Weddings
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Congratulations! We look forward to helping you plan your wedding at First Pres.
Most of us recognize a wedding as a celebration of two people’s commitment to one another, but it is also an act of worship. As a couple comes before God, their family, and friends to proclaim their love for one another and seek God’s blessing for their union, we are reminded that the relationship between a husband and wife is parallel to our relationship with Christ. As you begin the season of planning your wedding, we hope to help you share in all the joys of finding grace and everlasting favor in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please contact Jeanne Nifong to start the process, including scheduling a meeting with the pastor.
Funerals
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Questions and fears about death find their answers in our Christian faith. To every suggestion that death is only a brutal end to all that is good and therefore a defeat, the Christian faith answers with a resounding “No!” In the Resurrection, Jesus said “Yes!” to everlasting life. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26) And at the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples, “Because I live, you will also live.” (John 14:19)
At some time in life, we all have to face death and the resulting grief that comes with saying good-bye to a family member or friend. At 1st Pres, we seek to remind one another of the power of God’s grace, the comfort of His sovereignty, and the strength of His promises. Especially when we face sad and challenging days ahead, we find solace and peace in our community of faith. Please know that as you face the days ahead, we will be praying with and for you and your family as you rely on God’s mercy.
A funeral service is an act of Christian worship because we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and His promise of everlasting life. We hold on to that promise as we honor and celebrate the life of our loved ones.
If you need to make funeral arrangements for a loved one, please contact Jeanne Nifong and she will assist you.
Baptism
For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him.
Acts 2:39
Baptism is a sign of God’s new covenant with His people. As adults we choose baptism to signify our new life in Christ and our decision to accept the gift of grace by deepening our faith in relationship with Him.
We baptize our children as a mark of trust that God claims us as His own long before we ever choose to follow in the way of Christ. Baptism is a sign of inclusion in God’s family, which is by grace alone through God’s initiative.
Infant baptism services are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month unless another event was previously scheduled. The pastor who has the honor of baptizing your child will make arrangements to meet with your family in the week prior to the baptism to talk about the meaning of the sacrament and get to know your child better.
It’s helpful when infant baptisms are scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance. However, worship services on Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, Youth Sunday or other special occasions are generally unavailable for baptisms because the liturgy of those services wouldn’t allow the congregation to give your child’s baptism the special attention it deserves.
If you would like to schedule a baptism, please contact Jeanne Nifong and she will be happy to assist you.