Peter's Message
Dear Friends,

This is an exciting season in the life of our church. Our fall program is under way. The Choir is in full voice. Life Groups are meeting. The Youth Groups have a new Director (Josh Murray). Session, Deacons, and session teams are engaged in ministry. Mission activities, events, and speakers are scheduled. Hold on to your hats, Fall 2009 is here!

Now a date for your calendars: Sunday, October 25 at 4:30 p.m. Why is this important? Because on that Sunday afternoon during a special congregational meeting we’ll elect an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC). The vote will be a significant step in a long but careful discernment process. The session began seriously considering expanding our program and outreach at its spring 2008 retreat. These and other discussions, along with much prayer, resulted in the launching of a special fundraising campaign, which we titled Building a Bridge to Our Future. The campaign was successfully completed this summer. Through your generosity funds for the new Associate Pastor were pledged for a five-year period (after which the church budget will absorb the cost), along with monies for program enhancements and building refurbishment. Just weeks ago, the Presbytery of Santa Barbara approved the Mission Study we drafted, as required, which explains our vision, needs, and plans. Since then the church’s Nominating Committee has been at work preparing to propose names for the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee. (While only the congregation, in our form of government, can elect a Pastor Search Committee, the church’s Nominating Committee expedites the process by placing in nomination names of congregation members. Seven names will be put forward at the October 25 congregational meeting.) It has been a lengthy process, but a good one. We look forward to the day when it is completed and we meet (and elect) our new partner in ministry. He, she (or they) will focus on ministry with young adults and families while extending this church’s long-held commitment to community outreach.

So come to the congregational meeting on October 25 and cast your vote for an APNC. Yes, dinner will be served and child care will be available. The meeting will follow a wonderful organ concert by our very own Emma Lou Diemer, beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Incidentally, all football games in the NFL have been cancelled that afternoon. My thanks to Commissioner Roger Goodell for accommodating us here at First Presbyterian Church.

Grace and peace,

Peter

Peacemaking Sunday on October 4 - Watch Peacemaking Video

On October 4, World Communion Sunday, congregations across the denomination will promote and receive the 2009 Peacemaking Offering. This offering supports peacemaking ministries across the church and is crucial to the ongoing success of the Peacemaking Program. Through your gifts congregations receive training and resources to deal with conflict, International Peacemakers bear witness to how they live out their faith in the midst of challenge and even violence, children and young people learn how they can make a difference in building peace, and thousands of people benefit from Bible studies and other resources that teach peacemaking as part of our Christian discipleship. Here are some suggested ways to promote the offering:

With so great a need for peace in our world today, it is good to know that there is something that you can actually DO to make a difference. Please do your part to promote the Peacemaking Offering.