October 4, 2023

Greetings,

We are grateful for the opportunity we had, this week, to gather in the spirit of faith and fellowship. May the coming week be filled with blessings, unity and the joy of shared worship. This edition of Staying Connected shares updates and information about upcoming events taking place around the presbytery.

Fall Stated Meeting

At the Fall Stated Meeting, on Tuesday, the Youth Ministry leadership awarded $100,000, from an anonymous donor, to churches with active youth ministries.

$10,000 (each) was awarded to First Presbyterian of Jasper, First Presbyterian of Starke and Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian.

$20,000 (each) was awarded to Geneva Presbyterian and South Jacksonville Presbyterian.

$30,000 was awarded to Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian.

Mental Health Assistance Fund

The Presbytery of St. Augustine is proud to announce the establishment of a Mental Health Assistance Fund.

The purpose of this fund is:

• To financially assist individuals in need of counseling.
• To financially assist churches interested in hosting events relating to mental health.
• To financially assist churches interested in establishing support groups and/or providing grief counselors for congregations after a major mental health crisis.
• To financially assist congregations and/or organizations within our presbytery interested in providing support group training and education events.

The Presbytery of St. Augustine is committed to addressing the current mental health crisis in our country. If you or your church are currently providing or working to provide any kind of mental health services, and/or support groups, initiatives, please contact the presbytery — [email protected].

Update on Designated Funds

The Coordinating Council has set a deadline for submitting a grant application for an award from Designated Funds. The application deadline is November 15, 2023. For more information, click here.

Property Updates

The Synod of South Atlantic has shared space with the Presbytery for many years. However, the Synod will be transitioning into a new facilities model and will no longer need the office space at the Presbytery Office. If anyone knows of a non-profit that would like to rent office space next to Lakewood Presbyterian Church, there are two offices available for rent. Please let the Presbytery Office know of any interest.

Welcome, Lead Presbyter David Rollins!

This week we, officially, welcome David Rollins to the Presbytery of St. Augustine as our new Lead Presbyter.

News From Around the Presbytery

Flourishing Together: A Discussion on Affordable Housing

Join South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church for their Flourishing Together series on Tuesday, October 10, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. They will explore the complexities surrounding affordable housing and how the community can work towards a solution that will help Jacksonville residents find a safe place to live.

Get tickets for this FREE event by clicking here.

Blessing of the Animals

The Blessing of the Animals service is not only a time to celebrate the beloved animals in your life, but also to see how it might be done in your church for church members, their pets and your community as a creative way of reaching out.

World Animal Day is celebrated each year on October 4. On this day, animal life in all its forms is celebrated, and special events are planned in locations all over the globe. October 4 was originally chosen for World Animal Day because it is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the environment. Numerous churches throughout the world observe October 4 (or a Sunday close to it) with a Blessing of the Animals service.

We'd love to see photos from your Blessing of the Animals service! Send them to [email protected]. If you are looking to attend a service, check out the one at Lakewood Presbyterian on October 15, at 10:00 a.m.

Resources

2023-2024 Presbyterian Planning Calendars

It’s time to pre-order your 2023-2024 Presbyterian Planning Calendar through the presbytery office! The discounted rate is $12.00 each. Or only $10.00 each if you pick-up at the presbytery office. Click here to order your calendar(s).

Matthew 25 Church

PC(USA) has released a brand new video to help Matthew 25 congregations and communities with next steps. Learn more about next steps here.

On the Way Youth Retreat

We invite youth group participants (middle and high school) and their adult leaders to join us at Montgomery Center October 6 through 8, for our Fall Retreat: On the Way. Join us for worship music, inspiring keynotes, recreation, small group time and lots more! The cost is $135 for youth and $85 for adults. There are scholarships available.

For more information, click here.

To register, click here.

Upcoming Events at Montgomery Center

• October 6-8 – Presbytery Youth Retreat: On the Way
• October 28 – 2nd Annual Fall Fest
• November – Thankful Pies
• December 2 – 3rd Annual Gala: Christmas Under the Oaks
• January 3-5, 2024 – Snow Winter Camp
• January 20, 2024 – Officer Training
• March 1-3, 2024 – Montgomery Youth Retreat

Key Events

• September 15 through October 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month
• October 6-8 – Presbytery of St. Augustine Fall Youth Retreat at Montgomery Center
• October 10 – Flourishing Together: A Discussion on Affordable Housing, 6:00 p.m. at South Jacksonville
• October 28 – 2nd Annual Fall Fest at Montgomery Center
• November – Thankful Pies
• December 2 – 3rd Annual Gala: Christmas Under the Oaks at Montgomery Center

Positions Available In Our Presbytery

Check out the many ministry opportunities throughout our presbytery here.