Dear First Pres,
My oldest daughter, Kate, is about six weeks into her freshman year of college at Whitworth University. One of the many dynamics of her transition has been trying to figure out what to do for church. So far she’s watched online and visited a few congregations in person, but (reasonably) she hasn’t quite landed with a congregation yet.
Do you remember what it was like to walk into a new church community? For some of you, it likely feels very fresh. Maybe you’re still feeling new among the First Pres community. But for others of you, it’s been a long time since you’ve made such a transition. Either way, I want all of us to remember that it can be daunting, challenging, lonely, and wonderful all at the same time.
Why do I bring that up? This week in our all-staff meeting we simply took some time to consider folks who have started connecting with our congregation over the past several months. Here’s the deal: we have a lot of new folks! We counted more than 20 new households in the life of our church, and we ran out of time before we exhausted the list. So, first, praise God! What a gift to have these new folks in our midst, scattered across both services. And, second, praise God for the gifts of hospitality He has given you. I’ve heard it so many times, “First Pres is a really friendly church. I felt so welcomed.”
But we all know it takes more than a friendly greeting on Sunday morning for people to truly connect into the everyday life of our congregation. It takes shared experience beyond Sunday morning.
Here are some of the connecting opportunities coming up in the life of our congregation: Women’s Conference (this weekend), Men’s Breakfast (10/21), Men’s Conference (10/29-30, on-campus), Pink House Fundraiser (10/29), All-Church Trunk or Treat Celebration (10/31), and Art Hop Chili Cook-Off (11/4). These are all in the next three weeks! Have you added them to your calendar? I truly encourage you all, both newcomers and oldtimers, to be part of these gatherings for the sake of engaging more deeply with the dynamic First Pres family. As we interact more deeply with each other and our neighbors, it helps connect more deeply with Jesus.
Then, don’t be afraid to invite newcomers to dinner or coffee or something fun. Don’t forget to invite them to your Growth Group or the like. This pandemic has caused many of our connecting muscles to atrophy. It’s time to start building them back up for the sake of seeing more and more of God’s Kingdom in Fresno as it is in heaven. Remember, in Christ we are chosen to be God’s special people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood for the purpose of broadcasting, in word and deed, the goodness of God to each other and the world. As God brings new people into our midst, let us warmly and authentically welcome them into our lives together.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy
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