Email from Savannah Presbytery

Director's Corner

News About the Winter Stated Meeting of Savannah Presbytery –

“In Person Only”

Dear Savannah Presbytery,

I hope that the Holy Spirit has been revealed to you and yours in gifts of PEACE, HOPE, JOY, and LOVE this Advent and Christmas season. These are beautiful gifts that brighten the world whenever they are given away so let’s “keep Christmas” ALL year in 2024 and think like Mother Teresa who is said to have declared, “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.”

In terms of Savannah Presbytery business, we start this year as we have the past 43 by preparing for the annual Faith Enrichment Conference at Epworth-by-the-Sea on St. Simons Island (Friday and Saturday, February 23-24) and the Winter Stated Meeting (which precedes the start of the conference that Friday, February 23). At the recommendation of the directors, the Council has voted its approval of this stated meeting being an “IN PERSON ONLY” meeting so, if you are a voting member of the presbytery or a potential commissioner from your congregation, please make plans to attend this one in person.

The Winter Stated Meeting will be a moving time to be together. The meeting will begin with lunch (noon) at Altama Presbyterian Church’s impressive new property in Brunswick (100 Marsh Drive) just down the street from the Presbytery’s former office building on Darien Highway. The day’s worship will include the installation of Rev. Jamil el-Shair as the part-time pastor of the Altama congregation after a number of years of his serving as stated supply. The COM was excited to approve this request of the Altama Session.

Sadly, the day will also mark the fourth anniversary of the murder of Brunswick resident Ahmaud Arbery. Fittingly, the Presbytery will host Rev. Diane Moffett, the president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, to preach on the Matthew 25 vision of “Dismantling Structural Racism.” We hope this will be a time to express our unity in the Spirit and enjoy fellowship with one another. Registration for this event will begin soon.

I give great thanks for the staff and volunteer leaders of the Presbytery who labor to help us address our ministry responsibilities. I get to work with an outstanding team with heart and love for the Church, and I was glad to make a contribution in their honor to the 2023 Presbytery budget. Think about giving to the Presbytery when you want to honor or memorialize a fellow presbytery colleague!

May God bless us in our ministry and service,

Rev. Deanie Strength

Director of Administration and Stated Clerk

News For Clerks of Session

The deadline to submit 2023 Congregational Statistics is February 15. More information will be shared with you directly by Stated Clerk Deanie Strength.

Faith Enrichment Conference

Early Bird Registration Deadline

January 2nd

To request a scholarship, contact Marty Susie at MSusie1@savannahpresbytery.org.

Take a peak at three of the workshops offered Friday evening below:

Disaster Recovery in Puerto Rico through PDA

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has been actively collaborating with local congregations, mid councils, and partner organizations in Puerto Rico since 2017. During this conversation, participants will hear a broader update about the recovery process and what are some key issues affecting the local communities.

Michelle Muniz, Disaster Recovery Coordinator in Puerto Rico for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Finding Life; Lost in the Wilderness

We will explore together the 40-year wandering of the Israelites in tandem with the events leading up to, during, and immediately following Jesus’ 40-day sojourn with a view towards Ash Wednesday and Lent

Rev. Rick Douylliez, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, St. Marys, as well as Director of Pastoral and Ecclesial Care, Savannah Presbytery

Kairos: God’s Special Time in Prison

Kairos is a lay led interdenominational Christian ministry where men and women volunteers bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to prisoners and their families. It starts with an upbeat weekend experience that takes participants on a journey into Christian living. Through follow-up visits it promotes ongoing Cristian support and prayer groups among graduates of the weekend. Come and see how your congregation can get involved or support!

Rev. Bob Morgan, Honorably Retired Member at Large, Savannah Presbytery

Download Mail-In Registration Here

Download the informational packet here

Download B&W Bulletin Inserts Here

Download Color Bulletin Inserts Here

Learning and Discerning Matthew 25

Savannah Presbytery will welcome Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, President and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA), to lead us in worship at the Winter Stated Meeting being held at Altama Presbyterian Church on February 23rd, 2024. Rev. Dr. Moffett will also lead a workshop on Matthew 25 at our Faith Enrichment Conference which follows the Stated Meeting at Epworth by the Sea, February 23rd-24th.

Our Faith Enrichment Conference offers additional workshops that also fit into our year of learning and discerning the Matthew 25 movement. Gather a delegation from your congregation and join us!

Learn more about the Vital Congregation Focus here:

Presbyterian Mission Agency Vital Congregations | Presbyterian Mission Agency

Our Ongoing Journey Toward Justice

The Racial Justice Ministry Team encourages all members of Savannah Presbytery to join us in our ongoing journey toward justice in the following ways:

Attend the Winter Stated Meeting and Faith Enrichment Conference to learn more about the Matthew 25 Movement and other ways we can work with God to bring the beloved community here on earth.
Be on the lookout for and engage in the upcoming Lenten Devotions from the Racial Justice Ministry Team.
Join the PCUSA witness at the Poor People’s Campaign in Atlanta, Georgia on March 2nd, 2024. Honorably Retired Rev. Robert Morgan, member of the Georgia State Poor People’s Committee, is making plans to organize a bus transport for the event.

To learn more information, or to share your interest in participating in this non-partisan coalition, contact Bob Morgan at 585-415-0078 or revbob2006@yahoo.com .

Visit the The Poor Peoples Campaign, Georgia. In YELLOW at the top of the page click “About” and “Learn” which gives background facts and the group’s “Moral Agenda.”

Would you like to better equip your Deacons & Elders to help care for your congregation?

Enroll 1-2 participants in the School of the Laity elective Congregational Care course led by Rev. Jamil el-Shair March 9-10th! Participants can attend in person or online.

“The church is a family of siblings in Christ. In our family people experience hurt and loss. We experience disruption of our normal way of being. When this happens, we want to and are called to comfort one another. In this Congregational Care course, you will be introduced to being present with someone, discerning their story, how to listen, and how to facilitate a person discovering their spiritual resources that can help them on the journey to a new normal. A key challenge and outcome of the course will be to begin seeing your own story and its impact on your providing care for God’s beloved people.” -Rev. Jamil el-Shair

It's Time to Register for Summer 2024!

Registration is OPEN now through June 23, 2024

(Space is limited, especially for younger campers so register early!)

Who: Ages 8 through 17-year-olds

Where: Montgomery Conference Center, Starke FL

Cost: $410 per camper

Breitenhirt scholarships available!

Summer Camp is a terrific way for children and youth to unplug from hectic schedules, to embrace God’s good creation in nature and to participate in experiences designed to enhance relationships with God, peers, and other Christian adults.

Savannah Presbytery will help facilitate transportation if needed.

During the registration process, families will be required to pay a $100 non-refundable deposit. The remaining monies due will be paid to Savannah Presbytery through your home churches before the June 23rd registration deadline. Canteen monies can be sent with transportation drivers/campers to place on their accounts upon arrival.

Download the Promo Poster Here

Download Color Bulletin Inserts Here

Download B&W Bulletin Inserts Here

Parent Handbook

Packing List

2024 Association of Smaller Congregations

The 2024 Association of Smaller Congregations’ conference will be held at Epworth-by-the-Sea on St. Simons Island, from February 29th through March 3rd. This year’s gathering will again be an invaluable time of fellowship, sharing ideas, encouragement, and growing together.

This year’s theme is “The Gift of Small” with Mark Tidsworth of Pinnacle Leadership as the keynote speaker.

Federal Funding for Energy Work is Available!

As people of faith many of our congregations would like to update and improve the energy efficiency of their facilities to better care for God’s earth.

Were you aware that there are tax credits and grants available to houses of worship? Read more about them from Interfaith Power & Light below.

Read More Here

Would you like a presentation at you congregation from Georgia Interfaith Power & Light? Beth Remmes, Coastal Outreach and Climate Resiliency Coordinator, will come to your church and share everything GIPL has to offer to help your church reach its energy goals.

She can be reached at: 404.377.5552 (office), 770.715.4525 (mobile) or by email at beth@gipl.org.

Energy Use and Carbon Footprint Survey

An invitation from Research Services

All Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations, presbyteries, and synods are invited to participate in the Energy Use and Carbon Footprint Survey.

This survey will require you to gather information from utility bills and should take 10–15 minutes once you have the required information. There is space in the survey to indicate if you have already had an energy audit, made energy efficiency changes, or if you use renewable energy. There are also suggestions of how to reduce energy use, so that when we repeat this churchwide survey in 4 years we can compare how much we have collectively reduced our impact—starting now!

Complete the survey here.

If you have any questions or need any assistance completing the survey, please contact Sean Payne in Research Services. For questions or resources on how to reduce energy use, lower your personal or collective carbon footprint, or join congregational programs that assist you with reducing energy use (such as Interfaith Power and Light’s Cool Congregations Program or the EPA Portfolio Manager tool to be an Energy Star Congregation), check out resources and webinars from Presbyterians for Earth Care or contact Jessica Maudlin in the Presbyterian Hunger Program.