Dear Presbytery Family, Beginning with this issue of Staying Connected, we are experimenting with the format of our newsletter. Within the next few weeks, we will ask for your input as we fine tune the design.

Our new moderator-elect, Susan Rose, has written this prayer for our presbytery on the occasion of our first “Staying Connected” since her election.   God of the journey, You are with us in between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, In between winter and spring, In between pandemic and endemic.   Jesus of the journey, We seek your companionship for the ordinary and extraordinary, We seek your consolation in grief and distress, We seek your confidence in proclaiming justice and righteousness,   Holy Spirit, the breath of life on this journey, Guide us, support us, affirm us. In the in between times, you, O Lord, journey with us always. Amen. Get to know Susan as she begins her year as Moderator-Elect.

Have You Shared Our "Presbytery Meeting Highlights"? The highlights for our Winter Stated Meeting have been released! Here they are in a PDF as well as a version that contains links to additional information, both of which can be easily shared. We especially celebrate the installation of Jerie Lukefahr, a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach, as our new presbytery moderator. Jerie’s bio can be found here.

Strategic Focus Areas for 2022 The presbytery approved three focus areas for implementing our strategic plan this year: Vital Congregations, Youth, and Matthew 25. In each Staying Connected we will highlight news and resources which relate to these areas with color-coded backgrounds to match the illustration. Let's Talk! Please Join Our Strategic Focus Conversations Please come and share your questions and thoughts about how the Spirit is leading us to act boldly in these three areas. All Zoom sessions are on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm. and use the same Zoom login information. Our first set of conversations is on Vital Congregations.

Vital Congregations February 17 - 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm Matthew 25 February 24 - 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm Youth March 3 - 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting (the link is the same for each session) Meeting ID: 511 055 6981 Passcode: 1937 To join by phone, dial 301-715-8592 and enter the Meeting ID

Black History Month Links from PMA In the United States, February is dedicated as Black History Month, and this year the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s theme is “Resiliency to Recovery.” In addition to the February 9 Chapel service, the African American Intercultural Congregational Support Ministries is hosting forums, and resources are offered related to the Matthew 25 focus on Dismantling Structural Racism. As a Matthew 25 presbytery we encourage you to explore and share these resources.

"Light My Fire" Youth Retreat at Montgomery Center Montgomery Center is hosting a youth retreat on April 29 - May 1 called “Light my Fire”. The retreat will feature Rev. Damon P. Williams and Paul Demer who were part of the 2021 Montreat leadership. The cost is $125 which covers lodging and meals. Click here for details.

Churches Are Seeking Pastors! Several churches in our presbytery are seeking installed or stated supply pastors. More information can be found on our classifieds page.   Church Statistics Report Portal Closing Really, Really Soon Session clerks, we are almost there for this year's statistical reporting! Seventy percent of our churches have entered at least some of their statistics. We are still hoping that 100% of our churches will report this year. Remember that the statistics portal closes for churches on February 17, and presbytery stated clerks only have about a short time after that to make corrections or enter stats for the churches. Contact the Stated Clerk, Sandra Hedrick, at sandra@staugpres.org if you need assistance.   One Fund for Mission Co-Workers Many of our congregations have contributed to a particular PC(USA) mission or co-worker, domestic or international. The funding of that work has changed, and all gifts are now received into one fund. Understanding the special relationships that form between congregations and particular mission co-workers, a congregation may still make a gift to the one fund “in honor of” [name of person(s)]. Please contact our Office Manager, Lisa Wells, for how this change affects the coding of these faithful gifts that you forward through the presbytery.   There Is Still Time for an Overture to GA  If your session is interested in proposing an overture to the 225th General Assembly or wants our presbytery to concur in an overture already filed, contact the stated clerk at sandra@staugpres.org. More information about the types of overtures that are still timely (and those that are not) can be found on the GA webpage.

So Many Special Celebrations (and Giving to the “Candidate’s Fund”) The year 2022 has already brought us many celebrations, including the installations of Adam Anderson (Pastor, South Jacksonville) and Bryant Anderson (Pastor, Palms). Scott Stuart was ordained at First Gainesville and will be serving there as parish associate. Coming up is the installation of Susan Takis (Pastor, First Green Cove Springs) on February 20, and the commissioning of ruling elder Yvan Kelly to special pastoral service at Kirkwood on March 6.   At each installation, ordination and commissioning, the offering is taken for the “Candidate’s Fund” (now called the “Preparation for Ministry Fund”), which provides financial support to students preparing for pastoral ministries. If you were unable to attend the past three services and would still like to give, click here and choose the Preparation for Ministry Fund to make your gift. Thank you so much!

Savannah School of Laity Since 2020, Savannah Presbytery has offered its School of the Laity classes online. Savannah Presbytery invites participants from other presbyteries to register for the March 12-13, 2022 session. Courses include New Testament Study, Elements of Worship, and the Gospel of John. Click here for more information.

Free Concert at Community Presbyterian Have you heard of the High Point University (N.C.) Chamber Singers? They have toured around the world and are now coming to our own Community Presbyterian Church on February 26 at 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend. For more information visit www.cpcab.org.   Calling All Who Love Church Music! The Presbytery Association of Musicians (PAM) is taking registrations for the 2022 Worship and Music Conference at Montreat. More information about the in person and online conference to be held on June 19-24 and June 26-July 1 may be found on the PAM website.

Lenten Resources Coming in Next Newsletter In our next newsletter, we will provide links to a variety of Lenten resources for those who do not yet have their plans in place or want to add a little bit more of something special. If you have suggestions for resources to include, email Marigrace Doran at marigrace@staugpres.org with your ideas. Thank you!

Upcoming Events February 20, 4:00 p.m. – Installation of Susan Takis at First Green Cove Springs March 6, 3:00 p.m. – Commissioning of Dr. Yvan Kelly at Kirkwood April 29 – May 1 – "Light my Fire" Youth Retreat at Montgomery Center May 3 – Presbytery Spring Stated Meeting June 18 – July 9 – 225th General Assembly, Louisville and Zoom July 24 – 27 – 2022 Presbyterian Youth Triennium, Indianapolis October 4 – Presbytery Fall Stated Meeting

Blessings, Joe Albright, Chair of Coordinating Council Jerie Lukefahr, Moderator of the Presbytery Holly Dillon Inglis, Ministry and Mission Coordinator Sandra Hedrick, Stated Clerk On Behalf of the Coordinating Council

Previous Staying Connected emails are available on our website. Staying Connected Archives