PEACE HISTORY
2003 - Peace’s history begins in mid-2003 as the Peace River Presbytery provided a steering pastor in response to a request from a small group interested in developing a PC(USA) church in the Lakewood Ranch area. This group began meeting monthly at Out of Door Academy.
2004 - A Leadership Team was developing, and it was clear from the beginning that this would be a missional congregation. Two churches in Sarasota, First Presbyterian and Church of the Palms agreed to partner with Peace. Significant support also came from First Presbyterian, Arcadia. The worshipping core met twice a month on Sunday evenings at Living Lord Lutheran Church, and a search for an organizing pastor was initiated.
2005 - Our Organizing Pastor, Elizabeth M. Deibert, arrived in June. We began worshipping weekly on Sunday evenings at Living Lord Lutheran. Pastor Elizabeth challenged us to 20% giving to mission. Our valuable relationship with Mission Beth-el in Wimauma (farmworkers) began to develop. Additional staff members (part-time) were hired as we prepared for 2006.
2006 - Peace launched a full program of worship, fellowship, and education on Sunday mornings at Manatee Community College in the LWR Professional Park. Ministry teams began to take shape and new leadership emerged. Our commitment to Mission Beth-El expanded and monthly involvement with Habitat for Humanity connected Peace to the community.
2007 - Working with the trustees of Peace River Presbytery, a long search for property began. Disaster relief in Arcadia in 2006 and 2007 forged a commitment to compassionate service. As that work ended, we joined churches in Manatee County to support a new ministry of hospitality to local homeless people, Family Promise.
2008 - Continuing at MCC on Sundays, we expanded our ministry to families and youth by adding a second pastor, Tricia Dillon Thomas, working part-time. Our commitment to a generous outreach was demonstrated by giving 25% of our budget to mission. In December the presbytery acquired land near SR 70 and Lorraine Road. This is the future home of Peace.
2009 - After a year of participation in the Acts 16:5 Initiative for Vital Churches, Peace prayerfully crafted a Strategic Plan, composing a statement of faith, values, mission, vision, and goals. At the May 28th Peace River Presbytery meeting the Presbytery voted to grant a charter to Peace Presbyterian Church.
The Chartering celebration took place on October 18th. On June 11th, Peace Presbterian Church was notified it was the recepient of a NCD Walton Grant award of $50,000. Peace Presbyterian Church
elected its first-ever Session of twelve Elders on August 30, 2009. After electing the Session,
the congregation voted to call Rev. Elizabeth Deibert as the Pastor of Peace Presbyterian Church.
2010 - On September 5, 2010 Peace changed location from State College of Florida (formerly MCC) to the Convention Center of the Association of Manatee Realtors (MAR) at 10902 Technology Terrace, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34211. MAR has a larger auditorium (300 seats), allows for offices and storage and is located centrally in Lakewood Ranch just off Lakewood Ranch Blvd between SR 70 and SR 64. We look forward to being at MAR for the next three years until building on the Lorraine Road property.
2011 - Peace has enjoyed settling into leased space at the Manatee
Association of Relators (MAR) building located on Technology Terrace in Lakewood
Ranch during the first months of 2011.
For the first time since its founding, Peace Presbyterian had spaces it
could use on week days. The rented
spaces were furnished and the Peace Presbyterian Session, and ministry teams
began meeting there. Most of the
meetings up to this time were held either at the Deibert’s or at members’ residences. The choir, which heretofore had practiced at
the Music Director’s home, now meets in
the “Music Room”. The Youth group has a
place to gather on Sunday evenings. The
pastors and staff enjoy having a place to work together.
With some sadness and loads of gratitude, Peace said good-bye to Joe Sardo, guitarist, thanking him for his work. With Judi Creneti, devoted church member, a good-bye was not required, but only great thanks for her season of employment as Assistant to the Pastors over the last five years.
The rented spaces are also occasionally available for services on days other than Sunday. This means Peace can hold memorial services and worship during special events on the church calendar.
The baptism of Wellspring Olson Thomas occurred during late
February, the first baptism at the rented spaces in MRA. A beautiful baptismal font donated to Peace
by the people who labored hard to bring to fruition a congregation called New
Life Presbyterian Church in
During February, the Peace Presbyterian twenty-person choir
participated in a “Choir Fest” involving five local church choirs at
