May
2008
Dear First Family,
Well, we did it!
On Sunday, April 27,
a bunch of us went to the Lancaster Recreation Center and shared a
potluck fellowship meal with the folks from our sister congregation,
Harmony Tabernacle.
For many in our
congregation, it was the first time they met Pastor Nelson Johnson, his
wife, his staff, and his congregation.
Their church is
about the same size as ours. That’s the reason we picked each other to
be sister churches. We can have some events together that will be
larger when we do them together.
This year’s event
was this fellowship meal. And there were a bunch of people there.
There is an
important reason for partnerships such as this one and with the smaller
Presbyterian churches south of the Trinity. These partnerships allow
smaller churches to do bigger things when we do them together.
Our partnership with
Harmony Tabernacle is unique. This is not a Presbyterian church. It is
a church in Lancaster—and that is the main thing, it is a church in
Lancaster—with whom we may engage in larger projects when we do them
together. This partnership is designed to give us greater visibility in
the community as we work together.
And we can learn
from Harmony Tabernacle. They are a multicultural church: white,
black, and brown. As they are learning to make that work, we can learn
from them as we do things together.
Such partnerships, I
believe, are key to the future of the ministry of First Church. As we
learn and as we serve through these partnerships people will be
attracted to our ministry and will join us.
That’s the plan.
But I will have to
admit I have found joy in these new partnerships. I’ve met new people.
I’ve had great food and fellowship. And, I will admit, if that was all
that resulted in these partnerships, I would still be in both feet.
But the plan is
about growing our ministry in the community of Lancaster and in the
larger community of south Dallas County.
That’s the plan.
Grace and peace,
Dr. Richard W. Selby
Pastor
