ALL HIS
Thanks to your gifts and generosity, First Pres is growing in its ability to carry out the mission God has for us in Harrisonburg and beyond.
Worship
Our gathered worship is at the core of who we are. It gives us our purpose and it fuels us for ministry. This year, First Pres took a step of faith and began offering a third worship service so that we can grow the family of faith. Our pastors and staff are committed to worshiping God through excellent music, biblical preaching and a liturgy that reminds us each week who God is and who we are in Him.
Making Disciples
We need each other to follow Jesus, so we have continued to work on growing the opportunities we offer to learn more about Jesus and grow in faith. That includes a re-energized Sunday school time for all ages between our two worship times.
The Next Generation
One of our goals is to grow our ministry to children and families, because we know that is a key responsibility of the church. This year, your gifts allowed us to have what we needed to grow Summer JAM Camp, our largest outreach event of the year. We also restarted weekday JAM and helped our kids encounter Jesus in Sunday school every week during the school year.
The Great Commission
We continue to emphasize the need for all of us to have a One, someone are investing our time in so that he or she may know Jesus. To help, we launched Alpha this fall to provide a space for honest and vulnerable questions about faith. Those who attended enjoyed a meal and conversations around tables in the newly renovated 9 Court Square.
Serving, Here and There
We serve our community through ministries such as Soup Kitchen and help with local ministries for those with no home. We also serve by showing up when our downtown community gathers, whether its Block Party in the Burg, the International Festival or hosting a nativity before the Christmas parade.
Supporting Each Other
Through programs such as GriefShare and Stephen Ministry, we share Christ’s love with those inside and outside the church. And whenever someone has a need, the First Pres family comes through with meals, cards, visits and other support. We also are blessed with a pastoral staff that comes alongside our members with help and guidance.
All that I have is but a gift from God. Tithing for me is an act of worship and gratitude.
I love when I see new faces in the pews on Sunday morning or when the children’s wing in full of noise and laughter. When I help lead worship on Sunday morning, and take a moment to step back and listen to the fullness of those worshiping – it’s amazing!
It’s all His. How will you respond?
In Psalm 50, God urges His people to give offerings not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. As we approach the 2025 ministry year, that’s how we want to approach our plans for giving in the new year. In the same Psalm, God makes it clear: He owns everything already. So as you reaffirm your commitment to God’s work at First Pres, remember that all of what we do is because of and for Him!