In the fall of 2007, with a recommendation from the Strategic Planning Committee, the Session contracted with the Auxano Group to help us develop the Lord's map for our future.
Auxano, which means “to cause to grow," is a Houston firm that specializes in helping church leaders navigate growth challenges through a process tailored to the needs of the church.
It is uniquely designed to assess, articulate and align the church's vision and is called the Vision to Grow process.
The Vision to Grow process consists of seven, six-hour on-site visits over a nine-month period.
The first session was Feb. 13 with Auxano's lead navigator, Richard Kannwischer facilitating a team-building and coaching dynamic with our Vision Path Team.
Richard Kannwischer is senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio. He came to First Presbyterian of San Antonio in 2005 from Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, N.J., where he ministered to people in the wake of the tragic Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. A native Texan from Waco, Richard graduated cum laude from Trinity University in San Antonio with a business administration degree, and from Princeton Theological Seminary.
The Vision Path Team is comprised of selected lay-leaders and staff.
Representing members-at-large are Dan Crow, Hugh Hagen, Ann Holt, Carol Sue LeGate, Kim Talley, Rex Vermillion and Emily Wood.
Representing officers are Terry Caviness, Ross Clopton, Jim Currie, Matt Harkins, Susan Kitchens, Mary Ann Osborn and Tony Schellhamer. And the staff members include Jim Bankhead, Nolan Dees, Paul Frederiksen, Murray Gossett and Mary Rogers-Ellsworth.
For more information or if you have any questions you may contact any of the Vision Path Team members or you may e-mail godsplan@fpc-amarillo.org.
We ask that you please pray for our church and the people involved during this nine month process of Discovering God's Plan For Our Future.
Around the church
Cookies, brownies, goodies needed for youth mission trip!
Our youth group will be making their annual trip to Juarez, Mexico, to build a home for a family in need over spring break.
The group will be in Mexico from March 17th-21. We always love to provide a wonderful homemade dessert for the kids each evening after a hard day's work.
We are asking the congregation to pull out the cookie sheets and mixing bowls and bake up some goodies for the kids to enjoy! Please deliver them to the church office or the youth office on March 14 or March 16.
Please mark that they are for the youth mission trip so no one eats them in the process! Thanks for all of your help!
Manna Ministries to distribute food beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 23
Manna Ministries food will be distributed between 9 and 11 a.m. Feb. 23 at First Presbyterian Church.
Anyone who placed orders for February should pick them up between that time.
Order deadline for next month is 5 p.m. March 10.
Manna Ministries is a food ministry that provides $50 to $75 worth of food for $25. Anyone may purchase food, either for themselves or others.
Those wishing to volunteer should arrive at the church at 8 a.m. to help unload, sort, count and box the food for distribution. We will be done no later than noon.
Institute to begin new course titled ‘Doctrine of Man'
The Amarillo Theological Institute will begin its Spring Semester next week with the systematic theology course “Doctrine of Man" by Dr. Robert B. Strimple.
This first class meeting is open to the community, so that you can come and see if this course might be beneficial for you.
This is a masters-level seminary course that has been taught at Westminster Seminary California by Dr. Strimple for many years. He is a renowned scholar and author, and a chair has recently been endowed in his name at WSC.
This course will cover a number of fundamental doctrines such as the state in which man was created in God's image, the covenant of works, the fall, the covenant of grace, and much more.
Please visit www.AMAtheology.org for registration materials.
The class meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church, 7801 W. 34th Ave.
Chapel open for prayer
The Chapel is open from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Mondays and Fridays for personal prayer and reflection.
Women invited to luncheon
All the ladies of First Presbyterian Church are invited to celebrate our Winter Wonderland.
The Jean Miller Circle will host a “Soup and Salad Luncheon" at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20 in the main parlor. The staff will be honored by members of the Ann Nassau Circle at that time.
Call Jean Edwards 373-4242 to make reservations. There will also be a sign-up table in the Great Hall on Feb. 17.
Lunch group to meet Feb. 17
The Ladies Lunch Group meets the third Sunday of every month at the Catfish Shack, 3301 Olsen. The next meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Anyone interested is invited. We'll see you Feb. 17.
FPC to show volunteers the love
All Children's Ministry Volunteers are invited to celebrate from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sundays in February in the Children's Commons (1st floor of the C.E. Building).
Who's your daddy? Retreat
to delve into fatherhood
FPC's Second Annual Men's Retreat will be Feb. 29 to March 2 at Ceta Canyon Lodge.
The special guest speakers will be Don Lane Sr., this year's Globe-News Man of the Year, and his son, Don Lane Jr. Both are pastors at City Church.
Don and and his son will speak on three aspects of Fatherhood:
- Our relationship with our earthly fathers
- Our relationship with our heavenly Father
- Our role as fathers
Along with plenty of free hanging-out time there will be top-notch presentations on:
- Building a Men's Accountability Group
- The Value of Mission Trips
- Effective Ministry in the Business World
- The Privilege of Being Dad
- Dealing with Temptation
All this along with manly games, Dexter Spalding BBQ, bad boy bonfires and big time worship!
Look for a sign-up table soon with details.
Deadline for sign up will be Feb. 15 and the cost will be $79 per person. Please call Charlotte, 373-4242, in the church office to reserve your spot!
If you have questions, please call Cole Camp, 676-8221, or Murray Gossett, 373-4242.