Pumpkins and 15 Years

Celebrating 15 Years of Peace Over fifteen years ago, a small of group of dedicated and determined individuals sat around kitchen tables and dreamed a dream. They wanted to establish an intergenerational and diverse Presbyterian church. Now, in 2024 that dream is a reality with 350 participants of all ages in a thriving community of followers of Jesus Christ. Peace Presbyterian began with worship at Living Lord Lutheran Church, Manatee Community College off University Boulevard (now SCF), and the Manatee Association of Realtors. Pastor Elizabeth Deibert was called in 2005 to start this New Church Development and the church was officially chartered in 2009 as a new church in the Peace River Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The church moved to a conference center, then owned by the Manatee Association of Realtors, on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard in the fall of 2010. The dream of building a church began to grow but the lack of finances dictated patience. The sudden ending of the lease forced the church to quickly find another home and the money to buy it. With Divine Providence, Peace Presbyterian found twenty-four beautiful acres with a 13,800 square foot building on State Road 64 E which had previously been called Aurora Ministries. The church began to grow and the fellowship hall which had served as a sanctuary was overflowing and cramped. In the summer of 2018, the church moved into a spacious sanctuary with a new organ. The new sanctuary was dedicated in 2019. More staff was added including a full time music minister and a family ministry director along with an office manager and bookkeeper. Two young, dynamic parish associates were added in 2020. A memorial garden was added in the courtyard of the Peace Center and a Peaceful Path was added as a place for meditation. The Peaceful Path is open to the public seven days a week from dawn to dusk and members of the community are encouraged to utilize it. Peace Presbyterian is an inclusive family-oriented church which encourages all its members from newborns to nonagenarians. The Sunday worship service includes children of all ages. The church is mission-oriented with support for organizations like Beth El Farm Works Ministry, Meals on Wheels, Books for Kids, Turning Points, Our Daily Bread and others. Peace is a Matthew 25 congregation, an Earthcare congregation, and member of STREAM (Stronger Together Reaching Equality Across Manatee). The community is invited to join in celebration on Saturday, October 26, from 10 to 4 pm with free parking, live music, pumpkin patch, not-so-spooky path, hunger walk, bouncy house, food trucks, animal blessing and much more. For further information call: 941-753-7778 or visit our website: Peacepcusa.com

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Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2684792-0

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