“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Dear Friends,
Where do you most clearly hear God’s voice? Ponder that question for a moment. For so many of us, the answer is connected to the moments we experience through our belonging to a community of faithful believers. Church is the place where we gather to experience God’s abundant love through worship, learning, service, fellowship, laughing and crying, and celebrating together all that life brings. To that end, our stewardship campaign theme this year is: Celebrating God’s Abundance!
At First Presbyterian Church, we are surrounded by the abundance that Jesus promises. The energy and enthusiasm in our congregation over the past year is palpable. Not only are we doing life and ministry in-person once again, but we have also welcomed many new faces into leadership including a new Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor for Youth and Campus Ministries and Director of Children’s Ministry. In addition, we give thanks for the numerous opportunities that God has put before us to serve our local community and beyond. The Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty, Mobile Meals, Winter Warmth, Hand in Hand, Neighborhood Meal Ministry, C.A.S.T. and so many other programs are examples of God leading our congregation to share the love of Christ with others. We celebrate these efforts!
During last year’s stewardship campaign, we “prepared the way” for renewed engagement as we looked ahead to this next chapter in FPC’s long history. Now it is time to celebrate the great things God is doing at First Presbyterian! We also ask ourselves, as a congregation and as individuals, what if we could do more? How might we let the light of Christ shine brighter into harder to reach places and people? How might we fulfill the spiritual needs of new neighbors moving into our community? How do we create more opportunities to love and serve people regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey?
We are writing today to ask you to prayerfully consider what portion of your resources you can set aside for our ministry together in the year to come. We especially want to invite you to consider making a pledge towards the 2023 operating budget. Pledging not only enables the church to more confidently and responsibly plan for ministry but also serves as a personal spiritual practice. It is a recognition that God can do abundantly more with our gifts of time, talent, and resources than we can ever accomplish on our own.
You can make your pledge online this year by clicking the button below or by filling out a pledge card and returning by mail or in-person (via the offering plate or the church financial office) by Sunday, October 23. Thank you and thanks be to God for all the ways we are invited to share God’s abundant love in Jesus Christ this stewardship season and always. Let’s celebrate!
In Christ,
2022 Stewardship Committee
Vic Bailey IV, Chair
Brand Stille, Co-Chair
David Berry,
Jr
Laura
Boles
Liz
Evans
John Harrill
Cheryl
Lang
Kay Maddox
Michael
Pack
Charlotte Verreault