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Hello all and blessings.
With a mix of gratitude and anxiety, I stepped into the role of Presbytery Moderator at the most recent presbytery meeting. I’m looking forward to offering what I have to bring and to getting to know you all better as we discern - as we seek to move in - the direction God would have us go together.
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Presbytery is a team sport. And as I step into this role for a season, I am inviting us to consider how we might trace out what it means to be united as different parts of this common body. Unity, then, is the theme I’m commending. In a world that is navigating division and fortifying dividing walls, the Jesus of the Gospels pushes us to set a table. As I prayed with the gathered congregation on Friday February 20th, may God teach us the lessons of the potluck table.
In an effort to learn more about the churches that make up our presbytery, I ended my comments with a homework assignment, and I’m asking you to join in. Please send to me the name of your church along with two things you treasure about your church and one thing you wish your church could do (something that isn’t about staff changes).
If you would use the button below to send that to me and Deanie Strength, we will hold your insights as informative to the discussions and discerning as the committees of presbytery do their work.
Scripture reference for this theme of “Unity”: Romans 12:1-9
Let us read and pray and share. And may God bless the table we set in the name of our One Lord and Savior - Jesus the Christ. Amen.
John Ruehl
Pastor - White Bluff Presbyterian Church
Moderator - Savannah Presbytery (2026)
| | Savannah Presbytery Events | | Photo Recap: Stated Meeting, St. Simons | | Outgoing Moderator, Elder Marti Stein, First Savannah, with Moderator Rev. Dr. John Ruehl, White Bluff and Moderator Elect, Elder Elaine Griffin, Brunswick Second | | Jean Breitenhirt Scholarship Fund | | |
An offering at the Winter Stated Meeting was taken for the Breitenhirt Scholarship Fund totaling $1,080.00!
Learn more about this fund below:
| | Georgia Presbyteries Event | |
A Spirit-Filled Gathering at Epworth by the Sea
What a gift it was to gather with our sibling Georgia Presbyteries — Cherokee, Flint River, Greater Atlanta, and Northeast Georgia — at Epworth by the Sea following our Winter Stated Meeting!
From our Welcome and Opening Worship through workshops, Potluck Conversations, social time, shared meals, and a deeply interactive Keynote, to our Closing Worship and Communion, the Spirit was truly at work among us.
We are grateful for the connections made, the conversations shared, and the inspiration sparked. We pray that those who participated returned home encouraged by fresh ideas and new relationships that will equip and energize their congregations for service to our Lord & Savior, Jesus the Christ!
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Savannah Presbytery Mission Trip to Canton
- When: April 26-May 2, 2026
- Where: Canton Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Canton NC
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Costs: $120 per person for the Host Church 6-night accommodations. *In addition, we will have a full kitchen in which to prepare meals and the cost of this will be divided by the number of participants.
- Skills: All levels of skills from 0 to General Contractors & experienced laborers are welcome.
In addition, 1-2 persons who would be interested in coming to organize and prepare meals for the team are encouraged to reach out!
Accommodations at Canton NC are foam mattresses that can be stacked and a variety of different rooms for lots of flexibility. Participants must provide their own sheets/pillows/blankets/towels. Two large dining areas and a parlor with lots of seating and a TV. Wifi is available.
If your congregation would like to send individuals or small groups to participate in this mission trip, make a list of interested individuals and complete the Skills Assessment form below. Skill level will not prevent anyone from participating! It is simply a tool used to help PDA know what skills our team can bring to the table.
When you have completed the form, email it to Marty at MSusie1@savannahpresbytery.org.
We will have an upcoming informational meeting on costs and logistics
soon.
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Summer Camp Registration is OPEN!
When: Sunday, June 14-Friday, June 19th
Where: Dogwood Camp & Conference Center, 3320 Harmony Rd,
Chipley FL
*Savannah Presbytery is helping with transportation by Districts
Who: Rising 2nd-12th graders
*Campers are grouped for activities & accommodations by elementary,
middle and high school ages.
Cost: $550 per camper with $50 discount on subsequent siblings
*Churches who are offering financial aid to their campers have “CODES”
accessible through the registration form (church contributions do not
cover optional “Trading Post” spending money).
Breitenhirt Scholarships of $150 per camper are available
from Savannah Presbytery.
Complete and submit application by May 1st, 2026.
How: Register BEFORE May 15th here: https://dogwoodacressavannahpres.campbrainregistration.com/
All payments from families, churches and Savannah Presbytery must be received by Camp Dogwood by June 1st.
Registration assistance is available through Eric Hearn from Camp Dogwood (Contact information for eric is on each page of registration platform)
Questions? Contact Marty Susie at MSusie1@savannahpresbytery.org.
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| | We give a hearty thank you to our outgoing Communications Coordinator Jaclyn Beeler for her efforts to build our website and to keep our news and events before our presbytery through digital promotions in our bi-monthly newsletter. We are thankful for her | | | |
contributions that have strengthened involvement in our shared ministry and wish her all the best in her ongoing work with the Presbytery of East Tennessee with whom she serves as the Presbytery Administrator: Staff - Presbytery of East Tennessee .
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We thank the following people who have completed their terms of service to the presbytery:
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Rev. Jon Hauerwas, Skidaway – Council Chair, 1 year
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Elder Marti Stein, First Savannah – Moderator, 1 year
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Rev. John Ruehl, White Bluff – Moderator-Elect, 1 year
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Rev. Diane Knauf, Richmond Hill – Committee on Preparation for Ministry, 1 year
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Rev. Jim Jackson, St. Simons – Mission Committee, 2 years
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Elder Molly McCarthy, White Bluff – Committee on Ministry (COM), 2 years
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Rev. Jamil el-Shair, Altama – Chair of Self Development of People Committee, 1 year; TE Commissioner to Synod, 2 years
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Elder Arnie Correa, First Savannah – Mission Committee, 3 years
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Rev. Doug Craven (Honorably Retired), First Darien – Chair of Stewardship & Finance Committee, 3 years
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Rev. Cathy Belles, Henry Memorial – Chair of Education and Training Team, 3 years
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Rev. Hampton Williams, Blackshear – COM, 6 years
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Elder/Commissioned Pastor Jimmy Griffin (In Memoriam), First St. Marys – Mission Chair, 5 years; COM Member, 6 years
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Elder Cam Patterson, First Savannah – Permanent Judicial Commission, 6 years
- Elder Serena Hall, – Representation Committee, 6 years
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Our presbytery's Bridge Building initiative is underway! Several participants are engaging in faith-filled, and often difficult, conversations centered on race and loving our neighbors as ourselves over the next few weeks. These initial conversations are happening within identity groups. The next phase will be to bring these participants together in diverse small groups as Bridge Builders.
Bridge Builders learn and practice skills that engage in fostering diversity and meaningful conversations about race and racial healing with emphasis on listening, education, prayer and research.
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March
3rd -Education & Training Team (ETT) meeting @ 2 pm
3rd- Association of Smaller Churches Small & Mighty Zoom @ 7 pm
4th - Committee on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) meeting @ 10 am
5th -Committee on Ministry (COM) meeting @ 2 pm
7th - 8th - The School of the Laity @ Epworth by the Sea
9th- Racial Justice Ministry Team (RJMT) meeting @ 3:30 pm
10th -Mission Committee (MCOM) meeting @ 12 pm
12th– Personnel Committee meeting @ 9:30 am
14th-Synod Meeting @ 11 am
15th-Commissioning of Elder Beth Giuliano as Commissioned Pastor for Congregational Care, Montgomery PC (Beth was unavailable for Winter Stated Meeting)
April
26th - May 2nd - Mission Trip to Canton, NC
May
15th- Summer Camp registration closes
19th - Spring Stated Meeting, TBD
June
1st- Summer Camp fees must be paid in full
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Rev. Wayne McDaniel completed his service as Stated Pastor for McGregor Presbyterian Church. In addition to serving as the Presbytery Moderator, Wayne has served First Eastman, McGregor, and McRae as pastor.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams will begin serving as a designated interim pastor from March through May for Richmond Hill.
The presbytery conducted a commissioning liturgy at the stated meeting to commemorate the following:
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Ruling Elder Karen Cheek as Commissioned Pastor for First Eastman
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Trained Ruling Elder John Wilson as Commissioned Pastor for First Brunswick
- Trained Ruling Elder Rodney Denmark as Commissioned Pastor to the Presbytery-At-Large
| Rev. Andy Meeker – March 3, 1994 | | |
Rev. Don Dilly, pastor of Fort Frederica, shared this Beatitudes "at-home" resource from the Around the Table initiative.
Share it with your membership for intergenerational conversations.
| PC(USA) Special Offerings | |
The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering (OGHSO) is collected during Lent between February 18 (Ash Wednesday) and April 5 (Easter Sunday). Please click on “2026 Special Offerings Season” for more information on this and the other two annual offerings – World Communion Offering and the Christmas Joy Offering. Note that the Pentecost Offering was phased out by the 226th General Assembly (2024).
Those of you responsible for promoting special offerings in your churches will find great resources at: One Great Hour of Sharing | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or by contacting Sarah McDowell, Annual Giving Officer for the PCUSA at sarah.mcdowell@pcusa.org or 502-860-1933.
| Synod of the South Atlantic | Presbyterians for a Better Georgia | |
Interest in our bipartisan advocacy group is growing throughout all the presbyteries in Georgia! February 12th, Presbyterians for a Better Georgia hosted an Online Advocacy Training with over 200 people registered from 33 PC(USA) churches and at least 3 Presbyteries. Here is the video to Feb 12th's Advocacy Training Online (2026)
Our next event is March 18th- see the flyer below. We do have members willing to host folks who will be coming to this in person event, so we hope travel isn't too burdensome. While the advocacy is important, often people say what feels most empowering is being in a room with other people of faith who are concerned about their neighbors and empowered to help systemically in a bipartisan way.
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Presbyterians for a Better Georgia invites you to
REGISTER now for our in-person Lobby Day on March 18th at 8am
Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. For more info on our bipartisan volunteer organization working for affordable housing and healthcare in Georgia, please go to p4bg.org/events
| | Association of Smaller Congregations | | |
We are excited for the next Association of Smaller Congregations Small & Mighty Monthly Zoom Conversation on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT
Topic: Making the Most of Polity in Small Churches
Sometimes it can feel like Presbyterian polity must be stretched and squeezed to make things fit for small churches, but small churches are also used to stretching resources to make the most of the gifts we have and figuring out how things designed for a different space can work. Join us for a conversation about ways that small churches (and the presbyteries that love them!) can use Presbyterian polity to support and extend the ministry and mission of our smaller congregations.
| | | From Our Ministry Partners | | Creation Care Opportunity | | |
Beth Remmes, Coastal Outreach & Climate Resiliency Coordinator,
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) asked us to share an opportunity for congregations to join Blessed Tomorrow on Saturday, April 25, 2026, as a host location for the National Faith + Climate Forum, a powerful national gathering uniting people of faith to lead on climate solutions grounded in justice, hope, and spiritual courage.
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The 77th Annual “Come See Columbia Day” is scheduled for Thursday, April 23rd, 2026.
This event is designed for Presbyterian Women and their friends to meet the Columbia Friendship Circle Scholarship recipient and experience the life of Columbia Theological Seminary. Participants will enjoy a continental breakfast, worship led by Dr. Martha Moore-Keish, a seminary class, a meal with the scholarship winner, and a tour of Mission Haven.
The cost for this event is the cost of your meal ($15.00), and it is a wonderful opportunity to learn, be inspired, and see what God is doing in the world.
For more information, please contact Julie Bailey: baileyj@ctsnet.edu.
Limited on-campus hotel-style rooms are available.
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The IRS Business Travel Rate is $.725
We’ll be using this rate to reimburse our presbytery staff for their travel, and we encourage all churches to use this standard rate for staff reimbursements as well.
| | Where can I find the information I need on Savannah Presbytery? | | See what’s happening at the denominational and synod levels by clicking on the logos below. | | |
Print the above PDF to hand out to members or mail to them.
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