Statistical reporting workshop Dec. 5

► As annual statistical reporting opens this Friday, December 2, Presbytery Stated Clerk Jeannie Dixon will lead a statistical reporting workshop via Zoom on Monday, December 5, at 6 p.m. CST/7 p.m. EST. The workshop is for clerks of session, pastors, office personnel – anyone who'll be submitting a congregation's 2022 year-end statistical data to the PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly. The workshop will be helpful, even if you've entered statistics before, as many questions have been changed this year. Click here to learn about these changes. Workshop registration is required. Click here to register. Download the reporting workbook: English  Spanish  Korean

Our presbytery family

► Find articles from General Presbyter Roy Martin, presbytery committees, and more in the Presbytery's December Panhandle Presbyterian. Share with your session members, committee members, congregation or others who might be interested! 

► First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee and the Presbytery welcome Rev. Anne Apple as 1st, Tallahassee's interim pastor; her first Sunday in their pulpit will be December 4. She and her husband, Jim, are coming from Memphis, TN, where she has served Idlewild Presbyterian Church for many years. 

► UKirk Tallahassee will hold their annual Christmas Party and Community Dinner, featuring crafts, cookies, ugly sweaters, music, food and fun, this evening at 6 p.m. EST.

► Trinity, Pensacola, Presbyterian Women will host a Christmas Tea Tuesday, December 6, at 2 p.m. CST. Attendees are invited to bring a favorite teacup and wear a hat to enjoy an English tea with organ music by worldwide performer and recording artist Tom Helms and the Trinity Learning Center Children. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased by contacting Freddie Prettyman at (850)324-2917 or fprettyman@earthlink.net. 

► Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church will host their annual Living Nativity, a spiritual journey through the wonders of Christ's birth, 5:30 – 8 p.m. CST Saturday, Dec. 10, at Laurel Hill Presbyterian, 8115 Fourth St., Laurel Hill. Along the way, visitors will meet people from the Bible who will share their stories. Last year's event was rained out, but had been planned to introduce new characters with a revised script to keep the story fresh and rewarding. The new script and cast will be incorporated this year, and provision for rain has been made by holding the "journey" in the church sanctuary. Click here for a promotional image.

► Give your friends a gift they'll love this Christmas – Visit UKirk Tallahassee's Calvin Coffee House or buy a Calvin's gift card online. Calvin's serves delicious, fair trade, locally-roasted coffee drinks at a fair price, as well as noncoffee drinks such as flavored lemonades, tea, hot chocolate, and more. See what else is offered: http://ukirktallahassee.com/calvins.html.

► Tickets on sale now for Faith Presbyterian Church, of Tallahassee's yearly adaptation of "Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: A Festival of Holiday Music", Thursday – Sunday, December 15, 16, 17, and 18, at 7:30 p.m. EST. The performance will be staged "in the round," providing every seat in the house with a great view and fully-immersive experience as the cast of 60 plus carolers surround the audience with singing and holiday cheer. Find more information and tickets: www.faithpcusa.org/christmascarol

► Trinity Presbyterian Church, of Pensacola's annual free, outdoor concert with sounds of the season by the Perdido Brass is Sunday, December 18 at 2 p.m. CST in the Trinity parking lot. Just bring a lawn chair, your friends and family, and a non-perishable food donation for Manna Food Pantries.

► Lafayette Presbyterian Church, of Tallahassee Pastor Steve Graves and wife, Susie, will host "Christmas Around the World" for their congregation on Wednesday nights throughout December, featuring displays, crafts, seasonal foods and worship from Brazil, Germany and Poland. Participants are invited to bring Christmas dishes, sides and desserts of their own to share for each week's theme. 

► Local author Kathryn J. Hardy has written a book about the late, beloved First Presbyterian Church of Chipley member Otis Ikner, who died April 19, 2022. "Johnny and Jazzbo is the tale of two extraordinary Southern men as they rise above tumultuous times in American history to learn the true meaning of compassion, love, friendship, and respect for people of all colors and walks of life," reads the description. Click here to learn more.

► 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

► From First Presbyterian Church of Marianna Interim Pastor and Presbytery Committee on Preparation for Ministry Chair Rev. Dr. Raymond Guterman:  Save on Taxes and Become More Generous!?! Qualified Charitable Deductions: 
If we have an IRA, 401-K or 403-B, we must began taking Required Minimum Distributions when we're 72 years old, and these distributions are taxable income. However, we now have the opportunity to have the custodian of our account (s) direct all or part of our yearly distribution (up to $100,000/yr) to a favorite charity, such as our local church or our favorite presbytery. Click here to continue reading...

► From Instant Church Directory: Watch Out for "Whaling" Scams
For the past few years, churches and pastors have been the target of scammers who try to take advantage of the openness and generosity that characterize religious communities. The schemes go beyond typical “phishing” attempts to what’s known as “whaling”: sending fraudulent communications that appear to be from a church’s pastor or a denomination’s leader — in other words, from the “big fish.” Continue reading ...

► From the Church Legal Center: Now that we are in December, remember to approve your ministers 2023 parsonage and housing allowances by designating a portion of your minister's compensation as housing allowance. Remember, this must be approved in writing and in advance of the calendar year. So, December 31, 2022, is the deadline for 2023 for full-year designations. Housing allowance cannot be retroactive, only prospective. Failure to approve such allowances may result in unnecessary tax consequences for your pastor. 

Pray for one another

- December 4 – Synod of South Atlantic
- December 11 – The Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.)