April 15, 2026

Mark your calendars for the next presbytery meeting!

Our Spring Stated Meeting will be held at

First Presbyterian Church of Perry, FL

on Saturday May 30th.

More details to come...

Burial Plot For Sale



https://www.buriallink.com/cemeteries/arlington-park-cemetery-and-funeral-home/plot_listings/34487

For additional inquiries you may contact Lisa at (904) 733-8277 x 2 lisa@staugpres.org

Mini Regional Summit for Board of Pensions

Thursday, April 23, 2026

10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.

Lakewood Presbyterian Church

2001 University Blvd. W.

Jacksonville, FL 32217

During our time together, we will discuss:

• Medical Plan cost trends and changes in the healthcare system
• Dues package subsidies designed to ease financial burdens for congregations, pastors, and their families
• Plans and programs that support those who serve the Church, including enhancements to the Assistance Program

This meeting is open to all. Pastors, Personnel Committee chairs, and church business administrators will especially benefit as they begin planning for 2027.

There will also be time for questions and open conversation. I hope you will join us for this opportunity to learn, share, and engage in a collaborative discussion about the Benefits Plan and what lies ahead.

Please RSVP at the following link:

Mini Regional Summit in St. Augustine Presbytery – Fill out form

2026 Cluster Gatherings

 *Mark your calendar! Tentative Dates for the remainder of 2026:

May 18, St. Augustine                              Aug. 24, Jacksonville               Nov. 16, St. Augustine

May 19, Jacksonville                                Aug. 25, St. Augustine             Nov. 17, Jacksonville

May 20, Ocala                                          Aug. 26, Gainesville                 Nov. 18, Gainesville

May 21, Gainesville                                 Aug. 27, Ocala                         Nov. 19, Ocala

Are you part of a church in a rural setting?

Have you ever wanted to attend a conference that was designed specifically for your context? If so, check out the Rural Church Ideas Conference in Arkansas. There is no cost to attend and even the lodging is free, here is the link for more information:

https://townsquareco.org/the-rural-ideas-conference/

The Art of Transitional Ministry

August 16–21, 2026

Sponsored by Montreat Conference Center, in cooperation with the Transitional Ministry Education Consortium.

Have you ever considered transitional ministry as a vocation? Would you like to learn more about guiding congregations as they navigate the waters of pastoral change? If so, check out the link below for a continuing educational opportunity.

https://montreat.org/events/transitional-26

Pray for the Lord to guide the following church this week:

Fairfield Presbyterian Church

Bea Newhart, Commissioned Ruling Elder

Sara Dahill, Clerk

Church  Spotlight

Fairfield Presbyterian Church

An early photograph of the Fairfield Presbyterian Church

Everyone is very friendly in our congregation. I always say we do not know a stranger. Every 2nd Sunday of the month we have a potluck dinner after church. It's a group effort with lots of fellowship. Even though our church is over 100 years old, we've maintained top notch condition. New paint, new lights, new air handlers, and weekly landscaping. We think it's very charming.

The Fairfield Presbyterian Church was established in a historical area of Northwest Marion County in 1905, and the sanctuary was completed in 1906.

Long before this church was founded the area around it saw the U.S. Army occupy the area during the Second Seminole War (also known as the Florida War) (1835-1842). Fort Drane (1835-1837) was built and once stood just to the north of the area that would become the town of Fairfield.  Fort Drane which was located on the General Duncan L. Clinch plantation known as Auld Lang Syne saw thousands of U.S. Troops in the area. Some of those soldiers would move back after the war ended and settle in the area that would become known as Fairfield. 

The families that settled here after the Second Seminole War were farmers and many were from Fairfield County, South Carolina. Those families also would see their sons join and march off to war during the 1860s and fought bravely for their beliefs as our nation split and fought a Civil War. They came home and some re-established their farms or picked up farming their land where they had left off. 

Sundays are traditionally the day of worship and giving thanks for the blessings these farming families felt that they had received. Am sure that there were Sundays that prayers went up for a good growing season and a good harvest as these farmers worshipped at the Presbyterian Church.

In 1898, 7 years before there was a Fairfield Presbyterian Church the Gainesville & Gulf Railway, whose name was later changed to the Tampa & Jacksonville Railway, would lay the tracks that would pass in front of the church and cemetery. Just to the north of the church is Still Pond, which furnished the water that filled the boilers on the train engines and watered the teams of horses from the stagecoaches that once traveled the old military roads.

The town continued to grow and was still growing when the Presbyterian Church was built. The earliest members had the last names of Yongue, Carter, Scott, Mathews, Dupuis, McLauchin, Tate and Murphy.  Today, in 2026 you can still find these folks family members attending church.  John B. Yongue is often cited as the primary builder of the church building. 

In the 1930s during the Great Depression, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt through his New Deal programs, set up the W.P.A. Church Project and if you search the records, you can find an entry for the Presbyterian Church. It says: “Constituted 1901. Services in present rectangular, white, frame building, erected and dedicated 1901. Present membership ____. First settled pastor, Rev. Gordon. 1901-1903. Present pastor, Rev. H. Rickey 1940 - ?”  This information differs from the church history including who minister was in 1940. According to church records the minister was the Rev. L.W. Brown who served from 1939 to 1943.

Over the years the church has had some renovation projects, but the description found in the W.P.A. church project still describes the church today.  

Since its founding - families have come and gone, the old buildings that were near are mostly gone as well as the acres and acres that were once the vegetables and citrus grew are often now horse farms. 

The Fairfield Presbyterian Church still stands where it was built 121 years ago. There have been some changes, but those that established it so long ago would have no problem realizing that this is the church that they started on its way.

What’s Happening at Montgomery?

Montgomery Update: Growth, Stewardship, and What’s Next

Because of your continued support, Montgomery is experiencing a season of meaningful growth and increasing stability.

Overall giving increased by 72% from 2024 to 2025, reflecting both charitable giving and matched gifts each year. 

This generosity—combined with increased guest participation and careful stewardship—has allowed us to:

• Expand lodging capacity and complete needed facility improvements
• Provide scholarships for children from low-income families, foster families, and underserved communities
• Invest in staff, strengthening program quality and increasing the number of groups we serve

As a result, many guest groups are not only returning—they are already rebooking for the coming year.

Financially, this progress has strengthened our foundation. We are meeting our monthly obligations, building reserves for the future, and steadily reducing our historic debt.

As Kerry Alys Robinson writes in Imagining Abundance, “for a person of faith, stewardship is both the proper care of all that has been entrusted to one, and the recognition of and response to the potential at hand.”

This is the work before us—not only sustaining what has been given, but faithfully stepping into what is possible.

We are continuing to listen, learn, and plan for the future.

This spring, I completed coursework toward the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising through the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and am now working on my final project. As part of that work, I would love your help.

Would you be willing to share your Montgomery story?

Whether it’s a meaningful memory, a reason you support the ministry, or the impact this place has had on your life, your voice matters. These stories will help shape how we share Montgomery’s mission moving forward.

You can email me directly (rebekah@montgomerycenter.org, subject line: Montgomery Story) or complete this short form: https://forms.gle/qWdjWaSfhy9i6yj56

Thank you for being part of this ministry.

Your support is not only sustaining Montgomery today—it is helping ensure that future generations will experience the same sense of belonging, growth, and faith that so many have found here.

With gratitude,

Rebekah Rodgers



Upcoming Dates:

April 18-19: Spring Middle School Retreat

May 15-17: Camp Yoga Den

June 1: Staff Training Begins

June 14: Overnight Session 1 - Wilderness Camp, Night Owl, CIT & More

June 15: Day Camp Session 1 - Into the Wild

June 21: Overnight Session 2 - Sports Camp, You & Me, LIT & More

June 22: Day Camp Session 2 - Game On!

June 28: Overnight Session 3 - Explorer, STEAM, Challenge, & More

June 29: Day Camp Session 3 - Wonder Lab

July 13: Day Camp Session 4 - Once Upon a Camp

July 20: Day Camp Session 5 - Build it Big

July 27: Day Camp Session 6 - Time Travelers

October 10: Fall Festival

October 16-18: Fall Youth Retreat

November 13-15: Choose FI Jacksonville Retreat

Dec 30-Jan 2: Winter Camp

Follow us on Facebook!

Rebekah Rodgers

Executive Director | Montgomery Center

88 SE 75th St, Starke, FL 32091

352-473-4516 | 352-514-5124

www.montgomerycenter.org

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,



Barbara Darby, Moderator of the Presbytery

Charlie Evans, Stated Clerk

David Rollins, Lead Presbyter



Visit our website here: https://www.staugpres.org/

Call us: (904) 733 - 8277



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