We came together as a community to mark the final week of Jesus' life, reflect on His sacrifice and then the celebrate the resurrection. Here are some highlights.
Photos: Easter at First Pres
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3 books that can help you love the Bible more
We know that the Bible is God's word to us and that we need to read it, but sometimes it's a challenge. Our newly renovated church library features some books that can help. Here are three. Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible In Hunter...
What is Lent, and why do we observe it?
It’s Lent. But what does that mean? Lent starts with Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days (excluding Sundays) until Easter. It’s a period of preparation for when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Here are some common questions about the season. Why is Lent 40...
Kindness isn’t random: Show affection for others by looking at Jesus
Who is the kindest person you know? What is it about them that makes you think of them as kind? I suspect if you dig into those questions, the people who come to mind will be those who are intimately connected to Jesus. That’s because kindness is one evidence of a...
Embracing Authenticity: What Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year and the Jesus have in common
Every year, Merriam-Webster chooses a few words that defined the year based on the number of searches the dictionary publisher records in its online dictionary. For instance, in 2020, the word of the year was “pandemic” (of course) and in 2021, it was “vaccine.” The...
2 ways you can be more loving
As I’ve continued to think about what it would look like for my relationship with the Lord to be “renewed,” one obvious attribute would be I’d become more loving. I say this is obvious because the great command is for us to love God with all that we are. So, of...
How remembering your baptism can help you stay close to God
Do you remember your baptism? It's unlikely that you do if you were baptized as an infant. If, like me, you were baptized as an older child or teenager, you may remember a few details. And even if your baptism was only a few years ago, you probably don't think about...
Modgnik recap: Relationships & Jesus
A group of 14 middle-schoolers recently attended Modgnik, a retreat that helps students discover how Jesus' kingdom is different than the ways of the world. Kathryn Hendricksen, one of the parents who mentored the 10 girls during the weekend, sent us this reflection...
The good news in just 5 words
When it comes to telling others about Jesus, we often make it harder than it really is. What if it wasn't so complicated after all? And what if one of the most unlikely people in the Bible shows us the way? If we head to Jesus' tomb on the day of His resurrection, as...
Check out these fall youth opportunities
It's time for our regular youth programs to get started again at First Pres. Here are some highlights. Sunday Morning Discipleship Starting, on Sunday, Aug. 27, our discipleship groups and Sunday school classes are back between the worship services (10:15-11 a.m.)....