In response to the growing flu outbreak, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance have put together resources to help you and your congregation.

Flu Outbreak Tips from PDA

The Minnesota Council of Churches have also made the following Q&A Sheets on Swine Flu:

Swine Flu: Basic Facts

Swine Flu: What You Can Do

College juniors and seniors: Apply now for the Student Opportunity Scholarship for a chance to receive up to $3,000 towards your studies. You may be eligible if you are seeking a bachelor degree with emphasis on the missions of PC(USA) in the following disciplines: Education, Health Service/Science, Religious Studies, Sacred Music or Social Service/Science.

Applicants must be a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), be enrolled full time at an accredited college or university in the United States and have a GPA of 2.5 or greater. Students must also demonstrate financial need. In order to promote diversity, preference is extended to racial ethnic students.

 Hurry, the deadline for applications is June 15.

In just one hour, Presbyterians can help bring water to communities in the Dominican Republic, rally against government corruption in Cameroon and provide support to those still struggling to rebuild on the Gulf Coast.Through the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) – now in its 60th year – the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) joins with eight other Christian denominations across the country to raise money for refugee assistance, disaster relief and development aid. The offering is usually collected at worship services on Palm Sunday or Easter or throughout Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25.

“One Great Hour of Sharing responds to all of those in kind of a holistic way,” said Alan Krome, associate for interpretation/special offerings Communications and Funds Development of the General Assembly Council.

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The Presbyterian Church (USA) celebrates March 1, the first Sunday in Lent, as Self-Development of People Sunday.

Remember those fish boxes? A portion of the money collected in them — the One Great Hour of Sharing offering — goes to support SDOP. In 2008, more than $21,000 was distributed to organizations in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, and all of this money originated with you.

What can you do on SDOP Sunday? Worship resources are available at http://www.pcusa.org/sdop/sdop-sunday.htm .

• Have a children’s sermon where you let the children know where their fish box money is going.
• Include SDOP in your pastoral prayer and individual prayers.
• Pray for the recipients of the 2008 grants: Bong Kwatekeh, a social service agency for Liberian refugees and immigrants; Centro Campesino in Owatonna, and their programs with rural Minnesota Latino youth; the Gambian Association of Minnesota, and it literacy programs; the Halfway House for African Immigrants, which supports those recovering from addiction; Homeless Against Homelessness, and their support of homeless residents of the Twin Cities; and the Lao Veterans Association of Minnesota.