The Stewardship Ministry Team has focused on several goals for this season in the life of First Presbyterian.

First and foremost, we desire this to be a time of personal and community reflection.
• That we may understand in a deeper way our dependence upon God and that all we have is a gift from God.
• That we may joyfully pledge to return a portion of God's provision to His work in and through First Presbyterian.
• That our pledges will draw us into greater obedience and love for Christ. In this process, we pray that all of us may experience anew what it means to be growing in the hands of God.

Secondly the Stewardship Ministry Team wants this season of reflection and action to include everyone in the Church family. In 2011, only 65% of our Church families made a financial pledge to the ministry of First Presbyterian. While there may be thoughtful reasons someone cannot make a pledge, we want everyone to participate and return a pledge card indicating their intentions in 2012. We can plant seeds of faith in many places and in creative ways as directed by the Holy Spirit, but we can do so much more if everyone is working together to that end.

Thirdly, we recognize that the pledges made in the fall of 2011 support the ministry of First Presbyterian throughout 2012. Besides the rich set of established ministries of proclaiming, equipping, and serving, our leaders have identified new opportunities in 2012 to expand our reach and make our work more effective. Here are a few:
• Implement ways to identify and apply members' gifts and strengths, making us all more effective in our ministry
• Improve and revamp communications within congregation and to the communities we serve
• Welcome and transition to a new senior pastor
• Develop a supporting structure for Downtown ministries, one of our core commitments, and execute initiatives as opportunities are identified
• Continue to creatively leverage service opportunities as a way to attract and grow disciples of all ages
• Provide support for, and ways to strengthen, marriages and families
• Complete a new strategic plan for the Church
• Recognize and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Church, using it as a springboard for ministry into the future.

In order to provide the resources necessary to realize these aspirations and meet other opportunities to minister in 2012, the Stewardship Ministry Team has established a pledge goal of $2,217,000. This represents a 3% increase over the 2011 pledged contributions budget. God has richly blessed the ministry of First Presbyterian Church over its 149-year history. In 2012 we can build on that legacy and follow God's lead into new and exciting ways to glorify Him and draw others to Him.