News from the General Presbyter – June 2024

by General Presbyter Melana Scruggs

Summer has gotten off to a hotter than normal start and the hurricane forecast sounds ominous. Please email me the contact information, cell phone and email, of a couple of people in your church that I might be able to reach in case another storm hits the presbytery. Also, pray that all the hurricanes veer into open water rather than making landfall. 😊

We have the privilege to ordain Nicole Jiskoot this Sunday, June 23, at 4pm, at First Arcadia. Nicole has received a call to First Presbyterian in Dalton, GA. She wanted to be ordained in her home church, so Cherokee Presbytery has asked us to do that on their behalf. It is always a joyous celebration to ordain someone as a teaching elder and the whole presbytery is invited. Any pastors who attend are invited to bring robes and red stoles to process with the Administrative Commission.

General Assembly committees will meet via Zoom on June 25-27 and the plenaries will be in person in Salt Lake City starting June 30 through July 4. Please pray for all commissioners and the work they are called to do. Randy and I will both attend the Assembly but will still be available by phone or email.

Mark your calendars for a great opportunity for learning, worship, and fellowship on Thursday, September 12, from 9:30am to 2pm at Burnt Store in Punta Gorda. This event, This Call’s for You: Finding God’s Spark at Burnt Store, will be our first such gathering since before COVID. Registration will begin at 9:30. The keynote speaker is Rickey Bolden, a former lineman for the Cleveland Browns who discerned a call to ministry and left the NFL to answer it. You can find a bio of Rickey at this link. Following the keynote there will be four workshop options that will appeal to church members and officers. Workshop options will be posted on the website registration page. After lunch and time for fellowship and sharing ideas, we will worship together, led by Rickey Bolden. The cost for the entire day is only $10. Please share this opportunity with your congregations.

Hoping you all find some time for rest and relaxation this summer.