The Christian Education Committee

It was six years ago that COVID left our pews empty, our households quarantined, and our hearts longing for community.  It was in the midst of the epidemic that the Session spent some time articulating a vision for First Pres that centered around cultivating presence among us.  We longed to be together as a church family, a physical closeness that we prayed would result in a feeling of belonging and love.  

In our church family, we create a place for unity and belonging through frequent and intentional contact and by sharing our stories with one another; this environment doesn’t happen without effort.  Our intergenerational events are designed with the goal of increasing and fostering those sentiments in and among us.  As I reflect back on the last year in the life of our congregation I have been so encouraged by the revived and deepened relationships in our midst through various events.  Wednesday night discussion groups have given us a chance to get real with one another as we take time to digest the Sunday sermon.  Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths, provided a unique opportunity to share camping stories under the lights of tents.  And during our intergenerational Advent Sunday School we played games, colored, ate cookies, and travelled through space and time to learn what saints before us could teach us about our Savior.

In light of this, let’s play together, read together, eat together, wonder together and learn more about each other and our God during times of intergenerational learning and fellowship.  Our family is full of young and old, outspoken and quiet, visionaries, traditionalists, the cautious, the realists, the lighthearted, and the servants.  We all together make up something special and only together do we reflect the fullness of the body of Christ. So whether there is a 70 year age gap, you voted for different people, or you cheer for different football teams (gasp!), embrace your brother or sister in Christ by sitting together in the gym, sharing something personal, or playing a silly game.

Let us thank God for the sweet gift of community that He has given us.  If you didn’t get a chance to join us for some of these special times together, no fear! Be on the lookout for more exciting opportunities to cultivate presence in 2026!

With Love, Brandy