Welcome to Dana Riley and Nancy Carlton

Welcome to Dana Riley Welcome to Dana Riley

Our new Associate Pastor of Community Outreach Some congregation members have known you for 30 years, while some are just meeting you for the first time. How does it feel to be known and unknown all at the same time? I am grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with RPC people who I’ve known for many years, and just as excited to build relationships with those I’ve yet to know. I’m so glad to be back!!

You will be ordained and installed at Riverside this year. What other milestones have you marked in the RPC sanctuary? As I reflect on milestone events I’ve experienced in the sanctuary, I would have to say that my marriage to Jim stands as the most prominent. After that, my membership into Riverside and the baptism of our four children. More recently, I remember being asked to come to the front of the sanctuary, during my last worship service before I left for seminary, to receive a blessing, for the laying on of hands. It felt significant.

Do you have pets? How many and what kind? We no longer have any pets under our roof. For nearly 30 years, dogs were a big part of our family. While Jim and I miss our labradors, Dori and Otis, and our beagle Missy, we must admit we are currently enjoying our freedom! For the time being, we now enjoy the ones nature brings into our yard!

You are coming to Riverside from Palms Presbyterian in Jacksonville Beach. Will you miss being so close to the ocean? I do miss being near the beach and feeling the seabreeze. However, I’m comforted by the fact that the river lies just a few blocks away.

Briefly describe your vision for the next year in community outreach for the church. My hope for community outreach is that we build a vision together, as a faith community, with merchants, property owners, churches, and people who call Riverside, and Five Points in particular, home. Each person’s voice and vision is important. In order to make space for the “hearing,” I look forward to hosting a time to gather and assess where we are, where we’d like to go, and how we might work toward that end.

Furthermore, I invite people to share their ideas for RPC trips, tours, and retreats that have the potential to educate, raise awareness, and expand our vision for the neighborhood and beyond. I also look forward to becoming reacquainted with the local missions RPC supports with an eye toward those that may be added.

We invite you to email Dana a note of welcome or an idea as Dana mentioned above.

dana.riley@rpcjax.org

You've been active in the PCUSA for a long time. Can you briefly walk us through the various roles you've taken over the years? I've been active for many years 30+ in Presbyterian Women Circles, in the coordinating team for St Augustine Presbytery. My favorite role I have had is founder and leader of a group called Little Women-it is a group started at Lakewood Presbyterian which bridged the gap between Sunday School and Youth Group but cherished and nurtured the relationships like Women's Circles. We did service projects, we went on adventures, we learned about careers, etiquette classes, and general life skills.

You're now coordinating the Meals on Wheels ministry of the church. What about this program spoke to you? What are your plans for the future of Meals on Wheels? MOW is a program that is something we can all relate to, whether it is cooking a meal, serving a meal or eating a meal. Food insecurity is a problem for our city and if I can do a little part to help I feel like I should. My plans for our MOW here at RPC is to help as many people get a meal a day as we can through our volunteers and help from our neighbors. We are currently at about 50 clients and would like that to decrease as a need but hope that we can help as many as we can going forward. We are blessed and should continue to pay it forward as we are able.

Do you have any pets? How many and what kind? I do not have any pets of my own. I pet sit for others and get many doses of animal walks and cuddles that way.

What's your go-to lunch destination near the church? My desk is the place I have eaten lunch the most. Once the weather is better I am sure I will explore the area more or bring my lunch and sit outside as much as I can.

What's your favorite spot in Jacksonville? I have lived here all my life so I have several spots from different times in my life from Regency Square mall when it was the place to be and be seen to Roosevelt Mall when they used to have dance marathons. Of course the beach is a nice getaway. I also love the zoo in the last couple of years as a nice walking place. I love our bridges or just a bench to sit a spell.

Two RPC members Named Susan Share

their thoughts on the daily devotionals they received during Advent

These devotions, created by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, were available in the Church Office as well as via email to those who had previously indicated they would like to receive them. “The devotion on November 28, 2022 regarding Psalm 67 by Michele Ellison was the devotion that spoke loudest to me. I am called to praise God because He is God, period. He wants me to affirm His Lordship because it is good for me and God wants good things for me. He does not need my praise and thanksgiving. I need it. My praise of God is required of me and can’t be based on my feelings, blessing or circumstances. God requires my praise of Him because it keeps me close to Him. It allows God access to me as I deal with living in this world which is beautiful, but sometimes difficult and disappointing.’”

- Susan Sharp

“I signed up for the Advent devotions because I always look for something meaningful for Advent. I had another book of Advent devotions that I was also planning to use at home. As the season got busier and busier at work, I ended up dropping the devotions in the book at home because I was almost never at home. I was always able to read the Advent devotions that I received each day in my inbox, because I almost always have my phone with me. They included the scripture passages and a well written devotion all in one place, and it added peace and meaning to my crazy December.” - Susan Pardue