Our “New Beginning”

Recently First Presbyterian Church has decided to engage in a process called “mission redefinement.” What that means is that we are trying to figure out what it looks like to be the church in the 21st century. We do not think that this implies that we need to throw out our hymnals or hire a rock band. What it does mean for us is that we are trying to find new ways to move beyond our walls and engage with our community.

Our current focus is on finding ways to get outside of our building, meet and form relationships with our neighbors, find out what it is that people need, and discern ways that we can meet those needs.

This is nothing less that what God calls us to do when God calls us to “love our neighbor.” We don’t feel it is enough for us to simply donate to charities and run our programs, thinking that by doing so we are making a difference. We believe that God is calling us to invest in the lives of the people around us, so that is what we are trying to do.

We are at the beginning of this process and are excited about where it will take us. We expect this to be a trajectory that is prayerful and intentional, therefore we don’t think that we are going to see a radical shift right away. As we go, our website will be updated to reflect the new things that we are doing.

Again, we don’t want to roll out a bunch of programs and expect people to thank us. We are trying to engage in the slow and difficult work of getting to know people and being an encouragement, a support, and a resource to them, so that we all might live our best lives together, knowing that we are loved by God in the proof of our love and care for each other.

In all of this we believe that the Holy Spirit is at work, leading us beyond ourselves and to our neighbor, that we might not only offer support, friendship, and help to them, but that in the process we will be transformed as well.