Category Archives: PYOCA

How Can YOU Share in the Ministry of Care?

ALL members of POV churches, especially Deacons but also others, are invited to learn more about assisting with caring for those in your congregation.

The POV Academy’s January 17-18 class, “Sharing the Ministry of Care,” will help you:

  • Gain comfort and competence with home, hospital/nursing home visits
  • Practice ministry of Presence listening skills
  • Reflect on boundaries, confidentiality, and legal responsibilities
  • And much more!

Registration for this class, to be held at Camp Pyoca, closes on November 17. 

Posters and registration forms are on the POV Academy webpage.
Contact Barbara Snyder for more information.

The Event 2013 Is Coming!

Saturday August 17th 3:00-8:00pm

At Camp Pyoca in Brownstown, IN

Middle School and High School Youth (and their leaders, friends and parents) are invited to a fun filled afternoon. Enjoy a giant slip-n-slide, other inflatables and more in the afternoon and then get ready for a live concert by THE GREAT ROMANCE .

Cost is $8 per student.

For more information contact:

Tami Gibson 502-931-8918
Rachel Pedersen 812-332-1514

Fellowship Before the Assembly!

Friday POV Overnight at Camp PYOCA

September 14-15, 2012

Come one, come all!

Have you ever left a Presbytery meeting sorry that you didn’t have time for conversation or prayer with someone? Wendy Olson and Linda Peters have also felt that way. They also wondered if you’ve never been to a Presbytery meeting because you thought they were always MEETINGS? So they have planned this gathering just for you.

Here are some of what will be available alongside the September meeting. Relax. Share a long conversation. Laugh and sing silly songs. Pray for a good long while. Eat a leisurely meal. Walk in the woods. Play with children. Roast MARSHMALLOWS!  These things may not typically be associated with a Presbytery meeting, but these are things designed into the OPTIONAL Pre-Presbytery-Party event for Friday evening.

We hope you will be there so we can share these with YOU! Oh, and bring the family – the whole family. They are all invited and there will be special activities for non-delegates during the Saturday Assembly.

Join us Friday night for fun and reflection with your fellow Presbyterians.

  • You can come early on Friday (no lunch provided)
  • Dinner will begin at 6:00PM and be available till 7:00PM.
  • Breakfast will be with the Presbytery at 9:00 AM (early risers will have a basket in their cabins)
  • If you play a musical instrument, please bring it to join in the fun.

There will be an inter-active prayer center at the chapel available through lunch on the 15th.

If you have any particular joys or concerns for you or your congregation please send them to Linda Peters to list in the prayer center.

Through a generous grant by the Council the cost is only $20/ person.  Children 12 and under are free.

To attend the event, print the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it (with payment) by August 31st to the Presbytery Office:

Presbytery of Ohio Valley
1701 E. 2nd Street, Suite 100
Bloomington, IN 47401

The Event Returns on August 18th

The Event 2012 will be held on:

Saturday August 18th beginning at 3pm at Camp Pyoca in Brownstown, Indiana.

This is a unique youth event for southern Indiana.  Sponsored by the Presbytery and Camp Pyoca this is a great opportunity to kick start your ministry year with great fellowship, phenomenal music and more.

Major Highlights

The Great Romance will be preforming at 7pm

Cost = $5 (that’s all… seriously, $5)

Camp Pyoca!  Hang out with friends from around Southern Indiana—play gaga, take out a boat, and in general relish the last few minutes of summer.

Information for Adults

1)      Individual youth or youth groups are welcome to attend!  If you can RSVP that will help us plan activities.

2)      Camp Pyoca is located outside Brownstown, Indiana great instructions are available here

3)      We’ll finish things up between 9:00 and 9:30pm

Information for the Detail Oriented

3:00-5:30 games, meet up with friends, take out boats on the lake

5:30 DINNER!

6:30 Get ready for the Concert!

7:00 GREAT ROMANCE LIVE @ PYOCA

9:00 closing campfire

9:30 head home!

More Questions?

Feel free to contact:

Tami Gibson (502-931-8918)  or Rachel Pedersen (812-332-1514)

North Central Cluster Gathering 8/2011

Wednesday, August 31st
6:00-8:00 PM

at Camp Pyoca, Brownstown
(812) 358-3413

Join us at beautiful Camp Pyoca for fellowship, food, worship, and program.
The program will include:

  • introduction of new pastors,
  • a discussion of current happenings in the Synod of Lincoln Trails by Synod Stated Clerk Doug Tracy,
  • and an open Speak-out session for any announcements.

The cost of the meal will be $6.00.

Worship will be led by our seminary students.

See you on August 31st!

From the intersection in Brownstown where Hwy 50 turns north and west (corner of Main and Commerce Streets), go southeast one mile on Hwy 250. Turn left at the Pyoca sign, immediately past the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

Pyoca Work Day & Camp News

May 28, 2011 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Come spend the day with us as we make the final push for summer camp to start!  We will have projects for EVERYONE!  Meet the summer staff, have fun, and know you are making a difference at OUR ministry!  Please R.S.V.P. to Rich Swartwood by May 20th so we can be prepared for the day!

Summer Camp update

Camp is just around the corner!  We are blessed to have registrations coming in on a regular basis.  Many camps are over half-full with the Jr. High Trip Camp full already (we even doubled the size of the program to accommodate the demand!)  While camps are filling, it is not TOO late for YOU to sign up! Be sure to register soon so you can experience Pyoca this summer.  Why not invite a friend as well?  Registration material can be found at www.pyoca.org.  Scholarship funds are available by contactingIngrid@pyoca.org.

Read the rest of the PYOCA April 2011 newsletter.

PYOCA Gets 2011 Green Leaf Seal

Green Leaf SealPyoca Camp, Conference and Retreat Center Receives the 2011 Green Leaf Seal

Brownstown, Ind. – Pyoca Camp, Conference and Retreat Center has received the 2011 Green Leaf Seal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Environmental Ministries and the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association.  This honor speaks to the great commitment that Pyoca Camp, Conference and Retreat Center has to environmental stewardship.

To receive the 2011 Green Leaf Seal, camp and conference centers must have completed a total of five projects or activities related to environmental stewardship in the areas of facilities, education/program, operations, and outreach.

The Green Leaf Seal is designed to recognize camp and conference centers that care for God’s earth by practicing sustainability and educating guests about environmental stewardship.

“Presbyterian camp and conference centers are the perfect places to make connections between our faith and caring for God’s earth.  Pyoca Camp, Conference and Retreat Center has taken great strides in environmental stewardship, and it is exciting to recognize these accomplishments,” says Katie Holmes, associate for Environmental Ministries.

The Green Leaf Seal is a program of PC(USA) Environmental Ministries in cooperation with the sites of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA).  Environmental Ministries works to inspire and equip Presbyterians to work for eco-justice for all of God’s earth.  PCCCA equips leaders for ministries of discipleship, community building and the care of Creation.

For more information on Pyoca Camp, Conference and Retreat Center’s commitment to environmental stewardship, or programming for youth entering grades 1-12 or for non-profit retreat opportunities, please contact Rich Swartwood.  www.pyoca.org

For more information on the Green Leaf Seal go to www.pcusa.org/environment.