Hi First Family & Merry Christmas from the Crains
We are missing you so very much and pray you are well. We were both humbled and challenged to have been asked to share with you. The five of us have been a part of the First family since 2003 when we looked for a church that had something for our then very young children as well as for us as adults too. We certainly found that and then some! (Which makes us miss you all that much more!)
We are thankful our children have decided to follow Christ for themselves and appreciate what First has meant in each of our journeys. Faith in Christ has helped each of us in the day-to-day decisions as well as with the “big stuff”. We have celebrated milestones as well as mourned with our church family.
We have had many opportunities at First- everything from Andy playing the piano, David sharing messages, Paige designing the bulletins to all the Bible Studies, youth group, mission trips and other events that have become woven into our family’s fabric. Our children have received scholarships for youth trips to Keswick and Delanco and the oldest two for college.
More than that, we have been fed spiritually, emotionally and even physically! And as much as it has meant to us that Christ is working in our lives, we thrive in watching how He is working through yours too! Like the youth who are currently in the Confirmation process or those who’ve been confirmed already and share their lights in so many ways- what a blessing to see their faith grow! Or knowing our church is serving the community in so many ways by meeting basic needs; being the hands and feet of Christ through the food pantry, Christmas for those in need or even supplies shared with local schools.
We are honored to be able to share and explore our gifts with and through our church knowing confidently that Christ will use them greater than we can begin to imagine! Whether it is through our financial support or through our time and talents – even when it pushes us out of our comfort zones, it is a bigger blessing to us! We look forward to 2021 and Bible studies, youth group, service occasions & more. We pray it finds us all back within the walls of our beloved church worshipping and serving in person but appreciate the opportunities even in a pandemic. We thank each of you for what you mean to each of us.
