FPC Family,
Our 2025-2026 church-wide teaching theme, The Household of God, reminds us that, at the very center of God’s plan for our growth as Christians and for the salvation of men and women all over the world, is the local church. The church is God’s evangelism and discipleship plan. More than that, the church is family. When we become Christians, we come to belong, not just to a movement or to a mission, but to a new community, joined to Christ by the Holy Spirit, and in Christ, joined to one another.
As you may know, a regular part of our ministry at First Presbyterian Church is our annual stewardship season. We believe it is vitally important as members of the household of God that we learn to steward wisely our time, talents, and treasure, for the good of our brothers and sisters in Christ and the evangelization of the lost. Of course, ‘stewardship’ is really just another way to think about a core aspect of basic Christian discipleship. It is not about generating funds to prop up institutions. It is about faithfulness to God our Father, to Christ our elder brother, and to the Spirit-filled Church, which is His Bride.
It is not about generating funds to prop up institutions. It is about faithfulness to God our Father, to Christ our elder brother, and to the Spirit-filled Church, which is His Bride.
On Sunday mornings, as part of our focus on the teaching theme, we have been studying 1 Timothy. In chapter 6 verse 17, the Apostle Paul warns Timothy and the church at Ephesus not “to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” This message gets at the heart of good stewardship. God is the Giver of all the good things we enjoy, so our hopes needn’t rest – mustn’t rest – on the “uncertainty of riches,” but on the sure and certain generosity of the God of all grace.
God is the Giver of all the good things we enjoy, so our hopes need rest — mustn’t rest — on the “uncertainty of riches,” but on the sure and certain generosity of the God of all grace.
When we live with that perspective ruling our hearts, we are set free from the tyranny of money, enabled more and more to live without the insecurity of resting our peace of mind on stock markets and income streams. Instead of the “uncertainty of riches,” when we rest on the sure provision of God the Lord, we stop being defensive with our “stuff” and start to become generous and sacrificial in our use of God-given resources. We start to “do good,” become “rich in good works,” and are “generous and ready to share.” (1 Tim. 6:18)
Our church exists for a much higher calling than simply to gather funds, accumulate money, and perpetuate organizational structures. As our mission statement puts it, we “exist to glorify God by
making disciples in our neighborhood, our communities, and the world.” That is the purpose of stewardship season. It is not about maintaining operations. It is for the glory of God, for the discipleship of the saints, and for the expansion of the Household of God. Paul says that by doing good works and by being generous, the church would “store up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19). In other words, stewardship and giving to the work of the local church is the best and most secure financial investment you can ever make! Remember that stewardship is not about money; it’s about ministry. It’s about lives, not institutions. Your giving helps FPCJ reach people with the gospel of grace so that they might taste and see “that which is truly life” — the Lord’s goodness, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. And the investment we make in that work, Paul says, will reap rich dividends for our own eternal reward.
Stewardship is not about money; it’s about ministry. It’s about lives, not institutions.
So, may I encourage you to reflect prayerfully on your giving during the Stewardship Season this year? Are you “generous and ready to share?” Have you been a wise steward of your resources? Have you set your “hopes on the uncertainty of riches,” or have you been “storing up treasure” for yourself “as a good foundation for the future?”
May the Lord help us to love the Household of God here at First Presbyterian Church and, setting our hopes firmly on God who richly provides, may He help us all recommit to her ministry and her mission prayerfully, financially, and practically.
Your Pastor,
David Strain
A Challenge for the Heart
Giving as an Act of Worship
The concept of giving can often feel transactional—simply a matter of providing resources to an organization. However, a biblical understanding of stewardship reveals a much deeper truth: our giving is a profound act of worship, a physical expression of a transformed heart. The Bible provides powerful examples that challenge us to see our time, talent and treasure not as our own, but as instruments for glorifying God.
Earlier this week, we considered the example of Dorcas, a disciple in Joppa from Acts 9. Her life was a testament to giving. She was “full of good works and acts of charity,” and the grief of the widows at her death was a direct result of her tangible giving—the “tunics and other garments” she made for them. Dorcas’s giving wasn’t about money; it was about pouring her time and skill into serving others in a way that honored God. Her life itself was an offering. This is our first challenge: to see how our unique gifts and abilities can be acts of worship.
Our giving is a profound act of worship, a physical expression of a transformed heart.
The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 shows the transformative power of this kind of giving. After his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus’s immediate, joyful response was a complete reordering of his priorities. He stood up and declared, “the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” This wasn’t just a charitable act; it was evidence that “salvation has come to this house.” Giving became a sign of his new life in Christ. Our second challenge is to allow a worshipful heart to transform our material priorities.
Jesus’s observation of the widow at the temple in Mark 12 provides a stark contrast to worldly views of living and giving. The wealthy gave from their abundance, but a poor widow gave “two small copper coins, which make a penny”— her entire living. Jesus declared that her small gift was “more than all those who are contributing.” The value of her gift was measured by her heart, not the amount. This worshipful sacrifice demonstrated complete trust in God’s provision. Our third challenge is to examine our hearts and ask if our giving reflects sacrifice and trust.
Finally, Malachi 3 and Psalm 112 speak to the faithfulness of God in response to our obedience. Malachi challenges God’s people not to “rob” Him in their tithes and offerings, but to “put me to the test” by bringing their “full tithe into the storehouse.” Psalm 112 promises that the one who “deals generously and lends” and “distributes freely” will be blessed and “will not be afraid of bad news.” These passages connect our worshipful giving to God’s promises. Our final challenge is to give in faith, knowing that God will be faithful to His promises.
The Stewardship Committee’s prayer is that your family has been blessed by these stewardship materials throughout the week. May the households of First Presbyterian Church be blessed as we re-examine our giving and embrace the joyous truth that our stewardship is a holy act of worship.
Harrison Matheny
Stewardship Campaign Chair
What now?
If you’re reading this, we want you to hear the church say THANK YOU for what you have already given—your time. You’ve read these Stewardship devotionals, you’ve planned to be at One Sunday, you’ve heard about how your faithful giving drives ministry at First Pres. Thank you for spending your time this week, along with many others in our church, in considering how giving is both an act of worship and the fuel for so much ministry at FPC.
What should you do now?
First, pray!
Pray thanksgiving to our Father for the way He has provided for our church and its work through the worshipful generosity of His people. With confidence, pray that FPC and its ministries will receive what they need to do the ministry they have prayerfully planned to do this year, and pray that this ministry will be fueled by the act of faith and worship that is generosity. Pray that every one of us learns to be devoted to Jesus above all things, and for whatever we give to be driven by that devotion to Him.
Second, plan.
We all know that life has no end of expenses and that our eyes are captured each day by many opportunities to spend. Without planning, it can be easy for giving and generosity to fall to the bottom of our priority-list month after month. Please consider using a One Card as a way to hold yourself accountable by offering a yearly, monthly, or one-time giving goal to FPC. One Cards can be found around the Sanctuary, in the Welcome Center, or online. Many of our members attest that using this personal accountability tool has helped open their heart to generosity and helped them grow them into a more joyful, faithful giver. If you offer your One Card in the offering plate (or otherwise return your Card to the business office), the church will be able to partner with you in meeting your giving goal by tracking progress towards your goal on your Shelby app and through regular giving statements via email. Please know: your One Card is personal and confidential–no one but you and minimal church support staff will see your giving goal.
Third, discuss giving.
Discuss giving and build habits of generosity with your family. This is an underused tool for growing as a giver. Each year around One Sunday, we encourage you to build a yearly “generosity habit” with yourself or your family—set aside a little time to intentionally consider God’s goodness and providence over your life, how your circumstances have changed in the past year, and whether any of those changes are reflected in the way you give (and plan to give) back to God. Consider questions like:
- In what ways has God blessed me or blessed our family in the past year, visibly and spiritually?
- Are there ways we anticipate life changing in the coming year (in exciting ways or hard ways)?
- What percentage of my income am I on track to give to ministry in 2025? Is that an amount that I should plan to sustain, decrease, or increase through the end of the year and into 2026?
- Did I have a goal for how much I planned to give in 2025 and am I on-track to meet that goal?
- Have our financial circumstances changed or are we anticipating a change soon, and has that change been reflected in my plan for giving through the end of this year and in the coming year?
One of the sweetest “generosity habits” we’ve heard of recently was from a young family who give their small children a “giving allowance” each month — $5 that each child could use to give to either the church itself, Missions, Twin Lakes, or the Day School. We loved hearing about how the children looked forward each month to deciding what ministry to support with their gift and the joy that small habits like this sow into our hearts, old and young alike.
Fourth, give!
To quote Senior Pastor David Strain: “When our hearts, goals, and hopes are devoted to God, money can become a powerful and even beautiful tool for His Kingdom.” You may give to FPC through a variety of means, including online giving. No matter which form of giving is best for you, please know how thankful we are for you and for your faithfulness.
As a final encouragement: when you are able, take advantage of the opportunity to give during the worship service. Because giving is an act of worship, we encourage you to consider building the practice into your own participation in our corporate worship service! If you give online or through other means outside the service, please find in the pew-racks our “Online Giving Cards”—a tangible expression of your online gift to place in the offering plate.
Daily Devotionals: Stories of Generosity
The Stewardship Committee has put together a series of daily devotionals for us to use as we prayerfully consider how we will steward the gifts we have been given. We encourage you to use these devotions in the week leading up to One Sunday to prepare your hearts to worship God through giving.
Luke 19:1-10
He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The story of Zacchaeus is one we’re all familiar with and have known since we were little kids. Jesus was passing through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem, where His betrayal by Judas, death, and resurrection would ultimately occur, and this is where He meets Zacchaeus.
Luke 19:2 tells us that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and that he was also wealthy. In that day, tax collectors would pay an upfront amount to the Roman government and then aim to collect more than that amount, pocketing the surplus as profit. Zacchaeus, like other Jewish tax collectors, was despised by his own people. He was considered a traitor for collaborating with the Romans and detested for enriching himself at the expense of his own people.
Luke 19:3 also tells us that Zacchaeus was small in stature – so short that the only way he could see Jesus amongst the large crowd was to climb a tree. Some Bible commentators believe that his short stature likely affected his personality and that being mocked by others for being small led him to further increase the amount of taxes owed by those individuals (as a form of payback), which caused him to be hated even more.
When Jesus arrives to where Zacchaeus is awaiting in the sycamore tree, Jesus looks up and does two things: 1) He calls Zacchaeus by name and 2) tells Zacchaeus to “hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” More than just sharing a meal or spending time with Zacchaeus, Jesus wanted to have a real relationship with Zacchaeus – and this is something Jesus wants to have with all of us.
Luke 19:5 tells us that Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree and “received Him joyfully.” Zacchaeus’ joy sprung from true belief, repentance, and faith in Jesus – that He is the Son of God, that He came to save sinners (like Zacchaeus and all of us), and that He would ultimately make atonement for our sins through His own perfect sacrifice, allowing for our justification and eternal communion with God.
His generosity overflowed from the joy he now had in Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Zacchaeus’ heart was transformed and the new joy he had in Jesus overflowed into openhanded generosity. Luke 19:8 tells us that Zacchaeus gave half of all he had to the poor and made restitution with all he’d ever defrauded, paying them back fourfold. Jewish law required that, for robbery, if voluntary confession was made and voluntary restitution offered, the value of the original goods plus 20% had to be paid (Leviticus 6:5, Numbers 5:7). The restitution offered by Zacchaeus went far beyond what the law required.
We learn in Luke 19:9-10 that Zacchaeus’ repentance and salvation are real. He was rescued from the bondage, power, guilt, and penalty of his sin. His acts of generosity weren’t a show, a ploy to regain favor with members of his community, or done to prove he was a good or changed person. His generosity overflowed from the joy he now had in Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Zacchaeus’ heart was transformed through repentance and a saving faith in Jesus, and the joy he had in Jesus as his Lord and Savior overflowed into acts of extreme generosity. Does the joy we have in Jesus compel us to give generously of our time, talents, or resources the way Zacchaeus did?
Mark 12:41-44
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And He called His disciples to Him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
I have always been affected by the story of the widow’s offering found in the books of Mark and Luke. I think, mainly, because of the intimate glimpse into someone’s heart and motivation. The story always stirs my own heart and causes me to reflect on my own motivation in what I give and offer to our church.
Time and time again, the Bible tells us that God cherishes the heart of a giver. I imagine the widow’s small offering, that was observed and mentioned by Jesus, not only displayed all she had monetarily but also demonstrated her love for God and her deep trust that God would provide. Oh, to be like this woman and to not lean on my own devices when offering my money or talents back to God.
I also love the reminder that even small gifts can be significant. The widow’s two coins, worth very little in monetary terms, were seen as more valuable than what the rich were putting into the offering box. What a loving image of God seeing the genuineness in the heart of the giver, regardless of the size of the gift. Most importantly, this act also reveals that generosity can be a powerful expression of faith.
May we be mindful of what sacrifices we can make to further the mission of our church, and may we recognize our God given resources and emulate the widow’s example.
And lest we forget, wealth is not just about money. The story can also challenge us to broaden our understanding of wealth and to recognize that generosity can be expressed through various means, including time, talents, and kindness. Depending on your stage of life, we could and should be able to share the wealth of at least one of these three means. When busy, show kindness when interacting with others. When you’re not as busy, share your time and talents through one of the many outreach opportunities offered by the church. We can all afford to give more of our time, talents, and kindness towards others. I think Romans 12: 6-8 summarizes this perfectly “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
The components of the widow’s giving and her sacrifice are the obvious themes of the story. How easy is it for us to order something so basic off of Amazon or to drive through a coffee shop for a quick “pick me up” or “treat”? We are such a blessed society, and the aspect of true sacrifice is difficult to fully comprehend. When considering our commitment this year, may we be mindful of what sacrifices we can make to further the mission of our church, and may we recognize our God given resources and emulate the widow’s example.
Malachi 3:7-12
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi was the last message the people of Israel would hear from God for approximately 400 years. God, through the prophet Malachi, calls the people to account repeatedly for their lack of faithfulness and their failure to remember the law of God. However, Malachi also emphasizes God’s long suffering and His steadfast love for His people along with His desire for them to return wholeheartedly to Him and be blessed. After the return of the exiles from captivity in Babylon and the excitement at the rebuilding of the temple and the walls of the city, the hearts of the Israelites had once again turned away from God’s covenant promises. Their failure to follow God’s law was an issue of the heart.
In this passage we see stewardship directly addressed as a reason for the broken relationship between God and His people. God accuses the people of turning aside from His statutes and then immediately calls them back—“Return to me and I will return to you.” The word “return” has two clear meanings, to come back and to give back. In this case both are fitting. God calls the people to come back to Him just like the prodigal returned to his father when he realized he had nowhere else to go. But give back is just as important here. God indicts the people for robbing Him by withholding their tithes and other contributions, and He declares that they are under punishment, under a curse, for robbing Him of what is His.
Herein should be our true motivation for Biblical stewardship, that others would see what God has done and give Him the glory that is due His name.
Now, these were tough times for Israel. They had been returning gradually in waves from Babylon where they had been slaves over a period of 70-80 years. They were poor. The surrounding peoples and tribes wanted them to fail and constantly worked against them. It would certainly seem easy for us to want to offer excuses for them. But God’s word here in Malachi leaves no room for misunderstanding. They were cursed for not bringing their tithes and God offers them an opportunity to put Him to the test. This is not the kind of “test” that is prohibited by Deuteronomy 6:16 which Jesus quotes when being tempted by Satan in the wilderness to challenge God’s authority and faithfulness. In fact, this is an invitation to highlight God’s faithfulness and His promise of blessing. God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings until there is no more need! God also promises to “rebuke the devourer” which is the turning back of the curse that was on the people because God had withdrawn His protection. Finally, God promises that all nations will call them blessed and they would be a land of delight. Herein should be our true motivation for Biblical stewardship, that others would see what God has done and give Him the glory that is due His name.
Unlike the Israelites in 435 BC, we have the full revelation of God’s plan for our reconciliation and salvation. We have John 3:16. This passage from Malachi calls us today to faithfully and expectantly bring our tithes and offerings to God, trusting that He will supply our every need and that, more importantly, God would be glorified through His protection and provision for His people.
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in His house,
and His righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!
Psalm 112
Psalm 112 is a wisdom psalm, a song that focuses our hearts on the blessings that come from a life of piety, a life that delights in obeying Him. The psalmist shows that blessing and obedience are intricately linked. The man who “fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments” is truly blessed (v 1). When we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we owe Him our whole lives, and we honor Him with joyful obedience to His Word. These marks of righteousness displayed in Psalm 112- steadfastness in hardship, compassion, integrity, and (the focus of today’s devotional) radical generosity- aren’t ways to earn righteousness, but evidence of the man whose faith is in the Righteous One.
Verse 9 highlights radical generosity. This is not reluctant or dutiful giving. It is open-handed, joyful, and rooted in God. Paul references this verse when he exhorts the Corinthian church to be “cheerful givers” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9). Jesus Christ, the God-Man, who was perfectly pious, gave more freely than anyone in the course of history. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” Or as Charles Wesley wrote, “He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), humbled himself (so great his love!) and bled for all his chosen race.” Jesus Christ came to save us from the bondage of sin, and provides for us an example of righteous living. He is both the Righteous God of Psalm 111 and the Righteous Man of Psalm 112.
When we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we owe Him our whole lives, and we honor Him with joyful obedience to His Word.
In a world that encourages us to accumulate and hold tightly to our resources, radical generosity feels counter cultural. Satan tempts us to believe that it leads to pain or some great loss. Yet God promises to supply our every need according to the riches found in Christ Jesus. Because of what the Lord has done, shouldn’t our giving be a joyous practice? If He is our earthly example of righteousness, and He so freely gave of Himself, shouldn’t our view of generosity be one of pleasure, not in any way a burden or a hindrance? Sacrificial giving is a great act of worship, and it is pleasing in His sight. The man who won’t fear the Lord can’t experience this blessedness, but children of God experience it in droves. As John Newton penned, “solid joys and lasting treasures, none but Zion’s children know.”
Lastly, this verse reminds us that generosity is a testimony. When we give, we declare that our security isn’t in wealth, but in the Maker of it all. Our generosity points others to the faithfulness of our God. Christian, when you give, you are an example others can point to and be encouraged by. Your fellow saints see you and say, “that is someone who loves the Lord their God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength.” These sanctified souls need to be celebrated, for the Holy Spirit has been at work in their lives, making them more like Christ, and pointing the rest of us to Him, the object of our worship.
When we give, we declare that our security isn’t in wealth, but in the Maker of it all.
Ask yourself: what story is my generosity telling? Am I giving freely, trusting in God’s provision? We serve a God who gave His only Son. Let us, therefore, live open-handed, pointing others to His enduring righteousness, leaving behind a legacy of blessedness. All for His glory.
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Acts 9:36-42
In Acts chapter 9, we meet a disciple named Dorcas, described as “full of good works and acts of charity.” She was a faithful servant, who gave sacrificially of her time and talents to care for the vulnerable in her community. When she died, many gathered to mourn her, including a group of widows who wept over her loss. We learn through their grief that they loved Dorcas and would miss her dearly. Not only did Dorcas minister to these women by making garments for them, but her generosity went beyond clothing their bodies. The passage conveys the sense that she also ministered to their hearts and had formed a deep, emotional connection with them.
As members of the body of Christ, we should strive to be like Dorcas. She is an example of a godly woman who lived not for herself but for Christ, our refuge and strength. The Holy Spirit transformed her heart, making her attentive to the needs of others. In the same way, we honor God when we serve others in practical, loving ways. We are called to live in community with one another and to bear one another’s burdens. Whether it’s bringing a meal to someone in need, helping with yard work, or simply greeting a visitor on Sunday morning, each act of service shines the light of Christ. Through our generosity, we glorify Him and help grow His Kingdom.
We are called to live in community with one another and to bear one another’s burdens.
We may not always see how God uses us as instruments of His will, but we can present our offerings to Him in faith, trusting that His purposes will be fulfilled. We can pray that the Holy Spirit would inspire our hearts to give, not for recognition but out of love for God and others. Generosity is never wasted, and God will answer our prayers in unexpected ways sometimes. He may use our trials to stir in us compassion for those who are suffering around us. In a fallen and broken world, we need the heart of Jesus to respond with grace, mercy, and love.
At this stewardship season at First Pres, remember all acts of help and kindness—practical and maybe even mundane—are in God’s hands acts of great Kingdom value and worthy efforts.
