March 26, 2025

We recently hired Jennifer Tucker as our part-time receptionist to help us live into and live our mission. Here is a little bit about Jennifer in her own words,

"I am happy to join the team at the presbytery and look forward to getting to know each of you. I am originally from St. Mary's, GA but have called Jacksonville my home for twenty years now. I have a varied background in customer service, communication and caregiving roles. I live with my husband James, our four kids and our cat. I love learning new recipes and going on nature walks. I love music, books, traveling, and spending time with friends & family.  I have a lot to learn but I’m excited to start helping you all." If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello. We always welcome visitors and would love to introduce you to Jennifer. Jennifer will usually be in the office Monday-Wednesday from 9-2.  

News From Around the Presbytery

Communications

Receptionist

As noted above, we have hired a new receptionist, Jennifer Tucker. She is a welcome addition to the team. While the position is different than our former communications director, the receptionist will be our liaison to the Communicatons and training team. Once she has settled in, she will be helping to craft and distribute the newsletter. We are still working on the website and know there are several updates that need to happen. Thanks so much for your patience during this process.

Handbells For Sale: We have a set of 27 used Schulmerich Handbells in their original cases for sale. They are all polished, in relatively good working order, and have a good sound to them. Asking $2500-$3000 or best offer. Contact First Presbyterian Church of Williston at 352-734-0055

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.

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:

Fairfield Presbyterian Church

Dr. Belinda Newhart

Sara O'Connell Clerk of Session

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

We also continue in our prayers for the young lady Kinslee who had heart surgery a few weeks ago. If you would like to follow her progress the family posts updates on Facebook and has created a site to help defray medical costs. You can find it by going to Facebook and searching KinsleeStrong.

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