Triennium Update
Our delegation to the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium is leaving this coming Monday afternoon, July 15!  The bus trip to Purdue University will be shared with the delegation from Cherokee Presbytery in Georgia and with our “flat manatee,” lovingly named Augie (pictured). Together, Augie, 29 youth and 8 adults will experience God’s love and learn what it means to whole heartedly serve Christ. We invite you to keep the youth participants and adult leaders in your prayers. We will be posting photos and videos on our website throughout the week. You can also f ollow along with the Triennium youth and Augie’s adventures on social media. 

Find us on Facebook and Instagram - @staugpres
Search hashtags - #pyt2019POSA and #pyt2019Augie
Apply to Serve at Next Year's General Assembly
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will meet in Baltimore next year from June 20-27, 2020. The commissioners come from every presbytery in the country to participate in worship, service, fellowship, and business meetings. The Assembly is made up of equal numbers of teaching elders and ruling elders, as well as advisory delegates (young adult, theological students, mission workers, and others). 

If you believe that God may be calling you to serve our presbytery this way, please let us know by filling out an application and sending it in no later than August 1. 
Are You Called to Serve our Presbytery in 2020?
It is time for the presbytery’s Nominating Team to meet and make nominations to fill roles in our Coordinating Council and in each of our commissions and teams.  We ask you to prayerfully consider how God may be calling you or someone you know to serve. Nominations will be presented at the Fall Stated Meeting on October 1, 2019. Nominations will include those for the Class of 2022 and for some vacancies in other classes. Click on the button below for the Application to Serve form (PDF file), which contains more information about duties and responsibilities. The deadline for returning the form is  August 1, 2019 .
If you have any questions about nominations for General Assembly or 2020 Committees, please contact:

Patti Phillips, Nominating Team Chair

Joe Rigsby, Volunteer Management Committee Chair

Sandra Hedrick, Stated Clerk

Chris Lieberman, Relationship Coordination Director 
J. Herbert Nelson, PC(USA) Stated Clerk, Preaching at First, Fernandina Beach

The Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be a guest preacher at First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach on Sunday, August 11 at the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson will be joined by his wife, the Rev. Gail Nelson. The visit is part of the Summer of Renewal Preaching Series at First Fernandina Beach while Pastor Wain Wesberry is on sabbatical.
Cuban Connection
Our presbytery family is invited to Church, Coffee & Culture with the Rev. Dr. Ary Fernandez-Alban and the Rev. Dr. Beidy Casas-Aragon, a dedicated clergy couple who serve in Matanzas, Cuba. Join us in celebrating our Cuban Connection on Monday, August 5, at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 32 Sevilla St., St. Augustine. (Parking is available in the lot on the corner of Valencia and Sevilla Street.)

  • Hear the couple share the exciting news of what is happening in the Cuban Presbyterian Churches
  • Learn how your church can benefit from our presbytery’s partnership with Matanzas Presbytery in Cuba and explore partnerships with a Cuban church
  • Learn how to make Cuban coffee and enjoy Cuban pastries
  • Hear live Cuban guitar music
Summer Gathering of Our Presbyterian Women
The Summer Gathering of our Presbyterian Women will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Montgomery Presbyterian Conference Center in Starke! Presbyterian Women will kickoff the Love Carved in Stone Bible study and do a hands-on mission project together. There will also be time to meet with women in your region to share ideas. Join us for a day of fun and learning. For detailed information about the summer event, including mission project details and the registration form, please  click here. Please note the early registration deadline is August 1.
New Book of Order Available
The 2019-2021 Book of Order is now available in print and electronic form. For a free download of the electronic version in English, use the Download PDF Version button to go to the the PCUSA Store and enter your order. Then follow the instructions to complete your download. 

For the print version in English, follow the Purchase Print Version button to the PCUSA Store. The print version costs $10.

The PCUSA Store has the new Book of Order in Braille, Spanish and Korean as well. Typing Book of Order into the search bar will find all of the electronic and paper versions.
PC(USA) Planning Calendars
The new  PC(USA) Planning Calendars  will be available in August. The  16-month calendar (September 2019 – December 2020) is an outstanding and  much-loved resource  for pastors, church leaders and members interested in the life and mission of the church. You can order copies through the presbytery office for a discounted rate of $10 - email  [email protected].  

Upcoming Services of Installation
It is with joy and thanksgiving that we invite you to participate in the upcoming Services of Installation for Jonathan Swanson, Don Johnson, and Michaele Wood. It is requested that teaching elders in attendance and ruling elders commissioned to pastoral service wear robes and red stoles and process in together if possible. Please meet fifteen minutes prior to the beginning of the service.
Sunday, July 28
3:00 p.m.
Rev. Jonathan Swanson
Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 4140 Hodges Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32224
Sunday, August 18
4:00 p.m.
Rev. Don Johnson
Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, 3026 Woodlawn Road, Jacksonville, FL 32209
Sunday, September 15
4:00 p.m.
Rev. Michaele Wood
Kanapaha Presbyterian Church, 6221 SW 75th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32608
Welcome to our Presbytery’s Newest Pastors!
Pastor Michaele Wood – On May 12, Kanapaha Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, welcomed the Rev. Michaele RJ Wood as its Pastor. Michaele transferred from the Presbytery of St. Andrew in Mississippi, where she served a church in Pontotoc until December, 2017. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Michaele was initially ordained as a minister in Kingdom Fellowship Ministries before she transitioned into the Presbyterian Church, receiving her M.Div. from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 2009. She has additional training in Stewardship and Tax Law and holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction. Michaele is a widowed mother to three adult children, grandmother to ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother to two boys, with another due in October. As Michaele begins her ministry at Kanapaha, we also thank Rev. Rhonda Link-Cummings, who served as Interim Pastor. The Service of Installation at Kanapaha is scheduled for September 15. Welcome Pastor Wood!
Pastor Jonathan Swanson – On June 9, Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, welcomed the Rev. Dr. Jonathan T. Swanson as its Pastor. He transferred from the Presbytery of Tropical Florida, where he most recently served as Pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Miami. He has also served in several congregations in Texas and Missouri. Raised in Virginia, Pastor Jon received a degree in economics from the College of William and Mary before pursuing an M.Div. degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, which he received in 1996. He completed a Ph.D. in Theological Ethics, with minors in New Testament and Business Administration, in 2005 from Baylor University. Jonathan is an avid long-distance runner and has participated in numerous marathons and ultra-marathons. As Jonathan begins his ministry at Hodges Boulevard, we also thank Rev. Dr. Cynthia Benz, who served as Interim Pastor. The Service of Installation at Hodges Boulevard is scheduled for July 28. Welcome Pastor Swanson! 
Riverside Presbyterian Church Transitions

Riverside Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce that Rev. Conley Zomermaand will fill the role as Interim Senior Pastor beginning July 17. Most recently he served as Interim Pastor at Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic Beach. 

The Rev. Steve Goyer served Riverside Presbyterian Church for 14 years, retiring effective July 1, 2019. As he enters retirement, Steve hopes to have more time for family, friends, study, and leisure. The presbytery wishes him a peaceful and joyful retirement!
Yvan Kelly is Commissioned to Serve at Middleburg Presbyterian Church
Middleburg Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce that ruling elder Yvan Kelly has been approved to be commissioned to serve as the Pastor of Middleburg Presbyterian Church. A professor of economics at Flagler College, Yvan has been active in the presbytery for many years. He has served as a pulpit supply preacher, a member of our Coordinating Council, and a commissioner to our synod and the General Assembly. A member of Memorial Presbyterian Church, he has served two terms on Memorial's session. Yvan says that he is honored to be the pastor at Middleburg, a congregation he has visited many times as a supply preacher over the years.
  CJ Dates Called to South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church

South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce that Carl James (CJ) Dates has been called to be its new Pastor. His first Sunday will be August 18. CJ is a recent graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, and he was a candidate under our care and formerly on staff at Palms Presbyterian Church. CJ and his family will be transitioning back to Jacksonville. Watch for more information coming soon!
Family Camp!
Our Family Camp is coming up! Please join us for camp on Thursday evening, July 18, through lunchtime on Sunday, July 21. For families of all shapes and sizes, this is a great chance to unplug and get away for a couple of days without the commitment of a full week off! Come see what the excitement is all about! Register at montgomerycenter.org/summercamp
The Montgomery staff is working hard to get a 2019-2020 calendar of events finalized for our seniors, adults, clergy, and youth programming. Please be on the lookout for that in the coming weeks and let us know if there is a program you would like to make happen. You can reach Lexi Green at [email protected] or Maurie Dugger at [email protected] for more information.
Invest in Montgomery!
If you have been waiting for the right time to invest in Montgomery, now is the time! We are working hard to build our donor base and invite you to join us. Montgomery is more than just a summer camp, and we have a program or activity for you, but we need your investment. We have received 135 contributions and raised more than $68,000 thus far in 2019 – almost equaling what we raised in total for 2018. Please consider how you can join us, provide referrals for guest groups, or request help in planning a program for your groups. Financial contributions are needed to sustain the good things God is doing at Montgomery; we ask you to prayerfully consider how you can be part of this great renewal. Contact Maurie Dugger at [email protected] .
Congratulations to Forrest Foxworth and Scott Stuart!
Our presbytery has 12 individuals who are under our care as they discern their call to ordination as Ministers of Word and Sacrament. We congratulate two of them – Forrest Foxworth (left) and Scott Stuart (right) – for completing their M.Div. degrees in May. Forrest (First Fernandina Beach) graduated from Gordon Conwell on May 18, and Scott (First Gainesville) graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando on May 24. At the present time both are employed in non-ordained staff positions at their churches of membership. Scott serves as Director of College Ministry, and Forrest serves as Director of Family Ministry. Please keep these graduates in your prayers as they continue their journeys of faith and service.
Celebrating the Power of VBS
Throughout the summer, our presbytery churches have hosted a variety of Vacation Bible School events which have touched the lives and hearts of many children and youth. Volunteers worked together to bring joy and the love of Jesus to their communities.

A highlight for First Presbyterian Church of High Springs was when it hosted a “Power Up” themed VBS from June 17-21. The fellowship hall was decorated in a video game theme, complete with video arcades, black lighting, and assorted decorations made by church members. After providing dinner and playing video games, Luigi and Mario (John Fox and son) guided the VBS Orange Company program of lessons, crafts, games and music. The children left with great memories and had a blast … “powered up” on the Spirit and love of the Lord! The week also included a fund raising mission for the Gainesville Chapter of the American Cancer Society’s Pediatric Cancer fund, which continues through the end of the summer.

We celebrate with all of our churches who held successful VBS programs and energized our children!
Westminster Communities Chaplain Training
In June, sixteen chaplains who work for Westminster Communities of Florida met in Orlando for training, led by Rev. Walk Jones, a member of Central Florida Presbytery and Director of Church Relations for Westminster Communities. After a worship service blessing the chaplains’ ministry, chaplains participated in training workshops on Jewish and other non-Christian practices at time of death, and suicide prevention.

Westminster Communities, a ministry of our synod, has four locations in our presbytery. They are in St. Augustine at the World Golf Village, on Julington Creek, and two facilities in Riverside in Jacksonville. For more information, check out their website or follow Westminster on Facebook.
Pastoral Counseling Services is Now Known as Life Renewed Counseling AND Has a Satellite Office!
Pastoral Counseling Services has a new name! The board and staff of Pastoral Counseling Services is pleased to announce that, effective June 30, they are now known as Life Renewed Counseling (LRC). They also reported that LRC now sees clients at Community Presbyterian Church of Atlantic Beach (CPC) in addition to LRC's San Marco office. For more information, to refer clients or congregation members, or to schedule an appointment yourself, visit http://lrcjax.org or call (904) 398-2437.
Presbyterian Online Ministries Launched by First Presbyterian Church of Lake City
First Presbyterian Church of Lake City announced the launch of POM (Presbyterian Online Ministries)! This exciting new ministry will allow the church to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world with new content, videos, and blogs. The site is building a library of teaching and preaching videos by Pastor Kenneth Goodrich and, in the coming weeks will add a cooking show starring the “Church Ladies” of FPC Lake City. The church has heavily invested in technology and is using it to share the Gospel.  Visit https://pomministries.org to see it for yourself. 
Human Trafficking Resources
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Campaign and the DHS Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives developed the Faith-Based and Community Toolkit , ( Spanish version), a human trafficking resource for the faith community. This toolkit provides tips and resources to engage houses of worship and the community to help raise awareness of human trafficking and how to be trauma responsive to the needs of victims or those vulnerable to harm. The DHS is also offering a 4-part Facebook Live series on Human Trafficking in July. Topics include how to identify suspected trafficking and how to report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Click here for details. 

  • Big Tent - August 1-3, 2019 in Baltimore. Big Tent is a gathering of the PC(USA) that is held every other year. This year's event will emphasize our call to discern the will of God and proclaim the hope of the Gospel to challenge and transform division and inequality. 


  • 2019 Fall Stated Meeting of the Presbytery - Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Montgomery Presbyterian Conference Center.

  • 2019 POAMN National Conference - October 15-18, 2019 at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. This Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network conference focuses on intergenerational engagement.


  • The Art of Yes, and ..., November 14-16, 2019 at Epworth-by-the-Sea in St. Simons Island, GA. A conference sponsored by South Atlantic Puerto Rican Region of the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators.
Calvin Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, has been cleaning out some storage rooms. The church has 12 red choir robes and 4 file drawers of choir music to donate to another church. If you are interested, contact Earl Sickels at [email protected] or (904) 553-6219 for details.
Celebrating With You!
If you are celebrating a milestone anniversary as a congregation or in years of ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament, please let us know. Email Marigrace Doran so that we can include your milestone in The Connection.
The Presbytery of St. Augustine Connection Newsletter is a publication of the Presbytery of St. Augustine. It is written and designed by Communications Coordinator Marigrace Doran. Editorial assistance is provided by Stated Clerk Sandra Hedrick, Relationship Coordinator Director Chris Lieberman, and other presbytery leaders.

Masthead photo by Will Barnwell
The mission of the Presbytery of St. Augustine is to support our faith community, so that together we may witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.