Category Archives: Calendar Postings

“INTRO TO THE BIBLE ONLINE”

Savannah Presbytery is excited to provide an ONLINE experience of our keystone School of the Laity course, “Intro to the Bible,” taught by Dr. Bob Bryant. We invite all to join us on this re-imagined opportunity to partake in the School of the Laity. Gone is the “drive” to Epworth by the Sea! Gone is the cost of the hotel and meals!

Instead, stimulate your mind, fortify your soul and build relationships with other Presbyterians- all from the safety of your own homes!

There are no pre-requisites to taking this class—we welcome first-time learners, School of the Laity graduates seeking a refresher course, folks considering a pathway to being a Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE), and even pastors who may want to experience Dr. Bryant’s instruction.

WHAT: The “Intro to the Bible Online” Course *

If you have ever questioned parts of the Bible, why it was written, and what it might have to say to people today, join Dr. Bob Bryant’s class. Dr. Bryant, Professor of Bible at Presbyterian College and favorite SOL faculty member of many years, will explore the Old and New Testaments, providing insight into who wrote them, how they came to be, and how we can better understand what they say to us today. *This course is a critical core class for those interested in the full 2-year School of the Laity program.

 WHEN: Our June Session will be offered over a four-week period that will optimize the course instruction and participant preparation with personal group interaction via the Zoom platform. Participants will need access to a laptop, tablet, or smart phone with video and audio capabilities. (Churches may seek to make these tools available to those who do not have access.)

The sessions will be:

Week 1: Friday, June 26 & Saturday June 27

We will kick-off our time together Friday from 7-8:00 PM with introductions, course expectations and Zoom guidelines. We will begin Saturday morning’s session at 10:00 AM. All Saturday sessions will be held 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM and 1:00-2:30 PM with a break for lunch.

Week 2: Saturday, July 11

Week 3: Saturday, July 18

Week 4: Saturday, July 25

HOW: Registration forms are available now and the registration fee is $95. Participants should register ASAP so pre-course work can be communicated and completed.

SOL Intro to the Bible ONLINE brochure

June SOL Registration Form

Questions? Contact Marty Susie, SOL Registrar at marbull@comcast.net, or 912-228-1353

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…To Worship With Our Churches!

Listed below are links that some of the Presbytery’s churches have provided to allow us to worship virtually.  Easy access to Sunday services via the internet can provide those who cannot, or will not attend services during these challenging times. A big thank you to those churches who are providing this valuable way for all of us to connect!

Montgomery Presbyterian Church livestreams Sundays at 10:30am on FaceBook Live: https://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryPresbyterian

Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church, 10:25 AM, Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/wilmingtonislandpresbyterian/

Jekyll Presbyterian Community Church    11am Sunday on Facebook   Search for Jekyll Presbyterian Community Church

Iglesia Latina Swainsboro  Service hours: 11:00 am https://www.facebook.com/iglesialatina.swainsboro

Christ Presbyterian Church Pooler.    Link  https://www.facebook.com/ChristPresbyterianChurchPCUSAPooler/

Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church    www.sipres.org

A pre-recorded 30-minute worship service is posted each Sunday on the website of First Church Savannah.  The link is:   www.savannahfpc.org

Christ Presbyterian Church Pooler.    Link  https://www.facebook.com/ChristPresbyterianChurchPCUSAPooler/

First PC Statesboro
https://www.facebook.com/First-Presbyterian-Church-Statesboro-379236202130574/

Alan N. Baroody, D.Min., LMFT-S
Transitional General Presbyter
Savannah Presbytery
(800) 616-3671

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April 23, 2020

Dear Pastors, Clerks of Session, and Members of Savannah Presbytery,

With this week’s announcement by Governor Brian Kemp that churches may resume worship services this Sunday, we have come together to discern what guidance we might provide to the congregations of Savannah Presbytery.

On a Wednesday call with more than a dozen pastors from every district in our presbytery (representing both small and large churches), there was unanimous agreement that their congregations were not ready to take responsibility for the health risks that would come with opening our sanctuaries and meeting as a community.  Many of our church members and pastors are either over 60 years of age or have health conditions that leave them compromised, and thus more susceptible to the severe consequences of infection.  The federal guidelines informed by the CDC recommend that communities have a 14 day decline in COVID-19 cases.  Georgia’s rate is still on the increase. One of our churches has already had to experience the ramifications of notifying congregation members that someone who had been in worship with them before the stay-at-home order had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

We applaud the efforts that our presbytery pastors and church leaders are making to continue to worship and “do church” remotely.  We highly recommend that this continue and that church facilities remained closed.  During this time of waiting, sessions should continue to explore how the CDC’s suggestions for mitigating health risks (i.e. numerical management, social distancing, increased attention to sanitation, wearing masks in public) would alter their “pre-pandemic” practices for gatherings on the church campus.  A good resource for developing new and healthier practices is a blog article by Ken Braddy, the director of Sunday School for Lifeway Christian Resources, titled “24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return.”   (www.kenbraddy.com)

Savannah Presbytery is a covenant community.  We value a reformed heritage that looks after the needs and well-being of the “least of these” within the context of the covenant community.  While we are not yet able to recommend a date in which we can once again worship as the Body of Christ gathered in one place, we look forward to rejoicing when all who are able can celebrate under one roof in our houses of worship.  We will listen to the advice of the CDC and maintain contact with all of our churches as we look forward to safely meeting together in the near future.

May God bless you and your congregations during this unfamiliar and anxious time.

Sincerely,

TE Alan Baroody, Transitional General Presbyter
TE Eric Beene, Acting Stated Clerk
RE Doty Dunn, Presbytery Moderator-Elect
TE Jeff Garrison, Council Chair
TE Andy Meeker, Committee on Ministry Chair
TE Deanie Strength, Presbytery Moderator

COVID-19/Coronavirus

          The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?
—Psalm 27:1

Throughout history the Church of Jesus Christ has not only survived, but has thrived during periods of adversity.   Such is the case for many of the congregations within Savannah Presbytery.  We are learning new ways to be the Church.  Most congregations are adapting to being a virtual church; worshipping via YouTube, Facebook Live, Skype, or email links, and holding session meetings and having Bible Studies using Zoom.  With the Spirit’s guidance and the creativity available through technology and social media Savannah Presbytery continues to function during the challenging times presented by the spread of the Coronavirus.

In accordance with the Governor’s order to shelter-in-place to curb the Coronavirus, the Savannah Presbytery Office will remain closed through April 13, or until such time as the order is lifted.  Alan Baroody, Transitional General Presbyter, and Liz Richardson, Office Administrator, will be working from home.  Their contact information is listed below as are the names and email addresses of the Technology Task Group.  If any church is having difficulty with issues around virtual worship or meetings, the TTG are available to assist.  Many other COVID-19 resources for Church Leaders and Members can be found on the denomination’s website at http://www.pcusa.org.

May God’s grace and healing be with all who are suffering from the Coronavirus, or unemployed due to its spread, and may the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with all who are lonely or grieving.  As the Church of Jesus Christ we remain separate but together.

(During this time of social distancing and shelter-in-place during COVID-19, there will be a weekly Zoom meeting for all Savannah Presbytery Pastors on Wednesdays at 11:00 am.

If you are a pastor and do not receive an invitation to this meeting please contact Alan Baroody at abaroody@savannahpresbytery.org)

Staff:

Alan Baroody, Transitional General Presbyter:  (912) 270-4557; abaroody@savannahpresbytery.org

Liz Richardson, Business Administrator:  (800) 616-3671; mrichardson@savannahpresbytery.org

Eric Beene, Stated Clerk:  ericmbeene@gmail.com

Ann Henderson, Treasurer: annhenderson@bulloch.net

Marty Susie, Program Coordinator:  mamrbull@comcast.net

Technology Task Group:

Mark Giuliano, Chair –  Mark@MPCSavannah.com

Ada Owens – asa@sspres.org

Andrew Allen – andrewallen@georgiasouthern.edu

Ben  Beasley – benbeasley7@gmail.com

Gary Johnson – gary.john@comcast.net

Matt Chase – matt.chase.fox@gmail.com

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