The Messenger July / August 2024

the

Messenger

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 4 JULY 17, 2024

July / August 2024

CONTENTS

Photos from Massanetta and Montreat............................................................................................................................... 2 From Your Pastor.................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Vacation Bible School and Summer in the City................................................................................................................... 4 The New Parking Lot is Open! .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Summer Sizzler Photos ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Reflection Juneteenth Prayer Vigil ..................................................................................................................................... 6 AC Update! ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Stained Glass at Riverside .................................................................................................................................................... 7 RPC Youth Montreat Reflections ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Earth Care Tips ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Ways to Serve .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Massanetta Middle School Conference ............................................................................................................................. 9 Pentecost and Senior Sunday Photos ............................................................................................................................... 10 August-November Birthday List ........................................................................................................................................ 11

From the Cover

RPC Youth at Montreat

www.rpcjax.org

Page 8

Summer Sizzler Photos!

Page 5

Massanetta

Montreat

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

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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!

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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

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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

We Turned The Thermometer $93,000 Goal!

blue!

$74,400

As of 6/27/24 we have exceeded our goal!

$55,800 $37,200

$125,386

$18,600

has been raised

$0

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.

We have exceeded our goal!

Thank you for your generosity!

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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.

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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

8 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!

Visit www.rpcjax.org/serve

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!

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RPC Senior Sunday and Pentecost

Class of 2024 Congratulations, Graduates!

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.

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Durham Branch Evelyn Brown Jacob Campen Eliza Crawley Raleigh Diebenow Robert Elrod William Green Megan Halkovitch Jacob Huber Catherine Hunt Reagan Lane

Davis Matson Noah McDonald Davis Meux Olivia Meux Bo Rose William Rosenberg Eli Stevenson Andy Swiercek Frances Thoburn Salley Todd

10 Debbie Crumpler Kinga Evert Michael Fisher Walker VanTice 11 Joe Clements Steve Judd 12 Vickie Breedlove Konika Schallen 13 Tyler McKendree 14 Clare Charnley Catherine Gibbs Bobbie Gittings Carolyn Tuttle Karen Weaver 15 Maggie Boyd Cory Hodak 16 Vance Chrystal Gardner Davis John Root 17 Brooke Rice 18 William Michaelis Lynn Thompson 20 Juno Tran 22 Judi Hardwick Jared McNeil Isabella Villano Virginia Zeigler 23 Eliza Farnell 24 David Alexander Robin Campen Caroline Cavendish Grady Gillam Will Overton Elise Polito Charlotte Stratton 25 Matt Bickett Carol Peters Hoyt Rosenbloom Stewart Taylor Sherry Williamson 26 Matt Cunningham Leo King Jen Kresge Susie Morrow Bob Nichols Ben Sandlin 27 Jim Crooks Laura Hahn Daren Hoffman Ford McDowell Nell Trice 28 Trent Newton Tee Spanton

29 Cindy Fitch Debra McEachin 30 Morgan McEachin October Birthdays 2 Rachel Gaillard Delta Kraus Fin Williams 3 Kelly Jenkins Bruce Smathers Diane Tuttle Vicky Watkins 4 Chris Eyrick Will Harbison John Pence Alexa Worsham 6 Tom Lobello Partner Rosenbloom 7 Margaret Burke Olivia Davis Bill Howey Laura Lambert Cliff Spohr Andy Swiercek 8 Vic Hasselblad Christy Lane 9 Rob Overly Lucy Wallace 10 Jeanette Hoffman Tom Miller 11 Gena Boone Salley Todd 12 Jude McDonald Pete Woodall 13 14 Michele Cook Jan Duncan Frances Humes Kathy Newton 15 Lisa McKendree 16 Harper Allen Bill Burns Samantha Campbell Mike Drushal Kathy Dunham 17 Catherine Hunt John Ragsdale 18 Emily Coll Penny Cunningham 19 Walt Brinkman Zipf Pedrick Judy Wingate

20 Susan Black Camp Charnley Lilly Hall Robert McDougall Jasper Riley 21 Kae Harding Michael Harding Laura Silva Susan Suggs 22 Kendall Woodall Mark Zeigler 23 Will Walker 24 Mary Ellen Drushal Isy Milne Piper Spohr 25 Mary Kress Littlepage Anne Meyer Diane Milne Dougie Milne Suzanne Perritt Bill Proctor Nancy Splane 26 John Grisnik Honey Moore 27 Darren Dorsey Caden Matson Wendy Mueller 28 Mike Erdelyi 29 Evelyn Alderman Wycke Hampton Michael Lane Beth Mixson 30 Samer Garas Ann Gittings Philip Price Mark Rattigan Ryan Walker Chris Wrenn 31 Gowie Cassell

James Lays 24 Julie McLaurine Val Lyman Kelly O’Brien 25 Holly Rosenbloom Allison Blanks Barbara Zacheis Eveline Dyal 7 John Humes Patsy Gaillard 26 Louis Gittings Ethan Lobello Pat Gurley Elizabeth Meux James Rosenbloom Clementine Newberry Lauren Scott 27 8 Peter King Tim Akin 28 Phebe Ball Michael Brumback 10 Neff Jenkins Lynne Matson 30 Jessica Shipp Evelyn Brown Windy Taylor Bob Gay Mel Trescot Stuart Harbison Marilyn Wood Emily Stevenson 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 November Birthdays Sena Corbett 1 Mary Caroline Gillam Daniel Bergey Bob Gittings Lillybelle Thoburn Sadie Hunt 2 21 Sofina Parker Erich Diebenow 4 Steve Diebenow Ann Cranford Missy Riley Ashley Diebenow Doug Splane Brenda Johnson Cooper Verlander Don Queen Kathi Vodenicker 5 22 Bo Farrar James C Jackson Henry Wallace Tom Johnson 6 Jane Miller Henry Andrews 23 Peter Cotchaleovitch Andy Baker Courtland Cummings Hayden Phillips Barry Hall Charlotte Verlander

If we are missing your birthday, please call the Church Office (904) 355-4585 or email communication@rpcjax.org

August Birthdays Lindsay Schoenberger 1 Lukas Schoenberger Ann Smith 18 Carlisle Morgan Jean Grant-Dooley Loughran Andrews Laura Jane Powell Marshall Child Ted Powell Robert Schuster 19 Stephanie Verlander Glenn McKibbin Tyler Twilley Julie Drew 2 Molly Davidson Gresham Stoneburner Sr. 20 Karen Nuland Carol Platt Polly Cleveland Claudia Calhoun 3 Susan Baker Lauren Kraus 21 Lila Todd Jack Davis Lorraine Dajani Jeff Lane 4 Kylie Leuthold Hannah Davidson 22 Jimmy Hunt Jack Blanks Louie Body McGregor Lott 5 Richard Campbell Gresham Stoneburner Jr. 23 Jon Mann Alice Trice Katherine Forrester 24 Marion Wilkinson Lock Farnell Marsha Humphries-Mixon Saundra Howard McKee Riley 27 Talmadge Hunt Leah McNeil 6 28 Karla Newton Charlotte Rosenberg Maggie Means Jonathan Rogers 7 29 Betsy Langston Clay Meux Margaret Hartman Lindy Williams Mary O’Brien 30 8 Patrick Green Mike Swiercek Robert Adams 9 31 Bud Para Jane Gray Hager Eliza Crawley 10 September Birthdays Aleydis Lockwood 1 Debbie Carswell Michael Fisher Loretta Cotton Corena Mixson 11 3 Ann McDowell Joan Madison Gayle Kanak Susan Parsons Will Bollock 4 12 Eli Stevenson James Kraus 5 13 Claudia Coley Anna Coddington Denise Judd Cole Heeg Caden Spohr Elijah Sooter-Poplin 6 Michael Fallucco Atlantic Diebenow Win Branch Ron Root 14 David Wrenn Bob Kraus 7 Margaret Hall George Armstrong 15 Cade Cummings Dave Tuttle Katie Fackler Harrison Cavendish Kyle Gittings Stacey Halkovitch 8 16 Bill Adams Erin DuChanois 9 Jo Caraway Thomas Brumback RJ Root Nancy Gable 17 Evie Cummings Alex Mixson Bryce Heeg Landry Schoenberger Hollyn Taylor

849 Park Street Jacksonville, FL 32204-3394

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 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to THE MESSENGER 849 Park Street; Jax., FL 32204-3394

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SAVE THE DATE! Rally Day is Sunday, September 8.

The kickoff for the fall program year.

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