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Central Florida Presbytery
 The Conway Presbyterian Church property will be sold to build a state-of-the-art day-care center at the merged church location. Partnership in ministry is alive and well in Central Florida Presbytery, home to 29,210 Presbyterians in 76 congregations, as congregations seek to walk humbly with God in service to God’s mission in their communities. In March 2008, the presbytery voted to approve a merger between Conway Presbyterian Church and its neighbor, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. When their beloved commissioned lay pastor decided it was time to accept a new opportunity for service, the thirty-four members of the Conway congregation knew it was time to find a new church home. The Small Blessings Day Care Center, which serves ninety-five families in southeast Orlando, was the one ministry the members could not give up. The Session at Conway approached the Session at Grace Covenant about the possibility of expanding ministry at Grace Covenant with a merger and relocation of the day-care center. Grace Covenant had long had adult day care on the church campus but had no provision for day care for children. Thankfully, the merger proposal provided a way for ministry to continue and expand for both congregations.
With plans drawn to include a new state-of-the-art day-care center, funded by proceeds from the sale of the Conway property, the new building is moving toward completion. The sharing hasn’t stopped there. As is its custom, the Grace Covenant congregation pledged a tithe of its capital campaign to mission to provide funds to a third congregation, Crosspoint, the most recently chartered church in the presbytery.
Presbytery Staff
Paige M. McRight, executive presbyter
Edwin Peterson, associate executive presbyter
Donald T. DeBevoise, stated clerk
Jeanne Cook, administrative assistant
Karen Daniel, office and finance manager
Erin Davenport, coordinator for youth and camping ministries
Linda Lucas, communications manager
Suzanne Suguichi, resource coordinator
Cindy Britt, hunger action enabler
Ruth Watkins, secretary/receptionist
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Ellen Sherby, GAMC
Alejandra Sherman, GAMC
Mark Shoemaker, FDN
God of grace, we thank you for congregations that see beyond themselves to witness your loving care and welcome. Thank you for Grace Covenant and Conway as they join to share in life together. Bless their commitment to serve the needs of families and to support Crosspoint as it plans a permanent home. Grant that they can be a witness to the whole church of what it means to share as partners in the gospel together, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ps. 12, 146 Ps. 36, 7
Ezra 5:1–17 or
Lam. 1:1–5 (6–9) 10–12
Rev. 4:1–11; Matt. 13:1–9
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