What’s Going on at the Church
Consecration Sunday is Coming – January 12, 2025!
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Our congregation’s finance committee has selected the Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.
Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”
During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.
Every person who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.
We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship a guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.
We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and governing board members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.
Peace and Blessing,
Your FPC Finance Team
Interested in Getting Involved?
We have a lot of different ways for you to get involved – short-term projects, one-time opportunities, working with our livestream technology on Sundays, plus much more. Click on the button below to see what we have on our ‘volunteer wish list’. As more opportunities become available, we will be sure to update our listings.
Traveling Mercies for December
Listening for God’s Word: Read Psalm 71
“In you O Lord, I take refuge… Be to me a strong fortress to save, me… For you O Lord, are my hope, my trust O Lord, from my youth.” Psalm 71:1-6
This psalm is a prayer for everyone who is looking for God’s help. It is a psalm for everyone who has felt the presence of God even in the middle of the darkest valleys. It’s written by someone who’s seen it all, who’s seen all that can happen in life, all the everyday problems and struggles, and the tragedies that come out of the blue. It’s written by someone who has sustained their faith in God through almost an entire lifetime. It was written by someone who found that prayer was a door into God’s presence, and that kept them going – it kept their spirit sustained with hope even while they saw life as it really is.
On some level, we pray because somewhere deep inside we believe that God is somewhere nearby. We pray because we believe Someone is there when life is a mess. When we pray, we’re holding on tight to the hope that there is a reason for living that is beyond ourselves alone. It is a faith grounded in the conviction that God is the One who made us for a reason. We pray because there’s something deep inside that tells us that the kind of love and peace and justice that our faith claims to be the fate of the world, is in fact, what will happen someday.
We pray because somewhere deep inside we know that the fulfillment of what we pray for requires more than our own powers to achieve. We pray because we believe that only with the help of the loving God to sustain us, can we get through whatever trouble we meet. We pray because we believe that the power to help transformation along in the world, and in us, is found in God.
Prayer:
O God, you know our lives, and you know the places where we are struggling. Help us to avail ourselves of the gifts we bring to each other. Help us to avail ourselves of the gifts of prayer and devotion. As we receive those gifts, help us to offer them for your use in the lives of others. Amen.
Peace, Pastor Ed