January 15, 2025

Greetings Presbytery Family!

It was great to see a number of you at our recent training event (Back Together Again, Again) at Montgomery Center. I was able to share about the size and state of our presbytery. I thought highlights were important enough they should be shared with the entire presbytery. The Presbytery of St. Augustine has 53 churches spread over more than 17,000 square miles covering 19 counties in Florida. I have been fortunate to visit all corners of our presbytery, to worship with every congregation and see first-hand how we are being the hands and feet of Christ in the world today. There is so much to celebrate. Many of our churches work with those who are housing insecure. We are feeding the hungry through food pantries. We are providing clothes, food, and shelter in a number of ways. I am excited to be in ministry with people who live into their callings with energy, imagination, intelligence, and love. There is no singular correct way to live into our discipleship and our 53 churches are approaching their mission endeavors in ways that our authentic to who and where they are. Mission and ministry vary by context.

The reality is the state of our presbytery is strong, but it certainly could be stronger. Ministries that will flourish in the coming years will be the ones that are regularly assessing how they are meeting the needs of their communities. Flexibility and adaptability will serve us well as we continue to serve Christ. New models of ministry are emerging, the Spirit of God is continually with us, guiding us, loving us. The life of discipleship is an incredible journey, and I am glad to be able to walk it with you.

Peace,

David

News From Around the Presbytery

Communications

The Presbytery of St. Augustine is in the process outsourcing some of its communications. We believe the transition will be complete in February. If you have items for the newsletter, please send them to our Lead Presbyter David Rollins at david@staugpres.org or Lisa Wells our office manager at lisa@staugpres.org. We ask for your patience and grace as we make the transition.

Church Ministry Highlight

Woodlawn Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

Saturday Reading School

Newsletter

Rev. Don Johnson, Pastor

(904) 768-5905

Dear Members of The Presbytery of St. Augustine,

The members and staff of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church’s Saturday Reading School would like to thank you for providing us with a grant to start a Saturday Reading Program at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church.  We believe through prayers, your support, and the commitment from a dedicated group of teachers and staff, our reading instruction has improved the reading ability of children from our church and the surrounding community.

We began this journey on August 17, 2024. Each Saturday, we start our morning with devotion and a “Thought for the Day.”  Children are divided into small groups for reading instruction based on their age and ability. We have story time for the last 15 minutes of the day, exposing our children to various types of books. Each child is given a balanced meal to take home and encouraged to read during the week.  Volunteers from the church come to support children with reading, drive the van, and assist in many ways. We have observed tremendous growth in your children’s confidence and reading ability.  Currently, we are assessing students to determine specific growth and what we need to focus on in the new year.  

Our last day for this term was Saturday, December 14^th. We celebrated our last day with a story, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. The book’s theme is you must “believe.”  Each child was given a copy of the Polar Express and a cup with hot chocolate and marshmallows to read and enjoy hot chocolate at home. We will resume Saturday Reading School on Saturday January 11^th and end on April 26, 2025.

We give God thanks for our Presbytery and look forward to the positive results in reading for our children! Thank you again! Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

Upcoming Presbytery Meeting February 1, 2025

Montgomery Center Starke

Physical address: 88 SE 75th St, Starke, FL 32091

Here are a few links with important information about the upcoming presbytery meeting.

Lunch Registration

https://onrealm.org/MontgomeryCenter/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZGRlZjQxY2MtYzlmMS00NTkyLWIwZjYtYjI1ZTAxM2JjNzJm

Childcare

https://forms.gle/K6jzcTqvr7NJYFzt8

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.

Back Together Again (Again)

More than 40 people gathered at Montgomery on January 11, 2025, for a day filled with informational workshops, engaging fellowship, and good food.

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.

MLK Opportunity

All are invited to a Martin Luther King Day Prayer Service on Monday, January 20th at 12 noon. Hosted by Pastor Emily Knight and Pastor Scott Brooks-Cope at Riverside Park United Methodist Church Chapel, 819 Park St, Jacksonville, FL. Parking lot next to church on Park St. For more information call Scott at 904-568-2052. 

The Lead Presbyter will be in Montreat on study leave January19th--25th

Prayer Corner

Please pray for the Lord to guide the following church (its staff and session) this week:

First Presbyterian Church, Alachua

Leadership

Rev. Gary Hardesty Pastor

Karen Hardesty Clerk of Session

Presbyterian Women

Annual Gathering

Save the date for the 41 Annual Gathering of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of St. Augustine! The event will take place at Montgomery Center on January 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $30. View and print the event flyer to share with your Presbyterian Women! Click here to register online. Early registration ends January 10.

Justice and Peace Calendar

Click here to view the 2024 PW Justice and Peace Calendar.

Mission Haven

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

Montgomery Center



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.

Upcoming Events at Montgomery Center

·       Jan. 25, 2025 – PW Winter Gathering at Montgomery Center

·       Feb. 1, 2025 – SOAP Regional Event

·       Feb. 1, 2025 - Winter Stated Presbytery Meeting at Montgomery Center

·       Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, 2025 - Spring Youth Retreat at Montgomery Center

·       Apr. 21 to 24, 2025 - Easter Respite at Montgomery Center

Synod of South Atlantic

Home | Synod of South Atlantic

Key Events

• Jan. 3 through 5, 2025 – Winter Camp at Montgomery Camp
• Jan 6 through 12 – Cruising with Montgomery
• Jan. 11, 2025 – Back Together Again (Again) at Montgomery Center
• Jan. 25, 2025 – PW Winter Gathering at Montgomery Center
• Feb. 1, 2025 - Winter Stated Presbytery Meeting at Montgomery Center
• Feb. 1, 2025 – SOAP Regional Event

Positions Available In Our Presbytery

Check out the many ministry opportunities throughout our presbytery here.

Blessings,

Steve Crowley, Moderator of the Presbytery

Charlie Evans, Stated Clerk

David Rollins, Lead Presbyter