A Message from Ellen
March 2, 2022
March 2, 2022
Dear Friends,
If you haven’t been to church in a while, be prepared . . . . there is a lot going on around here. Renovations are the easiest part to see, and those will continue because of the support of this congregation for our capital campaign. But other changes are happening also, and I want to invite your participation and attention.
First, we are beginning again to ask our members to suggest names of those who have the faith, passion, and skills to serve as Elders and Deacons. The Congregational Nominating Committee is asking for your suggestions! See inside this newsletter for the multiple ways to get names to this committee. The strength, health, and vitality of this congregation is directly linked to the faithfulness and maturity of our leadership. Help the Congregational Nominating Committee find the right folks for the existing needs on Session and the Board of Deacons by suggesting names of the most faithful leaders you know.
Second, the Session has called a meeting of the congregation, on Sunday, March 13th at 11am in the sanctuary, for two very exciting purposes. Personnel has recommended, and Session agreed that FLPC should consider creating an Associate Pastor position once again. But, to do this, the congregation must agree. At this meeting, the congregation will be asked to vote to create a full-time, installed position for an associate pastor, to approve the terms of call and the position description, and to elect a search committee to find a candidate to fill this position. The second purpose of the meeting is, perhaps, even more exciting.
After much study and discussion, the Session has determined to enter into a mission partnership with a local non-profit called Serve & Connect (www.serveandconnect.org ) to create a COMPASS site in the neighborhoods just north of Decker Boulevard (the Woodfield and Greater Woodfield areas and around the intersection of Decker and Percival Roads). Because of the anonymous $100,000 gift and the benevolent money generated by the Capital Campaign, we are considering investing in a long-term partnership with Serve and Connect, our local police jurisdictions and those neighborhoods to do long term good. This is a BIG concept and not easy to understand. So, please come and hear from our Session, from Dr. Kassy Alia Ray of Serve and Connect, from several representatives from the Richland County Sherriff’s department, and from the FAPD on Sunday, March 13th immediately following worship. We will continue to livestream so that our online congregation can listen in! But come in person if you can!
You know if you miss a couple of Sundays, you might miss something important. As the pandemic begins to wane, please try to come back to worship! We need you! We miss you! We are moving forward to be and to become Good News in our local community. You are not going to want to miss out on this movement.
See you in worship!
Ellen Fowler Skidmore
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