To the Session, deacons, and members of every congregation across Mountain Laurel Presbytery, grace and peace. When the Presbyterian Mission Agency produced a short video to help congregations understand per capita giving, they titled it The Tie That Binds. It’s an image worth sitting with as we come together as one presbytery. Per capita is not a line item buried in a budget report — it is the thread that connects Mountain Laurel’s congregations to one another, to our synod,

What does it mean to invest in the future of the church? For Mountain Laurel Presbytery, one answer can be found in the young people who gather together to worship, learn, serve, ask questions, build friendships, and discover what it means to be part of the body of Christ this past summer at Montreat. In 2026, youth ministry continues to be an important part of the church’s mission. Young people are navigating a rapidly changing world while seeking meaningful relationships, a

By Rev. Scott DeCaro September 2026 It’s That Time Again! It feels like the year was just beginning yesterday, and now we’re here. The kids are back in school, summer has come to a close, and in our churches, this is the time that our programs begin anew. It’s one of the busiest times of the year, and in many ways, that’s true in the life of the Presbytery too. Because of that, I know that looking ahead right now is hard to do, especially when that leads to an even busier