the Dulcie Hook class. And the Armstrong family still remembers Reverend Woody. On October 7, 1973, a new building was constructed on site, and in July of 1988 an addition was completed. I remember Anna Jean being so proud of the new building and the church s growth. Some of the details of the actual move were chronicled by PW member, Helen Miller, in a biographical sketch last year. In 1984 a preschool program was begun by member Sally Brown. It was eventually sold to MPC in 1997 and led by Diann Reed. Cindy Grimes has been the preschool director since 1998 and this program has grown tremendously and is fully certified. Craigsville Presbyterian shares A couple of years ago representatives from Craigsville Presbyterian Church attended the Spark Conference held by the Presbytery. We came home having heard that Presbytery had resources to help us to consider what God is calling us to be and do in this world. As a result our congregation was blessed to have Malcolm Brownlee lead us through a mission study designed to help us to know Gods call for us in the community and world. We have had lots of discussion - Malcolm had a hard keeping us in line a time or two - we have discovered strengths, weaknesses, needs and opportunities. At the conclusion of our time together we have identified several areas of focus. I would love to tell you how it has all worked out but we are still journeying on. In our time together we realized that there are a few things that we can do but there are other things that we can be the catalyst to get started in our community along with the ICC (a group of community churches that work together). In all of our conversations we have been encouraged to set aside a time in prayer as we seek Gods leading and so the next step of our journey sent us on a path of prayer that we have just completed and committed to continue in the months ahead. God has been very good to us in this time of seeking. We know and have seen God's hand at work in our journey so far and we know God will be faithful for steps ahead. We'd love to ask you to keep our community and congregation in your prayers as our future unfolds. Share by Gwen Carr By 1992 church enrollment had soared to 490 members. On November 24, 2002, a modern new brick sanctuary, offices, Faith Village (an innovative children s Sunday school program) and a gathering area were completed. During Anna Jean s years of membership at MPC, there were four additional ministers: John Lown, Arnold Poole, George Conn, and our current minister, John Leggett. Each minister, each new physical addition to the church, and each new human resource have brought something unique and special to our Presbyterian heritage. And it is all so beautiful nestled here in the Massanutten Mountain range. I think I ll follow in the footsteps of my in-laws, and stay a spell here! Craigsville Presbyterian recently finished a five week prayer study based on the book by Mark Batterson entitled Circle Maker-Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears. In the accompanying video, Mark told about literally walking around specific pieces of real estate while in prayer to know God's will for the potential purchase by his congregation in Washington, D.C. We have identified several projects that concern our congregation and the Craigsville area that will require additional prayer and logistics. We will let you know when God helps us fulfill His calling. Submitted by Beverly Thompson PW Sunrise August

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