ANCHORAGE, AK ― Yukon Presbytery recently hosted a visit by a group from Tayan Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan. The two presbyteries are exploring the possibility of forming a mission partnership.

In November, three members of Yukon traveled from Alaska to Taiwan. The group included the Rev. Nathan Lim, who was featured speaker at a Presbyterian Church of Taiwan national youth convention in 2005. It was during that trip that the partnership idea was born.

The focus of the possible partnership is on Presbyterians of the Tayan tribe ― an indigenous mountain tribe in Taiwan ― and the Inupiaq and SiberianYupik people of Yukon Presbytery. There are many parallels between what is happening to indigenous peoples in the two areas, including issues around Native land claims, traditional hunting and subsistence rights, how to maintain Native culture and language, the lack of educational opportunities in indigenous areas, and how to be true to Jesus Christ and one’s culture at the same time.

EAGAN, MN ― Promotional materials have gone out for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies annual synod school.

As is the custom, the school will be held on the Campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA. Dates are july 26-31 and this year’s theme is “Building a Culture of Peace.”

LEXINGTON, SC ― On March 8, Trinity Presbytery celebrated the groundbreaking for New Kirk Presbyterian Church in Blythewood, SC.  This will be the first building for the congregation, which has been meeting at Sandlapper Elementary School in Blythewood.

The 12,640 square-foot building will sit atop a 14.6-acre property and will include a large multi-purpose worship room, pastor's offices, six education rooms, two nursery rooms and a large welcome center featuring a fire place, couches and a coffee bar.

Construction is expected to be completed by December of this year.

COLUMBUS, OH and INDIANAPOLIS ― “Let Your Light So Shine!” is the theme of the Covenant Gathering co-sponsored by the Synods of the Covenant and Lincoln Trails.

The June 28-July 3 event will take place at Michindoh Conference Center just outside of Hillsdale, MI near the Michigan, Indiana, Ohio border. In addition to worship, fellowship and recreation, the program will include a variety of courses for children, youth and adults on all aspects of Christian faith, life and mission.

SEATTLE ― Seattle Presbytery is hosting an evening with renowned Presbyterian writer Anne Lamott April 17 at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church.

Lamott, a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marin City, CA, is the author of six novels, as well as four best-selling books of non-fiction, including Operating Instructions, Traveling Mercies and Bird by Bird, one of the best books on writing yet written.

She has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and has taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country. Lamott’s biweekly online diary on Salon Magazine, ‘”Word by Word,” was voted The Best of the Web by TIME magazine.

DES MOINES, IA ― The Evangelism and Education Task Force of the Two Rivers Regional Partnership ― a ministry of Des Moines Presbytery ― is sponsoring a Seder Meal and Communion Service on Maundy Thursday, April 10, at First Presbyterian Church here.

A free-will offering will be taken, for the DMARC Food Pantry in Des Moines.

Participating churches in the Two Rivers Regional Partnership include Clifton Heights Presbyterian Church, Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Fort Des Moines Presbyterian Church, Knox United Presbyterian Church, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Park Avenue Presbyterian Church and Union Park Presbyterian Church.

LANCASTER, PA ― Donegal Presbytery is holding its Annual Prayer Service May 17 at Pequea Presbyterian Church, which the presbytery describes as “a church growing in intercessory prayer.”

The service will focus on the presbytery’s multicultural ministries: La Iglesia Church, Resurrection Chapel, Oromo Fellowship, a Haitian congregation, a Kenyan pastor developing a congregation in the presbytery, and African American congregations Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford and Second Presbyterian Church of West Chester.

The service will include the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and refreshments and fellowship will follow.

SAN JOSE, CA ― A group of 30 adults from the churches of San Jose Presbytery is heading to the Gulf coast April 19-25 to continue rebuilding homes destroyed by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.

The group will stay at the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance volunteer village in Houma, LA.