In January 2020, our church accepted the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s invitation to follow Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25:31-46 by becoming active disciples and making a difference in our community and the world.  As part of our Matthew 25 commitment, North Presbyterian Church chose to give attention to three focus areas:

• Building congregational vitality by challenging members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples, actively engaged with our community and world as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
• Dismantling structural racism by fearlessly applying our faith to advocate and break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice, and oppression of people of color.
• Eradicating systemic poverty by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.

The Matthew 25 Task Force, appointed by the Session, dissolved and merged with the Advocacy and Outreach Committee created by the Session in the Fall of 2019 when we became a Matthew 25 Church.  The Deacons concentrate on local and regional projects.  The Advocacy and Outreach Committee attends to national and global concerns.  This Committee administers the four special offerings – One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost/Celebration of Youth, Peace and Global Witness, and the Christmas Offering.  Committee members determine portions of these offerings which go to local and global recipients after due diligence and input from other committees as appropriate.   The Committee also responds to national and global disasters through encouragement of individual contributions and monies available to the committee through the budget and church members’ generous contributions for the committee’s work.  Furthermore, the Advocacy and Outreach Committee advocates for systemic changes addressing the three focuses above through letter writing and education of the congregation around these issues. 

Members of the Advocacy and Outreach Committee are Joe Alber, Kerri Bigler, Sharon Dittmar, Kath Hahn, Clark Squires and Pat Townsend.  Members serve a three-year term and are eligible for a second three-year consecutive term.  If you have suggestions, questions, or comments for this committee, please leave a message in the Advocacy and Outreach Mailbox located in the church office or e-mail any one of us. 

To learn more and for ideas on how to get involved and do your vital part as a member of a Matthew 25 church, please visit pcusa.org/matthew25.

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

                                 Matthew 25:35-36