Valerie's View

Valerie Young

Synod Leader and Stated Clerk

hope

We welcome the Spirit’s presence that keeps us moving forward in hope, becoming the community God intends.

​“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” - Romans 12:12

HOPE - It’s one of our guiding values as a synod. I know, I know. I wrote about hope last month.

Sometimes, for me at least, repetition is the best way for me to live into something, to constantly and consistently be reminded of it.

We hope for a better, brighter future for our children and grandchildren than the one in which we currently live.

So, we rely on the Spirit’s presence and work toward it in faithfulness.

We hope for a world where relationships run deeper than our daily transactions. So, we rely on the Spirit’s presence and work toward it with authenticity and transparency.

We hope for community where the grace and love of Jesus Christ is embodied in every person. Meeting people where they are, with a unity of the Spirit. So, we rely on the Spirit’s presence and work toward it with an openness to God’s reforming work.

I see evidence of your hope and the Spirit's presence in every presbytery and congregation I get to visit. I wish you could see what I see in the synod's 16 presbyteries and their leaders. There is so much hope in the church – yet we often forget to look for it. Keep your eyes, ears, and hearts open because hope is there. . and the Spirit is way ahead of us and with us still.

Together, we seek to live in hope, guided by the Spirit, that we are becoming what God intends for the Synod of South Atlantic.

Where do you see the presence of the Spirit moving us forward in hope? I’d love to hear your stories! valerie@synodsa.org

Peace-

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One of the great gifts of our connectional church is the opportunity to be present with one another across presbyteries and ministries. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be with leaders across the Synod this month and look forward to the conversations ahead.

Here’s where I’ll be in the next month or so:

September

8^th Staff Meeting, via Zoom

Coordinating Committee, via Zoom

10^th Synod Exec Forum, via Zoom

Northeast Georgia Presbytery Search Committee, via Zoom

11^th Hispanic/Latina Presbyterian Women of SoSA Gathering,

St Simons Island, GA

14^th                    Cultivate Committee, via Zoom

Inspire Committee, via Zoom

16^th 3^rd Wednesday COM SACK Lunch Gathering, via Zoom

17^th-18^th Out for Continuing Education

21^st-23^rd Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Meeting, Chicago

24^th Eckerd College Spiritual Life Council, via Zoom

27^th Preaching at First Presbyterian Church, Anderson, SC

28^th Gainesville Campus Ministry Working Group, via Zoom

October

1^st-6^th Out for Vacation Days

1^st Embody Committee, via Zoom

5^th Coordinating Committee, via Zoom

7^th 1^st Wednesday SACK Lunch Gathering, via Zoom

8^th Synod Executive Forum, Via Zoom

9^th Out for Continuing Education

11^th-14^th Mid Council Leaders Gathering, Louisville, KY

12^th Cultivate Committee, via Zoom

14^th Inspire Committee, via Zoom

14^th-15^th Synod Executive Forum, Louisville, KY

16^th-17^th SC5 School of Theology, Pastoral Care class, Clinton, SC

19^th Synod of South Atlantic Stated Meeting, via Zoom