The Long Range Planning Committee shared the 2010-11 strategic goals developed by church leadership to support and grow a healthy congregation and church. Throughout the summer months, Session committee chairs shared the collective vision for realizing these goals through Sunday Moment for Mission presentations.

If you missed one of these presentations, continue to watch the newsletter – and this “Vision During Transition” page – where summaries of these presentations will be posted. Progress updates and activities will be shared here as well so that you can stay informed and involved. 

If you have questions or want to find out how to get involved, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

How Can I Keep from Serving?

The Service and Outreach Committee is the primary steward for the strategic goal, “Increase the number of members, including all age groups, who serve local, national, and global partnerships; and increase financial support for those partnerships.”

At the heart of each strategic goal is the question, “How is God at work in the life of our church through this goal?” We envision First Pres as a community where members see service as an integral component of their lives as followers of Jesus, and where they find ready opportunities to use their unique gifts to join in God’s work.

This spirit of service reminds me of the song, “How Can I Keep from Singing” except we would say, “How Can I Keep from Serving.”   Forty Days of Purpose program placed an emphasis on service through ministry inside the church and mission outside the church. Since then, 40 Days study groups have planned service activities together, Bridge of Hope mentoring groups have formed, Men of Mission are building a tree house for the Barn at Spring Brook Farm, and there are many more beautiful examples of members who are responding to Jesus’ call to serve.

If a heart for service is really developing and growing at First Pres, this flurry of activity will not be viewed as a temporary spike in volunteer activity. Instead, a culture and attitude of service that has been in the heart of this church for decades will be enhanced.

Jon Sappey, Service and Outreach Committee

Dream of a Church…..

Caregiving serves as the shepherd for the strategic goal: “Build a supportive community for people of all ages and abilities including emotional, developmental and physical (particularly as we design the new addition).

You, the congregation, are all caregivers for each other. We need you to work hand in hand with our many caregiving groups. We are counting on you to be our eyes and ears in this church. Caregiving happens when you take a moment to reach out to someone. Hopefully with practice it becomes a part of who you are and who we are as a church family. 

Our goal reaches well beyond structural renovations to the building. It’s about looking at our church culture and being truly inclusive of our members and visitors.

Dream of a church where a young woman with significant physical challenges could grow and thrive and one day become a pastor herself or a young girl with multiple disabilities volunteering in Vacation Bible School for the first time.

Dream of a church where care receivers have become caregivers.

Friends…you’ve already made those dreams come true…that church is our church. Think and dream of what more we can do.

Sally Hall, Caregiving Committee