► First Presbyterian Church, Quincy, and the Committee on Dogwood Acres will host a reception to honor Ben Powell, retiring Director of Dogwood Acres, on Sunday, October 2, at 3 p.m. CDT/ 4 p.m. EDT. Please join in expressing your thanks to Ben for his outstanding service to Florida Presbytery.
► Faith Presbyterian Church, of Tallahassee, will have a Service of Ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament for their new Associate Pastor for Youth and College Ministry, Erin Rugh,Sunday, September 25, at 4 p.m. EDT. All clergy are invited to wear robes with red stoles and to be seated together.
► The Presbytery's Committee on Congregational Revitalization (CCR) will present "Eclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda: The Church Reformed, Always Reforming", a one-day seminar for ministers, commissioned ruling elders (CREs), interims, visioning team leaders and others seeking ways to do ministry in our changing culture. The event, to be held Wednesday, October 5, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. CDT in Dogwood Acres' Koinonia Building, will be led by Rev. Mark Tidsworth, a PC(USA) pastor and director of Pinnacle Leadership Associates, and is designed to give insights and tools on how to move forward serving our Lord in this day and time. $10 registration fee includes the seminar, lunch, and snacks.Click here for an event flier. Click here for registration. Registration deadline: Tuesday, September 27.
► Trinity Presbyterian, Pensacola, will hold a Service of Ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament for Lauren ScottSaturday, October 1, at 11 a.m. CDT. All Ministers are invited to wear robes with red stoles and to be seated together.
►Spiritfestmiddle-schoolers' weekend retreat is returning to Dogwood Acres October 14 – 16 with the theme "Live Life Loud".It's a time to relax, recharge, and reconnect, featuring keynotes, worship, small groups, recreation, workshops, and lots of fellowship, all in the beauty of God’s creation at Dogwood Acres. This retreat specifically for middle school students only (grades 6-8) is led by high school students from across the Presbytery of Florida. Lodging is in the Dogwood Acres cabins, and meals are provided in the dining hall. Contact Program Director Eric for more information or registration: eric@dogwoodacres.org.
► First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach has welcomed Rev. John Stringer as their Interim Pastor, as of September 1.
► Congratulations to Christ Presbyterian, of Tallahassee, pastor Rev. Sheldon Steen upon completing his doctoral dissertation. The congregation will celebrate his achievement after worship Sunday, September 25.
► Youth from several Tallahassee-area Presbytery churches, as well as First Presbyterian of Quincy, will enjoy swimming, socializing, games and food this Sunday afternoon, September 28, at an "850 Tally-Ho" gathering at the Seminole Reservation in Tallahassee.
► Northminster Presbyterian Church, Pensacola, is sponsoring a trip to the Holy Land Israel with an optional extension to Egypt next year from May 29 – June 6, 2023, led by Dr. Greg Seltzer and Reverend Shuford White. For an informative trip brochure, please contact pastorgregnpcpensacola@gmail.com.
More news you can use
► The 225th General Assembly (2022) approved 33 proposed amendments to the Book of Order— including a replacement for the entire "Rules of Discipline" D-section — to be considered and voted on by the 166 presbyteries prior to July 9, 2023. For an amendment to be adopted, 84 presbyteries must vote to approve it. The booklet is now available in English; Spanish and Korean translations are in process.
► In support of National Preparedness Month and Protecting Places of Worship National Week of Action, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, invites you to a webinar for the faith-based community as part of the “Protecting Places of Worship National Week of Action.” This webinar on Wednesday, September 21, at 1 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. EDT, will provide participants with an actionable framework to enhance security in places of worship in a manner that sustains an open and welcoming environment for patrons to peaceably worship. Click here for registration.
► What is implicit bias, and how does it affect the ability of the church to be faithful to God’s will? How can the church be more welcoming and inclusive of all voices? On Thursday, October 13, at 6 p.m. CDT/7 p.m. EDT, Jihyun Oh, Director of Mid Council Ministries in the Office of the General Assembly, will lead a 90-minute webinar, Practicing Inclusion — A Leader Formation Webinar for Ruling Elders and Deacons, exploring these matters — both identifying problems hindering our faithfulness, and offering tools to address them. The cost of the webinar is covered by your GA per capita dollars. Click here for more details and to register by the October 5 deadline.
Pray for one another
- September 18 – Woodland Presbyterian Church, Sawdust
- September 25 – Our presbytery's ministers and commissioned ruling elders (CREs)
- The Presbytery's Committee on Congregational Revitalization (CCR), meeting September 20, and Committee on Preparation for Ministry (CPM), meeting September 21.