April 2, 2025

Important announcement: We will be enjoying our next round of regional gatherings shortly after Easter. For this time the gatherings will be hosted by churches and each of us is going to bring our own lunch. The dates, times, and places are listed here for your planning.

Area 1 April 22, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church Gainesville at 12:30 pm.

Area 2 April 23, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church Ocala at 1:00 pm.

Area 3 April 24, 2025, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church 12:00 pm.

Area 4 April 28, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church Green Cove Springs at 12:00 pm.

We decided to meet in churches for this round of gatherings to provide space for more intentional conversations. We thought some people might want to discuss the amendments to the PCUSA constitution, and others might enjoy space to share what it is like to preach and lead churches in 2025. Regardless of how the conversations unfold it is always good to break bread together, spend time in fellowship, and lean on each other's support.

News From Around the Presbytery

Communications

This Little Light of Mine…..

Matthew 7: 24-29 is the parable about two men who chose to build their houses on either rock or sand. This parable was the theme of the 2025 Women’s Retreat at Epworth By the Sea, March 14-16. Twenty-seven women from the Orange Park and Green Cove Springs Presbyterian churches joined together to celebrate the many ways our faith can be a strong foundation to provide light to others facing darkness and pain. A program of skits, music, scripture, and our own personal experiences strengthened our resolve to continue to lighten the paths of others in distress. When our light reflects the light of Christ, others will know the love and support of Him during these dark times. Each of us recognized the many times in the past that others have shared with us the light of Christ. And we also were able to appreciate those times when we were able to be that light of love and support for others in tough times. 

The weekend closed on Sunday with a service of joy and blessings in the Lovely Lane Chapel at the retreat center. 

(written by Pat Chapman, GCS)



The women of the First Presbyterian Church of Green Cove Springs and the Orange Park Presbyterian Church during the 2025 Women’s Retreat.

Presbyterian Youth Triennium

July 28 – July 31, 2025

Louisville KY

The Presbytery of St. Augustine is planning to send a delegation of youth and their adult advisors to this event in July. For the first time, Triennium will be held in an urban, convention center setting, with accommodations at nearby designated hotels. Accordingly, we are inviting students who are currently in 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade to attend. (Younger students will have an opportunity to attend Triennium 2028.) Young adults aged 19-23 can register to attend as part of the work crew that will make it all happen. Adult advisors are also welcome to attend. Costs to attend are estimated to be approximately $1,000 per person (registration, air and ground transportation, double-occupancy accommodation, and meals.) Presbytery funding will cover approximately one-third of these costs.

For more information or to register to attend, please contact Vickie Bossuot at wbossuot@aol.com. You can also click on the image above for more information.

Registration is now open for Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2025–Stewardship: The Art of Resiliency.  

Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an ecumenical conference planned by volunteers from the PCUSA and ELCA, is designed for pastors and lay leaders to provide practical tools to strengthen your congregation's stewardship and generosity programs. This year’s conference will be in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 22-24, with an online virtual registration option as well. In-person attendees will be able to choose from dozens of workshops in addition to attending diverse plenary sessions and worship experiences. Virtual attendees will be able to join us for live-streamed and recorded plenaries and worship, and will also have access to 8 workshops, 4 of which will be available via be livestream. 

Registration rates as are follows:

Early Bird In-Person Registration (through June 30): $360

First Call Pastor or Seminary Student In-Person Registration: $200

Virtual Attendee Registration: $150

After June 30, regular In-Person Registration increases to $385.

Rooms at our event hotel, the Sheraton New Orleans Canal Street, are offered at the discounted rate of $179/night if you book by August 29.

Grants are available through the Presbyterian Foundation to assist pastors and New Worshiping Community leaders to attend the conference. For more information, visit https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/resources/church-financial-literacy-and-leadership-program/grant/ or contact your Ministry Relations Officer, Rev. Dana Waters at dana.waters@presbyterianfoundation.org. 

Call to Serve

Are you called to serve God at the presbytery level? Several of our committees have positions that we need to fill to carry out our mission. We are looking for ruling elders and teaching elders that have time and energy to serve Christ beyond the local church. For more information, please contact Beth Touchton, Volunteer Management Committee Chair, or David Rollins, Lead Presbyter.

Resources: Jerie Lukefahr recently attended a workshop at APCE facilitated by a pastor in NE who has put together podcasts for Bible study use - for free. "Abundant Harvest: Midwest Ministry Hub" (FPC Hastings NE) Thought this might be worth sharing with the presbytery. https://midwestministryhub.org/

Congregations around the country that are on the front lines of welcoming all and providing sanctuary are beginning to deal with the reality that the landscape has shifted. If you are part of one of those congregations this may be useful https://pcusa.org/how-we-serve/global-engagement/immigration

Many years ago, I learned a wise approach to sharing resources and educational opportunities. I provide what I am able noting the resources are available to all but not required by any. It is reflected in the statement, all may, some will, none must. Use whatever is helpful in your particular ministry context and we will continually look for ways to resource our congregations.

Prayer Corner

Please pray for the Lord to guide the following church this week:

Faith Presbyterian Church

Dr. Ruth Ragovin

Jim Neal Clerk of Session

Ongoing Prayers for Charlie Evans our Stated Clerk as he proceeds through cancer treatment.

Liane H. Sickles service of Witness to the Resurrection will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 1:00 pm. at the Silver Spring Shores Presbyterian Church.

Prayers for the family of Dale Stewart who passed away on March 28, 2025. A service of Witness to the Resurrection will take place at Dunnellon Presbyterian Church May 3, 2025, at 11:00 am.

Mission Haven

Click here to read updates from Mission Haven in their newsletter Haven Happenings.

Montgomery Center



Fish Fry Fridays are going on now during the season of Lent. Join us under the oaks from 4 to 7pm each Friday through April 11. Fish meals and Fish and Shrimp meals include your choice of 2 sides, hushpuppies, drink and dessert. Enjoy this annual fundraiser event rain or shine. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

Easter Respite will be held at Montgomery from April 21-24. This is a free opportunity for church leaders to rest and unwind after the busy season of Lent.

Spring Service Day is scheduled for May 17, from 9:30am to 4pm. Help with last minute preparations for summer camp! Youth may earn community service hours. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Many hands make light work. RSVP by text to 352-473-4516.

Family Fun Day is our annual open house, scheduled for June 7 from 11 to 2. Come out for an open swim, archery, cabin tours, and meet this summer's staff. If you haven't been to camp in a while, this is a great opportunity to come and see all we have been working on!

Equipped to Serve Registration is now open for the presbytery's 2026 enrichment and training event. We are delighted to partner in ministry for this important training in the life of the church.

Summer Information - News and Updates!

Summer 2025's theme is Created to Care: Finding our Place in God's Creation. I am excited to be writing this curriculum, with a passion for God's gift to us in creation, and how we may care for our precious world and one another as Christ followers. I am grateful for the ministry partners who have encouraged me in this endeavor, and who will be reviewing and offering edits prior to sharing it with our campers.

This year marks the beginning of our new 3-year Leadership Development Program. This is a progressive program designed to equip our youth to be strong leaders at camp, in our churches, and in the world. While the main component of this program is during the summer in LIT1 & 2 and CIT camps, LDP participants will also have opportunities to gather throughout the year for service, fellowship, and learning. We will explore leadership styles, communication skills, and conflict resolution, while also learning camp programming, obtaining certifications, and developing connections with youth around the presbytery.

With the rise in labor and food costs, and a sobering cost-analysis for our programs, you may have noticed the substantial increase in camp registration fees. This puts our costs more in line with camps locally and around the nation. While costs have risen, our families' need for financial support has not wavered. We aim to increase our scholarship fund to help every camper have an opportunity to attend camp. Would you continue to support this vital ministry through our scholarship fund?

I'd also like to encourage your sessions to discuss your camp sponsorship programs and share that decision with your families. Some churches sponsor member children at 100%, and community children not affiliated with the church at 50%. Oftentimes families ask us at Montgomery what the church is sponsoring, and we cannot make that decision for you, as each church has its own budget restraints to work with. Please email rebekah@montgomerycenter.org with your intended sponsorship plans for summer 2025 so that we may best serve our camp families together.

Finally, we are in the busy season of hiring our summer staff! We have several counselors returning, but we are looking for more 18+ overnight counselors to serve our growing program. Applicants must love kids, love Jesus, and have a desire to make a difference in children's lives. This year's commitment to serve is only 5 weeks, training included. We are committed to being a Presbyterian camp, but we need your help to refer youth group graduates and students in your college ministries to serve this summer. More information about what it takes to be a counselor can be found at https://www.montgomerycenter.org/summer-staff.

Summer Camp 2025

Registration for Camp Montgomery Summer Camp 2025 is now live! Click here to view the schedule and learn more about the various camps. Register today with a special early bird discount.

Rebekah Rodgers

Executive Director | Montgomery Center

88 SE 75th St, Starke, FL 32091

352-473-4516 | 352-514-5124

www.montgomerycenter.org

Faithful in hope. Patient in affliction. Steadfast in prayer.

Synod of South Atlantic

Home | Synod of South Atlantic

Positions Available In Our Presbytery

Check out the many ministry opportunities throughout our presbytery here.

Blessings,

Cliff Lyda, Moderator of the Presbytery

Charlie Evans, Stated Clerk

David Rollins, Lead Presbyter