Montreat Massanetta
From Your Pastor
Brian Lays
Dear Riversiders:
Your session recently approved a document that identifies three core values that shape the mission and ministry of Riverside Presbyterian Church: Belonging, Connecting, and Transforming.
These core values emerged after a thoughtful discernment process that originated with the session retreat back in October 2023. Over two days together, our leadership thought carefully about our church’s long history, the challenges of the pandemic, and the future that lies before us. We realized that we needed to work to define the values that guide our mission and sharpen our focus.
We reviewed some sample documents from other churches, reflected together in small groups, articulated common threads that appeared in most of our conversations, and ultimately converged around these three terms, which we believe best articulate the basic framework within which we can most faithfully conduct the ministries that make our church unique and fruitful.
It was important to us that each of these terms be action words; hence, they are verbs, gerunds, “-ing words.” What we do makes us who we are. We want to be a church in action!
Furthermore, it was important to us to have a core scripture verse related to each core value, since our values should be grounded in our biblical faith. Check out Ephesians 4:3, Matthew 22:37-39, and 2 Corinthians 5:17, and see if you can match each verse with its core value identified above!
Finally, we worked to write annotations that articulate what we mean by each of the three core values. It is one thing to toss around some key terms, but quite another to maintain a deep-seated understanding of the terms, such that they become the lens through which we evaluate all we do. You can read the full annotations to these key terms on our website at www.rpcjax.org/who-we-are.
Sometimes, people outside the church think they need do something before they can join a faith community. They may get bogged down in perceived prerequisites, and think they need to believe the right things or do the right things in order to be accepted into the community. In short, they think transformation must come first, and belonging only follows thereafter.
We want the opposite to be true at Riverside. We believe that belonging is first: come as you are, whoever you are, and find a faith home at Riverside. Connection follows as people form relationships within the church and become engaged. And next thing we know, transformation happens as faith deepens and Christ is worshiped and served.
I am thankful to be a part of a session that worked so thoughtfully through this process, and I look forward to seeing what fruit God’s Spirit will produce among us as we embrace these core values in the years to come!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Brian
Vacation Bible School and Summer in the City
by Emily Heeg
The week of June 3 was was fun and meaningful at Riverside, as we had over 60 children participate in Vacation Bible School with the theme “Camp Firelight: A Summer Camp Adventure with God.” Our scripture focus was Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” A highlight of VBS was Pastor Brian and Pastor Lauren performing the opening and closing skits with our firefly puppet friend, Lu.
We also had ten rising 4th- and 5th-grade students also participated in Summer in the City, led by our summer intern Olivia Collins. Each morning the group visited a different nonprofit organization to learn about how it serves the Jacksonville community and then served that organization with a special activity (cleaning / sorting / organizing / bagging / etc). The organizations included Angelwood, Downtown Ecumenical Services Council (DESC), United Community Outreach Ministry (UCOM), Trinity Food Bank, and St. Johns Riverkeeper.
We are grateful for all the youth and adults who volunteered to make both of these programs such a wonderful experience for our children. Thank you!
The New Parking Lot Is Open!
Parking Permit pickup is available each Sunday after worship and during the week in the Church Office.
At long last, the 41-space parking lot at Oak and Post Streets, owned by RPC, is open. The permit enables you to park for free at all times. The Church and/or School may block off this lot for special events, but otherwise, the lot will be available for paid public parking using the ParkMobile App at $2/hour with a maximum of four (4) hours.
Church parking permits are available for pickup in the Church Office (during the week) or in the courtyard after worship each Sunday.
Questions?
John Sapora (904-910-6367)
Steve Judd (904-343-9813)
Summer Sizzler 2024
Reflection on the Juneteenth Prayer Vigil
by Julie Handley
On June 19, I went to our sanctuary to be with my fellow Riversiders as we joined people of all races, nationalities, and religions to celebrate when Lincoln’s message freeing the slaves finally reached Galveston two years later. The ramifications of slavery have continued to impact my country through Jim Crow laws, lynchings, segregation, and racism. These have had a terrible impact on our African-American citizens. Racism continues to hurt the lives of so many; it has not been fair.
As I sat in the quiet of our sanctuary, I listened to spirituals and remembered the wonderful Black people who have been a part of my life. I was raised in the deep south, and over the years I experienced the love and care of family, the wonderful Black people, like Lila Bell, Minnie, and Gussie, whose love and care I experienced over the years. When I was a new graduate nurse in charge of the ICU at Parkland Hospital, I was out of my league, but I had two CMA‘s, Hazel and Harriet, who were the most gentle teachers I have ever had. We had patients in critical condition, and I was new at starting IVs, running dialysis, and all aspects of critical care. But Hazel and Harriet were experienced; they had seen it all and patiently supported me in my new role as a nurse. As a young mother in Greensboro, North Carolina, I wanted to support the public schools and bussed my children across town to a school that was predominantly Black. Joyce was co-president of the Hampton PTA with me. She taught me how hard it was to live in the projects and why her son could not sell the items for the Hampton fundraiser. It wasn’t safe for him. That truly opened my eyes to the challenges facing parents living in the projects. As a single parent, my yard man, Jeff, helped me manage my home as a single parent with minor repairs, such as putting up Christmas lights and so many other tasks.
Juneteenth gave me an opportunity to reflect on the impact my Black friends and helpers have made on my life. It meant a lot to me that Riverside Presbyterian would honor this moment of freedom, the independence day for our Black citizens. We have a long way to go, but by taking steps in many different directions, we can make a difference.
RIVERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Goal! We have exceeded our goal! Thank you for your generosity!
As of 6/27/24
have exceeded our goal!
Any money raised beyond our initial goal will be used to restore the capital reserve funds we drew upon to pay the first half of the AC unit several months ago.
Stained Glass at Riverside
by the Stained Glass Class
The stained glass class started over 25 years ago when Roger Maness came to Riverside as Director of Community Life. The class continues to be an outreach of the church for creativity and fellowship. Over the years the class has been blessed with numerous church members and nonmembers who have shared in this fellowship. This became a session-long vision of learning about Advent and creating windows to hang in Bittinger Hall during the Advent and Christmas season.
Each week of Advent a window would appear in Bittinger Hall. At the end of Advent there were four windows - Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy, which corresponded to the candle that had been lit each Sunday. The response from the congregation and all those who would gather in Bittinger Hall was overwhelmingly positive and uplifting to the hard work of the stained glass class. Thus began the labor of love to create more windows to share. What began as an inspirational project for a Church celebration became a study of the Christian calendar, holidays, teachings, and Bible stories we loved and learned as children.
The two newest windows now hanging in Bittinger Hall are “Noah’s Ark” and “Moses and the Burning Bush.” We hope members of Riverside Presbyterian Church of all ages as well as those who gather together in fellowship for school and community events will enjoy the windows for many years to come.
Last year, the stained glass class received a generous donation of stained glass sheets inventory from Kathi Bell who had owned a stained glass shop for many years. We thank Maggie Means for her instrumental support and outreach to make this donation happen. These glass sheets will help sustain the stained glass class in the creation of many more works of art.
Before there were windows, there was a light box created for the Meals on Wheels program. This idea came from Fibber Herr and Don Nelson as they participated in stained glass while working for Meals on Wheels to help promote both programs during the Alternative Gift Market each year. In keeping with a long held tradition, the stained glass class will once again provide suncatchers and ornaments at the Alternative Gift Market this November available for purchase. As in the past, the proceeds will benefit the “Meals on Wheels” program. Roger would often say, “Let us break glass together”.
The stained glass class will resume again this fall, and there is room for four new students. Each new student will make a simple cross to learn the art of the cut and build. The class meets on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. If you are interested, please see Nancy Carlton in the Church Office to sign up. The cost of the class is $40 to cover supplies.
RPC Youth Montreat Reflections
RPC Youth
RPC Youth attended Montreat Youth Conference earlier this month. Pastor Lauren asked them three questions about their time at the conference.
What’s been your big takeaway from the conference? What does “shalom” mean to you? How will you plant peace? [the theme of the conference]
Emily Stevenson: My biggest takeaway is that I need to persist in planting seeds in areas where they don’t always catch on at first.
To me, shalom is a feeling of wholeness, completion, and peace that can only be achieved through God and the support from your community.
I will plant peace by trying to spread the love of God to all around me. This could be through my actions, words, and how I treat others around me.
Eli Stevenson: My biggest takeaway from the conference is that as children of God we are never truly without purpose. No matter if we do not know what the future holds, as children of God we are called to care for each other and give our time to the benefit of others.
Shalom to me refers to unity. I may be at peace with my life right now, but shalom is never reached until I can truly help others with their issues.
I will plant peace by being a pillar whom others can rely on and can talk to. To truly plant peace I have to be selfless and give my time to those around me.
Anne Craig Charnley: My main takeaways from the conference are the ability to have hard discussions about my faith and the importance of community within building my faith out. Every year I return to Montreat I realize how much I love and enjoy talking about the Word, but this year it was more significant and something I felt passionate about.
Shalom means complete completeness to me. It also reminds me of building a community of faith around me to find peace in ourselves and in Jesus. There might not be a full solution to total peace but finding peace within yourself and the people you are around is important.
I want to plant peace with being more confident with what I believe. I want to start new habits and stick with them, all things that are easier said than done. However, both things remind me of Jesus and his eternal and everlasting love for me!
Olivia Meux: My big takeaway from the conference is that there is never a perfect time to plant seeds of peace, but you should plant anyway.
Shalom to me means complete completeness for everyone.
I will plant peace by staying true to myself, helping people whenever I can, and being kind to all people.
Haiden Christian: My big takeaway from the conference is that I need to try and be nicer and peaceful to help grow my connection with God. Since I've joined RPC I've gotten closer to God but there's still much more for me to do.
To me, shalom means that you are truly complete and you have every single piece to the puzzle that is life.
I will plant peace by being more kind, patient, and thoughtful to those I know. I will also continue to make more connections in the faith.
Bryce Heeg: My big takeaway from the conference is that planting peace takes effort and collaboration from all of us.
To me Shalom means everyone being fully complete and living a complete life with all that they need.
I will plant peace by pruning or cutting out the things in my life that are distractions from peace or cause me to stray away from peace. I will also try to create peace in places I never thought to previously or was too scared to try.
Davis Meux: We are all called by God to plant seeds of peace. Shalom means peace on Earth.
Be patient.
Catherine Hunt: My biggest takeaway from the conference is that peace requires the efforts of everyone around you, and I feel like the community of Montreat is the perfect place to reach complete peace.
Shalom means not only peace but connectedness within yourself and within your relationships with others.
I will plant peace by pruning things in my life that are not healthy for me and persisting in things that are good for me. I want to find a balance between the two to create more harmony in my life.
Noah McDonald: My biggest takeaway is that we cannot have peace without the peace of others. It is a collective effort.
Shalom not only means peace, but also the peace of everyone intertwined.
Peace will be more attainable if I persist and prune and do the hard work.
Earth Care Tips
Avoid single use products where possible.
Anything that you use once then throw away can harm the environment, but luckily there are reusable alternatives for almost every single use product out there:
• Instead of using cotton swabs to clean your ears, try Last Swab Reusable Cotton Swabs.
• Replace plastic straws in your drinks with stainless steel reusable straws or paper ones.
• Instead of using a plastic bag at the grocery store or pharmacy bring your own reusable bags.
• Instead of cleansing your face with cotton pads or balls, try a washcloth or Green Estate Reusable Makeup Remover Pads.
Walk or cycle instead of driving.
All of us are guilty of occasionally taking short journeys in the car when we could easily walk or cycle. Instead of automatically reaching for your car keys, consider a more ecofriendly way. Not only are walking and cycling better for the environment, they’re also better for you too because of the exercise.
Sign up to Serve...
Looking to sign up?
• Sunday Morning Usher
• Call to Worship liturgist
• Flower Delivery Team
• Deliver a MealTrain
• Drive Meals on Wheels
• College Secret Pal
• Serve in the Kitchen
• Serve / Cook dinner at Sulzbacher
• and more!
Massanetta Middle School Conference
On July 19, 11 middle school youth and 4 chaperones took off on a 27 1/2 hour round-trip road trip to Massanetta Springs Conference Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This group spent the week worshiping, playing games, eating meals, and discussing the theme “Keep Calm and Rejoice” with one another as well as with youth and adults from all over the Southeast. We loved this experience and already can’t wait until next year!
RPC Senior Sunday and Pentecost
During worship we recognized and blessed our graduating high school seniors. Blankets were passed by congregants all the way from the back pews to the front pews before being wrapped around the shoulders of our graduating seniors. A reception was held in Bittinger Hall after worship. Thank you to our fantastic guest musicians, including RPC’s own members the Huber and Zeigler families, for leading us in a service of jazz music; Kathy Stark, Maggie Means, and Michael Lane for installing the Pentecost art in the sanctuary; and Mike and Susan Erdelyi for taking such beautiful photos during Pentecost worship.
Class of 2024
Congratulations,
Durham Branch
Evelyn Brown
Jacob Campen
Eliza Crawley
Raleigh Diebenow
Robert Elrod
William Green
Megan Halkovitch
Jacob Huber
Catherine Hunt
Reagan Lane
Graduates!
Davis Matson
Noah McDonald
Davis Meux
Olivia Meux
Bo Rose
William Rosenberg
Eli Stevenson
Andy Swiercek
Frances Thoburn
Salley Todd
Carlisle
Marion
Marsha
James Lays
Julie McLaurine
Kelly O’Brien
Holly Rosenbloom
Barbara Zacheis 7
Patsy Gaillard
Louis Gittings
Pat Gurley
James Rosenbloom
Lauren Scott 8
Tim Akin
Mark Zeigler
Mary Ellen Drushal
Isy Milne Piper Spohr
Mary Kress Littlepage
Dougie Milne
Suzanne Perritt
Grisnik
Wendy Mueller 28
Mike Erdelyi
Evelyn Alderman
Wycke Hampton
Michael Lane
Beth Mixson
Samer Garas
Ann Gittings
Philip Price
Mark Rattigan
Ryan Walker
Chris Wrenn
Gowie Cassell
Daniel Bergey Lillybelle Thoburn
Sofina Parker
Ann Cranford
Ashley Diebenow
Brenda Johnson
Don Queen
Bo Farrar
Henry Wallace
Henry Andrews
Peter Cotchaleovitch
Courtland Cummings
Barry Hall
Phebe Ball 10
Lynne Matson
Jessica Shipp
Windy Taylor
Mel Trescot
Marilyn Wood 11
John Stiefel
Karen Sullivan
Dan VanTIce
Dan Warner 12
Jack Jenkins 13
Blanche Coffman
Rusty Newton 14
Adelaide Duncan 15
Ryck Archambault
Jennifer Ward 16
David Breedlove
Stacey Menton
Kate Overly
Chad Rice 17 18
Kimberly Allen
David Drew
Quentin Lockwood
Alex McLaurine 19
Jackie Davis
Jim Gleaton
Jaimie Smith 20
David Boyd
Sena Corbett
Mary Caroline Gillam
Bob Gittings
Sadie Hunt 21
Erich Diebenow
Steve Diebenow
Missy Riley
Doug Splane
Cooper Verlander
Kathi Vodenicker 22
James C Jackson
Tom Johnson
Jane Miller 23
Andy Baker
Hayden Phillips
Charlotte Verlander
Val Lyman 25
Allison Blanks
Eveline Dyal
John Humes
Ethan Lobello
Elizabeth Meux
Clementine Newberry
Peter King 28
Michael Brumback
Neff Jenkins 30
Evelyn Brown
Bob Gay
Stuart Harbison
Emily Stevenson
849 Park Street
Address Service Requested
THE MESSENGER (USPS 466-960) is published bi-monthly by the Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park Street, Jax. FL 32204-3394 (904) 355-4585
Periodicals Postage Paid at Southside Blvd. Business Mail Entry Unit. Jax. FL 32216-9651
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Jacksonville, FL 32204-3394 We will not send a Messenger in September. The Messenger will resume in November. Prefer to receive the Messenger via email only? Email communication@rpcjax.org SAVE THE DATE! Rally Day is Sunday, September 8. The kickoff for the fall program year.