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Dear Friends of Savannah Presbytery,
The 226th General Assembly of the PC(U.S.A.) is now one for the history books. Odet Douglass and I proudly represented Savannah Presbytery as your commissioners in Salt Lake City and enjoyed sharing the experience with presbytery staff Rick and Cathy Douylliez and Jaclyn Beeler who was there as a commissioner from her home presbytery (East Tennessee).
We enjoyed cheering for the co-moderators elected by the assembly. The Revs. CeCe Armstrong and Tony Larson are pastoring churches in South Carolina in our Synod of the South Atlantic. CeCe was a fantastic keynote speaker for our Faith Enrichment Conference a few years ago. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - New Co-Moderators meet the press (pcusa.org)
CeCe and Tony led the assembly with “energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.” They handed out toy cars with the acronym CAR standing for the themes they’d be focusing on during their biennium of service to the church:
- Communication
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Alignment with God (“If we are aligned with what God is asking of us, then God will provide for us.”)
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Relationships (“If we communicate God’s love, show compassion, and love more, the Church will be o.k.”)
Just this week I learned that CeCe is scheduled to be the Sunday morning preacher at the Statesboro First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 29 at 11 am. I hope that our presbytery’s nearby churches might consider worshipping with Statesboro to hear this dynamic preacher give her thoughts about her passion for the Gospel and the community of faith that is the PCUSA. She will set your thoughts on fire – and might even get you up out of your seat ready for action. She had us on our feet during a few plenary breaks to do the “Electric Slide”!
There was serious business for sure, but I am thankful for CeCe and Tony who bring a spirit of love and playfulness into the hard work that the Church must engage to be faithful to the Gospel. I hope that we can all follow their lead as we find our way living as the Church today. More reflections to come! News | 226th General Assembly (2024) (ga-pcusa.org)
God bless,
Deanie
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Our Mission Committee has sponsored a Savannah Presbytery table at the Coastal Green Team Summit being held at First Presbyterian Church (520 Washington Ave., Savannah, GA 31405) on September 21st from 9:30 am-2:30 pm.
We are hoping to give the 8 included tickets to representatives from our churches that are outside the immediate Savannah area to encourage participation.
If you would like to be considered for a complimentary ticket, contact Marty Susie at MSusie1@savannahpresbytery.org. Churches must submit their representative’s name by Wednesday August 23rd to be considered.
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Racial Justice Ministry Team News | |
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Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
After the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, GA, Savannah Presbytery crafted a joint statement with Greater Atlanta Presbytery on May 28, 2020,highlighting the anti-racism statement of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and through which we pledged to walk alongside his family as they endured the journey of grief and the quest for justice.
On Thursday, October 24th, we can act on that pledge again by showing up to support the Arbery family as Ahmaud’s killers appeal their conviction at the Superior Court of Glynn County (701 H Street, Brunswick). Please join Reverends Deanie Strength, Cathy Belles, Honorably Retired Bob Morgan, Marty Susie, Director of Mission & Program Advancement and other Glynn County clergy at 8:30 am at the courthouse. If you are interested in carpooling or have any questions please contact Deanie (Deaniestrength@savannahpresbytery.org) or Marty (MSusie1@savannahpresbytery.org)
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Poverty by America Book Study
We are offering a presbytery-wide study on the book Poverty by America written by Matthew Desmond.
Desmond grew up poor in Winslow, Arizona. His father was a pastor, and the family struggled financially. Eventually the bank repossessed their home. “I think that experience of seeing my family pressed and stressed by the pressures of poverty led me to ask, ‘Why do we have so much poverty in America?’” Desmond said of the wealthiest nation on Earth, where 1 in 9 people live below the poverty line and tens of millions more people are just getting by just above the line.
Participants will be asked to read assigned chapters and have opportunity to gather on consecutive Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:15 PM for discussion via Zoom. In small groups, participants can expect to explore a handful of questions.
Our schedule will be:
October 3rd: Prologue, Chapters 1 & 2
October 10th: Chapters 3 & 4
October 17th: Chapters 5, 6 & 7
October 24th: Chapters 8, 9 & Epilogue
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We at FPC Statesboro want to invite you and all SP congregations - especially our District 2 folks - to join us on Sunday, September 29 for a special morning with the Rev. CeCe Armstrong, Moderator of the 226th General Assembly as our preacher and Sunday School teacher.
We were hoping some churches could join us that morning and give both their pastor a Sunday off and be encouraged in our connectional church.
Details:
- Childcare provided
- There will be a meal so RSVP by September 15th tooffice@fpcstatesboro.org
- Sunday School will be in the Sanctuary at 9:30am; Worship in the Sanctuary at 11am
- Our choir director is happy to welcome any singers, too, and would love to put together a District 2 choir for the morning. Anthem would be sent well in advance for practice.
Our hope is to use this time to connect us with one another and with the greater denomination. What a gift that Cece will grace us with a lasting Word! Please feel free to ask me or the FPC Statesboro staff any questions and circulate this opportunity widely!
With gratitude,
TLGH
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Flemington Presbyterian Church
Welcome Service and Dinner Reception
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The congregation of Flemington Presbyterian Church invites all members of Savannah Presbytery to join us for an afternoon worship service and early dinner reception on Sunday, August 11th to welcome Rev. Josh McKenna to a new call serving as our pastor. Worship will be led by members of COM and the message will be delivered by Dr. Jimmy Griffin of FPC, Brunswick. Worship will begin at 4:00 PM. Dinner will be barbecue, sides, and deserts. Please allow us the opportunity to host our friends from around the presbytery for this special occasion. We look forward to sharing a table and worshipping God with you.
For more information please contact:
Rev. Josh McKenna
pastor.josh22@gmail.com
641-820-0408
Flemington Presbyterian Church is located at 875 Old Sunbury Road, Hinesville, GA 31313
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Montreat Youth Conference and Montgomery Summer Camp were both fun-filled and faith enriching experiences for our youth and children as you can see from the photos! As we joyfully appreciate the offerings of this summer, we, too, must begin planning for NEXT summer’s events with the addition of the Youth Triennium- which only occurs every three years! Save the following 2025 dates:
Montreat Youth Conference - June 1-7, 2025, in Montreat, NC
Savannah Presbytery Summer Camp - June 15-20, in Starke, FL (NOTE: now 5 nights/6 days)
Youth Triennium- July 28-31st held in Louisville, KY
Many of you have a heart for children & youth ministries and know how transformative they can be. Please consider financially supporting them by contributing to the Jean Brietenhirt Scholarship Fund. This year alone, the Breitenhirt Fund helped 14 children and youth get to camp or Montreat with scholarships totaling $2150. The only way the fund is replenished is through the prayerful generosity of our members. Thank you!
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You are invited to St. Marys for a “Dutch treat” luncheon with the theme, Preaching in the Wake of Disaster. Commissioned pastors and CP candidates have also been invited to attend. Please welcome any lay leaders from your own congregation who may have a regular opportunity to preach. We will also be discussing the planning of a pastor/educator/spouse retreat for later this year.
District 3 Luncheon
Wednesday, August 21
The Firefly Taco Cantina
609 Osborne Street
St. Marys, Ga
11:30 a.m.
Please RSVP by Friday, August 16.
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