Dear Presbytery Family,

Highlights to share this week include:

  • Appreciation for all those who participated in the presbytery meeting held on Tuesday, August 25th, via Zoom. We shared together in the joy of commissioning ruling elder Bea Newhart to her new pastoral service with Fairfield Presbyterian Church, approved changes to the presbytery’s Manual of Operations, and demonstrated that we are building our skill and capacity to work together as an online spiritual community.

  • The next stated meeting of the presbytery will be held on Tuesday, October 6th, at 9:30 a.m., via the Zoom platform.

  • The presbytery has approved a new full-time presbytery leadership position. Click here to see the new Ministry and Mission Coordination position description. The Personnel Team will begin the application process soon.

  • The Rev. Craig Davies has announced that, after two years of faithful and effective service as Area Three Relationship Coordinator, his last day in that position will be September 30th. Please join us in expressing appreciation to Craig by emailing him. If you are interested in learning more about this part-time position on the presbytery staff, serving in the Jacksonville metro area, click here for the position description and email your resume to Chris Lieberman.



  • Mindfulness in the Midst of Madness is a 6 week course which will help users understand the physiological impacts of stress/anxiety. Users will utilize a variety of mindfulness techniques throughout the course, available beginning September 14th. The course can be accessed at: https://academy.gainesvillecounselingcenter.com.

  • A weekly support group at noon on Wednesdays for clergy who may be experiencing reactions to the ongoing stressors of the pandemic and church leadership. This group requires pre-registration and will be offered free of charge. For more information, please email Larry Green.

  • Project Common Grounds (a program of Palms Presbyterian Church) and OneJax invite you and your congregation to an evening called: Jacksonville Together: Disrupting Division, on November 1, 2020, 6:30-8:00 PM. Along with a panel of Jacksonville faith community leaders, the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton, author of A House United: How the Church Can Save the World, will be the featured speaker. Click here to register to receive more information.

  • Your presbytery Coordinating Council meets every Thursday and invites you to share any ideas or concerns you have as members of the presbytery and partners in ministry. In the body of Christ, we all have a part. Click here to contact Rev. Diane Wilson, Council Chairperson, to share something that you believe should be on the Council agenda.

  • Our COVID-19 resources page continues to be updated so that we can support all of our churches, ministers and ministries in the coming months. If you know of a resource that should be added, please email Marigrace Doran at your convenience.

  • Remember that you can visit our Prayer and Devotions page to request prayers for you, your church family, and your community. That same page provides access to daily lectionary readings.

Our prayer for the day includes opening our hearts in sorrow, gratitude and hope; and adapting a petition offered by J. Phillip Newell in Celtic Treasure:

Ever present God, we pray with those affected by the mighty force of Hurricane Laura. That those who have been spared nature’s fury -as well as those whose lives are changed forever by ravages of wind and water - may find solace, sustenance, and strength in the days of recovery and reflection that come.

Ever loving God, we pray with those affected by the continuing trauma of racial injustice and the culture of violence in our society. That those who have been spared oppression’s fury - as well as those whose lives are changed forever by ravages of inhumanity - may find solace, sustenance, and strength in the days of repentance and recovery that we hope will come.

Ever inspiring God, when it seems there is no hope you show us new ways forward. When it seems there are only endings, you show us new beginnings. Strengthen our belief in the power of life over death. Strengthen our belief in the force of truth over falsehood that we may be bearers of hope in the world. Amen.

Diane Wilson, Chair of Coordinating Council
Edd Norris, Moderator of the Presbytery
Sandra Hedrick, Stated Clerk
Chris Lieberman, Relationship Coordination Director
On Behalf of the Coordinating Council