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The Presbytery of South Louisiana
 During Hurricane Rita in 2005 St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Lake Charles was heavily damaged: a large, stained-glass window shattered, allowing wind and water to destroy the interior. On February 8, 2009, the church — rebuilt and alive — celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
During that day’s service the “Rita cross,” a collaboration between Elder Raymond Clawson and stained-glass artist Frank Thompson, was dedicated. Elder Clawson’s prayer of dedication closed with the affirmation, “Trusting in Jesus Christ, we dedicate this cross in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The simple cross, made from the broken glass of the Rita-shattered window, rests upon a firm foundation of native cypress timber.
The pieces of dark stained glass banded together are a reminder ofhow the storm elicited the connecting love and unity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and brought people together from St. Andrew’s, the local area, the state, and across the nation to help put the pieces of the church back together. A band of brass holds the pieces together, signifying God’s embracing love. No matter how diverse in size, shape, and thought, all are the body of Christ.
In the center of the cross is a triangle — a symbol of the Trinity — of red glass. The rough and broken red glass surface is a reminder that Jesus’ short ministry had rough, hard times and represents the blood shed for us. A candle mounted behind the cross produces light that shines through the dark glass and the red Trinity glass as a reminder of God’s presence and light shining through the witness of his people. The people of St. Andrew’s, led by commissioned lay pastor Nanette Cagney, look forward to following the Rita cross into the future.
The 61 churches in the Presbytery of South Louisiana have 6,862 members.
Presbytery Staff
The Rev. Dr. Alan D. Cutter, general presbyter;
Elder William H. Bottomley III, stated clerk;
The Rev. Ted W. Roeling, Sr., treasurer
Michael P. Harrison, administrator, Feliciana Retreat Center
Elder Glenda Keegan, asst. to the general presbyter
Donna Cuquet, communication asst.;
Elder Barbara Tulley, asst. to the treasurer
Presbytery Disaster Recovery Staff
The Rev. Jean Marie Peacock, associate presbyter (pro tem) for congregational development and disaster recovery;
Allie Henson, logistics and technology asst.
Elder Richard Maag, mission coord.
Kathy Lee, site coord., Young Adult Volunteer program
Project Homecoming (New Orleans)
The Rev. Julie Ann Bynog, proj. coord.
David Butler, const. coord.
Vann Joines, const. mgr.
Noelle Marinello, const. mgr.
Gabe Bobar, const. mgr.
Susan Wade, admin. asst.
Sue Larue, mission scheduling coord.
Lake Charles
Jimmy Macon, work site mgr.
Presbyterian Community Outreach (Slidell)
Kevin Krejci, const. mgr.
Milton Means, administrator (PCO staff)
Kelli Thibodeaux, office asst. (PCO staff)
Americorps
Louisiana Delta Service Corps Members, construction assistants & office assistance
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Andrew Kang Bartlett, GAMC
Gracious God, thank you for the faithfulness of your people who seek to turn calamity into beauty and shards into wholeness. Remind us to honor your life-giving Spirit in all whom we encounter today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ps. 97, 147:12–20 and Ps. 16, 62
Gen. 4:17–26
Heb. 3:1–11; John 1:43–51
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