Sermon title: "Experience Love. Spread Hope.”

Scripture:  Acts 10:34-48

Dr. Will Cotton, Dr. Pat McCain and Rev. David Johnson will all be involved in the sermons at the 8:30, 9:40 and 11 am worship services.

The sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated at all services.

Please join us in worship this weekend. The 8:30 and 11 am services will be in the Sanctuary. The 9:40 am service will be in the Family Life Center.

Vision 2025: Facilities, Staffing and Resources

So far, you have seen the three major ministry arenas contained in Vision 2025 (intentional community, spiritual formation, and reaching the next generation) and the key initiatives in each arena. Two arenas remain that provide the resourcing for our Vision (operational awesomeness and financial freedom). You should now be able to picture the resources in facilities, staffing and funding feeding up to the three ministry arenas that ultimately feed up to people “experiencing love and spreading hope” in Jesus Christ. How exciting it has been to hear and read from many of you some of the ways you would like to be used of God to serve in 2025!

Remember that this season of Vision 2025 is when we are getting as many people as possible in the know about the scope and direction of where we are headed. It is also the time when we are seeing what is catching fire with people and who will emerge to help lead us toward bringing the Vision to reality. Some will be implemented in 2019-2020, while others will take a little longer to develop. For instance, two initiatives have quickly lit up. The first is the development of LifeGroups in homes throughout the areas where First Church families live (Building Intentional Community arena). Leaders, hosts and training for those hosts will be needed. Growing churches in this generation have these kinds of small groups in which people learn to grow in faith, hope and love together. Remember that the goal is 250 LifeGroups that will touch more than 2,000 lives. The early part of this initiative is about developing the first 50-75 groups, which will touch the first 500+ people. Rev. David Johnson is in consultation with churches who do this ministry particularly well. Please let him know if you would like to host or be trained for leadership. A Steering Team is being formed for this effort.

The second one that has emerged is revamping our communications infrastructure (Operational Awesomeness Arena): increasing our bandwidth for virtual communication, internet and 21st century Christian education resourcing, and development of live streaming for worship and special events. Most people find out about what a church offers in ministry online long before they visit. We are not equipped to show people the way they can experience love and spread hope here. Evangelism, training for mission, children’s ministry, youth ministry, music ministry, community outreach and training of leaders both near and far are completely dependent on this communications upgrade. Chris Burton and Betty Robertson are staff persons you can talk to about getting involved. If you are gifted or trained in the engineering, setup or development of this communications infrastructure, be listening for God’s stirring of your heart. 

Other initiatives are stirring as well. Keep listening and in partnership with our Church Council, we will be stepping forward toward becoming who God is calling us to be.

Sincerely in Christ,

Our new associate pastor, Dr. Pat McCain will serve as Executive Pastor, thereby streamlining the broad responsibilities of the Operations Manager. If you are interested in the position of Facilities Supervisor, please send your resume to Dr. McCain at [email protected]. Staff-Parish Relations in partnership with our Trustees Chair, Scott Reid, is working on the full job description.

Year to date Revenue: $1,565,940.78

Year to date Expenses: $1,738,971.59

 

2018 Budget: $2,481,067.63