2026 Commitment

“We are a family of faith Called to…

Grow in the love of Christ, Share that Good News, and Serve the world.”

“He has shown you…”

Dear Church Family,

This stewardship season we are reflecting on God’s words through the prophet Micah to his people about what really matters as we seek to live in faithfulness to God.  Micah is addressing the common people of Israel who aren’t living as God desires.  They are going through the “spiritual motions” of offering sacrifices and their offerings to God, but it doesn’t please the Lord.  Therefore, God instructs Micah to say, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

God instructs them to do three things, to act justly (do justice), to love mercy (be compassionate), and to walk humbly with your God (living in humility as servants of the Lord).  These three expectations are more important than “going to church,” “putting money in the offering plate,” or “saying our rote prayers.”  Why?  If we do things out of obligation, then our hearts aren’t in them, and God sees right through it.  These responses should be done with joy, love, and intention.  Thus, God instructs his people to live as he has shown them: to do what is right, to care about their neighbors, and to live as willing servants. 

In Jesus Christ, God has shown us justice, mercy, and humility as we read about his life and the ways he taught his disciples to live.  Over the next three Sundays we will reflect on these ways of living through the eyes of Jesus.  Being a good steward is not just about how we give collectively with our finances, but how we live as Christians – “Christ’s ones.”  God has shown us how, but the real question is whether we will live what we’ve been shown.  My prayer is as we explore justice, mercy, and walking humbly with God together, that he will move us to respond in faith in the ways we give of ourselves – of our time, our talents, and our treasure. 

The Session has approved an ask budget that can be viewed below.  Our 2026 ask budget moves us forward in faith to continue the wonderful ministry we’ve been entrusted with.  Our budget addresses the growth of ministry, and the call to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.  Together we serve our neighbors in need through gifts and acts of compassion, serving both locally and globally.  Our mission giving reflects God’s heart to care for the least and to actively do something to help them.  In serving our neighbors, we are serving Christ himself (Matthew 25:40).  We are also a connected church, not just connected to one another, but also the work of our presbytery.  Our budget also addresses an increase in mission giving to Salem Presbytery that’s long overdue. 

If you haven’t noticed, we have a dedicated and talented staff who serve God and the church with their gifts.  Our budget reflects increases in salaries and benefits to take care of them as the cost of living continues to rise.  We anticipate and celebrate Pastor Larke finishing up her requirements by the presbytery to become an official “Presbyterian” Minister, which requires us to provide her the denomination’s benefits package for pastors.  Our budget addresses this.  We are blessed to have a vibrant choir, praise team, and handbell choir, but as we grow, so do our programming costs.  And we are also called to do outreach, whether it’s through new communication technology in upgrading our website services, or providing fellowship opportunities for the congregation and the community.  We are addressing those needs as well. 

But we cannot fund a budget that provides opportunities to do God’s justice, mercy, and walk humbly as his church without each of us contributing in ways we are able and in the ways in which God moves us to give – not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and love.  Therefore, I encourage you to prayerfully consider how you can contribute to the ongoing work of Christ’s ministry at FPC Boone.  Our collective gifts of time, talent, and treasure are given in love to the One who loved us first and who will always love and lead us as we walk humbly with him.   

Together we can do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God through education, worship, fellowship, care, and mission.  We can follow the way of Jesus as we give of ourselves. I invite you to prayerfully reflect on how you can respond in faith to God’s call this stewardship season, by contributing to God’s work in 2026 in two specific ways:

Below there is a printable 2026 pledge card.  Prayerfully consider how God is leading you to respond.  We will present our pledges to the Lord in worship on Sunday, October 19.  If you attend the service, feel free to bring your pledge forward as directed and place it in the baskets up front.  If you are unable to join us in person, you may submit your pledge by mail to:  First Presbyterian Church, 131 Big Valley Street, or you may also make your pledge below.  If you are unable to attend our Stewardship Dedication service, our Finance and Stewardship Committee kindly asks that you submit your pledges as soon as you are able so they may work with the Session to adopt a budget for next year.  Friends, may we give so that God’s justice, and mercy may be evident to all as we serve the Lord with humility together. 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jeff 

Called to GROW, SHARE, SERVE!