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As many of you know, for over a year our Strategic Discernment Team (SDT) has been engaged in deep listening, prayerful conversation, and careful reflection about our future ministry at First Presbyterian Church. We are grateful for the many ways the congregation participated in assessments, conversations, and shared discernment around the ministries and priorities that matter most to our life together.

Just to remind you, the Spirit-filled programmatic and missional priorities that we discerned together are:

  • Excellence in Worship
  • Music Ministry with All Ages
  • Ministry with Children, Youth, and Families
  • Community Center (Intergenerational): Meals, Resources, Education and Spiritual Growth Opportunities, Arts, Wellness
  • Caring Closet
  • Increased/Enhanced Digital Presence
  • Faithful Financial Management

The work of the SDT is continuing. We are listening. And we are praying for you.

One area of focus this summer is our building and campus. Based on the priorities identified by the congregation, we are now working with an architectural team from Bray Architects, funded by a gift from the Foundation of FPC, to help us discern what building renovations, expansions, and/or repurposing of our current space might best support faithful ministry in the 21st century. The building priorities that we discerned together as a congregation are:

  • HVAC in Both Buildings
  • Plaster / Painting throughout Both Buildings
  • Updated Commercial Kitchen
  • Expanded Caring Closet Space
  • More Accessible Fellowship / Recreation (Multipurpose) Space
  • Stone Restoration on the Church Building

The goal is not simply to maintain buildings, but to ensure our facilities actively support the ministries God is calling us toward in this next season of our life together.

A smaller subgroup of the SDT, the Architect Task Force, is meeting directly with the architects throughout the summer months. They are helping translate the congregation’s hopes, ministry priorities, and practical needs into possible concepts and long-term visions for our campus.

At the same time, the full Strategic Discernment Team continues its broader work of discerning our programmatic priorities that we hope will lead to recommendations for a sustainable funding and staffing structure that can support vibrant and faithful ministry for years to come.

The architectural process will continue throughout the summer, and we anticipate having more detailed information, concepts, and opportunities for congregational feedback available this fall. Please stay tuned.

We are grateful for your prayers, patience, and faithful participation as we discern together a faithful future for FPC. We will be in touch with more information as we continue to discover how God is calling First Presbyterian Church to serve our community and share the love of Christ in this new chapter of ministry.