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Dear friends: September 9

Dear friends,

There is something especially meaningful about this time of year at the Early Education Center (EEC) as we watch our students transition into new classrooms and see just how much they have grown. They walk through the doors a little bigger, more confident, more independent, and even more curious about the world around them. At the same time, we had the joy of welcoming fifteen new children and their families who are just beginning their journeys at the EEC. On Monday, August 24, we celebrated these transitions with the warmth and hospitality that makes First Pres so special. Church members, pastors, and members of leadership welcomed families with warm smiles, helped little ones find their way to new classrooms, and shared in the excitement and blessings of a new beginning. It was a wonderful way to come together as a church community and set the tone for the year ahead.

Relationships and consistency are truly at the heart of the EEC. We are blessed with many longtime teachers who have spent years, even decades, loving generations of children and families. This year, we are especially excited to celebrate Mr. Daniel Connor’s 30th anniversary teaching at First Pres! Perhaps the best testament to his impact is that he is now teaching the children of some of the preschoolers he once taught. It is a beautiful reflection of the lasting relationships our teachers build and the trust families place in the EEC from one generation to the next.

I am incredibly thankful for our dedicated staff and for the continued work and support of our EEC Committee, church leadership, and congregation. Your prayers, encouragement, presence, and investment in this ministry help us create a community where every child and parent knows they are seen, valued, and loved. As we begin another school year, we are grateful for new friends and families, memories already made, the new ones just beginning, and the privilege of nurturing the next generation together.

Alyssa Martin
Director, Early Education Center

Dear friends: September 2

Dear friends,

I have always thought there is more than one New Year. January gets most of the attention, but the beginning of a new school year has always felt like a new year to me too. New schedules, new teachers, new routines, a chance to start over a little bit, and maybe even make a resolution or two.

This month has had a couple of big milestones for me. It marks my 21st anniversary here at First Pres, which is pretty hard for me to believe. Plus, our twins started 6th grade, which means that after all these years of leading Youth Group, our own kids are now in it! That is really hard to believe!

A number of years ago, Annie and I visited the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, a museum dedicated to the great American folk singer, songwriter, and good troublemaker. Woody was about as down to earth as they come, and his words had a way of sneaking up on you. One of my favorite lines of his is, “Take it easy, but take it.” Well, we loved the museum so much that we later took a wonderful  group from First Pres and Mount Moriah there (along with the newer Bob Dylan Center, of course) as part of our second Civil Rights Pilgrimage trip. 

One of the many things I remember seeing was a list of thirty-three New Year’s Resolutions (AKA: “Rulin’s”) that Woody Guthrie wrote in 1943. Some of them make me laugh. “Change socks.” “Shave.”  “Eat good – fruit – vegetables – milk.” “Save dough.” And, my favorite, “Wash teeth if any.” But, then, mixed in with those are some that have stuck with me. “Write a song a day.” “Don’t get lonesome.” “Learn people better.” “Keep hoping machine running.” “Love everybody.” “Wake up and fight.”

That is quite a list, isn’t it? Brush your teeth. Change your socks. Write a song. Learn people better. 

Maybe January does not get to have all the resolutions. As another school year begins, I think I might borrow a few from Woody. Keep the hoping machine running.  Love everybody. And, when the world gives us plenty of reasons not to, wake up and fight for that love anyway.

Take it easy, but take it,
Josh
Rev. Dr. Josh Stewart
Associate Pastor – Youth