Being the Community of Saints

by General Presbyter Melana Scruggs

We give thanks for all those who have gone before us, who nurtured us in the faith, and who have now found their rest. We rejoice in the promise of the resurrection and the newness of life we know in Christ. Our faith sustains us and strengthens us in times of loss and grief, both of which we have experienced in abundance in the last month and a half.

Our strength also stems from the fact that we are a connectional church. Before the hurricanes people were checking on one another and after the storms they were out helping one another clean up. Kirkwood and Christ Church of Longboat Key worshiped together the two Sundays after Helene and experienced the fellowship that comes from being in worship with others. Folks from First Sarasota, which had much cleanup to do itself, went out to Longboat Key to clear the parking lot so folks could come to worship after Milton. We already have a hurricane fund set up because churches around the presbytery want to make donations to help sister churches and their communities.

We have received support from the larger church as well. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) provided three initial assistance grants of $7500, one for Debby, one for Helene, and one for Milton. The funds for Debby and Milton were used to house families that were flooded. When we receive the funds for Milton, we will decide how best to use those. We will also apply for the $25,000 Church Damage grant from PDA. Churches can apply to the presbytery for up to $5000 of that grant. We will also use an application process for the hurricane funds we receive from churches, as we did after Ian. PDA also sent a national response team of three people who provided support and prayers for churches after the two hurricanes. They visited First Sarasota, Christ Church of Longboat Key, Siesta Key Chapel, Pine Shores, Bee Ridge, Northminster, Oak Pointe, and Community Englewood. They worshiped on Sunday with Northminster and Bee Ridge. They also visited Wintergarden and Buckingham, which are host sites for groups still helping with clean up after Ian. You can see pictures from some of the churches on our Facebook page.

We also had a visit from our Synod Executive/Stated Clerk, Valerie Young, who coordinated the visit with the directors of PDA, the Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, Jihyun Oh, and two folks from the Presbyterian News Service. You can find the story they wrote at this link. You can find similar stories from their visits to Tampa Bay, Central Florida, and Northeast Georgia presbyteries. These storms affected so many people and we know how long it takes to recover. Let us be in prayer for all those affected.

Please know that you are in my prayers as I travel, worship, preach, and visit with faithful people who are sharing God’s love in southwest Florida.