First Presbyterian church s Narrative Budget This narrative budget process is one that shows where First Presbyterian funds are being used. How our funding works through our church and touches lives of its congregation, pre-schoolers, hot meal participants, Henryville, In., Love Chapel, Hampden, W. Virginia, Belize, Bethlehem, Zambia Africa, and many others. A Narrative Budget.. - is a sacred story of how your giving touches the lives of other people. - is a new way to envision First Presbyterian church s direction. - is an essential element to help our congregation see how their money is being utilized to support their ministry. - shows how your donations are really making a difference There are four components that make up the narrative budget of First Presbyterian Church: Education, Mission and Social Justice, Worship, and Congregational Care. A narrative budget focuses on people and mission. This narrative will display the impact of your giving. The budget has been divided among these four categories to show how much and what percentage is used to support them. Below are 2 charts: The top one shows the percent allocated to each of the four topics and the bottom chart shows the dollar value that is allocated to each of the four topics. Education: Children, Youth, and Adult Nuture Children s nuture: The Book of Order tells us that, Children bring special gifts to worship and grow in the faith through their regular inclusion and participation in the worship of the congregation. Here at First Presbyterian, we consider children to be an integral part of every Sunday worship service. The children begin each Sunday in concert with the entire congregation and then leave for their period of Christian education. Last year, we added a new session to each Sunday morning called Worship Arts. This allowed the children to increase their worship participation past the usual Children Choir and into other areas in which they could participate creatively in worship. Children were able to add dramatic
scripture reading, skits and instrumental solos to allow them to show other talents to the congregation. They were able to add art work to the bulletin and to slide shows that pictorialized the scripture. The congregation appreciates the children s talents and enjoys how the Holy Spirit is moving them in the life of the church. Youth nuture: First Presbyterian Columbus is tasked with supporting the spiritual growth and development of over 40 active middle school and high school students. First Presbyterian strives to provide a range of opportunities to support our youth as they learn, grow, give back, and connect with each other in faithful fellowship. The care and nurture that our church provides to our youth is evident in the many programs you see, such as : Sunday School, Confirmation, Mission Trips, Local Mission and Service Projects, engagement with youth from other churches in the Presbytery and the national church. We create opportunities for the youth to be engaged in the life of the congregation through active participation in worship leadership, children's sermons, musical performance and leadership, leading programs for younger children including social activities and spiritual development activities. FPC empowers our youth to develop their own faith, their relationship with God, and deepen their connections with each other, the congregation, and the church at large. Our youth are hard-workers. We hear year after year that they are looking for more responsibility on Mission Trips and in leadership at church. They challenge themselves and know that our church is a safe place to try out their leadership skills and deepen their faith. We are blessed by our youth, and we appreciate our congregation s unfailing support in our youth and youth programming. Adult Nurture seeks to provide learning opportunities that enrich our relationship with God and foster our spiritual and personal development. Toward that end groups gather after the Sunday service with coffee in hand for programs that have included DVD series such as Living the Questions 2.0, Justice and Peace, and Saving Jesus led by Luther Pierson as well as non-dvd series like No Easy Answers led by Jo Lucas, Ted Sharpe and Ann Jones. We ve a hosted speakers from outside the congregation to inform us about programs in Bethlehem, Africa, Haiti, and the experiences of holocaust survivors. And, of course, we are blessed by the talent and knowledge of our pastors (active and retired) and congregation
members who are willing to share their passions and knowledge with us whether it s hearing about their call or setting the record straight on evolution. We provide or support programs outside Sunday mornings such as the women s retreat and bible studies. Laughter and the sound of women singing hymns drifted out across the lake at Camp PYOCA last fall as a group of PFC women enjoyed a day retreat led by Revs. Norie Ericson and Sharon Williams Hanratti. We also have long-standing groups of men and women who gather to study scripture here and at Four Seasons on weekday mornings. First Presbyterian fosters growth for all ages utilizing talent within our congregation as well as people from around our community and world who embody the spirit to educate and assist humankind. Mission and Social Justice The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning. Emil Brunner FPC has long been deeply committed to serving its neighbors, near and far, making a difference in our community and the world. We have a passion for affordable housing, feeding the hungry, providing medical care, advocating for human rights, caring for the earth, community development, interfaith action, and assisting African children with AIDS. We have challenged ourselves to use at least 25% of our resources on needs beyond our walls. Our members give generously of their time, talents and finances, taking the leadership time and again in addressing local needs, but also traveling to West Virginia, Henryville, Detroit, Africa, Palestine, Belize and elsewhere for the sake of Christ s love and justice. Often, youth take the lead in hands-on service. For 60 years, we have invested in the children of our community with our support of the First Presbyterian Preschool, which benefits from free building use, financial support, prayers and many other generous contributions. These are gifts that clearly keep on giving as leaders around the world live out the values and caring that formed them here. We give joyfully to others of our money and ourselves that s who we are called to be. Hot Meals
Worship Worship at FPC is many things. It s the glorious ring of the sanctuary at the end of a great hymn well sung, the sound of children s laughter from the steps, water pouring into the font. Worship at FPC is light streaming through stained glass (or not), red poinsettias, and white Easter lilies. It s a nativity scene, a wedding, a funeral pall, a circle of life. Worship at FPC is the taste of the bread, the sweetness of the juice, the familiar weight of the hymnal in your hand, the cool feel of the collection plate passing by. Worship at FPC is family, grace, a celebration of the word made flesh still dwelling among us. Worship at FPC is the reason that we are here. Every Sunday and during the most sacred observances of the Christian calendar, Advent & Christmas and Lent & Easter, we gather for worship. Our professional & support staff, complimented by many volunteers, make it happen. Whether it is choir practice, rehearsing children or youth for special presentations, ushering, decorating, preparing communion, recruiting lay liturgists, preparing, proofreading the bulletin, it is a huge team effort, headed by your worship committee. Our members continue to be very gracious. Each week, individuals provide flowers for worship, poinsettias at Christmas and lilies at Easter. Last year, many members donated to purchase a new crèche for the sanctuary. This year, we have received wonderful support to refurbish our beautiful stained glass windows and to repair and paint the sanctuary walls. Worship is an integral part that invites all people to participate fully in our community and worship life as safe, loved and accepted children of God.
Congregational Care at FPC Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love each other If we love each other, God remains in us and God s love is made perfect in us. 1 John 4:11-12 We are a church that knows the joy of caring for others, and many of us are full of gratitude for the care we have received. In times of joy and sorrow, FPC is a community of faith that lives what it believes. We celebrate together weddings, baptisms, milestones and holidays. At funerals; in hospitals and nursing homes; at times of personal and family crisis, the church is there, led by deacons and staff, with prayers, food, and support. Various groups organized and informal help people through hard times, dilemmas, beginnings and endings. We are blessed to offer a word of hope, a listening ear, a warm embrace or a strong back when it is needed. Whether at the church picnic, Easter brunch, communion loaf or kitchen table, we have experienced the special bonding that takes place in the breaking of bread together. People who show Christ s love to one another that s who we re called to be. First Presbyterian Church is blessed with a lively group of deacons who have responded to a call to extend care and a spirit of welcome into our congregation and community. The deacons provide congregational care through outreach to individuals and families, social events, ushering, hospitality services for funerals and receptions, and assisting with communion for homebound members. If you ask deacons why they answered the call, you will get a variety of answers. Some want to give back to a generous congregation. Others see deacon work as an opportunity to build relationships. Many simply enjoy the good feeling of being useful and spreading love, support, and respect. Regardless of why someone gets involved, it s always true that deacon work at FPC depends on and is aided by inspiration and funding from the congregation. Consider a few of the ways deacons reach out to the congregation: Phone calls, emails, and visits to those with family members in ill health. Meals and transportation during a time of need. Talking at church on Sunday mornings, or an occasional phone call, simply to see how people are doing. Planning and hosting meals and events (many of which rely on building facilities such as the FPC kitchen and gymnasium). Recruiting and training ushers who extend welcome and greetings to all worshipers. These acts would not be possible without a giving congregation that inspires good works without supportive pastors and staff without facilities for meetings and entertaining. These blessings and generous gifts provide the foundation for the work of deacons at FPC and allow deacons to extend themselves into caring and encouraging relationships with the congregation. Education, Mission and Social Justice, Worship, and Congregation Care are what make up First Presbyterian culture and drive. First Presbyterian offers various avenues for individuals of all ages to respond to God s call and act upon that call.