Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! In just a few weeks, our annual congregational meeting will occur on Sunday, February 26th. In the February issue of The Good News (our church newsletter), I wrote about a brief presentation I will be giving during the congregational meeting. In case you didn’t see my article, I’m highlighting it in today’s meet-up. Here it is:

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Where are we going as a church? Your answer will reflect what you believe the church is and what it ought to be doing. Some Christians say that the primary job of the church is to worship God. Others say it’s fellowship. Others say it’s community service or evangelism. What about First Presbyterian Church? What do we say?

Our February 26 annual congregational meeting will include the familiar components: receiving board, committee, financial and budget reports, and the pastors’ terms of call vote. However, I also will be giving a special presentation that answers the question, “Where are we going as a church?”

For a year and a half, your elders, deacons, trustees, church staff, and I have been developing a church vision which can be summarized like this: Our goal is to help you grow your faith. We believe three things we do help accomplish our goal: worship, connect, and serve. If each of us were doing all three, our faith would grow the most.

Worship is the most important thing we do, and it helps us connect with God in meaningful, inspiring, and life-giving ways. Worship is of mutual benefit: it is for God’s glorification and our spiritual transformation. We believe that if each of us is worshiping God, it will change our lives.

Various church groups offer opportunities to connect with each other. We need to nurture the insights and grace we receive in worship for them to grow and bear fruit in our lives. Our church relationships are among the most important ways that this happens. We study the Bible, socialize, make music, and more. We believe that if each of us is involved in one group in the church, it will change our lives.

Since God’s love is not something we just receive but also something we share, we also believe that service is important. Each of us is uniquely gifted and called to contribute to the church’s ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7) which grows our faith. Some of us are called to lead as a church officer. Others serve on committees, teach, lead prayer team members, or volunteer elsewhere. Others reach outside the church to serve our community. We believe that if each of us is serving in one capacity for the church, it will change our lives.

This is where we’re trying to go as a church—toward greater clarity about what it means to worship, connect, and serve together as a church. I can’t wait to tell you more about all this at the annual meeting on February 26. I hope to see lots of you then!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron