October 19, 2025
Dear Friends,
God is doing a new thing at FPC! Just look at all the new faces, friendships and fellowship, new ministries and missions! And now we enter a new stewardship season, thinking about ways we can support these new gifts of God.
We have received amazing gifts—in new people and opportunities, as well as new financial resources. Our giving greatly increased last year in our combined congregation, and we are receiving generous legacy gifts this year from the sale of LPC. We have committed to Presbytery to use those legacy gifts in two endowments, one to support making our building more accessible and updated, and the other to support existing and new mission outreach into our community. God has blessed our body of Christ in so many ways!
Stewardship is really all about a personal commitment to God using our finances. It’s about giving our first fruits to God, out of gratitude for all that God has given to us—and just think about what God has given! Stewardship is NOT about the budget of the church. It’s not about how much money the church has. It is about a faith commitment, and the opportunity to grow in faith through giving. In giving, our faith grows—because we realize that all we have is God’s, and our lives are completely dependent upon God.
Jesus spoke about money more than anything else besides the kingdom of God—and he often compared the kingdom to a treasure, a pearl, or a talent. Jesus knows that money can have a grip on our hearts—because we want more, or we don’t have enough; because we depend upon it to live and work. This is why Jesus said: where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. He didn’t say get your heart right first, and then open your wallet. He said give, and your heart will follow. In other words, when we give, our hearts grow. And our community of faith grows too.
God has been so generous to us. How can we be more generous? And how will our church be more generous in the new year? This year we want to focus on the newness of our community, and God’s gifts. We want to think carefully and joyfully about how we can respond to God’s generosity. Most of us give to many organizations, for different reasons. But giving to God is special, because it is an act of faith and gratitude. Jesus always encouraged generous giving, because of the way it changes our lives.
Please look at our narrative 2026 budget. Prayerfully consider how you can give and increase your giving. I cannot describe the joy it brings to Ed and I, to give to God in this place. We see the new things that God is doing, and we want to be a part of it!
In the narthex, foyer and bulletins, you will find our narrative budget—showing the impact of your giving. We also have questions for reflection. In early November you will receive a letter and pledge card. Please bring that card on Commitment Sunday, Nov.16th or send to the office.
I pray that we would all consider how to give in this new season. Thank you for giving toward the new thing that God is doing! Pastor Natalie W. Bell
You can find our ‘narrative budget’ here.