The LINK: 12/01
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To the family, friends, and members Congo-Pres,
Peace to you in this advent season. And hope and joy and love as well. Those are the themes of advent these next four Sundays, where we wait for Christ’s arrival. The word “advent” means waiting. We remember with the the church when Christ came to make his home as one of us, as God become man. He was the one they were waiting for. For us, we wait and look for Christ’s arrival. The Nicene Creed, the second oldest statement of faith that the global church has put out, puts it like this: he shall come again in glory, to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. As we look to Christ’s arrival, I think you can say no more, and no less than that. Anything more is speculation for entertaining novels and movies.
In the in-between, Christ comes to make his home in our lives today. Christ came to be with us and so he is. In this season of advent, we have two ways that we’ll focus on and remind ourselves that I want to invite you to consider joining us for.
The first is our no-rehearsal children’s Christmas pageant. All children, whether those in your home or your grandkids or neighbors or friends, are welcome to join us for Sunday worship on Sunday, December 14. They’ll be invited to take a costume piece and will call them up as we tell the Christmas story to include them as well. We’re serious: no rehearsal necessary!
The second is our Longest Night Service, on Sunday, December 21, at 3 p.m. As the days keep getting shorter, this can be a tender time for peo-ple. Whether you might be going through grief, through struggle, or just feeling fear about our world, we have this service that testifies to Christ being the light in the darkness, no matter what. The service will have ele-ments of lament, of prayer, and song. If you know someone who is going through a hard time, perhaps this could be something to invite them to.
We’re not at Christmas yet, but we live with Hope, and with peace, and with joy, and with love.
Looking forward to seeing you, this advent season,
Pastor Adam
The LINK: 11/01
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To the Friends and Family of Congo-Pres,
Grace and peace!
As summer ends, we have so much to be grateful for. Our church continues to gather for meaningful worship, small groups, classes, and studies. We support organizations and ministries near and far, and we do ministry with people of all ages and stages of life. This year we’ve hosted quilting events of all kinds, staged a play based on the early Church, shared Summer Faith and Fun with our kids, and welcomed London Meredith as our Summer Intern and Justin Derting as our Director of Next-Generation Ministry.
Worship, community, service, and ministry: these are the ways Congregational-Presbyterian Church has been called, and you have responded so faithfully!
As we enter the final quarter of the year, you’re receiving this letter at the start of our Stewardship season. Before making any request, we want to say thank you. Every gift matters — no matter the size or frequency — and we cannot fulfill our mission to know Christ, become like Christ, and share Christ without your generosity.
Your giving supports our staff, our programs, the upkeep of our building, and our outreach in the community and beyond. None of it would be possible without you.
As we plan for next year, would you prayerfully consider making a financial pledge for 2026? Regular, committed giving helps us plan faithfully for what God is calling us to do. We ask that pledge cards be returned by Monday, November 10, 2025, so that our Board can plan for the coming year.
Please know that pledges are confidential and known only to our Financial Secretary, Keesje Mills. If you have questions or need to adjust your giving, you may contact her at treasurer@congopres.org or 208-743-4444.
Along with your pledge card and return envelope, we’ve included pictures from this past year as a joyful snapshot of our life together.
Thank you for even considering a pledge — your generosity sustains and strengthens our community of faith.
Blessings,
Pastor Adam
The LINK: 10/24
As the nights lengthen, and the darkness starts to have a larger foothold, may you turn to our God, who is Light.
The LINK: 9/24
I hope that this summer you were able to find time to rest, as Fall becomes whatever it becomes for you or your family.
The LINK: 8/24
As I write this to you in mid-July, there have been fires and heat waves, there have been difficult events in the headlines, there have been the things in your own family or life that you have been wrestling with.
The LINK: 7/24
As we head into July, let me reference a little science-fiction novel Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers.
The LINK: 6/24
We’re excited to start this summer season with you all. Maybe you’re travel-ling, or getting out onto the river, or your work schedule eases up (or even gets fuller) this summer.
The LINK: 5/24
Peace be with you! As you’re starting to look to the summer, whether that brings changes to your life, or feels like more of the same, my prayer is that you encounter the Resurrection life that Christ promised and God wants to do for all of us.
The LINK: 4/24
He is Risen! This Easter Sunday is the reason why we continue to churches have tended to gather on Sundays. There’s this promise that comes at the beginning and the end of the Gospel of Matthew.
The LINK: 3/24
My prayers are with you as we begin this season of Lent. Lent is those 40 days where Jesus was in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry and its ultimate end.
“God is the last link of the chain, but He is the first also.”
