2020. That's all you'll have to say, and immediately in years to come, we will know exactly what you mean. That one year will bring back words like unprecedented, pandemic, pivot, strife and pain. At First Pres, here's another word we hope 2020 will call to mind:
FAITHFUL.
Because in the midst of all that 2020 was, we as a body of Christ-followers found our God to be faithful to his promises. He advanced his Gospel in our midst. He cared for the lonely and troubled. He provided ways for us to continue to worship. He took care of our every need.
Worship
Worship is at the heart of what we do at First Pres, and so when COVID shut down many facilities in March, we had to figure our how to continue our worship services in the midst of a situation none of us had ever faced. We couldn't worship together, but worship services did not stop. A plan was quickly developed to film the service on Friday and have it on the website by Sunday for viewing.
“Even with my lack of technological skills, Doug and I could ‘go’ to church at the computer in our bedroom,” Lila Gardner says.
“It has been a good experience. It still gives me the feeling of having been to church,” one member said about our online worship. “It is very effective and beautifully planned and executed,” said another.
God was way ahead of us by leading our pastors to preach the “Fear Not” series just as COVID became reality, and that became a solid foundation for our church as we navigated 2020 with faith.
When restrictions began to lessen during the summer, we quickly developed a plan to once again hold in-person services while also livestreaming for the first time ever. We are especially grateful to our Congregational Care committee for cleaning between the two services.
We have noticed a growth in attendance at both in-person services and the virtual services. By opening our doors we have provided a welcoming place for folks from other churches to worship while they await the opening of their places of worship. Covenant Partners have shared our virtual services with unbelievers and those who had fallen away from church attendance. The Gospel is spreading in wonderful ways. During the pandemic FPC has never stopped boldly proclaiming truth so as to grow the Kingdom and spiritually empower believers.
We have been creative in providing COVID-safe communion elements, even after we discovered that one box of the self-contained communion juice had fermented, expanding and cracking the seals resulting in quite a mess. It's true, you can't put new wine in old wineskins. Virus free secure offering boxes have been placed in the back of the sanctuary. Thanks to Don Shiflet for overseeing greeters. In addition, the group which gathers to pray for the church weekly on Wednesday mornings has continued, first virtually and now in person on the steps outside the building, sometimes ministering to passersby and providing a witness to prayer.
We recognize that God has pushed us to be creative in worship and to step out in faith. We worship an amazing God.
Caring for One Another
The Congregational Care committee remained focused on our mission of caring for and connecting with Covenant Partners in spite of a pandemic that closed businesses, churches and schools in March. Church officers, the CCC members and Director of Visitation Gary Edlind began connecting with our partners, young and old, by making phone calls and sending notes in an organized fashion.
The ministries of the committee appeared to come to a halt; however, our mission was advanced through Zoom, by which we were able to continue our Lord’s work and connect with each other in meetings.
Pastor Scott held two Connections classes via a hybrid setup, and our congregation was blessed to receive 20 new covenant partners, including families from distant states. In addition, when meetings in person were permitted, Pastor Scott completed Stephen Ministry training, and 15 Stephen Ministers were commissioned to walk alongside those who are in difficult seasons.
GriefShare resumed, too, and completed in the fall for a grateful group of both Covenant Partners and community members.
The committee continues to oversee the task of disinfecting the sanctuary following the 9 a.m. worship service so that it is safe for the 11:15 a.m. service.
To the Ends of the Earth
With the outbreak of the worldwide pandemic, we heard stories of urgent needs for food, medical supplies and other basic necessities from our partners around the world. The Global Missions committee set aside $25,000 from the Global Missions Tithe fund to help meet these needs.
We sent money to Kerus to help buy food parcels for the children and families in Soshanguve, South Africa; we sent funds to Jimma, Ethiopia to buy food and supplies for the most needy of our church family there; we sent funds to Central Asia and Russia to meet desperate needs of our partners there; we helped send supplies to Cuba; we sent funds to Vietnam; and we sent funds to the Outreach Foundation and Frontier Fellowship to help meet critical needs worldwide.
We have received pictures, videos, and notes of thanks from our partners around the world. What a blessing it is that our church family can help be the hands and feet of Jesus all over the world in this year of great need.
The Next Generations
Children
The Children’s ministry worked diligently to find ways to engage the children and families of First Presbyterian in learning to know and love God and the Word. The beginning of 2020 Sunday School, Children’s Church and JAM provided opportunities for evangelism and discipleship. Then everything changed with the pandemic. Sunday School has been moved to Zoom. Children’s sermons are via video. JAM moved to a virtual format while also providing families with a packet of materials to allow them to incorporate activities into the experience. We had 25 families participate in Summer JAM, which was an online event.
We have seen God working in the hearts of families. We have been moved to pray for the families at First Presbyterian, realizing that they have new and unexpected challenges as they navigate the stresses of major school, job and social changes. We are looking for opportunities to support and facilitate growth in the faith of children and to support their parents. Families have expressed appreciation for devotional resources made available through our children’s ministry Facebook group. One family has shared how since quarantine the focus of their children’s prayers moved from themselves and toward the needs of others, so much so that sometimes prayer time can last awhile!
The events of 2020 have changed children’s ministry dramatically. A ministry that is traditionally hands-on with lots of personal contact has been abridged to virtual contact. This has proven to be very challenging, and we are still navigating how to do this well. In response to the extra time families are experiencing in their homes we have worked to provide our families with ideas and encouragement through social media and Virtual Jam Camp (pictured at left) to discover ways to engage their neighbors during these days of social distance. Please join us in praying for the children and families of First Presbyterian. We believe God is on the move! We need His creativity and the ability to circumvent difficult circumstances to continue the work of children’s ministry.
Youth
We had more than 70 youth participate in activities throughout the year, including one service project for a local organization, Equipping the Saints.
Other events included Youth Group on Sunday nights, the Disciple Now youth weekend in the winter, Zoom virtual Bible studies since March, a silent retreat, a back-to-school event at Lake Anna and various fellowship activities. We have partnered with FCA, and our high school students have partnered with CRU to see what college ministry looks like. We had a Confirmation Retreat in March and then welcomed 14 new covenant partners to the church in November through our confirmation class (watch below).
Disciples Making Disciples
This year has undoubtedly presented many unique challenges, though these challenges have come hand in hand with a number of opportunities to advance the adult discipleship mission here at First Pres. Despite physical distance, the committee was able to work together toward the implementation of a number of technological advances, including the purchase and establishment of video conferencing, webcams, microphones and classroom laptops to ensure continued learning with one another as the body of Christ. The advent of video streaming in combination with distanced in-person capacities will allow Covenant Partners to connect in discipleship opportunities well into 2021. We have observed many small groups, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes who have utilized these tools to support, equip and mobilize others to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and we look forward to these continued objectives in the next year.
That All May Know
In college ministry, we organized a few covenant partners to help with JMU student move-in. Even though they couldn’t directly move items, they were moving mountains by praying over the students and their families as they arrived. Throughout the semester, our church family provided a college lunch and Bible Study to more than 20 college different students, with as many as 15 church families providing a meal and connection. We have seen wonderful examples of leadership among our college students. Amelia Powers, Taylor Evick, Ian Shirley, TC Nance, and Seth Downs have all taken initiative by establishing themselves as leaders and engaged members of our church.
Though many of our plans had to adapt in 2020, we have seen God at work in many ways. This past year, our team has focused on reinventing the way our church greets visitors by building a team with specific gifts for connecting with people. However, we have had to rethink our strategy in order to ensure safety during the pandemic. At the start of the quarantine, we ordered masks to allow our members to represent our church within the community. Additionally, we recently subscribed to a texting service to allow our church staff to personally communicate with visitors.
This past year, we had planned to have a live nativity scene in our new church courtyard. Though plans had to change, we were excited to share the story of our Savior’s birth in an outdoor Christmas Eve service.
The team is now focusing on new ways to reach out and welcome guests on Sunday mornings and virtually as we seek to grow His kingdom in 2021.
Serving Our Community
2020 began in a normal way for Local Missions as Covenant Partners stepped up to help host Open Doors, a shelter of last resort for homeless people. This week-long sharing of our blessings and faith in Jesus with those most needy in our community was an opportunity to also receive many blessings in return.
Soup Kitchen served Tuesday evening meals to 30 to 60 neighbors in need. With COVID came changes, though, and rather than a Soup Kitchen at our facility, we took bagged lunches into the community.
We also spent time in 2020 praying for our community. As Pastor Jon reminds us often, prayer is the greater work, and so we did that. One day this summer, a few of us gathered outside a local nursing care facility that was being ravaged by the virus and asked for God's help.
We also held a Day of Service in October, assisting with sprucing up the Mercy House shelter and Roberta Webb Child Care Center. With cool weather, but with warm energetic hearts, about 20 people of all ages set out from the church for our assignments. Upon completion of our work, we gathered in Showker Hall for a lunch prepared by other helping hands. Pastor Scott had originally invited 20 Harrisonburg Police officers to join us for lunch. It was a sincere pleasure to greet them after they finished their duties at the site of an explosion that called them all into service. They genuinely expressed their appreciation for the timely meal and were glad to take additional food to officers working later shifts.
A Place to Grow
After more than 30 years and considerable debate, the “Faul's building,” located at 11 Court Square, was demolished in 2020, making way for a new Courtyard adjacent to the church. When completed later this year, it will be First Presbyterian's first functional green space.
Session voted in 2019 to demolish the building and replace it with a courtyard. The church subsequently hired architect Eugene Stoltzfus and his team to design and guide the project. Once demolition began, it became clear that the building’s condition would not have warranted an expensive renovation, affirming the decision to take it down. In addition to multiple structural problems, the foundation of the building was found to be compromised and severely deteriorated.
The committee continued to refine the Courtyard plans in consultation with the architects. Although the committee had originally hoped to see the space completed by August 2020, a number of unexpected developments occurred, most stemming from the city's request for changes. The delay, however, allowed the committee to consider future plans involving both the main church building and 9 Court Square, the building adjacent to the future Courtyard.
Early in 2021, all city permits were approved, and the project should be complete this year.
The committee has seen God use the specific talents of its members. Dan Hylton has been instrumental in handling pricing and construction questions. Mike Hendrickson has managed the potential rental aspect for 9 Court Square. Committee chair Marshall Price has worked with subcontractors on the demolition and site preparation. Chris Furry has been the point person on site and functioned as liaison with several parties, including asbestos removal and security issues. Vince Harkins has kept an eye on our budget. Jon Heeringa has helped the committee look ahead and dream. The Stoltzfus architectural group has helped guide the committee.
As of January 2021, the committee is hopeful that all of the city's requests have been met and that their final approval will be forthcoming soon. If all goes as planned, 2021 should see Nielsen’s small projects division create First Presbyterian’s first green space and a brand-new venue for worshipping our Lord.
In the meantime, the committee asks the congregation to pray for a smooth project completion—and to begin generating ideas for using the Courtyard.
Financials
In 2020, the Administrative Committee saw God at work as the church received $989,469 in giving and overall income exceed $1,003,000. We were blessed to be able to continue to pay our pastors and staff during the entire pandemic and overall church attendance grew with the addition of live streaming. We did not pursue any government loan assistance, our expenses which were below budget for the year, were covered by giving, and we earned interest on monies we have invested.
As you can see from the chart below, expenses were down in every category of our budget, such that we realized a surplus that will carry over into the 2021 budget.
The Administration Committee worked closely with church staff to find funding to add livestreamin, and several improvements allowing partners to safely worship, both of which opened our church to a much wider community. Administration worked with our payroll processing service to request tax credits and refunds offered by government programs. We were able to fund our maintenance reserve fund and the contingency fund was not used.
In addition to these regular budget items, we were blessed to receive $99,000 from two Covenant Partners for work on the courtyard adjacent to the sanctuary, which will be completed in 2021.
Throughout the year, the Administration Committee reviews, monitors and reports on all monthly expenses and giving and advises committees and Session based on that information. The committee works with the church's outside accountants for an annual review.
A Devoted Ministry Team
The personnel committee reviewed and updated numerous church policies during 2020. These included policies pertaining to unpaid personal leave of absence, vacations, family and medical leave, participation on session and committees, descriptions of staff positions, and recruitment. The committee also completed benefits packages for all full-time staff for 2021 and submitted wages, salaries, payroll taxes, and benefits budget to the administration and finance committee.
The committee engaged an outside consulting firm to complete a salary comparative analysis to be presented to the full committee in February 2021.
The personnel committee completed a work environment questionnaire and a leadership characteristics survey. Based on the survey results, action items for leadership are being implemented. A staff appreciation calendar was created.
Near the end of 2020, three church positions came open due to retirements and job changes: director of children's ministry, business manager/bookkeeper and administrative assistant. In addition to these roles, the need for examining the church's digital presence was clear. On the strong recommendation of an ad hoc committee engaged by session to examine the role of digital ministry, personnel used the opportunity to examine and reconfigure the vacated roles, along with outlining new two part-time communications/digital ministry positions for 2021. In early 2021, First Pres hired a part-time Commissioned Lay Pastor for Communications to help coordinate these efforts.
As 2021 begins the personnel committee is also working with various teams to fill the roles of coordinator for children and family ministries and for business administrator.
