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Presbytery meeting May 20
►The Presbytery's Spring Stated Meeting Saturday, May 20, to be hosted by and held at Dogwood Acres, with Gulf Beach Presbyterian, of Panama City Beach, co-hosting. Dogwood Acres is located at 3320 Harmony Road, Chipley, FL. The meeting will commence in the Koinonia Building at 9 a.m. CDT/10 a.m. EDT, with registration and refreshments in the Dining Hall starting an hour ahead.
- Download and print your meeting documents. Be sure to check next week's eUpdate and the Presbytery's website for additional materials nearer the meeting date:
- Rev. Cathy Mooney, to be installed as First Presbyterian of DeFuniak Springs' pastor May 21, will preach during morning worship, and First Presbyterian of Lynn Haven Music Director Brad Thoreson will provide music.
- The meeting's educational segment will feature various stations to visit for learning about Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN), UKirk Tallahassee, Dogwood Acres, and meditation trail walks.
- A lunch of barbeque with mac-n-cheese, cole slaw and dessert, with a black bean burger vegetarian option, will be offered for $10 per person.
- To help ensure accurate recording in the meeting minutes of the meeting attendance, elder commissioners should submit a completed commissioner certification form at meeting registration naming him/her as commissioner for the church, signed by the session moderator or clerk (both signatures are not necessary).
- Non-retired ministers who are unable to attend the meeting or sessions for whom an elder commissioner is not available for the meeting should submit a request to be excused by the stated clerk by emailing statedclerk@presbyteryofflorida.com.
Our presbytery family
►The Presbytery of Florida is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion by implementing strategies to ensure fair and effective representation in the churches’ decision-making. We praise God for the vast diversity of creation and for fulfilling the promise to bless all people. Racial/ethnic minorities represent four percent of church membership throughout the Presbytery. Therefore, to ensure the inclusion of underrepresented groups in leadership in the Presbytery, the Committee on Representation (CR) is seeking names and contact information of racial/ethnic minority members in our congregations who might want to serve at the Presbytery level. If you are a Presbytery member of color and would consider filling a presbytery-level role, or for information about what service would entail, please contact Elder Glenn Hodges, Committee on Representation Chair, at ghodges37@comcast.net or (850)545-5791.
►General Presbyter Roy Martin and wife, Lisa, will be enjoying an extended vacation in Great Britain May 24 – July 3. If you need immediate Presbytery assistance during this time, please contact Stated Clerk Jeannie Dixon at statedclerk@presbyteryofflorida.com or 850-591-6284 or Administrator Melissa Willis at mwillis@presbyteryofflorida.com or (850)535-2335.
►First Presbyterian of DeFuniak Springs welcomes Rev. Catherine 'Cathy" Mooney as their new pastor. May 7 was her first Sunday in their pulpit. The congregation invite you to a Service of Installation for Rev. Mooney Sunday, May 21, at 6 p.m. CDT/7 p.m. EDT. Clergy are invited to wear red stoles and be seated together.
►First Presbyterian of Marianna has begun a new mission this month, as church members join residents of an area apartment complex for bingo, offering new prizes. They hope this effort will lead to a Bible study and/or holy communion with the residents, who already receive monthly contributions from the church food panty. FPC Marianna also will host an Inquirers' Luncheon Sunday, May 21, at noon CDT, at which newcomers to the church will have an opportunity to learn more about the PC(USA), how to get involved in Christian education, volunteerism and mission, and sharing a portion of time, talents and treasures to advance God's kingdom. Later that afternoon, the church's annual spring fish fry will begin at 5 p.m. CDT. For information, call 850-765-3659.
►UKirk Tallahassee collegiate campus ministry invites you to their Annual Meeting and Open House on Tuesday, May 23, 6 – 7:30 p.m. EDT, to learn about what UKirk has been up to the past year and to take a tour of their beautiful space, located at 548 W. Park Ave., Tallahassee. Refreshments will be provided.
► Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church will host their annual Arts & Heritage Festival Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. CDT, with free admission. Artists, crafters, cottage-industry food makers, and, of course, helpers are needed. Contact Brian Hughes to reserve booth space (at no charge!) and/or to volunteer. Please text him (unidentified callers will be blocked) at 850-603-2584 or email brian_abroad@yahoo.com. Click here for an event flier.
More news you can use
► The Florida Division of Emergency Management is hosting multiple trainings around the state for faith and community based organizations and others on how to be prepared and equipped to manage public assistance from FEMA in the wake of a storm or disaster. Many churches, faith institutions, and non-profits affected by hurricanes and disasters who've been eligible for FEMA reimbursement have experienced significant frustration when navigating the federal process and bureaucracy. FDEM can't change the federal bureaucracy, but can equip you to be best prepared to navigate it.
Click here for the list of trainings around the state. To register for training, email melissa.foggy@em.myflorida.com with your desired training session and number of attendees.
Pray for one another
- May 14 – Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery
- May 21 – 1st Presbyterian Church of Monticello
- Presbytery minister member-at-large Chaplain Rob Sugg, and wife, Karen, as Karen undergoes treatment for abdominal cancer at UAB.
- The Presbytery's Committee on Congregational Discernment (CCD), meeting May 16
Click here for the complete 2023 Presbytery Prayer Calendar, or view the calendar's prayer requests in the Presbytery's Calendar of Events at http://www.presbyteryofflorida.net/events-calendars/.
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