Greetings from the Moderator                                                    OCTOBER 2024

I hope this note finds all of you and all you know well and housed post-Helene. I am certain FLAPDAN and other agencies have very been busy in light of the severe damage along Helene's path.
 
A couple of thoughts from your Moderator this month…
 
At the September Meeting of Central Florida Presbytery, a significant percent of the meeting time was devoted to break-out groups to inform and ideate concerning CFP’s long-term strategy development.
 
Ralphetta McClary Akers, Hoover Haney, and Olivia Haney lead three separate breakout sessions.  Each of the three had different topics and the body rotated through the three sessions in the allotted time. While this Presbytery Meeting was all virtual (Zoom), a number of us involved with the meeting had gathered at CFP’s offices. After the meeting the energy in the room was palpable due to the input and ideas received during the three sessions.
 
Dr. Cheryl Carson did all the technical planning and got all of us to the virtual rooms we were to be in, rotated who needed to be rotated, and got us all back to the main ‘room” to continue the meeting. I suspect all that virtual movement included the use of worm holes, but I digress. Thank you, Cheryl.  I look forward to seeing how all these ideas, input, and energy influences the long -term strategy.
 
I ask that we all pray for Nicole Gower, our new Moderator-Elect. I know she will serve the Lord and the Children of God well in this role.  Being Moderator is a rewarding job and very educational, at least for me.  I have gained so much insight into the many ministries in which the Presbytery is involved.  I have appreciated getting to know about the depth of knowledge, faith, and love exhibited by both the Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders who support the actions and activities of the Presbytery.
 
To me, being involved in installations is the most wonderful part of being Moderator. I was recently honored to be asked to be part of the installation of Jay Patrick Rowland as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Wildwood.  I could feel the Holy Spirit at work with Jay and the congregation there, both in worship and in service to the people of God.
 
There are two notable anniversaries I am aware of in October. The first is the twentieth anniversary of College Park Presbyterian Church.  They will hold a celebration worship service on October 12.  Next month too, Park Lake Presbyterian Church will begin its 100th year as a congregation.  They will be celebrating all year long.
 
This is what I have for the month.
 
May the Lord’s blessings be upon you all.
 
John

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Ruling Elder John Rogers