By The Rev. Dr. Carl Grosse

A year ago, I sang in the choir for the big Centennial celebration service. What an introduction to Fountain City Presbyterian Church! Since then, the hoopla has toned down a little, although George and Nancy seem to play the organ and piano like every Sunday is a big celebration. You have wonderful, caring, talented, hard-working people in this congregation, and I have been blessed to serve with you this past year.

We don’t know what the next year will bring. The PNC are actively working on their tasks, which are the most complicated they’ve ever been. They’re a good group and you’ve done well to entrust this work to them. The church I left in East Aurora just finished a 28-month search process, starting with hiring the interim to hiring the installed pastor. You can expect to be within 6 months of that, plus or minus. 

Of course, things around us are happening that can impact the church. I have conversations almost daily with people who are animated, frustrated, anxious, fatigued, hopeful, worried, and a whole basket of other emotions. You all are going through places in your journey too, with your personal growth, your family, work, health, finances. Some of it lifts you up, some of it weighs you down.

I’ve repeated that church is declining. Fewer people attend church, fewer people identify themselves as Christian. Was it Mark Twain who said, “There’s lies, d&%#ed lies, and statistics”? You have actually seen new people come to Fountain City Presbyterian Church this past year. You continue to bless each other with warmth, prayer, and genuine love. With all that’s going on, I’m more convinced than ever that the loving, caring family of Jesus followers here has something people are hungering and thirsting for. At the last F3 gathering, a visitor said she felt more welcomed here than the whole time she was at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. 

As long as I’m here, I will try to build up that love and care God has for us and calls us to share with each other. Thank you for letting Denise and me spend this time on our journey with your church family.