August 6, 2025

News From Around the Presbytery

Please join us for the Celebration of Life and the Witness to the Resurrection for Rev. Ken Goodrich.

The service will be this Saturday, August 9th at 11am at

First Presbyterian Church of Lake City

697 SW Baya Dr.

Lake City, FL 32056

Our Presbytery of St. Augustine in-C directory is an amazing resource.

If you have a change in your church staff let our office know so that we can update the directory accordingly. If you notice there is information about your church or a person that in inaccurate and not up-to-date please reach out.  https://info.in-c.net/

A timely message from our friends and colleagues at the Synod of the Sun:

To friends both near and far from Texas, we ask for your prayers for the people of Central Texas as they navigate the aftermath of the devastating floods on July 4–5. Our local partners, including Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly and Schreiner University, are actively providing meaningful support to those affected—and doing so with great care and compassion.

If you, your congregation are in a position to offer assistance, please visit:

https://pcusa.org/disaster-assistance/active-responses/national-disaster/texas-hill-country-flooding

Please share- we have office space available:

Upcoming Events:

To register for FISH 2.0 Click HERE for full registration packet

A Great Opportunity- Clergy Round-Table Discussion

Prayerfully consider putting on this on your calendar. A Clergy Round-Table discussion is set for Monday September 8, 2025, at Camp Montgomery 9:30-12:00 concluding with lunch. This gathering will begin with a brief devotional followed by table discussions with guiding questions about preaching and church leadership in today’s day and age.

SIGN UP HERE: Realm Link

The Sacred Pause 

You are Invited to a Clergy Retreat 

Nov. 2-4, 2025 

Location: Epworth by the Sea 

100 Arthur J Moore Dr, St Simons Island, GA 31522

The Sacred Pause is the theme for the Presbytery of St. Augustine’s Clergy, CRE, and Certified Educator retreat. We are encouraging you to join us to take a deep breath, to take a step away from the strains and stress of the ministry and make plans to be with us at Epworth By the Sea. Our retreat will take place November 2-4. We will begin with dinner on Sunday at 5:30pm and conclude with breakfast on Tuesday morning. The cost is $300 per person, which includes lodging and all meals. A schedule will be available closer to the event.

There will be times for worship (evening and morning prayers) and there will be plenty of space for fellowship and relaxation. Monday following breakfast and morning prayers there will be free time until dinner. Box lunches will be provided so you can find something to do that nourishes your soul. We will have some planned options available which you can join or form a group on your own.   

The call to ministry is a unique one and it is important that we spend time together with people who understand firsthand the joys and the struggles that are part of our lives. We believe that listening, learning, and supporting each other is essential for our self-care and strengthens us for our continued service to Christ. Please use the following link to register.    

This retreat is planned and hosted by: 

Julie Higbee Associate Pastor First Presbyterian Fernandina Beach 

Cliff Lyda Pastor at First Presbyterian Church Palatka and the Moderator of our presbytery 

David Rollins The Lead Presbyter for the Presbytery of St. Augustine 

The retreat is specifically for those involved in ministry. It is not a family retreat. *Childcare will NOT be provided.

REGISTER HERE

Please be praying for the family of Rev. Ken Goodrich. He was recently retired from First Presbyterian Church of Lake City and just passed away a few days ago.

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

Mayport Presbyterian Church

Rev. Dr. Jim Black, Stated Supply

Church Spotlight

Mayport Presbyterian Church

This 170-year-old, little white structure was bought from a group of local women who, wanting a place to study the Bible, saw to its simple construction. Presbyterians bought it 125 years ago. Most members over these years were connected with the ocean in one way or another.

Today, we have 15 elderly members, but back in the day, it had a 'boatload' (nice word, huh?) of youth, who grew up and left to find jobs. It still faithfully provides worship and fellowship to many islanders, whether members or not.

One interesting thing is that a cemetery, fifty yards in front of the church, may be THE oldest Euro-Mediterranean cemetery in the Americas! In 1556, the Spanish from St. Augustine attacked the French colony there, and the remains of both killed are in that hardly remembered cemetery. 

As the 2025 summer camp season comes to a close, we are overflowing with gratitude. Our dedicated summer staff has grown in faith, leadership, and service—becoming the very team we’ve been praying for all year. Daily, we’ve seen God answer prayers in both quiet and powerful ways.

Our Leaders in Training spent two transformational weeks learning how to lead at camp, in their churches, and in the world. Campers and counselors have participated in conservation, beautification, and maintenance projects—actively caring for creation. Through our “Created to Care” curriculum, campers explored the story of creation and learned that God is the light, our firm foundation, and we are partners in caring for the world.

We’ve had the joy of serving 115 overnight campers, with Session 1 marking our largest week since before the pandemic. This is the last week of our program, with both Discovery and Night Owl campers. The remainder of the summer will host many guest groups, filling our facilities to capacity. 

Thank you, presbytery family, for your prayers of support. It is a joy to partner in ministry. God is moving at Camp Montgomery, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Rebekah Rodgers

Montgomery Center

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

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