Dear First Church Family,
After a couple of icy mornings, we’re beginning to see the sun. And what a pleasant surprise that has been!
About twenty-five students, parents, and grandparents stayed after church Sunday to begin the conversation of moving forward with our youth program. It was a good meeting. We all want the program to move forward productively; and we will see to it that will happen. I have already had preliminary interviews with two youth leader candidates who could help us move forward. Several people, who will be a part of a search committee, will meet them soon. Of course, SPRC will make final decisions. Please pray for our youth, parents, and leaders as we move forward.
Because of the pandemic, we have not been able to have a confirmation program in several years. We will resume that this spring. Interestingly, this gives us a chance to move to the place where eighth and ninth graders can be the main youth in the program, which now is the standard in most Methodist churches.
Studies show that much maturity occurs between 6th grade and 8th grade, giving the teenagers the opportunity for a deeper understanding of faith issues. Our 2022 Confirmation experience will begin in March and conclude on June 2, Pentecost Sunday, the first of which was the day the church was born.
If you have or know of a student between the grades of 8 and 10, who would want to be involved this year, please let us know. I will be the main leader of the confirmation experience and will have assistance from Tara Hatton and Sheila Triplett Brady.
We are all happy that Tara will continue to be a part of our church. She has volunteered to assist as a worship leader at least a couple of Sundays a month, along with our Rev. Marable Southall-Vess, who will assist one Sunday each month beginning in February. We are so fortunate to have persons of their high quality and strong faith willing to serve God with us in that way.
This week we will continue in our series: “Coming Up to Breathe,” as we seek to live the lives God wants us to live. Our theme this Sunday is forgiveness. Please be present with us in-person on Sunday morning, or tune-in online.
May God continue to bless you,
Pastor Dave