Dear First Pres,
One of the desires I’ve heard again and again over the past several months from you, the folks of FPC Fresno, is a desire to connect. For the longtimers of our church it’s been about getting reconnected with folks after the separation that occurred during the pandemic and getting to know all the newcomers. For the newcomers it’s been about feeling more connected and known in their new church family. And recently, at our Session Elder retreat, reconnecting and connecting together as a congregation was identified as one of our top priorities for this season.
Of course, community is essential in walking with Jesus. We are meant to be growing and serving in Christ together, not just attending a worship service at the same time. The call to submit one’s life to Christ has always been a call into a community. As the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.”
This is why it is so important for us to be intentionally building relationships with each other, inviting newcomers into our life together, and pursuing authentic relationships with people who do not yet believe. This is why it’s so important for us to keep developing Go Teams and Ministry Teams and Growth Groups. This is why we keep inviting you to Men’s Breakfasts and Women’s Bible Studies. This is why, even a little thing, like spending some time in the courtyard after worship and connecting with others is critical to the health of our congregation.
And this is why the upcoming FPC Grizzlies Game is such an important opportunity on May 21. Even if you don’t like baseball, I encourage you to join us for this all-church event. Even if you already feel connected in the life of the congregation, join us to help others feel connected. For those of you who are relatively new in the life of FPC, the Grizzlies game is a perfect way to take another step in. For those of us who are encouraging friends or coworkers or neighbors to join us in worship, the Grizzlies game is a much less intimidating first step.
All this to say, Beloved, I encourage you to lean fully into this and other upcoming all-church gatherings (Summer Picnic - June 12; Neighborhood Night - July 24; Special August Art Hop - August 4) that are meant to increase our connection with one another as we pursue the mission given to us in Christ: Loving God, Loving Neighbors, Making Disciples and Pursuing Shalom.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy
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