Our annual campaign theme is 200 Years of Blessings: Imagine What Comes Next. Over the next few weeks, members of the Stewardship Committee will share some blessings they have experienced. We have all been blessed in so many ways by being a member of First...
On Sunday we kicked off this year’s annual stewardship campaign with the theme, “200 Years of Blessings, Imagine What Comes Next.” In the weeks leading up to the official start of our goal to raise $2.7 million to support next year’s budget, Ann Alexander, our...
There are plenty of stories in the bible that center around the act of Jesus sharing a meal with others. Can you name one? There is the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17), Jesus going to Zacchaeus’ house (Luke 19:1-10), Jesus visiting Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42),...
Since I was a child I have always loved the season of Fall. There were so many things to look forward to — a new school year, a new year of activities at church, and of course the cooler weather, apple cider, and beautiful foliage. As an adult, this is still my...
Seeing someone make the most of the gifts God has given them is exhilarating. Watching the Olympic athletes, after a lifetime of training giving it their all makes me cheer (while I watch on my sofa eating chips). Clearly, they have stewarded their talents through...
God loves us and created us. God loves us and listens to us. God loves us and protects us. God loves us unconditionally. Last week, we welcomed almost 100 children to Dino Island for Vacation Bible School, and these were the daily “taglines” they learned, coupled with...
A week ago, I accompanied sixteen middle schoolers to Montreat Middle School Conference at Maryville College in Tennessee along with Phae. Chip Bristol and Tom Gilliespie graciously joined us as chaperones, too. The theme for the conference was “In the Middle of it...
When a nine-mile hike around a lake turns into a 15-mile trudge through knee-high burrs in the dark, one quickly learns the importance of pivoting the plan. My twin sister and her boyfriend recently moved to Sacramento to pursue their respective career goals. They had...
“True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart.” Hellen Keller My roommate and bestie in college was Anastasia Demetria Theohoratus Katapodos. Tasia! (Can you say, “Greek?”) Her parents came to the United States as refugees in 1954....
At the end of May, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Eastern Europe with eight dear friends from my hometown. To say that we had a great time would be an understatement as it was truly the trip of a lifetime for me. I have never seen such breathtaking and...
