Some Good News 1/19/23

Thanks to your generosity and the dedication of this year's Stewardship Committee, I am overjoyed to share that we have reached our 2023 stewardship goal!

by Rev. Amy Starr Redwine on January 19, 2023

To read this week's First News Weekly, click here. 

Thanks to your generosity and the dedication of this year's Stewardship Committee, I am overjoyed to share that we have reached our 2023 stewardship goal — which was a 10% increase over last year’s pledge total! What a testament this is to FPC's commitment to generous giving. It's also a reflection of your understanding that giving to the church is not just about supporting our ministries or keeping the lights on, but an imitation of God's extraordinary generosity toward us. As you know, giving is a spiritual discipline that, as Jesus reminds us, benefits the giver even more than the recipient. In the words of this year's campaign, your giving matters, to God, to Christ's church, to you, to all of us. THANK YOU for all the ways you give.

I hope you plan to join us for the Annual Congregational Meeting on January 29, which the Session has called for the purpose of electing new officers and voting on changes to the pastors' terms of call. During the meeting, we'll also hear the new outreach vision Session has approved, reflections from our new Associate Pastor Josh Andrzejewski on his first six months, and a report from the Finance Committee. I hope to see you there in person or online.

In faith, hope, and love – and with joyful gratitude,

Rev. Amy Starr Redwine, Pastor and Head of Staff

About the Author

Rev. Amy Starr Redwine

Pronouns: she/her

Questions about worship, administration, adult formation, outreach, and pastoral care can be directed to Amy.

Favorite... 

  • Bible Verse: Isaiah 43:1-7; Revelation 21:1-4
  • Movies: Shakespeare in Love, The Martian, Storks, and the Marvel Universe
  • Books: Lincoln in the Bardo, All the Light We Cannot See, The Wolf Hall trilogy, the Gilead series
  • TV Shows: The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit, Broadchurch, Schitt’s Creek
  • Podcasts: Presidential, Another Name for Everything, It Was Said, It’s Been a Minute, Everything Happens
  • Music: U2, Nanci Griffith, Imagine Dragons, Alison Krauss and Union Station
  • For fun I like to: spend time with family — preferably outside — cook, read, and run

About Amy

I was born at Duke Hospital (destined to be a Duke fan!) and moved to Roanoke, Virginia when I was two years old. My family attended Second Presbyterian Church, where I was confirmed and where my faith was nurtured and my questions and doubts were openly received. After high school, I attended Middlebury College in Vermont, where I became a religion major after taking my first religion class. I graduated with a degree in religion and classics and headed to seminary.

At Princeton Theological Seminary, I found a passionate and intellectual community of classmates and professors. I also met and married Derek Redwine. Between the two of us, Derek and I have served churches in Denver, Colorado; Akron, Ohio; and most recently in Cleveland, Ohio. It has been such a joy to return to Virginia and get to know the faithful, curious, and earnest people of FPC and join with FPC members, friends, and staff deepening our faith and serving our city and the world God so loves.

I am passionate about meaningful, thought-provoking, inspiring worship; leading people to encounter God in their daily lives in ways that lead to personal transformation; exploring how God calls us to use our gifts for the transformation of the world; and discerning together how the church can best serve our community and world with passion and joy.

Derek and I have a daughter, Sarah, and two sons, Quinn and George. As a family, we enjoy reading, basketball, and baseball (watching and playing), spending time outside, cooking and eating good food, and our Friday family movie nights.

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