Parishioners Sandra and Ben McCaul say their goodbyes to Pastor Greg Rapier after his last service at First Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Janis Fontaine
The word “bittersweet” is often overused, but it was appropriate on Oct. 19 when First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach celebrated its 100th anniversary on the same day it said goodbye to one of its beloved pastors.
As the church family ate cookies and explored an elaborate display of historical artifacts in Fellowship Hall, congregants stopped to embrace Pastor Greg Rapier, who decided to accept a new position in California.
Pastor Greg came to the barrier island church in 2018 as an associate pastor. He became a co-pastor with Dr. Doug Hood in September 2024. Everyone fully expected Hood to retire and Rapier to lead the church into the next quarter century.
“Greg served our church exceptionally well for seven years, and we planned that when I retired he would become the pastor of the church,” Hood said. “But it makes me think of that very familiar quote, that we make plans and God laughs.
“So, we made plans,” but then Rapier “felt an undeniable sense of call that God wanted him to be a pastor in Sacramento and that’s where he’s gone. I honor that he felt that God called him.”
Like his congregation, Hood will miss Pastor Greg. “I want him back,” he said with a laugh. “I have my misgivings about what God is up to. Now, we’ve got to start the process all over, because I still want to retire in two years, but we don’t have a succession plan now.”
In its 100 years, First Presbyterian has had only nine pastors. Hood came to the church in 2012, and Rapier became the ninth when he became co-pastor with Hood.
Finding a new pastor is “a lengthy process,” Hood said. “It could be nine months to a year before I have another colleague, which is half the time I’ve got left here. After 38 years of ministry, I am ready to retire.”
The pressure of ministering a large congregation on his own became clear again when Hood returned from a two-week vacation and officiated three funerals. He’d bought the tickets two years ago and couldn’t have canceled them.
The church that was organized with just 66 people in 1925 now has more than 850 members and it’s growing. As churches struggle to retain members, the welcoming atmosphere at First Presbyterian continues to attract new people.
“We were the fourth-largest church in the Presbytery when I began 12 years ago,” Hood said. The Presbytery covers 39 congregations in Southeast Florida.
“We’re now the largest church. And it’s a vibrant church. Now the season’s begun, we are having around 400 people in worship, and in January that number grows to 600 people who are attending worship with me.”
The church is a member of Presbyterian Church USA, its governing body. According to the Presbytery, it is not just church attendance that has declined in recent years, but the number of people interested in becoming pastors has fallen.
“As of this year, 75% of our active clergy are aged 65 years old and older, so now there’s only 25% of our active clergy who are under the age of 65,” said Hood, who is 65. “So, we have a far smaller pool than we had when we found Greg and smaller than when they found me, because we don’t want to hire someone to come in and retire in two or three years.”
Finding a replacement to carry the church into its next hundred years won’t be easy, but for the right person, pastoring at First Presbyterian, with its beautiful campus near one of Florida’s most glorious beachfronts, it would be a dream job.
“There’s so much energy in the church,” Hood said. “This is a very open, inclusive congregation, a marvelous group of people of God. I believe the next hundred years are going to be great.”
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La Festa di Santa Lucia
St. Lucy Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of St. Lucy, the church’s patron saint, after the 4 p.m. Mass on Dec. 13 in Parish Hall, 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. Following a procession of a statue of St. Lucy, Father Brian Horgan will speak about her life. 561-278-1280; stlucy.net.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Songs, worship at Cason
Cason United Methodist Church is lit up each night to welcome guests to its bounty of music this season.
Christmas caroling will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 7, 14 and 21, and the annual Christmas Cantata — “Glory to the Newborn King!” — will take place at 3 p.m. Dec. 14. A Christmas Night of Worship is at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in the sanctuary and the special Christmas Eve Family Nativity Service takes place at 5 p.m. Dec. 24, followed by a traditional candlelight service at 7. Cason is at 342 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. 561-276-5302 or casonumc.org.
Concerts at St. Gregory’s
The Master Chorale returns to St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 for its annual holiday concert. With singers from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, the chorale presents “Comfort and Joy,” with St. Gregory’s music director Tim Brumfield at the organ. Tickets are $40 general admission, $60 for preferred seating at masterchoraleofsouthflorida.org.
St. Gregory’s choir will present the annual Christmas at St. Gregory’s concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 in the style of a traditional Lessons and Carols service. Special readings and anthems featuring the choir, guest musicians and soloists are planned. Free. stgregorysepiscopal.org.
’Messiah’ at St. Joan
“The Christmas Portion” of Handel’s “Messiah” will be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 370 SW Third St., Boca Raton. It will be performed by the Florida Atlantic University Chamber Singers, alumni and Schola Cantorum of Florida under the baton of Dr. Patricia P. Fleitas. Featured soloists include Rose Mannino, soprano; Monica Berovides-Hidalgo, alto; Erick Crow, tenor; and Matthew Daniels, baritone. Tickets are $20 at eventbrite.com/e/handels-messiah-tickets-1671383987499?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.
’Messiah’ at St. Lucy
St. Lucy Catholic Church presents Handel’s “Messiah” at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church at 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. This evening of sacred music celebrating the birth of Christ features world-class soloists Mary Anne Kruger, soprano; Marguerite Krull, mezzo-soprano; Michael Rodriguez, tenor; and Mark Sullivan, bass-baritone. They will be joined by the Treasure Coast Chamber Singers and a chamber orchestra under the direction of Dr. Douglas Jewett. Tickets are $75 at the parish office. 561-278-1280.
HANUKKAH CELEBRATIONS
Party at B’nai Torah
B’nai Torah, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton, hosts a celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 14, with bottle dancers, a DJ dance party, photos with Hanukkah characters, games and activities, plus snacks and Hanukkah hors d’oeuvres and treats. Register online at btcboca.org/events or call 561-392-8566.
South Palm Chabad events
Chabad of South Palm Beach hosts its 20th annual Hanukkah Concert & Grand Menorah Lighting on the first night of Hanukkah, at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at 224 S. Ocean Blvd. in the Plaza del Mar, Manalapan. The concert will feature virtuosic guitarist Gyorgy Lakatos and his band along with cantor Gergely Nogradi, plus hot latkes, Israeli doughnuts, Rita’s Ices, crafts for the kids and a photo booth.
Chabad of South Palm Beach hosts three other celebrations:
• Hanukkah in the Ocean Ridge Town Hall, 6450 N. Ocean Blvd., is planned for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16, featuring live music, hot latkes, Israeli doughnuts and falafel.
• Hanukkah in the Town of Hypoluxo takes place at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Garnett Park gazebo, 7580 Federal Highway, Hypoluxo.
• Light up Lake Worth Beach, co-sponsored with Chabad of Coastal Palm Beach, takes place on the eighth night of Hanukkah at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and features a menorah lighting with local dignitaries, live music, Hanukkah treats, a kid zone with face painting and crafts, and a photo booth.
For more information on any of the events, call 561-889-3499.
Old School Square festival
The annual Hanukkah Festival & Menorah Lighting takes place at the amphitheater at Old School Square from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Nosh on crispy latkes, sweet doughnuts and cotton candy, and enjoy family activities like a bubble show, bounce houses and crafts. The highlight is the lighting of the menorah. delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events/chanuka-festival.
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