May 28, 2026

Dear FPCA family,

Last night we had our first stated meeting of the Session since our newly ordained and installed elders have joined this important leadership team.  One of the organizational matters we took care of was getting elders situated on the ministry teams they will lead or support in the coming year. This makes it a great time for members of our church family to also consider where they might be able to put their own gifts and skills to use for building and supporting the ministry and mission of our church.  The elders of the church are just one or two members of each ministry team, but the bulk of the members of the team, the people who really make ministry happen, come from the congregation. Elders “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph 4:12); you are the saints! A few of our teams and areas of responsibility are looking for people with particular gifts or expertise to join in the work they are doing to grow disciples and support the church’s mission.  If you have any of these gifts, or know someone you think we should ask, or if you have any questions about any area of ministry at the church, please be in touch with me so I can get you connected to the right leader. We are in an important time in our church life as we are experiencing renewed energy and having crucial conversations about how we will thrive in the future that lies before us. This is an exciting time to get involved and engaged in shaping the way we will witness to the love of Jesus through the life of our congregation. Please consider this an invitation to grow your discipleship through involvement in FPCA.

• Personnel – HR experience, experience managing and caring for employees, writing or reviewing employment handbooks and policies
• Financial Stewardship – fundraising, writing and reviewing financial policies, funds development and communication, building and monitoring budgets
• Technology – internet solutions, databases, computer hardware and software, A/V equipment, streaming services, computer presentation solutions
• Worship – volunteer organization and support, music, creative arts, writing, spirituality, interest in designing meaningful worship experiences
• Compassion, Peace, and Justice – This team works to educate the congregation on justice issues that flow from our faith and Presbyterian tradition and invite members into meaningful action to build peace through justice. In addition to members to help plan the work, CPJ is also seeking a new chairperson.
• Member Engagement – hospitality, friendliness, event planning and hosting, welcoming of newcomers
• Mission – outreach to the community and the world, hands-on service with community partners, event organizational skills, good recruiters

Other teams of the Session that are always happy to receive additional support from the congregation are: Communications, Faith Formation, Mission Coordination and Action, and the Preschool Advisory Team.

In addition to these team positions, the Session is also looking for its next Clerk and Treasurer. The Clerk must be a Presbyterian Elder but does not have to be currently serving on Session. This role requires about 10-12 hours a month, including putting together the meeting agenda, recording and disseminating the minutes of each meeting, and fielding questions from elders and congregation members and communicating about the work of the Session. Annually, the Clerk prepares and submits statistical reports to the denomination with staff help and attends session minutes review meetings provided by the presbytery.  The Clerk is also the secretary of record for the church corporation and the clerk for congregational meetings. Substitutes are available when the Clerk needs to miss a meeting.

Typically, at FPCA the Treasurer has been a member of Session, but if an appropriate person who is not a Session member is found, the Session is prepared to seek the changes to the by-laws that would be needed to make that possible.  The Treasurer works with the Staff Accountant to monitor the church finances, on request of Session members makes recommendations about the use of special funds, assists in preparing the budget, and keeps the Session and congregation informed about the church’s financial position.

Thank you for prayerfully considering where you might get involved here at FPCA. In worship this week we will hear Jesus’ Great Commission to the eleven disciples after the resurrection. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations….” I truly believe that all of the teams of our church are ultimately geared toward helping us each both be and grow disciples of Jesus in the world.

Peace,

We Give Because Christ First Gave to Us

We give to support the ministries of First Presbyterian Church Allentown because we cannot imagine our lives without the life changing experiences that happen here.