Pastor's Letter for November 2020
Dear Church Family and FPC Friends,
This is a month of Thanksgiving. Regardless of how things develop with respect to elections, the pandemic, hurricanes, or market volatility – this is a month in which we should give exuberant thanks to the Lord. We may not know what all the future holds, but we know Who holds the future, and we trust and love Him. God’s Word calls us to know that our real strength comes from His Joy. What is more, even in this challenging year, God has filled FPC’s Cup to the point of running over with developing ministries to younger generations – from our Preschool through our University & Young Adult Ministries. If you’ve been with us on Sunday mornings and evenings recently (or in the Preschool during weekdays), you have seen and know that of which I am writing.
Just as He has for two centuries, God is blessing FPC Starkville and all who know the freeing faith and bounty of being his children who worship, serve, give, and pray at, to, and for His Kingdom Mission Center otherwise known as the First Presbyterian Church of Starkville. Whether you are able to be with us in-person on The Hill... or you need to participate on Sunday mornings and Wednesday Nights via our FPC Broadcasts, be sure to join in with the Lord’s Communion at FPC each week. Then read through this Newsletter and our FPC email updates each week, and please call Olivia, our ministry leaders or me when you have questions or need to bring to our attention prayer requests or ministry needs. You may notice that I referred above to “Olivia.” Yes, God has called a new Pastoral Secretary and Church Office Administrator – Olivia Whittenton – and she began at FPC on October 26. In fact, I ask you to pray for: (1) Olivia and for Amanda – as they begin their respective new ministries with us; (2) Jim Beaty and the Nominating Committee, which is active this fall in discerning whom to nominate as officer-nominees; and (3) those the members whom the Lord may be calling eventually to be elected and to serve as members of the Session and the Diaconate in 2021.
Your pastor and friend in Christ,
Martin