Some Good News 8/31/23

The church’s Membership Committee recently engaged in a discernment process with the goal of clarifying who we are as a congregation

by Rev. Mary Kay Collins on August 31, 2023

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

In the course of my life, I have been affiliated with a variety of organizations. Why? Well, I don’t like to say no, and I am excited and energized by participating in many things. But, as I get older (and I have a double-digit birthday coming up and there are no 4’s in it!), I am slowing down a bit, starting to ask what I like about the things I do, and making some choices about what I am involved in.

The church’s Membership Committee recently engaged in a discernment process with the goal of clarifying who we are as a congregation. We reached out to every person on our rolls through group emails, personal emails, phone calls, texts, and “snail mail.” Using the categories Active, Passive, and Legacy, we offered choices for folks to better define their relationship to the church. We heard from 1,064 members. This process has helped us get clarity on our membership so that we can serve each other and our community more effectively.

The Membership Committee and the Session are committed to reaching out to our members annually to get clarity on their participation and connection with the church. We’ll send out a letter the week after Easter each year and ask our membership to update contact information and let us know how they are doing.

In this process, we have heard gratitude from many of our members as they said defining our rolls was overdue and they are grateful for the clarity. I am thankful to the Membership Committee for their commitment to this process and look forward to finding ways to welcome new FPC’ers into our mix.

Happy Labor Day weekend, I look forward to exploring all the ways we will grow in faith together this Fall and beyond in this wonderful organization - the church!

Mary Kay

About the Author

Rev. Mary Kay Collins

Questions about pastoral care, the deacons, Neighbors at First, baptism, weddings, memorial services, membership, and fellowship events can be directed to Mary Kay.

Favorite... 

  • Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:12
  • Movies: Life is Beautiful, The Piano, Babett’s Feast, Inside Out
  • Books: Life of the Beloved, Traveling Mercies, Telling Secrets, Uncovering Happiness, The Magic of Tidying Up
  • Podcasts: Unlocking Us with Brene Brown, Good Life Project, and other podcasts my colleagues recommend
  • TV Shows: The Daily Show, This is Us, Nashville, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, and whatever new interesting series are available
  • Music: U2, Indigo Girls, eclectic, folk, jazz, classical
  • For fun, I like to: Go for walks, watch movies, and eat good meals.

About Mary Kay

I grew up in Central Florida, the youngest of four children. My parents worked for Young Life and I spent every summer from ages two to 18 at Windy Gap, a Young Life camp in North Carolina.  I graduated from Flagler College in St. Augustine,  Florida in 1990. After working as a youth minister, and then a barista at an espresso bar, I went to the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

My first call in ministry was in Nashville, Tennessee. My second call was to my home church in Maitland, Florida. In 2007 I was called to First Presbyterian Church and it has been a wonderful place to raise my three amazing young adult kiddos Maya, Alex, and Charlie. Each year that I have been serving in the church has brought with it new adventures, wonderful relationships, and great opportunities to learn more about how we are called to be Jesus's followers. I feel called to help make connections, strengthen relationships, and grow God’s church, all things that I get to participate in at FPC.

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