The Staff and Officer's retreat was held at The Geneva Conference Center in Rochester, IN the 18th and 19th of January,2008. 
Thanks to Michelle Kaitchuck for the photos. 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH   
JANUARY 2008
Ron's Letter from THE COLUMNS:

Later this month we will hold a Session Retreat at the Geneva Conference Center near Rochester, Indiana. It has been several years since our Session and Deacons explored the future of First Presbyterian Church in such a prayerful and intentional manner away from Muncie. 

What are we hoping to accomplish on this retreat? First, I hope we will define a succinct mission statement that integrates our core values and purpose into one phrase. Secondly, I anticipate we will seek to visualize who we are and want to be in the unique way  God has called us at First Presbyterian Church in Muncie. In other words, we are called here in the midst of our community for a purpose by God. We are not Catholics, Pentecostals or Methodists. We are Presbyterians with an historic mission  and a challenging future that calls us to witness our faith in a constantly changing culture and local economy in East Central Indiana. 

We will look also at four important areas of our structure: mission, discipleship, worship and fellowship. At our retreat we will be praying and examining each of these areas in terms of how they are fulfilling our mission statement and core purpose. I anticipate some restructuring of our present committees in order to be more streamlined and in line with our core purpose. Perhaps as The Holy Spirit moves in our time together, other changes will also be lifted up. Just because “we’ve always done it that way”, does not mean  God might not have a better way.

We are called at First Presbyterian Church to be a place that works differently than the world around us. Sometimes in order to be faithful Christians, we have to become downright “counter cultural.” If the world is frantic, we have to be an island of peace. If the world is alienating, we need to be a hotbed of hospitality. If the world is lonely, we need to be a place of intimate community. If the world is selfish, we need to be a center for sharing. If the world is cynical, we must be a people who trust each other. People don’t come to church for more of the same old world. They seek God of course, but just like you and me, they will be embraced for who they are and where their abilities will be used for the blessing of the world. 

That is our challenge as we seek to put structure to our core purpose. Be in prayer for us. I think things are going to get exciting in 2008.