Newsletter Article Jason Stanton Newsletter Article Jason Stanton

Message from Pastor Stanton for Nov, 2025

Well, now I’m excited! A year or so ago, our Vision & Leadership Team asked whether now (then) might be the time to enter a Strategic Planning Process. We all looked at each other, knowing the work that goes into such an effort and decided: no. We just didn’t have the capacity to do that work well. And more time passed.

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Newsletter Article Karyn Bodenschatz Newsletter Article Karyn Bodenschatz

Message from Pastor Karyn for Nov, 2025

This afternoon we confirmed 21 of our young people. Yesterday we hosted our annual Fall Festival and trunk or treat which was the busiest yet. Our Sunday School students are working on learning songs for the Christmas pageant. The choir sang what I would say was a difficult song beautifully done at the 8:00 worship service. Confirmands talked about what makes a space sacred and kids during the 10:30 service built a temple with their imaginations and became the priests who were sent out to do God’s work. Then they surprised everyone by coming back to the sanctuary through the door by the organ. Adults gathered to learn and support one another. People shared their favorite Halloween costume with someone they didn’t know well at the beginning of worship. We welcomed new members. We built community. We served our neighbors. On and on the stories go of life at First this weekend. And I stood and watched and wondered at the place God called me to nearly 14 years ago.

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