"Small Steps, Big Moments"
Our Stewardship theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. Join us on Sunday November 10th, as we consecrate our pledges to support the budget and ministry for 2025.
What are the small steps you’d like to take in your faith in 2025? With giving, maybe in 2025, whatever you gave in 2024, you set a small goal to increase by 2%?
Maybe you will have a small goal of attending worship more. A small goal of reading the Advent devotional and participating in a bible study in 2025. A small goal of coming to a special event at church, a work party, volunteering to teach Sunday school, attending SPAM, joining the choir, or engaging with our church community in a new way next year.
These small steps over the course of a year and a lifetime lead to BIG moments of faith. We look forward to celebrate this in 2025!
What are the small steps you’d like to take in your faith in 2025? With giving, maybe in 2025, whatever you gave in 2024, you set a small goal to increase by 2%?
Maybe you will have a small goal of attending worship more. A small goal of reading the Advent devotional and participating in a bible study in 2025. A small goal of coming to a special event at church, a work party, volunteering to teach Sunday school, attending SPAM, joining the choir, or engaging with our church community in a new way next year.
These small steps over the course of a year and a lifetime lead to BIG moments of faith. We look forward to celebrate this in 2025!
Stewardship Letter #1
October 14, 2024
Friends,
I was invited to a high school senior’s culinary leadership day when I was in Carson City. This was an opportunity for the senior, a youth in the church, to create and guide the entire meal.
From appetizer and salad to main course and dessert, this was a special moment in the senior’s journey as a chef. I was honored to be invited. At the appointed time, I joined proud parents, grandparents, and a family friend for this lunch.
It was a treat. The student presented their menu, talked about their selections, and how they had guided/taught the other kids in the class for the prep work. True, the meal was not five stars, but the intention and excitement were a blessing. Just before dessert was brought to the table, the chef made an announcement. The brownies, a beloved family recipe, did not come out correctly. The student responsible for the measurements confused salt and sugar.
This happens, we’ve all been there. We start cooking, cleaning, working, packing, and the next thing we know, there is too much salt, we forgot our toothbrush, the coffee mug was left on the counter, or we miss a meeting. Nothing earth-shattering, but we notice, and we remind ourselves to pay attention. Those small things can make a big difference.
This challenges the larger story we tell ourselves that bigger, quicker, and more is better. We want life filled with speed, ease, and quality where everything is exciting, large, over-flowing with attention grabbing luxury. And still, when we rush, when we are distracted, those small things make a big difference.
When we follow Jesus, our lives change. Yes, we feel the pace of life and get swept away just as much as the next person. Yet, Jesus tells us how small things, like a mustard seed, leaven in bread, or even just tossing our nets out one more time can make a huge impact.
Our Stewardship Theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. We are invited to reflect on our giving, the ways we serve, and the growth of our faith. Of course, there have been amazing times God has intervened and following Jesus has been easy and as clear as day. However, most days, discipleship is placing one foot in front of the other as we read scripture, pray, and remind ourselves to have compassion for our neighbor. Those small steps following Jesus, giving of our time and resources, and seeking where the Holy Spirit is active builds up and combines to open big moments of faithful growth.
Yes, we choked down those brownies. We smiled and encouraged the chef, but we knew a small change of more salt made a big difference in the final taste of the meal.
As our congregation thinks about our ministry and mission in 2025, I invite you to join us in worship. More information will be coming, but I hope you are encouraged by those small seeds of faith others nurtured in you that have grown and how together, we can continue to plant, nurture, and tend to God’s work here.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Alan Dorway
Friends,
I was invited to a high school senior’s culinary leadership day when I was in Carson City. This was an opportunity for the senior, a youth in the church, to create and guide the entire meal.
From appetizer and salad to main course and dessert, this was a special moment in the senior’s journey as a chef. I was honored to be invited. At the appointed time, I joined proud parents, grandparents, and a family friend for this lunch.
It was a treat. The student presented their menu, talked about their selections, and how they had guided/taught the other kids in the class for the prep work. True, the meal was not five stars, but the intention and excitement were a blessing. Just before dessert was brought to the table, the chef made an announcement. The brownies, a beloved family recipe, did not come out correctly. The student responsible for the measurements confused salt and sugar.
This happens, we’ve all been there. We start cooking, cleaning, working, packing, and the next thing we know, there is too much salt, we forgot our toothbrush, the coffee mug was left on the counter, or we miss a meeting. Nothing earth-shattering, but we notice, and we remind ourselves to pay attention. Those small things can make a big difference.
This challenges the larger story we tell ourselves that bigger, quicker, and more is better. We want life filled with speed, ease, and quality where everything is exciting, large, over-flowing with attention grabbing luxury. And still, when we rush, when we are distracted, those small things make a big difference.
When we follow Jesus, our lives change. Yes, we feel the pace of life and get swept away just as much as the next person. Yet, Jesus tells us how small things, like a mustard seed, leaven in bread, or even just tossing our nets out one more time can make a huge impact.
Our Stewardship Theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. We are invited to reflect on our giving, the ways we serve, and the growth of our faith. Of course, there have been amazing times God has intervened and following Jesus has been easy and as clear as day. However, most days, discipleship is placing one foot in front of the other as we read scripture, pray, and remind ourselves to have compassion for our neighbor. Those small steps following Jesus, giving of our time and resources, and seeking where the Holy Spirit is active builds up and combines to open big moments of faithful growth.
Yes, we choked down those brownies. We smiled and encouraged the chef, but we knew a small change of more salt made a big difference in the final taste of the meal.
As our congregation thinks about our ministry and mission in 2025, I invite you to join us in worship. More information will be coming, but I hope you are encouraged by those small seeds of faith others nurtured in you that have grown and how together, we can continue to plant, nurture, and tend to God’s work here.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Alan Dorway
Stewardship Letter #2
October 23, 2024
Friends,
Did you know that beginning in 2020, we have given around one ton of non-perishable food items to the Volunteers of America (VOA) Food Bank annually? This is HUGE! For the past fourteen years (the time I’ve served here), we have given generously to those struggling with food scarcity in our community, but when the pandemic hit, we did not stop. We adapted. We began a “drive and drop” system on Mondays in the alley off Stocker Hall. And we kept on giving. These small steps of being faithful, adapting, and serving have had a large impact in our community.
Of course, this ministry of collecting food would not happen without dedicated volunteers. Ken and Shirley Newman have a desire to make sure those in need have access to food. They give time and effort to make sure items are collected over the month. Ken and I greet people in the alley, and then Ken loads up their car to take our donations to the collection center to be weighed and distributed. Again, these small steps allow for a big moment when clients of VOA can receive groceries.
The Newmans are one example among many in our congregation where small steps have paved the way for God’s larger kingdom to be seen and known. I thank you for being a part of our wonderful and Christ-focused congregation.
Our stewardship theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. We are asking ourselves: how will our support of the First Presbyterian Church of Everett continue, transform, and expand our ministry and mission? We are invited to reflect on our giving, the ways we serve, and the growth of our faith. As a congregation, we know our small steps of following Jesus, giving of our time and resources, and seeking God, builds and opens us to big moments of faithful growth.
Enclosed in this letter is your current giving statement for 2024. We send this to remind you of your current pledge and to make sure it is correct. We are asking you to take a small step in faith to increase your giving in 2025.
On November 10th, during worship, we will take time to dedicate our tithes and offerings for 2025. Soon, you will be receiving a pledge card in the mail. You can either bring it with you to church on the 10th or mail it in to the office. Once we receive your pledge card, our Session can set ministry and mission goals for the upcoming year.
Thank you for your small steps of faithfulness. Together, as we follow Jesus, our ministry does and will continue to see big moments where God does amazing things.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Alan Dorway
If you have any questions concerning your 2024 giving statement, please email or call the office. We will work to answer your questions in a timely manner. ription goes.
Friends,
Did you know that beginning in 2020, we have given around one ton of non-perishable food items to the Volunteers of America (VOA) Food Bank annually? This is HUGE! For the past fourteen years (the time I’ve served here), we have given generously to those struggling with food scarcity in our community, but when the pandemic hit, we did not stop. We adapted. We began a “drive and drop” system on Mondays in the alley off Stocker Hall. And we kept on giving. These small steps of being faithful, adapting, and serving have had a large impact in our community.
Of course, this ministry of collecting food would not happen without dedicated volunteers. Ken and Shirley Newman have a desire to make sure those in need have access to food. They give time and effort to make sure items are collected over the month. Ken and I greet people in the alley, and then Ken loads up their car to take our donations to the collection center to be weighed and distributed. Again, these small steps allow for a big moment when clients of VOA can receive groceries.
The Newmans are one example among many in our congregation where small steps have paved the way for God’s larger kingdom to be seen and known. I thank you for being a part of our wonderful and Christ-focused congregation.
Our stewardship theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. We are asking ourselves: how will our support of the First Presbyterian Church of Everett continue, transform, and expand our ministry and mission? We are invited to reflect on our giving, the ways we serve, and the growth of our faith. As a congregation, we know our small steps of following Jesus, giving of our time and resources, and seeking God, builds and opens us to big moments of faithful growth.
Enclosed in this letter is your current giving statement for 2024. We send this to remind you of your current pledge and to make sure it is correct. We are asking you to take a small step in faith to increase your giving in 2025.
On November 10th, during worship, we will take time to dedicate our tithes and offerings for 2025. Soon, you will be receiving a pledge card in the mail. You can either bring it with you to church on the 10th or mail it in to the office. Once we receive your pledge card, our Session can set ministry and mission goals for the upcoming year.
Thank you for your small steps of faithfulness. Together, as we follow Jesus, our ministry does and will continue to see big moments where God does amazing things.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Alan Dorway
If you have any questions concerning your 2024 giving statement, please email or call the office. We will work to answer your questions in a timely manner. ription goes.
Stewardship Letter #3
November 4, 2024
Friends,
On Sunday November 10th during worship, we will honor our pledges for 2025. We will celebrate the faithfulness of those who have gone before us and laid a foundation of grace that we continue to build upon. We will celebrate how our tithes and offerings, we dedicate on the 10th, will expand through small steps, the big moments of Jesus in our lives.
I grew up in a church just like ours. A church downtown. A church with beautiful stained-glass windows. A church with an organ and a choir. A church where good, faithful people gathered each week to glorify God and engage in discipleship together. A church with a rich history and hopes for the future. Yet what I learned made a church, was not the great stuff going on, it was the people. I had uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers who nurtured me and guided me in my faith.
Mr. Philips taught me to bowl. Mrs. Pederson, my favorite Sunday school teacher, taught me the stories of God. Mr. and Mrs. Momary were our preteen youth leaders who played silly games with us as they taught us about our living Lord. Yes, there were many pastors, leaders, and others who just spent time with me, encouraged me, saw me grow up and blessed me when I returned over school breaks, and each one was a connectional step in my vocation. Sure, I and they did not know it at the time, but those small steps of faith they poured into me, guided me to my calling as a pastor.
My call was not like some of the ones in scripture where the Spirit knocked someone off a horse or wrestled them to the ground. My call was a thousand little steps, supported by the body of Christ in my home church. This is what makes a church, church. When we take life together seriously, like being there for one another, praying for each other, and sticking together in relationship, even when we might not agree but trust in God’s direction, amazing, life-changing, and life-giving moments occur.
Our theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. We are asking ourselves; how will our support of the First Presbyterian Church of Everett continue, transform, and expand our ministry and mission? We are invited to reflect on our giving, the ways we serve, and the growth of our faith. As a congregation, we know our small steps of following Jesus, giving of our time and resources, and seeking God, builds and opens us to big moments of faithful growth.
Enclosed is a pledge card for 2025. You can either bring it with you to church on the 10th or mail it in to the office. Once we receive your pledge card, our Session can set ministry and mission goals for the upcoming year.
Thank you for your small steps of faithfulness. Together, as we follow Jesus, our ministry does and will continue to see big moments where God does amazing things.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Alan Dorway
Friends,
On Sunday November 10th during worship, we will honor our pledges for 2025. We will celebrate the faithfulness of those who have gone before us and laid a foundation of grace that we continue to build upon. We will celebrate how our tithes and offerings, we dedicate on the 10th, will expand through small steps, the big moments of Jesus in our lives.
I grew up in a church just like ours. A church downtown. A church with beautiful stained-glass windows. A church with an organ and a choir. A church where good, faithful people gathered each week to glorify God and engage in discipleship together. A church with a rich history and hopes for the future. Yet what I learned made a church, was not the great stuff going on, it was the people. I had uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers who nurtured me and guided me in my faith.
Mr. Philips taught me to bowl. Mrs. Pederson, my favorite Sunday school teacher, taught me the stories of God. Mr. and Mrs. Momary were our preteen youth leaders who played silly games with us as they taught us about our living Lord. Yes, there were many pastors, leaders, and others who just spent time with me, encouraged me, saw me grow up and blessed me when I returned over school breaks, and each one was a connectional step in my vocation. Sure, I and they did not know it at the time, but those small steps of faith they poured into me, guided me to my calling as a pastor.
My call was not like some of the ones in scripture where the Spirit knocked someone off a horse or wrestled them to the ground. My call was a thousand little steps, supported by the body of Christ in my home church. This is what makes a church, church. When we take life together seriously, like being there for one another, praying for each other, and sticking together in relationship, even when we might not agree but trust in God’s direction, amazing, life-changing, and life-giving moments occur.
Our theme for 2025 is Small Steps, Big Moments. We are asking ourselves; how will our support of the First Presbyterian Church of Everett continue, transform, and expand our ministry and mission? We are invited to reflect on our giving, the ways we serve, and the growth of our faith. As a congregation, we know our small steps of following Jesus, giving of our time and resources, and seeking God, builds and opens us to big moments of faithful growth.
Enclosed is a pledge card for 2025. You can either bring it with you to church on the 10th or mail it in to the office. Once we receive your pledge card, our Session can set ministry and mission goals for the upcoming year.
Thank you for your small steps of faithfulness. Together, as we follow Jesus, our ministry does and will continue to see big moments where God does amazing things.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Alan Dorway