October 25, 2022

Dear Presbytery Family, Thirty-three days to Advent is the perfect time to offer you resources, news, and an invitation to participate in the ministry and mission of our presbytery community. Enjoy!

Pray for Our Congregations Westminster Presbyterian Church South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church

Presbytery Stewardship 2023 The Presbytery of St. Augustine is an inspiring and inspired community! Each church serves an important role in the family of God and your support for our common ministry is needed. A giving letter and pledge "card" has been mailed to each of our member churches (read sample here). Thank you, ahead of time, for your stewardship of God's grace and your generous support of your presbytery.

Small Church Grants Open for Applications The presbytery has additional funds for small church grants, and the deadline has been extended to November 1 and may be further extended. View more information here. The Charles J. Williams Fund for repairs to small churches (less than 200 members) has $12,900 available. The Small Church Revitalization Fund has $1,600 available.

Annual Session Clerk Workshop The workshop for new and seasoned session clerks will be held on November 3 at 5:30 p.m. and November 5 at 9:00 a.m. (90 minutes - choose one or the other). Stated Clerk Sandra Hedrick and Assistant Stated Clerk Ed Kelly will update everyone on topics from “clerking basics” to “annual tasks and dates” to “what’s new.” Register here to participate.

Will You Host Our Next Presbytery Meeting? (Please reply by November 4) We are looking for a church, or group of churches, or a ministry of the presbytery to host the 2023 Winter Stated Meeting on Saturday, February 4. This will be an “in-person” meeting. The meeting space needs to accommodate 100-130 attendees for parking, welcoming refreshments, worship, business meeting, and lunch. The church’s ability to provide child care on-site will be a factor when considering the proposal. Space is also needed for several table displays. If you have questions or would like to volunteer your church (or a partnership of churches in your area), please contact Stated Clerk Sandra Hedrick at [email protected] or her cell phone: 904-612-9766. The 2023 Spring and Fall Stated Meetings will be the first Tuesday of May and October, respectively. If you are interested in hosting in an in-person or hybrid format, we welcome your consideration for hosting later in 2023.

Read a letter from Jerie Lukefahr, Moderator of the Presbytery of St. Augustine and Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian Fernandina "...More than once, I’ve encountered elders at presbytery meetings who are not quite sure why they are there! When asked “Are you a commissioner?” at the registration table, I’ve heard folks answer: “I don’t know. My church just needed someone to come to the meeting.” Make no mistake: you are a commissioner! You are empowered to voice your opinion and cast your vote...."

Read the full letter

News From Montgomery Center

View all of these events online here - Low Country Boil, Mondays through Nov 14, 4:30-7:30 pm - Montgomery Gala, Dec 10, 5:30pm - Spaghetti Dinner, December 16, 6:00 pm - Elf Run 5k and 1-mile youth run, Dec 17, 9:00 am  -Thankful Pies Fundraiser has begun! Dutch Apple, Citrus Cream Tart, Bourbon Pecan and Mocha Chess! Order online here Download the Thankful Pies menu and order form

News From Around The Presbytery

Stated Clerk Position Opening Soon! As the Rev. Sandra Hedrick completes over 10 years of service, the Presbytery of St. Augustine will be electing a new stated clerk early next year. The search committee chair is Steve Crowley, ruling elder at First Palatka. Be looking for this posting very soon, and join our presbytery in prayer as we seek the candidate that God is calling.  Presbytery Communications Coordinator  This position posting can be found here. Consider whether you or someone you know has these gifts and would be excited to serve in this position! Read the full job description.

Classified Page Do you know about our presbytery classified page? Check out this page, and feel free to share it!

Presbytery Volunteers - Who is God Calling? There are still spots to fill for the Class of 2025 and some vacancies in our presbytery teams and commissions. Please keep reading: one is the Presbytery Trustees who would benefit from a real estate broker since two members with that experience are at the end of their terms. Another is our next Moderator Elect who should be a male ruling elder per our traditional rotation. Check here for more information and to offer to serve.

General Assembly Committee and Task Force Service Check here for information on new GA committees and task forces that are still receiving applications to serve. The deadline has been extended to Friday, November 11.

Lauren Scott Installed at Riverside Congratulations to Riverside Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Lauren Scott on the occasion of her installation as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Families this past Sunday, October 23. May the God of hope fill Riverside and its pastors with all joy and peace as they serve their community and the world through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Resources

Advent Resource Suggestions From Our Pastors  We invite you to check out these Advent suggestions in addition to the ones you will find with a search at the PC(USA) Book Store. So that we can include some more ideas next week, please send your favorite ideas to [email protected]. Advent Studies for Groups "Christmas in the Four Gospel Homes" by Cynthia Campbell "Names for the Messiah" by Walter Brueggeman Free Resources for Children and Families by Jessi Higginbotham (St. Giles Presbyterian Church) Liturgical Resources "Cloth for the Cradle" Iona Community/Wild Goose Worship Group Devotional Resources “Advent Devotional Guide” by Mark Roberts "Celebrating Abundance" by Walter Brueggeman Advent Devotions by Trelawney Grenfell-Muir in the journal Feminism and Religion Advent Podcasts from Renovare (Ecumenical) Renovaré USA is a Christian nonprofit that models, resources, and advocates fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual practices of Jesus and of the historical Church.  Advent Women’s Retreat with Jan Richardson (Free) Jan Richardson is an artist, author, and pastor. This year’s theme is called “A Path with Solace” We thank the Rev. Charles Freeman (Grace Presbyterian Church) for these hymns he has written and has given permission for churches of our presbytery to use these hymn texts in worship for the Advent season, including reprint and streaming permission. Advent 1 (Hope): When the world tells us Advent 2 (Joy): A voice cries out in the wilderness Advent 3 (Peace): Now the world says to worry (Rejoice! Always rejoice!) Advent 4 (Love): When Isaiah spoke a word Christmas Eve: Hope is born These resources by the Rev. Jessi Higginbotham (St. Giles) are available on Etsy: Liturgies for Advent Wreath Lighting Youth Group Lessons and More Resources

Presbyterian Foundation Day of Learning: Church Finances - November 8 Engage in presentations and conversation about church finances and investments. 12:00 PM ET Understanding Budgets and Reports 2:00 PM ET Know your Fund Types: what are they and what are they for 4:00 PM ET Understanding Investments: strategies, trends, and concerns Register for the Zoom Webinar here

PCUSA Calendars Are Still Available $12 if mailed or $10 to pick up. Enjoy a liturgical calendar that has references to other resources! Order online Liturgical Colors Chart for 2023 Many worship leaders bookmark or download this chart and use it often! Do you have your copy yet? Our Minister Members Continue to Publish! Many of our minister members have published books, as shared in prior news. Today we congratulate Rev. Bruce Seaman (honorably retired) on the publication of a book about a daring raid in March 1865 by Black soldiers into Marion County, 100 miles behind enemy lines, who then walked 80 miles to St. Augustine with 95 liberated slaves to escape a crack Confederate cavalry unit hot on their trail. "To Succeed Where Others Failed: The Untold Story of the Marshall Plantation Raid" is now available in paperback and digital formats.

New Presbyterian Promise Scholarship $20,000 per year at Presbyterian College read more

Conferences

Evangelism Conference at Montreat This is a great year to attend an evangelism conference in North Carolina! The theme for this October 30-November 1 event is” Addressing Harm, Embracing Hope.” Register to attend either online or in person. Educators Regional Gathering SOAP Region of APCE November 3-5 – “Playology”, at Epworth by the Sea 2023 APCE Conference The Association for Partners in Christian Education (APCE) will gather in Birmingham, January 25-28, 2023 for their Annual Event. Scholarships are available for retired educators, small churches, and other categories. Much of the event will be offered online as an option. Check it out! Association of Smaller Congregations Annual Conference, March 2-5, 2023. At Epworth by the Sea. View the flyer here

Key Events October 30-November 1 – 2022 Evangelism Conference at Montreat Conference Center  November 3 and 5 – Annual Clerk Workshop on Zoom November 3-5 – Educators Regional Gathering, “Playology”, Epworth by the Sea November 10 – Deadline to order Thankful Pies order online November 24 – Thanksgiving Day December 10 – Christmas Gala at Montgomery Center December 16 – Montgomery Spaghetti Dinner, 6:00 pm December 17 – Montgomery Elf Run 5k and 1-mile youth run, 9:00 am  December 25 – Christmas Day January 25-28, 2023 – APCE Annual Event, Birmingham, AL February 4 – Winter Stated Presbytery Meeting, Location TBD March 2-5, 2023 – Association of Smaller Congregations Annual Conference, Epworth by the Sea

Blessings, Jerie Lukefahr, Moderator of the Presbytery Sandra Hedrick, Stated Clerk Joe Albright, Chair of Coordinating Council On Behalf of the Coordinating Council

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